The Employment Court has ruled Gloriavale residents were employees - not volunteers.

Hosea and Levi Courage, and Daniel Pilgrim, have now left the religious community, and sought a declaration on their status after leaving school and working at the commune and its businesses.

Gloriavale claims work done by six to 14 year olds was chores, by 15-year-olds it was part of school ... and from 16 it was voluntary.

Chief Judge Christina Inglis has found all three were employees from the age of six until they left the commune.

She says the work can't be described as chores or education, because of its commercial nature.

On the show today we discussed the implication of the decision on other organisations that utilise volunteers.

Barrister Kathryn Dalziel joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels.

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