As a fellow in the Handshake AI Fellowship, it’s important to understand which activities are paid and which are not. This article explains how compensation works so you know what to expect before you begin a project.

What work am I paid for? 

Onboarding

Some projects include paid onboarding time, while others do not. Whether onboarding is eligible for compensation will always be clearly stated in the Project Terms for that project. If onboarding pay is listed in the Project Terms, you will be compensated as described. If onboarding pay is not explicitly mentioned, time spent onboarding is not paid. Fellows should always review the Project Terms before beginning any onboarding activities.

Working on tasks

Most Handshake AI projects pay either an hourly rate or a per-task rate, as outlined in the Project Terms. For projects that offer hourly pay, fellows are compensated for time spent preparing tasks, submitting tasks, and revising or resubmitting tasks when revisions are required. Some tasks include a maximum handling time, also referred to as a time cap. When a time cap applies, payment is limited to the maximum handling time listed in the Project Terms, even if the task takes longer to complete. Fellows are still required to complete and successfully submit the task in order to receive payment.

Meetings 

Handshake AI may host meetings to support fellows during onboarding or tasking. Optional meetings, such as office hours or general guidance sessions, are not paid. Occasionally, required meetings may be scheduled to communicate important updates, changes to task scope, or feedback from AI lab partners. If any meeting time is eligible for payment, this will be clearly stated in the Project Terms.

Additional information

For full and official details about compensation, earning eligibility, and payments, fellows should refer to section 4 of the Contractor Agreement  along with the Project Terms for each project. 

Unsure about an activity?
If you are uncertain whether an activity is eligible for payment, ask your project lead before logging time. This helps ensure you're only recording activities that are compensated.

Consequences of logging non-permissible activities
Submitting time for activities that are not eligible for payment could result in non-payment, and may lead to other follow-up actions. These include, but are not limited to, off-boarding from the project, revocation of platform access, formal warnings, or disqualification from future projects.

What you cannot be paid for 

Some activities that may occur during a project are not eligible for compensation. The examples below are provided to help clarify common unpaid activities, but this list is not exhaustive.

• Optional meetings are not paid. This includes office hours, one-on-one sessions with the Handshake AI team or reviewers, administrative meetings, instruction clarification sessions, and task-related Q&A. While these meetings are designed to support you and help you succeed on a project, participation is optional and therefore not eligible for compensation.

• Time spent participating in or interacting with community or communication platforms is also not paid. This includes platforms like Slack. In addition, communication outside of your assigned tasks—such as emailing, messaging, or scheduling meetings—is not compensable, even when the communication is related to clarifying instructions or discussing task details.

• Time lost due to technical issues is not eligible for payment. This includes, but is not limited to, internet connectivity problems, computer or device malfunctions, account setup delays, or login errors. While we understand these situations can be frustrating, Handshake AI is unable to compensate for time lost as a result of technical difficulties.