Disrespect for working people - are we all slavers now?

[MaryMagdaline]

I see a lot of posts in my Neighborhood section from people in search of skilled workers, nannies and housekeepers.

Is it me or are we all turning a bit imperialist with working people? Today’s post for example, “Anyone have [“have” not “know”] a handyman who works Sundays?”

Also, other posts: Need X, must be reasonable, must speak English, must _____ (fill in the blank). My favorite: must charge reasonable price only!! (which I read to mean cheap).

As much as I’d like to refer people who have done a good job for me, I sure as hell would not like someone to call and demand that they appear on a Sunday and offer services for lower than they are worth.

The tone of these ISOs is that the person in search of is entitled to cheap, readily accessible labor and that the rest of us must verify that the people who work for us are ours to lend out.

[Srkdqltr]

1. Interesting take on this.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. You make good points. A lot of people preach endlessly about getting paid a decent amount,

but when it comes to paying for services themselves, they are the ultimate hypocrites, moan and gripe about paying even above minimum wage for anything.

[MaryMagdaline]

5. Exactly

I live in an anti-union state (Florida) where we’ve benefitted from cheap immigrant labor. A lot of us suburbanites have turned into cheapskates. When someone sees a Biden sign in front of my house I hope they know that I value labor, ie anything I’m not able or willing to do.

[Phentex]

9. This is what I see on NextDoor here...

same people are leasing their beach houses and mountain cabins but they want dirt cheap help to maintain them.

[MaryMagdaline]

15. Yep

[csziggy]

16. Yeah, I got into a dispute with my contractor

The hands down best crew for the entire build process of my addition was the original framing crew. I liked them a lot because they did great work and were terrific guys. The contractor wanted to reduce how much he was paying them, despite the amount (and any extras) were agreed upon by a bid process before they started.

It turned out that the subcontractor pays full workman's comp and unemployment insurance for every single person who works for him. As a result, he gets little turnover and his men are more skilled and reliable than the average framing crew. Most construction crews have a huge turnover as the men can almost always get a little more with another company, or move elsewhere to get paid better - plus they are seldom valued for their skills and experience.

I insisted on them for the siding and the trim but the contractor did not want to pay for the quality of work. I stood by the subcontractor on his increases - and in fact paid some directly to him for stuff the contractor did not want to pay.

After they finished their work on my addition, they started a project down on the coast - a three story house on stilts with a second story deck. One of the workers fell off the second story deck, essentially a three story fall. He messed up his back, broke some ribs and, has some other damage. If his boss had not had workman's comp, he could not have gotten the level of care he did. The unemployment insurance meant he could take the time off to heal enough to do light work. Even so, his boss has now moved him to a supervisory position so he can still work but does not have to move lumber, climb ladders, or chance doing additional damage as he works.

THIS is the kind on company I want to support! The contractor for the addition brags about building top level houses but he doesn't want to pay for top level workers or to be responsible for making sure the workers are covered for accident or business interruptions. I will not be using that contractor again or recommending him.

[SWBTATTReg]

17. Thank you for sharing this story. It's very revealing when the character of the contractor and sub-

contractors comes into play so much when one signs a contract w/ them (or multiple contracts). Little is paid to the worker bees which is unfortunate. Little turnover in a well paid crew goes a heck of a long way when it comes down later when the new addition or new home have fewer breakdowns or problems because of a more trained and skilled work crew. I too, had my share of negative experiences with a roofing job that was the job from Hell that I went through and never again will I.

Thank god for the workman's comp and I hope that the worker does fully heal. A broken back is a horrible thing (and of course the other horrible stuff). Perhaps it's a good thing that they are now doing light tasks (instead of lifting, etc.), perhaps it'll have to be their future job if the back doesn't fully heal or they have issues w/ lifting for the rest of their lives, and the minor lifting is probably a good thing. You're right, this is the company I'd support, hands down.

Take care and thanks again for sharing your story. It just goes to show that everyone really does benefit from paying just a little bit more so all can benefit. Unlike some who take advantage of others by skimping on decent pay and benefits, in order to get ahead.

[pandr32]

3. You bring up a worthy point to reflect on

Certainly employers who cut hours, pay, benefits, and union support are exploiting workers.

[SharonClark]

4. I've noticed the "reasonable" fees as well and

wonder why the poster thinks anyone would recommend a plumber/arborist/veterinarian who is “unreasonably” expensive.

It does mean cheap.

[MaryMagdaline]

6. Yes! And why would I subject any friend with great skills to be hammered by some cheapskate!

[Midnight Writer]

7. Illustrated vividly by the anti-maskers screaming at and posing risk to essential workers.

[MaryMagdaline]

8. Yes!

[Phentex]

10. Sometimes I read the childcare ads just for kicks...

pre-Covid, I was interested in babysitting. The ads were unsettling. They want a robot with very little pay.

[MaryMagdaline]

11. I know! It's scary

[BadGimp]

12. Great Post!

[MaryMagdaline]

14. Thank you

[lunatica]

13. I was a waitress 40 years ago and it was just like this

I learned two basic things about human behavior.

People who can get away with treating others like shit will do it every time.

People who respect everyone else don’t do it.

There is no crossover. You are one or the other. Not both.

[MaryMagdaline]

18. Yes. Character shows