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Jerseydaze

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So im a new business and im looking for a green helper in New Jersey im trying to decide what a fair rate of pay is.Any opinions? I plan to meet the helper at shop.
 
I think anybody needs $7.50 an hour just to afford to live at their moms house. I would prob give $8 to start, with the prospect of raises based on performance.
 
Fact is, a green helper isn't really worth much at first. Maybe 50 cents to 1 dollar more than what they could make at a gas station or hamburger stand in your labor market. If the guys shows up on time, is willing to learn, and works hard, give raises early and often in accordance with how he contributes to the team.
 
Jerseydaze said:
So im a new business and im looking for a green helper in New Jersey im trying to decide what a fair rate of pay is.Any opinions? I plan to meet the helper at shop.
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The title of this thread will generate 1000 views at least.:grin:

nyerinfl, where are you from? $7 or $8 sound kind of low to start a man.

A reminder to you members/posters, click My Profile and enter where your from. It really makes things easier for all of us.

Thanks
 
nyerinfl said:
I don't personally think anyone could actually live off $8 an hour.
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The actual cost of living varies greatly, so the specific dollar amount is amost irrevenant on an internet forum in my opinion. This is why I based my answer by comparison of jobs with similar skill level requirements. Consider also that nobody's really expecting a green helper to be provided with a living wage. Education is expensive, and he's paying "tuition" to a certain extent with a depressed initial wage by learning the job from scratch. The pay will increase in accordance with his aquired skill and educatino.
 
I started out at 6 but was up to 13 within a few months. I was a monkey an full of energy then though.I couldn't imagine living a real life for less than 10. Less than $400 a month. Jeez:-?
 
nyerinfl said:
Like I said enough to live at moms.
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I don't hire helpers, the owner does. I like helpers that have just left the nest and are hungry to pay the bills. They show up and have no problem working OT.

I do hire Jmen and mechanics and the scale here is average at best.
 
I wouldn't give to much just starting out. Remember that if the guy shows up and you think that he's going to work out you will need to give a raise within 60 days. Start him cheap and tell him what he can make in the future if he starts to earn it.

People like getting raises, it makes them feel as if they have accomplished something and it's easier to give a raise if you are not paying to much to start with.
 
growler said:
People like getting raises, it makes them feel as if they have accomplished something and it's easier to give a raise if you are not paying to much to start with.
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Yeah, I would much rather start off at 10 dollars an hour with a dollar raise every year for five years then you pay me 15 dollars an hour from the start. ;)
 
stickboy1375 said:
Yeah, I would much rather start off at 10 dollars an hour with a dollar raise every year for five years then you pay me 15 dollars an hour from the start. ;)
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I bet you would, but if a 5 year experienced man is worth 15, a green apprentice sure isn't worth that from the beginning. You can hire cheap and give a raise at 30, 60, and 90 days if you want to. That seems to really motivate a guy. Do the yearly thing after that. Far easier to give frequent raises to a guy that's really working out for you than to hire for big money then have to take some back or fire the guy because he's not worth it. I'm talking about pretty green people now. Fully qualified guys are a different story. You're often safe by paying whatever they want right off the bat.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Yeah, I would much rather start off at 10 dollars an hour with a dollar raise every year for five years then you pay me 15 dollars an hour from the start. ;)
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The point I'm getting at is that if you started off at $15 an hour you would still want a raise in a few months or at the end of the first year, it's human nature to want more.
 
mdshunk said:
I bet you would, but if a 5 year experienced man is worth 15, a green apprentice sure isn't worth that from the beginning. You can hire cheap and give a raise at 30, 60, and 90 days if you want to. That seems to really motivate a guy. Do the yearly thing after that. Far easier to give frequent raises to a guy that's really working out for you than to hire for big money then have to take some back or fire the guy because he's not worth it. I'm talking about pretty green people now. Fully qualified guys are a different story. You're often safe by paying whatever they want right off the bat.
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If I was joining a large corporation, or municipal entity where I knew raises were a sure thing, I might buy this "start low, aim high" talk - But starting a green helper at a buck over burger flipper rate is is exactly the reason you're getting the kind of people who eventually "just don't work out."

Maybe contractors should start taking wage rates, (even for green helpers) as seriously as you want your employees to take your business. 8 bucks an hour - not even 2 gallons of gas. You're lucky to get an ex-con wearing an ankle bracelet.
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
If I was joining a large corporation, or municipal entity where I knew raises were a sure thing, I might buy this "start low, aim high" talk - But starting a green helper at a buck over burger flipper rate is is exactly the reason you're getting the kind of people who eventually "just don't work out."
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A mentality of entitlement here perhaps? I'm surprised to hear this sort of talk from you, particularly. I am not a social welfare agency. I am a man who works for everything I've got, and I expect others to do the same. I do not owe anyone a living, but I will put everything in place for them to do that for themself over time.
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
But starting a green helper at a buck over burger flipper rate is is exactly the reason you're getting the kind of people who eventually "just don't work out." ....You're lucky to get an ex-con wearing an ankle bracelet.
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I am not too willing to invest too much (I say that like I am the one paying him :roll: , but I have been given a say in what happens) without knowing I am going to get something out of it. I try to treat everybody fair in today's economy but, call me naive or silly, I expect the new guy to have the same enthusiasm and desire to make a statement that I had entering the profession. I knew I knew nothing, but I was set on proving wanted to know something and learned from past experience that it was something that would be recognized and rewarded. We let green help know that they would start liveable but low, and quickly advanced when the effort was obvious.

mdshunk said:
I do not owe anyone a living, but I will put everything in place for them to do that for themself over time.
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Well said, and good to see more from you again, Marc. Missed seeing you floating around the forum.
 
I agree that location says it all. That being said I just hired a GREEN guy for 9.50/hr. I told him he would go to 10/hr after 30 working days if it panned out and then .50 + every 6 months depending on how things were working. Judging by the input I got from all of the applicants for the job this was not an unreasonable situation for this area.
I know the world is different now but I still ID with the old school concept that 1st years are little more than laborers. If they can last that year on low wages and donkey work than they maybe they are worth holding onto and teaching.
 
stickboy1375 said:
So what are you guys billing these 8 dollar an hour men out at? Same as the 15 dollar an hour guys?
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We bill the same for licensed or not.

If the customer really has a problem with that we bill more for the licensed and less for the helper but it comes out exactly the same cost to the customer per hour.
 
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