With the recent employment situation some unemployed people are willing to do an observation period by working for free for a company to see if the fit will work and a paid job would open up.  Recently, the New Hampshire Department of Labor had a wage claim by a woman who worked for 63.5 hours at a hair salon during her observation period.  She volunteered her time, but when she ultimately was unable to get a job she filed a wage claim for minimum wages that were never paid.  The Department of Labor ruled in favor of the employee and said that the employee had clearly been permitted to engage in work and therefore, was entitled to receive the minimum wage rate for the hours she claimed to have worked.  Another case, involving a landscape company, had a similar result where the owner’s girlfriend worked several hours a week to help out.  Thus, taking on an unpaid helper may result in their getting paid after all.