Where to draw the line

cdifoto wrote in post #16791165
...
If a company can have someone do whatever they want them to do whenever they want, they would salary anyone and have them go clean the bathrooms, maintain the vehicle fleet, empty all the trash cans, fix the lights, and so on and so forth endlessly.....

Actually that happens a lot (unless there's a collective bargaining agreement in place), and thankfully there are new regulations coming down that will eliminate a lot of that nonsense (I'm making the assumption that we're all talking about the USA since I don't have a clue about labor laws in other countries).

BUT, we're not talking about someone hired as a CPA washing cars and emptying trash cans. We're talking about someone hired as a CPA doing additional work sitting down at a computer editing images. Anyway I think this dead horse has been beaten quite enough, I'm pretty sure the OP has gotten the message by now that his best bet is to have a frank talk with his boss about how much extra time it's taking him to edit images etc. and to see where it goes from there.

kenwood33 wrote in post #16791413
Is it a registered charity? Can you get a tax receipt?

The value of volunteer work isn't allowed as a charitable deduction under federal law.

OhLook wrote in post #16791578
The value of volunteer work isn't allowed as a charitable deduction under federal law.

I don't know about the states but under Canadian law, something tangible (like a photograph) that is donated can be used as a deduction. Volunteer time like you mention is not.

groundloop wrote in post #16791437
Actually that happens a lot (unless there's a collective bargaining agreement in place), and thankfully there are new regulations coming down that will eliminate a lot of that nonsense (I'm making the assumption that we're all talking about the USA since I don't have a clue about labor laws in other countries).

BUT, we're not talking about someone hired as a CPA washing cars and emptying trash cans. We're talking about someone hired as a CPA doing additional work sitting down at a computer editing images. Anyway I think this dead horse has been beaten quite enough, I'm pretty sure the OP has gotten the message by now that his best bet is to have a frank talk with his boss about how much extra time it's taking him to edit images etc. and to see where it goes from there.

Additional work is additional work. Photography != accounting.

Voaky999 wrote in post #16791594
I don't know about the states but under Canadian law, something tangible (like a photograph) that is donated can be used as a deduction. Volunteer time like you mention is not.

Pretty sure the use of the equipment could be deducted. Probably use rental rates to get that figure. OP would know...he's the accountant.

cdifoto wrote in post #16791635
Additional work is additional work. Photography != accounting.

So what? If you want to sit in your cubicle and be passed over any future expansion in your responsibilities...jus​t focus on what you have been hired to do and you'll be pushing that same pencil in that same cubicle for the next 40 years.

Who cares you have not been hired to take photos. By taking the photos, you just expanded your worth to the company, not to mention your flexibility as an employee.

The best way to limit your career very quickly in today's climate is to say that job is not your responsibility.

I'm a financial analyst a large energy company. I've shot a bunch of stuff for the company magazine, promotional material etc etc....usually material circulated internally, but some external marketing stuff too. I've essentially become the "free" professional photographer for shoots our marketing and communications folks do within the office

I don't get any extra compensation, and no direct recognition beyond a caption next a photo occasionally.

It's helped me network in the office rather tremendously though, as it makes me very visible in a very large office. I've taken portraits of c-level executives in the office, and because of that, they're familiar with my work and know me on a personal basis. Can't complain about that.

Hogloff wrote in post #16791744
So what? If you want to sit in your cubicle and be passed over any future expansion in your responsibilities...jus​t focus on what you have been hired to do and you'll be pushing that same pencil in that same cubicle for the next 40 years.

Who cares you have not been hired to take photos. By taking the photos, you just expanded your worth to the company, not to mention your flexibility as an employee.

The best way to limit your career very quickly in today's climate is to say that job is not your responsibility.

It's one thing to give 110% at your job. It's another to be abused. You have to recognize the difference.

cdifoto wrote in post #16791946
It's one thing to give 110% at your job. It's another to be abused. You have to recognize the difference.

Really, taking photos rather than sitting in your cube pouring over numbers is being abused.

Hogloff wrote in post #16792439
Really, taking photos rather than sitting in your cube pouring over numbers is being abused.

Keep in mind I chose to be a CPA, so I kinda like numbers and my office is pretty nice. It also gives me financial insights into the company, things like I know we have more than enough cash to hire a photographer.

And that value really doesn't add anything to my corporate value. If I was a nurse and CPA, then yes. A photographer and CPA, no.

huntersdad wrote in post #16792524
Keep in mind I chose to be a CPA, so I kinda like numbers and my office is pretty nice. It also gives me financial insights into the company, things like I know we have more than enough cash to hire a photographer.

And that value really doesn't add anything to my corporate value. If I was a nurse and CPA, then yes. A photographer and CPA, no.

Flexibility, being able to wear multiple hats, being multi-talented always adds value to both you and the company.

I'm a product manager in a high tech company and team members that can take on different roles or tasks throughout the development of a product are much more valuable to me than someone who is a one trick pony. In today's dynamic work environments, employees need to be flexible and multi-talented rather than stagnant with the same skill set year after year.

Hogloff wrote in post #16789937
Is he not already hired for this company. Don't they already pay him a salary for his time?

^^This...

Isn't every company asking employees to do more than the job description (except, of course, for Unions)...? My current employer, and previous employers all do this. It's standard. I work Tech Support for a software company, and when the copier jams, I'm there digging the paper out and not calling for a service call... The phone system, moving a desk, running a network cable, helping a customer with an invoice, even running outside to take a picture of the building for the marketing brochure... I would never think of saying no, not if I want to be a valued employee... the OP is a bit stuck, since he works there, and is doing work related stuff...

Getting 'company' equipment is probably the best scenario... then at least the OP's equipment isn't at risk...

I have to say, Huntersdad is in a pretty unique spot. I am going to be a little bit of a devil's advocate here, I am going to assume HD is a pretty good CPA, he (sorry if you are a she) also does a pretty bang up job as a photographer. If they hired HD to be the photographer, they would have to hire another CPA, which may be easy or hard depending on the location. So they ask HD to do a shoot now and then. So far, no extra money has been required. So why change what is working?
HD appears to be at the end of his rope in continue to do free work. That is OK, and it appears HD is now going to approach the non profit with a change in the current environment. That is really the best option. Just letting them know it is great, but takes more time than they think currently may mean they will either respect the need to use the people they are already paying to do that work, or they will offer something to HD to do the work, but receive some compensation/recogniti​on in doing so.
I think the key here is just letting the non profit know the pictures don't just magically happen. It they are a company of decent character, they will do what is right. I truly still believe that at the heart of things, people are still good by nature.
I will continue to follow this thread to see how things turn out.

mguffin wrote in post #16792591
^^This...

Isn't every company asking employees to do more than the job description (except, of course, for Unions)...? My current employer, and previous employers all do this. It's standard. I work Tech Support for a software company, and when the copier jams, I'm there digging the paper out and not calling for a service call... The phone system, moving a desk, running a network cable, helping a customer with an invoice, even running outside to take a picture of the building for the marketing brochure... I would never think of saying no, not if I want to be a valued employee...

I am the same, I am a drafter/cnc programer that sits in his cubical at a computer, but today one of our wrench turners are on vacation and that department is backed up, so I am putting on my shop coat and headed out to get my hands dirty for the day. Very much not my job, and will see little thanks for it, but it helps the company which in turn will maybe .... probably not help come review time.

This is an interesting thread to follow and I have read it all. While I don’t know how many CEOs or other types of ‘Chiefs’ really are here, it could serve as a nice reminder to recognize those who are doing ‘more’ than their ‘normal’ job. It is usually the ‘little things’ that keep employees happy at their workplace and that doesn’t change if it is McDonalds or the highest paying company. That recognition can also apply to daily work and not just ‘extra’ work that is done for the company.

As for huntersdad, it seems that he enjoys photography, is good at it, and the company is more than happy to ‘use’ his skills in this area. Having done some similar work in the past there are a couple of things to think about. First would obviously be the amount of time (outside of work) that is needed to process the images. Second would be another obvious (to me) that while he is doing photography during the workday that he is ‘not’ doing the CPA work that he is hired to do while doing this photography. If you give up a day of work in the CPA office, isn’t it going to require additional work at some other time to make up for this? Even if you have assistants or secretaries that can cover for the day, it would seem that you would need to complete at lease some of your CPA work that you would have been doing had you not been out of the office doing photography. Finally, again maybe only to me, but it would seem that if there are already two photographers in the company and you can do their work and still complete your CPA work, then it is time for the company to cut at least one of the photographers and just give the work to you. After all, you are already doing it. {Yes, those two last sentences are somewhat my attempt at humor, but could also be true.} While I know that you have to take pleasure (as we all would) having your work used as you have mentioned, my personal view would be that it might be time to let the company know that due to the needed time of your CPA work, the photography work will need to be done by the two photographers who are already hired to do photography.