federal-guidance source

FLSA public-agency volunteer definition

The Department of Labor explains that public-agency volunteer service must be for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without an expectation of compensation, and offered freely without direct or implied coercion.

Reviewed July 24, 2026

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Opinion Letter FLSA2019-12, August 8, 2019, applying 29 C.F.R. § 553.101.

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What this source supports

The Department of Labor explains that public-agency volunteer service must be for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without an expectation of compensation, and offered freely without direct or implied coercion.

No additional document notes are published for this source.

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Topic reviews: Volunteerism & City Engagement: Powering Change Through People

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Last reviewed
July 24, 2026