Look in the phone book under "Manpower", they work by the day.

So, no one knows where guys hang out on the street looking for work? Manpower is a good suggestion, but I'd be paying as much for their service as I would for their workers.
I'm looking to pay around $8/hr for 4 hours of light duty work - not $16-20 for a company.
thanks

When we hired thru Manpower it was only 2-3 dollars above minimum wage and that covered all the taxes that should be paid.

Have you called Manpower for their rates?

We're in SW Mich and it's too cold to hang around outside waiting for work.

Aother idea is to hang a notice on a bulletin board at a local grocery/department store. Or anyplace that has a lot of traffic. Help Wanted sign on a telephone pole?

The answer is 7 eleven and home depot parking lots.

Home depot lots for sure. Not in the wealthy areas though. In the middle class and working class areas.

Be sure you have insurance that will cover them in case of injury!

If you're anywhere near the University, put an ad on Craiglist. There's a labor section. You might get a few college kids.

Heck, scratch that. When I was in college, people would call my service frat (co-ed) and ask us to do little helpful things like rake leaves or move things for little old ladies from the neighborhood around the campus all the time. When those requests came up at meetings, the boys would volunteer because those sweet women who always try to feed us when we were done. :)

Again, if the University is nearby, you could email or call a frat...offer them either food or some beer money and as long as the move isn't at the same time as a major event, during exams, or while a good basketball game is on, you might get some nice guys to help you out.

Good luck!

I second the suggestion of CraigsList. You could post your requirements and offered pay and those that are interested will respond.

Frankly, I would never pick up someone off the street corner to come to a residence for work. You have no way of tracking them down if something strange happens. And there is one very well-known example of something very strange happening after a father brought a 'corner tradesman' into his home for some day labor. But maybe I'm paranoid.

At least with CL, you have some record of communications.

Sandy

I would be cautious about hiring someone who is standing on a streetcorner. You have know idea who they are and how honest they are. Perhaps a local church would know of organizations that link up day laborers with people and have some knowledge of who the people are.

Craigslist. I agree, it sounds dangerous and foolish to hire off a street corner.

Moving is a position of trust, and you do get what you pay for. If you use any old person they get to see what you have, where you live, whom you are living with also. Consider that.

Also, if you have nice stuff you don't want damaged, hire a professional. I know there are plenty of horror stories but generally they're bonded.

so, jus tbecause someone has access to a computer to read craigslist automatically puts them in a different class than those that hang around stores waiting for a day job? sorry, but in EITHER case you take an equal chance. i would honestly say those looking for day work who actually go thru the effort of getting off the butts and going somewhere are less likely to cause an issue. the troublemakers tend to browse online postings lookign for easy marks.

personally i say a local college/highschool or else go for a pro.

Many cities have organized day labor offices where the day laborers register. Call the BBB - they may also have organizations that provide labor at reasonable rates for various non-profits.

davidandkasie, I was referring more to the fact that someone who corresponds via computer is traceable in the event something illegal happens as a result of them being in your home. If you have had no previous contact with the person before you pick them up from the parking lot at Home Depot, you really have no trail to follow if need be.

I agree with the day laborer cautions.
I have picked them up to work outside digging, moving dirt, etc, but would never let an unknown person inside my house handle my possessions.

You hire experienced, insured, bonded movers to protect yourself, family and your assets.

I have no problem w/China goods but who is repaonsible when lead toys and smelly drywall infiltrate this country? I am going to sue China---likely not?

Also, if $100 is what they can live on over there, more power to them. If we (USA)could produce and sell say, a dvd player here in the US for $79 that provides a decent livable wage in the process and they (CHINA?) can sell the same dvd player HERE for $39, then I say Whooa...set a fair price (maybe $79) and slap a $40 tarrif on the foreign product. That would level the playing field. This actually would only encourage them (CHINA?) to sell their product for MORE rather than pay the tarrif. Now if their product is genuinely superior to that produced here, more folks here will STILL buy it and they will make out like bandits. Similarly, our US DVD manufacturer will need to crank out better DVD to stay in business. Sound fairer to me though...

Why can't this work? Maybe we Americans just need to pony up a few more $$$$ for things...may we do not need dvd players in every room....hey I am as guilty as the next guy but at some point we need to wise up and start to look out for our kids future.