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  Discussion on Hiring Farm Help
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Member:
Bonita

Posted on Friday, Jul 23, 2004 - 8:38 am:

So - here I am again, & still handicapped. Yes, my leg did eventually heal, but I was supposed to ultimately have 4 surgeries to try & repair it, & the first 2 were so awful, that I have put off the remaining 2 indefinitely - especially since I was told that these remaining 2 could make things worse (I mean, at least I'm walking now. . .) or make no improvement on my condition.

As far as the "help" issue, I ended up doing all the barn work myself - ON CRUTCHES. Yes, it DID take a long time - like 1-2 hours per stall long - but I did it. Think pushing a wheelbarrow about 12", then catching up on crutches, pushing again, catching up, etc., etc., etc. I just had so many medical bills to pay (even with decent insurance, micro-surgery costs a bundle), that when the insurance quotes I received re: Workers Compensation were all well over $1,000/annual, payable up front in full, I simply couldn't afford it. As a plus, I now have a barn full of horses who are used to being turned out by someone on crutches. . . .

So how do small barn owners who have help do it? I find it hard to believe that they all spend up to $2,000/year for their part-time stall-mucking help. Or am I just out-of-the-loop? Or perhaps too legal-minded?

Since I still definitely need/would-love some help around here, a friend suggested I go hire one or two of the Mexican (& probable illegal alien) gents who gather in one of our local parking lots in the early morning hours waiting for someone to drive up & offer them work. But then again, what the heck happens if someone gets hurt. Even if I don't have them handling the horses, someone's back could go out, someone could have a heart attack, ad infinitum.

I am at a complete loss here. And again, I'm not trying to cheat anyone. Would be more than willing to pay someone $10+/hour at least, just to help me, & wouldn't be asking anyone to do anything I wouldn't do myself if I could. Any thoughts?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 24, 2004 - 11:36 am:

By paying them as "contract labor" or "fee for service" you avoid many of the legal entanglements Bonita. Up to 600$ there are no responsibilities after that you have to issue a 1099 form. Be sure to check with a local accountant / attorney for local laws that may apply to such labor.
DrO
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, Jul 26, 2004 - 1:29 pm:

I have done as Dr. O suggests with college kids, who seems to have less transportations problems and more responsibility than h.s. kids.

Also, here in UT and I thought nationwide, homeowner's ins. covers someone hurt on your property...tho' in some states you may need a special liability clause for the horses as they are considered a "hazardous inticement" or some such thing.

My big problem is just finding someone reliable and willing to work. I had a young Mexican couple for several yrs. when in Calif. They were great. When we moved we had a young woman excellent

in every way-except when a young man was in the picture! We had spent several thousand $ getting ready to go to a national show and two days before we were to leave, she bailed on us with no notice. Her b.f. didn't want her to go!!

I've had people that lived on the property and still couldn't manage to get up and feed before 10 a.m. (by when I had the work done) People that don't show up; that can't remember to shut gates (letting out stallions twice!) That forget to check the water, etc., etc.,

You that have good help - where did you find them? How much do you pay? I was paying $1000/mo.plus a free place to live with all utilities paid, and health insurance. Also, bought work boots, and various other odds and ends. I was paying the kids $7/hr.
Member:
Canter

Posted on Monday, Jul 26, 2004 - 3:58 pm:

One word of caution about immigrant help. Be sure that they are legal--I think that you yourself could get into trouble with the INS if you are cought with illegals working for you. (I live in MI where there are a lot of migrant workers and I seem to re-call a news story several years back where some local farmers got into trouble because their workers were not in the country legally).

A friend of mine found excellent help in the form of an older gentleman who had retired from his career but was looking for something to keep him busy. He is the most reliable barn help I have ever come across. My friend loves him for his work ethic and because he is simply the nicest guy you'd ever want to be around. Does a great job and really enjoys the horses. She found him by putting an ad in the paper. Other than that, I have no idea how you'd go about finding such a gem...
Member:
Presario

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004 - 10:50 am:

Going with what Fran said about finding a retired person who just wants something to do - what about putting an ad in an Agricultural Review type paper? That is what we have here, surely there is something similar in your area? Perhaps contact your county extension agency and see what suggestions they might have?
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004 - 11:05 pm:

I am also putting notices up at the local feed stores/tack stores.
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