Whilst travelling Ive looked at many ads for help wanted on this forum. Can someone please explain why it always seems that there is always a lopsided arrangement in favour of the advertiser eg for a van site (power/water) that there seems to be the expectation of a few hours work per day handyman/gardening/feeding or caring for farm animals/pets?
Would it not be fairer to say van site is valued at $20-30 per day which will be offset by one hours work per day?
I do understand that some travelling couples would view the arrangement as free van site.
I think most of the advertisers forget that you are giving them 24 hr security as a house/ farm sitter which would cost them a lot of money if they had to buy security
Welcome to the gang Ian, enjoy here and out in the playground.
That would come under the heading of w..k (nope, still can't say that word).
I take it as you are a member on the Grey Nomad Forum you are a Grey Nomad so think it only right to let you know the rules about w..k. It can only be done during the hours of 10.00am and Midday with a 1 hour break (Union Rules). You will be shot at the next happy hour if caught doing that W word out of those hours.
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Whilst travelling Ive looked at many ads for help wanted on this forum. Can someone please explain why it always seems that there is always a lopsided arrangement in favour of the advertiser eg for a van site (power/water) that there seems to be the expectation of a few hours work per day handyman/gardening/feeding or caring for farm animals/pets?
Would it not be fairer to say van site is valued at $20-30 per day which will be offset by one hours work per day?
I do understand that some travelling couples would view the arrangement as free van site.
Interested in peoples thoughts
Yes there are people out there who's expectations are over the top, but I think they know that there is "always" someone out there prepared to work for peanuts.
And while there are peanuts out there, sadly, they will still fill these positions.
Likewise, someone putting a value of $80/hr for their time is also living in la la land.
Does not effect me, Iam over the "working" thing, took 40yrs to realise its overrated
Lets not get carried away with about our own "worth" or the job on offer
There has to be a little give on both sides of this topic, lets face it its not a new career move, or a move up the ladder in the corporate world.
I would feel an hourly rate of between $20-$30/hr would be reasonable under "normal"conditions but no two jobs are probably the same?
Often with these jobs its cash in hand and there is no pressure and time issues you have in the real world, so I think this needs to be factored in, also the conditions you are working under, or if your providing your own tools etc etc.
Anyway, I guess its an idividual thing hey!!
Ian
Lets not get carried away with about our own "worth" or the job on offer
There has to be a little give on both sides of this topic, lets face it its not a new career move, or a move up the ladder in the corporate world.
I would feel an hourly rate of between $20-$30/hr would be reasonable under "normal"conditions but no two jobs are probably the same?
Often with these jobs its cash in hand and there is no pressure and time issues you have in the real world, so I think this needs to be factored in, also the conditions you are working under, or if your providing your own tools etc etc.
Anyway, I guess its an idividual thing hey!!
Ian
sounds reasonable to me . all care taken no responsibility accepted
A neighbour got caught up in what I call a minor legal dispute. They had to pay their own legal costs. $30,000 later... $30 an hour can simply turn into $30k.
At the very least get insurance & very carefully read the fine print.
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When I was landscaping 20 years ago, I was charging $5k a week just for myself, if I had one worker with me $7.5k, and if it was all four, it was $10k, and I was flat out. I did not really realise that I was actually cheap in charges. The average rate for a 5 man team company was $12,500 a week. But today I would be willing to work in maybe a Gardening/ caretake role, I wouldn't do it for less the $80 a day, in kind and cash. As I am retired and have two forms of weekly income, and my wife has one., I would only caretake, if we were not going to be flogged into the ground, and that has happened to us in the past.
A neighbour got caught up in what I call a minor legal dispute. They had to pay their own legal costs. $30,000 later... $30 an hour can simply turn into $30k.
At the very least get insurance & very carefully read the fine print.
Often the insurance premiums are far tooo high if your only doing the "odd cash" job. Just not worth it.
There are some things you just can't insure for, also, to say nothing about hindsight!!
As I am retired and receive a steady superannuation pension, I don't really need extra money (although a Tattslotto win would be welcome). If an interesting and easy job was offering and the compensation (e.g. free van parking, power and water, etc.), I would consider doing it gratis. Particularly in the wake of bushfires, floods, mouse plagues and the like where the recipient of my labour genuinely needed assistance and could not afford to pay money, but only in kind. Every request is considered on its merits, but it is rather academic at present being in lockdown in the most locked down city in the world. Closer to home SWSBO and I both have voluntary positions in different non-profit organisations and it keeps us occupied nearly full time for $0 pay. In these twilight years, it is time to put into the community. You can't take money with you when you finally go.
I don't need more money and as it's not a motivator for me see no reason why I should put effort in to earn it.
What I am interested in is things which stimulate me in some way and for those I would happily work for nothing - my own rules apply though and I'm nobody's mug to be abused for their advantage.
I imagine many/most financially secure retired people will feel the same way.
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I don't need more money and as it's not a motivator for me see no reason why I should put effort in to earn it.
What I am interested in is things which stimulate me in some way and for those I would happily work for nothing - my own rules apply though and I'm nobody's mug to be abused for their advantage.
I imagine many/most financially secure retired people will feel the same way.
x2 don't mind to do something for gratis but i don't want to be taken for a mug for some ones gain or to put someone else who needs the money out of a job
I will be travelling full time, around this time next year.
I am towing with a new Iveco Daily van, one of the reasons for buying the van was so I could take my work tools with me.
I am a maintenance handyman, and I will have an A.B.N, and I sure as hell will not be doing work for anyone for peanuts.
The $80 mentioned here is not unreasonable. Hire a Hubby will be $90 an hour plus travel, plus call out fee.
I will only be working when I need to, or I find a task with some satisfaction to it.
If a caravan park owner asks me to do some work for him/her "while I am there", sure no problem. No call out fee or travel, but it will be $80an hour minimum.
I will be travelling full time, around this time next year.
I am towing with a new Iveco Daily van, one of the reasons for buying the van was so I could take my work tools with me.
I am a maintenance handyman, and I will have an A.B.N, and I sure as hell will not be doing work for anyone for peanuts.
The $80 mentioned here is not unreasonable. Hire a Hubby will be $90 an hour plus travel, plus call out fee.
I will only be working when I need to, or I find a task with some satisfaction to it.
If a caravan park owner asks me to do some work for him/her "while I am there", sure no problem. No call out fee or travel, but it will be $80an hour minimum.
Well I hope you enjoy your holiday, I think work will be quiet
I don't need more money and as it's not a motivator for me see no reason why I should put effort in to earn it.
What I am interested in is things which stimulate me in some way and for those I would happily work for nothing - my own rules apply though and I'm nobody's mug to be abused for their advantage.
I imagine many/most financially secure retired people will feel the same way.
StewG and Mike, agree wholeheartedly, think I have enough intelligence to read most situations, have enjoyed myself doing farm and house sits with the odd stint in roadhouses for the last 20 odd years, probably saved more by not working regularly and putting whatever comes along away for a rainy day.
I am convinced that advertisements for places to house-sit/caretake or whatever online are rarely the best deal for us travellers who like to stop now & then, or to enjoy a different experience. There ae exceptions of course so that is not a blanket statement. It does seem to me however that there are plenty of folk looking for 'cheap labour', but I guess if folk take them up on it, there are plenty happy to provide 'cheap labour'.
We now have a fair bit of house-sitting & caretaking under our belts, & find it fairly easy to spot those who wish to exploit. We avoid them once recognised. Instead we look for win-win situations, where hopefully we will finish the role as friends not as ex workers. The reality is that if we feel exploited we are less likely to 'go the extra mile' than if we feel genuinely appreciated.
We have been offered payment at times but have declined as we feel that becoming an employee affects the relationship we seek to establish.
That said we have just begun a wet season caretaking gig on Cape York, having committed to 6 or 7 months. Another 'experience'. This 'rewards' us with all food supplied, a house to live in with air con, hot water, internet in a wildlife hotspot that we believe we will thoroughly enjoy. No costs for us at all during the time we are here. There is stuff to be done, but nothing too onerous or demanding. We will be flooded in for months, but get a weekly mail plane landing, which will bring our online purchases as well as a regular fresh produce order. We were asked if we had an ABN, but responded "We don't want payment, just an arrangement of mutual benefit"
Our experience is that opportunities like this are more likely to arise once in an area, if travelling 'slowly' enough to hear of them, & flexible enough to say "yes please" when they arise.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Saturday 9th of October 2021 06:36:34 PM
