Day Labor

TC3

Headache !
Joined
Aug 12, 2006
Messages
1,504
Location
Michigan
As the season comes into full swing, I'm getting a lot of calls for mulching. It's easy money, and I'm not in a position to turn it down. But I'm pretty much a one-person gig. I've been considering hiring day laborors, and was wondering if anybody here can offer some tips ?
Do I need insurance (comp) for them ? Are they considered independent contractors ? Is paying cash at the end of the day how it's done ?
Any input would help.
Thanks.
 

sotc

Dormant hero!!
Joined
Dec 6, 2005
Messages
21,819
Location
So. Oregon
if your going seasonal id run them through a temp agency, that way theyre covered as well as your tail
 

Paul B

I dig hammocks.
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
12,711
Location
Burnaby BC
I run the young fellas as casual labour, backpay annually for WCB and call it done. Pay them every couple weeks if they are regular, end of the week if they are transitional.
 

Old Monkey

Treehouser
Joined
Mar 9, 2005
Messages
8,764
I'd do like Willie says if you aren't going to hang on to them over the long run.
 
M

Mr. Sir

Guest
If you go through a labor pool like Labor-Ready they cover the insurance. You pay the labor pool company and they pay the employees. The ones I've seen around here are mostly drunks, addicts, and other losers who can't find work anywhere else. You'd be better off trying to hire some young kid on a part time basis, but then you have the insurance problem.
 

sotc

Dormant hero!!
Joined
Dec 6, 2005
Messages
21,819
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So. Oregon
you can hire who you want and send them to labor ready to apply for you. dont hire their people just let them do all the paper work
 
B

Banned by Squirrels

Guest
you can hire who you want and send them to labor ready to apply for you. dont hire their people just let them do all the paper work


That's the way. Also look in your phone book for employee leasing services. Same thing as above but possibly less expensive/more options.
 

Old Monkey

Treehouser
Joined
Mar 9, 2005
Messages
8,764
I just hired a 19 year old whose dad is a Workman's Comp. Judge. He goes on the books lickety split.
 

Stumper

Treehouser
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
3,391
Location
Colorado
Frans, Actually, according to my old agent, Homeowners Ins has to cover everydurnbody that wanders through the landscape. Therefore Homeowners Ins alway urges clients to hire only insured contractors so that the Ins. companies (most of which own one another in some roundablout fashion) can fight over who pays what.

My inclination is to hire frineds and pay them for their work as contract labor/subcontractors but hiring people through an agency covers all comp and tax matters.
 

stehansen

Climbing Up
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
9,187
Location
Ceres, CA
I know that mulching is a little different gig than tree removal. But when I tried to get some guys from a temp agency as soon as they found out that I was a tree service they wouldn't do business with me.
 

sotc

Dormant hero!!
Joined
Dec 6, 2005
Messages
21,819
Location
So. Oregon
yeah, i had to look around a bit to find one that covered tree service. i used a temp agency for 9 months when i started up
 
B

Banned by Squirrels

Guest
Temp. help sucks.


If you don't want the paperwork lease your own guys/girls for about ten percent more.
 

Stumper

Treehouser
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
3,391
Location
Colorado
Dur... Whatcha talkin' 'bout Bannned?
Teresa needs help. She isn't talking about sending a crew that doesn't yet exist off on a side foray.
 
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