How much should you pay day labor?
Question:My back yard needs to be leveled its about 5-6 hours work I would guess
Answers:
$10 per hour per person
some have a minimum of $100 per day per person
If your expecint someone to do backbreaking work... I would recommend offering $100 for the day up-front
$10 per hour.
Depending how much needs to be cleaned up, such as trees, brushes, debris and so on.
I would first call in a landscaper, and get estimates. Three estimates are all you will need.
Then take an average of what they are quoting you for.
1/7th of what you pay for week labor.
It depends if you are paying them cash under the table.
If it's a cash deal, then take into consideration that the workers can opt to "hide" the wages, and not report it and pay the appropriate taxes. So, for instance you could pay them $10.00 an hour as opposed to $12.00 an hour.
Do make sure you have sufficient homeowners insurance to cover the costs if one of the workers slips and falls on your property and then tries to legally hold you financially responsible. You may want to draw up a form for each of them to sign at the end of the days' work, that they are not injured. This would be to avoid them from coming back at you at a later date claiming they got injured while in your employ, (even though they are considered a 1099 employee).
There used to be a time that men would ask for very little to do hard labor (especially if they are here illegally). I have noticed that they have a bit of an attitude now, and are demanding more money. Some laborers may want $15.00 and up now.
Just be careful that you don't get set up for some kind of a back-lash law suit if they claim injury.
If you have a gardener, I would first offer them the job, or take their referrels. At least it's a start.
Also make sure these workers have access to toilet facilities either in your home, or give them time off to drive to the closest gas station or fast food restaurant to use the facilities.
A lot of people don't think about this until the neighbors complain.
Good luck!
You shouldn't use day labor. Period.
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