Submitted by a Workamper News Member (unedited).

I am a Workamper and have other Workamper friends. One such couple, call them Jack and Jill (not their real names), had a recent Workamping experience that caused them to make a decision to leave a park and Workamping job after just a few weeks.  Jill experienced a difficult time leaving as she felt that they were leaving the owners without completing an obligation. Jack, however, felt that they were justified in leaving because the park owners really wanted Workampers with the biggest emphasis on the word "work" and because they were not properly equipped by the owners for the jobs.

These Workampers are both 70-plus in age and are retired and traveling for enjoyment. The decision to Workamp with some light duties was made to defray the cost of higher gasoline prices. The owners did not give the campers a specific work schedule or keep records of the hours spent working. The expectation for Jack was to keep the park grass mowed and trimmed, the sites cleaned after each use, and extensive cleaning of rental cabins including washing down the walls and ceilings after each use. The expectation for Jill was to work in the office and store including the use of the computer program. However, the office training consisted of one time watching the owner work. Thus Jack and Jill both worked on the outdoor work expected of Jack prior to the opening of the campground.

The park was laid out on more than an acre of very uneven grounds, and mowing consisted of using a hand mower with a rope tied to the handle to care for the hillsides and the hand mower on the level ground even though a riding mower was on the premises. In addition to the fact that there was not proper equipment provided for the job, the access for the hand equipment needed, such as a shovel and gas to run the mower was only provided upon asking each time it was needed because it was kept under lock and key. So not only was there not proper and safe equipment provided, Jack was left with the feeling that there was no trust shown on the part of the owner.

Many of us retired people have held very respected jobs our entire lives and are only asking to do these lighter duty jobs in our later years to make our retirement dreams more stress free. Many of us do not have to work to fulfill our dreams but would like to have more funds available from our budget to offset fuel costs. I feel that organizations, such as Workamper News, need to be more aware of the jobs advertised in their publishing's. In addition, it would be very beneficial if seminars with potential park owners would be held educating businesses on proper needs for the Workampers and for proper safety of said workers. I suggest that a packet of guide lines be given to each advertiser for the Workamping positions available.

Most advertised positions in Workamper News appear to be fair and open in what they expect from the worker, however, this experience caused this couple to be gun-shy of any other Workamping positions.

In addition, I propose that potential Workampers ask more questions before considering a new position, such as:

1. Do you have a job description for the position? Do you send out a copy of the job description, an employee handbook, and copies of any agreements, park brochures and contracts? If a contract is required, is there an exit clause both for the camper and the management?

2. You mention light maintenance and groundskeeping, what does that entail and is the proper equipment provided and freely available to the worker or must I ask for it each time it is needed? (If you feel that trust would not be forth coming, move on to another job.)

3. How many hours are required or how many hours should a park owner ask a Workamper to work, and is it per person or per couple? Then figure how that equates, an hourly rate versus the monthly campground fee and electric, if electric is included. Ask if you will be paid directly and then be required to make a payment for the site and electric. We have been compensated both ways as Workampers.

EXAMPLE: $7.00 per hour with the camper working 15 hours (7 Vz hours per person) per week based on a $420.00 monthly site fee. (15 x $7.00 x 4 weeks = $420.00). If you are working 10 hours a week per person then the formula is (20 x $7.00 x 4 weeks = $560.00). Therefore a park charging $420.00 per month would owe the work campers $140.00 for the difference in a cash payment. ($560.00 - $420.00 = $140.00) Some parks are asking for 15 hours each Workamper or a total of 30 hours per couple. That would mean that park should be charging $840.00 for their full hookup sites per month. This could go on and on but you should get the idea.

4. Since I will be traveling a long distance to take this position advertised, is there a bonus paid at the end of the season?

5. Do you assign specific schedules for the position and is a time sheet to be filled out for your records as well as for the worker's record? Is a W-2 proved to the work camper at the end of the year?

6. Is the person hiring me the same person who will consistently assign the workers duties? Who will I be working for?