Can elected Officer be a paid employee?

[Guest JWill]

Can an elected Legion Officer be a paid employee of the Legion Club/Amlecor? It seems to be a conflict of interest that an officer is allowed to vote on issues that effect his or her employment - such as raises, hours or even getting employment position. However, I cannot find anything saying it is against the rules or law.

[J. J.]

Can an elected Legion Officer be a paid employee of the Legion Club/Amlecor? It seems to be a conflict of interest that an officer is allowed to vote on issues that effect his or her employment - such as raises, hours or even getting employment position. However, I cannot find anything saying it is against the rules or law.

No rule in RONR prohibits it.

[Rev Ed]

Well, although RONR would not prohibit it, RONR also states that if a member (in this case a member of the Board) should not vote on "a question in which he has a direct personal or percuniary interest nt common to other members of the organization." Page 407 ll 21-25. However RONR also states "However, no member can be compelled to refrain from voting in such circumstances." Page 407 ll 30-31.

In other words, a paid employee can be elected to the Board and vote on all issues coming before the group, and even can vote on his/her salary although he/she should not.

It would be up to the organization to create its own rules regarding the situation. Of course, the simpliest option if the members do not want this to occur would be to vote for another member for the position that the paid employee is running for.

[Guest Edgar]

Of course, the simplest option if the members do not want this to occur would be to vote for another member for the position that the paid employee is running for.

Though we don't know which came first. Perhaps this officer was subsequently hired as an employee. In which case he could (but couldn't be compelled to) resign his office or, as suggested, agree not to participate in questions directly involving his employment. He may, in fact, be the best person for both positions.

[Rev Ed]

He may, in fact, be the best person for both positions.

I assumed that if this was the case, the original poster would not have asked the question. But it is true, this person could be the best person for both positions.