Is $5/hour shameful?

Saw this ad in the town paper:

Quote:

SPRING & summer yard work, $5/hr. Students welcome. 555-555-5555

Quote: 1nickelmiracle

Saw this ad in the town paper:

Nobody will take the job that does not want it.

That's $200 p/wk full time. There were weeks I made less than that roofing. A good week... well, it wasn't much more =p

By "student", I would assume they mean middle school / high school. A kid could get enough scratch for a new Xbox game within a month. I wouldn't necessarily call it "shameful".

Personally, I'd like to see jobs paid by completion. Instead of $5 an hour, $5 a job. Mow the lawn, weed a garden, shovel a walk. I think it's more efficient and better rewards hard work. A kid could waste an hour mowing slowly, texting, chatting with a neighbor, and he still gets the $5 at the end of the hour, and you only get your yard mowed. Pay by the job, and maybe a kid would hustle. Mow and weed and rake and wash, all within the same hour. You get your stuff completed promptly, the kid has motivation to huff his freight.

That could be a really nice deal for a kid living at home, no bills to pay, dad gasses the car for him, etc. Gives him some spending money.

Add in the kid's travel time and expenses (lunch?) I'd say its disgraceful, but some people will jump at it.

Quote: AZDuffman

Nobody will take the job that does not want it.

+1

Nothing "shameful" or "disgraceful" about it at all. The only thing that's ridiculous is people who believe that 14- and 15-year-olds should get $15/hour for simple yard work.

When parents give kids chores to do in 2014, are they supposed to pay them $15/hour now? Are dishwashers at restaurants supposed to get $15/hour now for washing freakin dishes? *facepalm*

Quote: Fleastiff

Add in the kid's travel time and expenses (lunch?) I'd say its disgraceful, but some people will jump at it.

I reckon this would be an "in-town" thing, so travel would be by bike. He can eat lunch at home.

I've had my five year old do yard work, sometimes 8hrs at a clip. Dude works for Popsicles. If he knew how many Popsicles he could get for $40....

Hopefully it's not Herbert from Family Guy trying to get young and dumb to his place.

They can afford the ad, so I actually hope it's just a negotiating low ball tactic. I remember when I did yard work, I'd charge more than minimum wage because it was worth it and this person will get the quality $5 deserves.

So if this isn't shameful or disgraceful, am I to get a copy of the ads you guys are placing, or would you be embarrassed to do it?

Quote: 1nickelmiracle

So if this isn't shameful or disgraceful, am I to get a copy of the ads you guys are placing, or would you be embarrassed to do it?

I wouldn't call it "embarrassed" but rather I don't want to see who shows up for $5 an hour. I don't think I would even get many replies in my market. I don't have much yard, but I would pay flat-rate if I hired for a task(s).

Kids expect outrageous amounts for very little
work now. 3 hours of babysitting, $40. 90 min
of yard work, $25. My brother in law got a neighbor
kid to get up on his flat porch roof this winter and
clear off all the snow and ice, took him 2 hours.
The kid said he wanted 50 bucks. The B in law thought
he was joking, he was going to give him $30.
Gave him $40 instead. He was appalled that a 15
year old thinks his labor is worth $25 an hour.