Comments on: How to “Fire” a Client http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/24/how-to-%e2%80%9cfire%e2%80%9d-a-client/ A Church Web Diva's Musings on Excellence in Religious Websites Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:11:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lizard Eater http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/24/how-to-%e2%80%9cfire%e2%80%9d-a-client/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Lizard Eater Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:04:32 +0000 http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/24/how-to-%e2%80%9cfire%e2%80%9d-a-client/#comment-670 FABULOUS topic! One thing I recommend, that I never did, but certainly would now: if you are doing volunteer work, write up a contract. Why, for unpaid work? a) Expectations are in writing b) If someone tries to get you to do more than you asked, you can politely refer them to the document c) In the volunteer world, people change positions. That district executive or church president who brought you on, leaves, and someone else comes in -- and that next person will have different expectations. That's fine, but if you have a contract, then it's understood that these are DIFFERENT expectations. d) In your contract, specify that either party can terminate the relationship at any given time. (You can be nice and put in something like "webmaster agrees to give 1 month's notice.") AND, this way you can put in if your volunteering is for a limited time -- If you're only willing to webmaster for 2 years, there it is, in writing. No need for anyone to act petulant when you remind them they need to find someone new. e) Make it darn-tooting-sure that you are in no way responsible for hunting down the information that needs to go on the site. Otherwise, 90% of your time will be spent trying to track down reports from committee chairs. I could write a book on this. I will admit to still being bitter. Webmastering is a hard volunteer job because a) people assume that since they surf the internet, designing web pages can't be that hard, b) It's an area ripe for micromanagement, c) people who aren't in this line of work really have NO clue how much work goes into maintaining a site, especially one with content that changes often. I've heard many burnt-out webmasters complaining of what I've experienced: being the sole webmaster on a site that really should be under a professional team. And don't even get me started on the "we'll get you some help" ... and the people you are presented with have never done any web work, but hey, "they're smart and can learn fast!" If I ever do volunteer webwork again, I will begin the project as a total ... well, bitch. "Here's what I'm willing to do, here's what I won't do, here's the length of time I'm willing to work on this ..." Kind of like being a teacher. You can always get nicer, later. Gurgle. Okay. Stopping now. FABULOUS topic!

One thing I recommend, that I never did, but certainly would now: if you are doing volunteer work, write up a contract. Why, for unpaid work?

a) Expectations are in writing
b) If someone tries to get you to do more than you asked, you can politely refer them to the document
c) In the volunteer world, people change positions. That district executive or church president who brought you on, leaves, and someone else comes in — and that next person will have different expectations. That’s fine, but if you have a contract, then it’s understood that these are DIFFERENT expectations.
d) In your contract, specify that either party can terminate the relationship at any given time. (You can be nice and put in something like “webmaster agrees to give 1 month’s notice.”) AND, this way you can put in if your volunteering is for a limited time — If you’re only willing to webmaster for 2 years, there it is, in writing. No need for anyone to act petulant when you remind them they need to find someone new.
e) Make it darn-tooting-sure that you are in no way responsible for hunting down the information that needs to go on the site. Otherwise, 90% of your time will be spent trying to track down reports from committee chairs.

I could write a book on this. I will admit to still being bitter. Webmastering is a hard volunteer job because a) people assume that since they surf the internet, designing web pages can’t be that hard, b) It’s an area ripe for micromanagement, c) people who aren’t in this line of work really have NO clue how much work goes into maintaining a site, especially one with content that changes often. I’ve heard many burnt-out webmasters complaining of what I’ve experienced: being the sole webmaster on a site that really should be under a professional team.

And don’t even get me started on the “we’ll get you some help” … and the people you are presented with have never done any web work, but hey, “they’re smart and can learn fast!”

If I ever do volunteer webwork again, I will begin the project as a total … well, bitch. “Here’s what I’m willing to do, here’s what I won’t do, here’s the length of time I’m willing to work on this …” Kind of like being a teacher. You can always get nicer, later.

Gurgle. Okay. Stopping now.

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