Perspectives on the Standards
Standard #15
: The work in the clubhouse is exclusively the work generated by the clubhouse in the operation and enhancement of the clubhouse community. No work for outside individuals or agencies, whether for pay or not, is acceptable work in the clubhouse. Members are not paid for any clubhouse work, nor are there any artificial reward systems.
At our clubhouses, we build our communities through essential projects that members and staff work on together. This enhances our strong sense of community, increases our self-knowledge, self-esteem, and pride. At our clubhouses, we gain access to—no, we create from the ground up—a community that nourishes our aspirations, and we are rewarded with the satisfaction of a job well done.
We do not use a reward system—points or stars—such as those used at treatment centers as part of a behavioral modification program. Yuck! We do not get paid for working at our clubhouses, just as we do not get paid for taking care of our homes. Members are invested in their clubhouses, and therefore we have a responsibility to help run it. Being paid would be an artificial reward and might put pressure on us by implying that tasks are judged the way an employer might judge them. It would also make some tasks appear to be more important than others, which is not the point of working at our clubhouses. Our true reward is a sense of fulfillment that comes from being a contributor to the clubhouse.