Interchangeability of labor: Managing a mixed paid and volunteer workforce

A strong tradition of volunteerism is one of the defining characteristics of the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit organizations are more likely than other organizations to recruit and utilize volunteers, often alongside paid staff. But the involvement of volunteers brings about a unique set of human resource management challenges and raises questions about the best way to manage a diverse paid and unpaid workforce. How should an organization go about finding the optimal balance of paid and volunteer employees? Which tasks should be delegated to volunteers, and which reserved for paid staff? How can nonprofit managers foster positive and productive relationships and avoid conflict between paid staff and volunteers? In times of financial hardship, tensions can arise if paid staff see themselves being replaced by volunteers; when, if at all, is such replacement optimal?.