There's no free lunch... or free work.

The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that you pay at least minimum wage for all hours worked by employees. In almost all cases, "free" work is illegal, and you can't just get around that requirement by citing "noncompensation" in a job ad, or by having an employee sign away their rights to compensation.

Recent case: The UCLA Department of Chemistry got into hot water last month by posting a job ad for an assistant adjunct professor on "a with-out-salary basis." The ad went on to say, "Applicants must understand there will be no compensation for this position"

And while it can be legal for someone to volunteer time at a nonprofit for charitable activities, it's...