Hourly farm help

Mrs1885

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Looking for input of paying for farm help.

I'm in a very rural area of middle TN. Most people here make federal minimum wage. $10 an hour is considered good pay for hourly labor workers.

We needed someone to clean the sheep, goat and pig stalls. They have winter bedding so it's definitely the hardest time to clean with straw piled a couple feet high.

Pens are 8x10. We provide everything needed. The ad I placed offered $100. When we do it, it takes a few hours. So basically $33 an hour.

Girl got here this morning and is doing a good job but it's very slow going. Hubby just checked on her, took her a bottle of water and said she's complaining that she didn't know it would be this much work and isn't happy with pay. There is hay that has to come out of the fenced goat yard as well to be fair. But even with it in there, it really should only be 4 hours max. She's close to done and has been working about 5 hours.

I got $120 from the bank for her because she sat in our driveway for an hour. Said she knocked but we didn't hear her and the dogs didn't bark. She called my phone but it was on the charger downstairs so I didn't hear it. That hour was ENTIRELY my fault and I feel she should be compensated.

So my question is what would you pay? Should I do more? Or is what I'm paying ($120) fair? Don't want anyone to feel we shorted them but even at 5 hours work and one hour sitting in the driveway, she's making $20 an hour tax free. Hell, it's more than I make before taxes and what I make around here is considered upper income level.

Thoughts?
 

CntryBoy777

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I think that is more than a "just" compensation....I have found it best to have an amount in mind, and just make the "deal" with an amount for a completed job.....this eliminates the "time" factor and it gives them incentive to get it done, cause they want to get done....."by the hour" work only gets dragged out, so the "goal" is reached of the amount "needed".....I really miss having the young man around we once had....he was Great and needed no supervision.....most these days are looking for "something for nothing".....ya may want to check with your local 4-H and see if there are any youngsters with animals would like to make some extra $$....they will know ahead of time, just what to expect.....:)
 

Mrs1885

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I went and told her to just pile it in the open field a bit away from the pens. Once it dries up I'll burn it off. She said she likes the animals and planned to spend all day here. Her problem was it was just harder labor than she expected.

It is hard but I don't want her here all day. Not to be mean, but we had reservations to take our girls and their families to dinner for Easter. I moved it back an hour but can't do more. Not sure how to get her to pick up the pace. :/
 

Mrs1885

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She did one pen in 6 hours and I told her she had to go because we had to leave. Six hours for one pen is ridiculous. What a waste of my day. We did make dinner though and had a great family night.
 

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