Watch this interview with Jenna Raby, founder and CEO of Laborfair.com. Jenna talks about Laborfair with Steven Tse of eBay during the 2008 San Francisco Home Show. Learn about what Laborfair.com is, its free service to consumers, the range of service providers Laborfair.com offers and how it differentiates from other online marketplaces like Craigslist.
How much to pay for a job well done is a concern and frustration for just about everyone who wants and needs household, personal and family care. As our name suggests, we help you as the consumer make informed decisions about what is a fair hourly wage for your job request.
At Laborfair we create a transparent marketplace that ensures both consumers and providers are fairly charged and compensated for work performed.
Rate Guidance:
Our rate guidance table (visible in the What's Fair section of this blog) can be used as a benchmark for average hourly rates per category in your local area. Use this to help you determine what is the fair wage for your job. The information is a summary of real time data collected across our site on September 22, 2007. Of course, your agreed-upon rate with the provider varies depending on the specifics of your job. We will release these quarterly.
These numbers clearly show that savvy consumers can save money by contracting directly with a qualified and experienced service provider. At the same time, the report gives us a unique window into what people in business for themselves are earning as a living wage instead of what they would earn as a minimum wage at a larger company or agency. The report also highlights some interesting variances around the Bay Area in the costs of services by region. For example, the average fee charged by a handyman on the Peninsula is $33.68 while San Francisco is much less at $22.15. Hmmm, interesting. Other averages across big categories here at Laborfair are:
So, now that you are getting your house or apartment in shape for those holiday parties, you know what it might cost you. Enjoy, Jenna
Wow, today a blog I frequent reported that 28,000 childcare providers in New York have joined with the United Federation of Teachers, a union, to help secure more of an economic and political voice for themselves through collective bargaining. A partnership between ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and UFT shows one of the first instances of grass roots community organizations joining with a union I have seen. What does this say about how childcare providers are feeling in the Big Apple? the US? New York is the eighth state to let home-based providers unionize. Hmmm.
When you realize the average annual wage for family and group family providers in New York City is $19,933. The federal poverty line for a family of four in 2004 was $18,850, you see why they might be organizing. The providers have no health benefits, pension plan or paid vacations. They don’t get a sick day, what if their own children get sick?
After all, childcare providers, like teachers, help raise our children and care for them in our stead. They deserve a living wage and an ability to be part of a middle class in America. As we work away at our day jobs, they’re providing meals, making snacks, helping children with reading, learning colors and numbers, homework, direct safe play and changing diapers?
Thanks for being part of Laborfair. By paying a fair wage for this most important of services, we can be the change.
Recent Comments