Working Members
In General
If you are already a Working Member, check below to see current guidelines for monthly work assignments.
If you wish to become a working member, please speak with the Membership Coordinator. Working members with a newborn baby are granted a six-month work exemption. People with temporary or permanent special needs may be exempt from the work requirement. Please speak to a manager about these exemptions.
Work in the store includes assisting with deliveries, pricing and stocking shelves, cutting cheeses, packaging and pricing bulk items, cleaning and other tasks as needed. Various jobs and tasks may be needed by the store managers. Some of these jobs may be done at home. Please speak to a manager if this may suit you. Members may also be needed to work on the Board of Dorectors or on one of the Board's committees.
New Owner Orientations
Once or twice each month there are tours of the Co-op offered which give owners a chance to know the Co-op and what it offers better. New Working Members especially can learn a lot at these orientations. Find out when and how to sign up!
Working Member FAQ
Q. Do I have to be an owner to become a working member?
A. Yes, you need to be an owner in active status (annual equity paid up) in order to become a working member and receive a 10% store discount.
Q. How do I become a working member?
A. To become a working member, you need to make an appointment with Eileen (the Membership Coordinator) for a brief orientation. Working member orientations are usually held on Wednesday afternoons. Please call Eileen to schedule: 374-2165.
Q. If I was a working member a few years ago and I want to start again, do I still need an orientation or can I just show up and start working?
A. Even if you have been a working member in the past, you still need to schedule an orientation with Eileen before coming in to work. This is because the working member program has changed and is more structured--and also because we want to get to know you better in order to match your job skills with the needs of the Co-op.
Q. How many hours am I required to work for my working member discount?
A. You need to work two hours per month if you are the only adult in your household. If there are two adults in the household, you are required to work four hours per month. Both adults can each work a two-hour shift per month, or one of you can work all four hours per month.
Q. My partner is not an owner and so we only have one Co-op owner account in our household now. Do we need to work two hours or four hours per month?
A. Since the by-laws change was approved by the membership in September, both adults in the household are no longer required to be owners. However, to receive your 10% owner discount, you still need to work four hours per month if there are two or more adults who are using your Co-op account.
Q. Can my child work my hours for me?
A. Children under the age of 16 are welcome to work as volunteers with adult supervision. However, that work does not count towards the working owner requirement for the family. The General Manager reserves the right to disallow a child from working in the co-op if that child is disruptive or causing difficulties to staff or other working owners.
Q. What happens if I sign up for a shift and then can’t make it?
A. You need to call the Co-op as soon as possible and speak with the manager you usually report to (or speak with Eileen). If you consistently cancel, you may be asked to leave your position. As a working member, you need to adhere to the same standards and expectations as Co-op staff.
Q. What are the benefits of becoming a working owner?
A. Besides the material benefit of receiving a 10% store discount, working members enjoy getting to know staff and other owners, feel connected to the Co-op community, learn about products and how your cooperative business runs. Owners have said it is very rewarding to know they are contributing to the health of the Co-op and the success of the business. And, finally,…you can have a lot of fun being a working member!
Sign up for 2 hour shifts per owner once a month—or bank your hours ahead by helping us with inventory! For more info., please contact Eileen at 374-2165 (Mondays-Thursdays) or via e-mail (membership@bluehill.coop).
