Post: #1

Long story short, I've been out a job since January. I've been putting applications in every day, nothing. I've been shoveling snow and clearing roofs off to get by. I've been making bank at $25 an hour for 3-5 hours a day, but the snow has stopped so the work has dried up (melted away I should say.)

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm about to go to Labor Ready and put in an application, then I'll be going there at 7am tommorow hopefully.

All I really know about Labor Ready is you get paid less than half of what you would if you were doing the job without them getting you in. Close to minimum wage for work that normally pays $20/hour or more. Which sucks, but it is what it is. I need to pay rent.

Anything else I should know?

Post: #2

Unemployment sounds better than that

Post: #3

Unemployment IS better than that until the bills come.

Post: #4

Randstad is a much better company to work for. Pays better and you don't have to work with drug addicts and alcoholics. They don't pay daily though.

It depends on how soon you need money I guess.

With Labor Ready you're probably putting in 12+hour days and only getting paid for 8 once you factor in waiting to get a job and going back to get your money at the end of the day.

Western Labour is another company like Labor Ready but they pay better if you have a trade. Same thing with long hours to get 8, with waiting around to get a job and then going back to get paid.

Post: #5

(02-25-2015 04:40 PM)Darius Wrote:  Randstad is a much better company to work for. Pays better and you don't have to work with drug addicts and alcoholics. They don't pay daily though.

Thanks for that suggestion, never heard of it but there's a branch in my town.

Post: #6

In the same situation. Do you have a vehicle? I've been cutting in on the "comfort keepers" market. Its basically grocery shopping/prescription pickups for people who cant get out. Some of those companies charge up to $300 per month with only two visits. I promise at least one visit per week, and charge $250 a month. I just started it, got 4 clients, it's a start.

Post: #7

I did it for one day last year. In my opinion, just do it if you're really desperate.
Like others said, you do the job for 30-50% less than what you deserve and you do the shit work nobody else wants to do.

In addition you might need to wait some time to get sent out, then go by bus or car to the other part of town and waste gas and even more time. The next day you need to go back to the temp agency to get paid out.
If they pay you in cash right away you pay a 5$ fee.
I was working in a warehose lifting freezers, fridges and stoves into a truck for just 1$ above minimum wage.
Fuck That

Post: #8

I signed up yesterday. Figure I might as well try it. But ya, I haven't heard anything good about it.

Post: #9

Knew a friend from Hawaii who got dumped, girl took everything back to hawaii except car. He went to Labor Ready and since he had a car, was reliable, and was as sober as can be, he got his "pick" of the jobs that came in. In his city the Labor Ready branches even text you with jobs that have come in. It really is work no one else will do, mostly laborious and physical like moving things and trash removal.
The pay he said was 15-17$ an hour but Labor Ready "fees" bump it down to 7-8$ in your pocket. He even had a debit card that they can add money onto so he never really had to show up at the branch itself. Said he even charged 5-10$ per person for gas money if he had to go to a work site with other people who had no transportation. Hope this helps OP.

Post: #10

I'm going to try Labor Ready starting on monday (unless miraculously some other place I applied to calls back or responds to my calls over the weekend.) I don't know anyone I can stay with where I live (new to the area) and pretty much out of options. I'm 32, college educated, and have no real experience with manual labor. I'll let you guy know how it goes.

Post: #11

(03-01-2015 01:14 AM)darklightdispatch Wrote:  I'm going to try Labor Ready starting on monday (unless miraculously some other place I applied to calls back or responds to my calls over the weekend.) I don't know anyone I can stay with where I live (new to the area) and pretty much out of options. I'm 32, college educated, and have no real experience with manual labor. I'll let you guy know how it goes.

I'll compare notes with you, they haven't called me yet. I registered Thursday. I'm going there at 7am tommorow to hopefully get some work.

Post: #12

Have you tried craigslist?

They have jobs on the go, or go to places where your local laborers go to get daily cash work (gas station, etc).

Are home depots still the place to pick up daily laborers?

Post: #13

^I'll check that out right now. would be preferable to labor ready taking their cut.

Post: #14

(03-01-2015 05:51 PM)godfather dust Wrote:  

(03-01-2015 01:14 AM)darklightdispatch Wrote:  I'm going to try Labor Ready starting on monday (unless miraculously some other place I applied to calls back or responds to my calls over the weekend.) I don't know anyone I can stay with where I live (new to the area) and pretty much out of options. I'm 32, college educated, and have no real experience with manual labor. I'll let you guy know how it goes.

I'll compare notes with you, they haven't called me yet. I registered Thursday. I'm going there at 7am tommorow to hopefully get some work.

The way they usually work is they open their doors at 5:30-6:00 am and it's a first come, first serve situation. So the earlier you get there the better your chances to get work.