What if I don’t speak Spanish?
No problem! Many of our workers speak varying levels of English and our hiring coordinators are available to assist you with translation as well. If necessary, you can also call us during the job to ask for interpretation over the phone (as staff capacity permits). We are here to make the experience work for you, and make hiring a practice you are likely to repeat.
What are the rates?
The day laborers and domestic workers at the Center collectively set wages for each type of job matched between the worker and employer through the day labor center's hiring process.
The minimum wage for any work negotiated through the Graton Day Labor Center is $15/hour. Higher minimum wages ($15-$25/hour) apply for heavier and/or more skilled labor.
Domestic workers have set their wages at $20/hour. Deep cleaning such as oven cleaning, window washing, laundry, and move-in or move-out cleaning is $25/hour.
Do I have to hire for a set minimum number of hours?
No, however, we do recommend a 4-hour minimum. Any job less than 4 hours may be challenging to fill and will most likely be set at a higher fixed amount. House cleaning jobs do not have a minimum, but we do strongly recommend you hire for at least three hours.
What is my tax liability?
Under Federal Law, if you are hiring a temporary worker for residential employment only, the Internal Revenue Service does not require the reporting of wages up to $1,700.00 per person per year. [Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Services. Household Employer’s Tax Guide, Publication 926]. Under California Law, if you are hiring a temporary worker for residential employment only, the Employment Development Department does not require the reporting of wages up to $750 per quarter per person or a total of $3,000 per person per year. There is no requirement to complete an I-9 form, for a sporadic or intermittent temporary worker, by a residential employer according to the Department of Homeland Security’s Employment Manual. You may hire more than one temporary worker at any one time or multiple workers in a quarter or a calendar year for residential employment. Please note that these are statements we found published on government websites. You should consult your own accountant or tax lawyer to determine what your tax liability may be for hiring a day laborer.
What about lunch?
We will ask if lunch can be provided, though it is optional. Many workers do not know if they will be hired on any given day, so most do not bring lunches. If providing lunch is not possible, it is best to let us know in advance so that we can inform the worker. Water and bathrooms must also be available. Please inform the worker when they arrive on the job where they can access water and bathrooms. If these are not easily accessible, please advise the job dispatcher when you are negotiating the job.
What about transportation?
Workers will drive to job sites, though this limits many workers’ job opportunities, since they may not own a car. If transportation needs to be arranged, it is best to do so in advance, so that the directions are as clear as possible