Contributor status

= Various status within the project =


 * Lurkers - occasionally read the mailing-list or make a few comments upon request
 * Commenters - regularly read the mailing-list and contribute to discussions
 * Contributors - read and contribute to the mailing-list, and contribute work to the project
 * Contractors - perform paid work, but without any contractual terms about the recurrence of the work
 * Recurring contractors and employees - perform paid work, with a contractual agreement about the recurrence of the work

= Contracting =


 * 1) The contractor makes an estimate of time corresponding to the required deliverables and agrees to a deadline
 * 2) The price for the deliverables is calculated based on the daily rate of the recurring contractor agreed to for the project

Note that if the deliverables take more time than initially announced to be produced, the price remains the same, and is only released upon final delivery - it's thus important to accurately estimate the time the task will take.

Obligations for contractors

 * Stay up to date with the emails arriving on the mailing-list, and respond within the same day to questions that are addressed to them, or discussions that affect their work
 * Post a detailled report of the work done, every day at the end of the day
 * Respect deadlines. When a contractor realizes that he won't be able to match a deadline, for any reason, he must raise the issue on the mailing-list to allow the schedule to be updated. In any case, it must warn before the deadline arrives.
 * Stay connected during work hours to the project chat, and promptly respond to requests or questions there.

= Details regarding the Recurring contractors and Employees =

Except for the contractual basis that differs, our position is that recurring contractors and employees share the same rights and obligations.

Pre-requesites to become a Recurring contractor/Employee
In order to become a recurring contractor (or employee), someone must have been for some time an active contributor or an occasional contractor, because it is important to know how the person reacts to the context before being able to get a longer term status.

Because the choice is related to the financial capacity of the studio, the final choice of who becomes recurring contractor / employee, and under which conditions, belongs to the management of the studio, though these choices and explanations are presented and discussed on the mailing-list before a decision is taken.

Rights and obligations attached to the Recurring contractor/Employee status
A Recurring contractor/Employee is someone who wishes to work contracturally for the project on a regular basis.

The contract states that a certain type of tasks and responsibilities will be prioritarily attributed to a the recurring contractor. Whenever a funded task corresponding to the job description arises, it is proposed first to the recurring contractor (cf section "Contracting" above).

According to the workload and depending on the situation, the missions/payment can be defined on a weekly iteration basis if it's more convenient - but the principle remains the same.

Acceptance of tasks
The recurring contractor can chose to not do a task a task that is proposed to him, but he must then find someone else who can perform it, in the same terms than if he was completing it himself, and he is responsible for the proper completion of the work.

Advantages
Beyond the financial compensation and the priority on certain type of tasks, the status of recurring contractor/employee also gives access to:


 * 1) A personal development budget, that can be spent in training (10% of the amount earned - spendings must relate to tasks done for the project and be approved beforehand)
 * 2) One or two travels per year, with flight and housing expenses covered, to one of the project meetings or sprints
 * 3) A performance appraisal, providing you with feedback and clear objectives.
 * 4) A business card :)

Note: Please discuss these elements on the mailing-list before spending money - the approval is usually not an issue, but it has done be done beforehand : )

Quitting the recurring contributor status
The core of the contract here is a long term commitment between the contractor/employee and the studio. If one of the two parties wishes to end the collaboration, some prior notice will be given, between 1 or 3 months according to what is stated in the initial contract. It is of course possible to remain an occasional contractor.