Have you ever hired a day laborer?

Yes. We used to do it from time to time. We usually paid them $10.00/hour and gave them rides to and from the job. We also made arrangements to pick them up if there was additional or continuing work the next day (or days). Oh, and many times we would provide lunch if we got them in the morning.
Most of the time they worked for their money and did a creditable job, especially if they could see it was more work than could be done in a matter of hours.

When I moved into the house where I live now, I (disabled) had to unload my truck withonly tthe help of my 10 yr old daughter. We did all we could. the last pieces of furniture had to just stay in there. One day a guy came up to me at the bus transfer spot, and asked for money to get a sandwich. I told him if he would come to my house and do about 20 minutes work unloading my truck, I would pay his bus ride there, $10. a few smokes, and share a frozen pizza with him. He did it fast, and put things right where I needed.
I spent a summer, long ago, doing day labor out of a hire office (not a temp hire). I was very good and got lots of call backs. I worked with a variety of types. Most worked hard and honest. Nearly always the guys took extra good care of old ladies. Sometimes there would be a lazy bum, or someone who WANTS to do well, but was dumber than a rock and slower than an old rock.

I have never picked up people randomly, well once, a couple teenage boys that planted some trees for me.
I have used C’sList and believe in paying generously. I’d pay a minimum of $50 for 2 hours work and at least $15 an hour for more hours.
I do not believe in EXPLOITING people!

Pay WELL, treat others as equals, offer refreshments, be nice and sincere and people WILL work their ass off for you.

These two guys I picked up worked hard, and very well. I did bring them a jug of water, and I paid them $15 an hour each for 3 hours work, then added an hour for a tip.
I was very happy with the results, both to the trench I needed dug, and my back.

Yes. When I lived in California we did this more than once. I don’t remember how much we paid but I do remember they did everything from painting to landscaping and always worked hard and got the job done.

After Sandy, a low-budget contractor came knocking on doors and offered to clear the tree off of my garage for a very reasonable price. He also repaired the siding and I have had him back to do some other small jobs. A very nice guy and a good worker.

I have and the work was good but I always worry that someone will get hurt and I will be liable. Legally you’re supposed to pay workers comp and do payroll withholding. I think we paid $15 per hour. They were painters.

No. When people do manual, physical labor, they’re always at risk for injuries. Someone might fall from a ladder, or hurt his back lifting heavy objects, or cut his hand using a machine…it’s really not “if” but “when.”

The moment someone’s hurt at an off-the-books job, everything explodes. That individual’s entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, but you haven’t provided coverage. The person might need Social Security disability payments, but you’ve “cleverly” dodged the FICA bullet. Unemployment compensation isn’t an option, because you haven’t reported the individual or paid the (miniscule) tax. You’ll be liable for damages and, no, a corporation or LLC won’t protect you from your own negligence.

I was a day laborer in high school. I put an ad in the paper and got a whole bunch of work from it. I did home repairs, landscaping, lawns, construction, whatever anyone needed. It was fun and paid reasonable.

Sort of.

A friend’s father would come to the US from Ecuador every Summer. He was a very skilled laborer in landscaping, carpentry, painting, etc. In the months prior to his arrival, my friend would line him up with jobs through the Summer.

At the end of each Summer, he would return home to Ecuador with enough money to live comfortably the rest of the year.

Anywho… we hired him to do numerous jobs for three or four Summers.

He stripped and painted my deck and fence, fixed another fence, landscaped my yard, finished my attic (drywall, paint, carpet), and more.

He basically charged about $100/day + supplies. We always provided him with lunch and drinks. He even stayed and ate dinner with us a few times.

I did once to clear some trash when I was moving out of my home. They basically came and picked it up and then left. It was easy and safe.

My husband’s boss used to hire them on occasion and then stopped because one day a couple of them stole a bunch of equipment from him. You are basically hiring strangers without knowing anything about them, so you should be careful. Has nothing to do with where they come from or their status, but is about what you don’t know about them.

I usually hire through a temp agency, and have been mostly satisfied. I hired an immigrant to clean my gutters and rake my front yard. He was very fast and very hard working.

I only did it once and regretted it. The guy was as useful as a teat on a bull.