Hiring skilled labor.

[D19]

I don't completely think that guys don't want to work, I think in many cases the work isn't worth it.

If you're waking your ass up at 4 am 5 days a week, working your ass off and getting dirty all day for $20 an hr, you're bringing home about $800 week before taxes. Then your boss shows up in his new F350 Platinum with a latte in hand telling you to work fastser! LOL

After buying your own tools, fuel costs to go to work, personal bills, rent and groceries you can hardly afford a couple tall cans on Friday. That gets old really fast. I wouldn't want to do it either. I'd rather go work at In N Out or the city yard and have more future opportunity.

Ain't no one going to stick around a hard labor job or be loyal for a $20-30 an hr in So Cal. You have to have a 2nd job just to get by.

 

[LuauLounge]

As of January 2026, all CA contractors will be required to have a Workman's Comp policy even if they have no employees. They added some classifications this year.

New Workers Comp Law Will Impact All CA Contractors

blog.contractorhub.com

 

[Riverbound]

As of January 2026, all CA contractors will be required to have a Workman's Comp policy even if they have no employees. They added some classifications this year.

New Workers Comp Law Will Impact All CA Contractors

blog.contractorhub.com

yup C-20 got it effective this year. shut a lot of people who were paying 1099 down. or they had to raise pricing to offset costs.

there are plenty of legitimate owner/operators that got hurt by this but even more who were taking advantage of the “loophole” so i see why they did it.

 

[Gelcoater]

I don't completely think that guys don't want to work, I think in many cases the work isn't worth it.

If you're waking your ass up at 4 am 5 days a week, working your ass off and getting dirty all day for $20 an hr, you're bringing home about $800 week before taxes. Then your boss shows up in his new F350 Platinum with a latte in hand telling you to work fastser! LOL

After buying your own tools, fuel costs to go to work, personal bills, rent and groceries you can hardly afford a couple tall cans on Friday. That gets old really fast. I wouldn't want to do it either. I'd rather go work at In N Out or the city yard and have more future opportunity.

Ain't no one going to stick around a hard labor job or be loyal for a $20-30 an hr in So Cal. You have to have a 2nd job just to get by.

There is no In&Out burger in Colorado that I know of?

 

[MPHSystems]

yup C-20 got it effective this year. shut a lot of people who were paying 1099 down. or they had to raise pricing to offset costs.

there are plenty of legitimate owner/operators that got hurt by this but even more who were taking advantage of the “loophole” so i see why they did it.

The Bitch about WC is that normally it excludes the owner. I had to buy it a few times when I was a one man band to get govt work. It sucked.

 

[Gelcoater]

The Bitch about WC is that normally it excludes the owner. I had to buy it a few times when I was a one man band to get govt work. It sucked.

big fat Yep

 

[Angler]

As of January 2026, all CA contractors will be required to have a Workman's Comp policy even if they have no employees. They added some classifications this year.

New Workers Comp Law Will Impact All CA Contractors

blog.contractorhub.com

This is a good thing! I won't let anyone work at my house without.

 

[MPHSystems]

This is a good thing! I won't let anyone work at my house without.

Currently, if it’s an owner operator license contractor, you’re fine to hire Them without Worker’s Compensation. Otherwise anyone working at your house or business you are the employer and responsible for paying for the Worker’s Comp. insurance. If they get injured you were in a lot of trouble. You have no protection and they can sue you for it over, they want to. Not to mention it’s also a crime, and you can go to jail for it.

 

[C-2]

This is a good thing! I won't let anyone work at my house without.

Also, look up their WC on the CSLB website and verify the insurance is valid by calling the insurance company.

Some guys get a policy to clear licensing or hiring clearances, and then cancel the policy or let it lapse. Last Fall I screened 6 licensed tree trimmers with reported insurance....3 had valid insurance.

 

[C-2]

Currently, if it’s an owner operator license contractor, you’re fine to hire Them without Worker’s Compensation. Otherwise anyone working at your house or business you are the employer and responsible for paying for the Worker’s Comp. insurance. If they get injured you were in a lot of trouble. You have no protection and they can sue you for it over, they want to. Not to mention it’s also a crime, and you can go to jail for it.

True!

And if the sole proprietor contractor hires any help, like a helper for the day from HD, then comp is required. So if there's more than one contractor/live body there, ask them for WC.

Generally, as a homeowner you can be held liable as an employer and be responsible for comp benefits (treatment, med bills) if a worker performs more than 52 hours of work (or the work is contracted for more than 52-hours) within the preceding 90 days from a date of injury, and the worker was paid more than $100 in compensation. In those instances, a homeowners policy may or may not cover you. Liability is a whole different avenue in civil court, too.

 

[endobear]

There is no In&Out burger in Colorado that I know of?

There's a few In&Outs in Colorado that have opened in the last 2 or 3 years.

 

[traquer]

Evergreen Colorado. Mountain town 35 minutes West of Denver.

Evergreen is a nice place!! I think you should raise your rates and pay more for the white boys up there.

I recently spent a few days up there . The Bistro at Marshdale was pretty good

 

[TCHB]

I had an entire thread about head hunters and people after my ass,
After I accepted the new job, put in my resignation…
The old company threw alot of $$$ and large promotion at me to stay… thats not as good as it sounds, put me in bad position on lots of fronts. Again and entire thread about it..

I get hit up my recruiters/head hunters at least 3x a week on Linked In. But I am in the Electric Power/Utility sector, which is exploding right now.

It has been good for 47 years!

 

[endobear]

Evergreen is a nice place!! I think you should raise your rates and pay more for the white boys up there.

I recently spent a few days up there . The Bistro at Marshdale was pretty good

Love it here.
Pops moved us here my sophomore year. 1990. It's grown a ton.
Definitely raising my rates. And yes. I keep the white boys busy.
Only non English speaking hire I've had was polish. Hard ass worker. I just couldn't communicate with him very well. Cuss words was all he spoke well.
He was with me for 3 years. Just recently quit to get a job with insurance.

 

[endobear]

Im near Denver. I did reach out to the local Job Corp this morning.

Never did hear back from Job Corps.
I've tried in the past to contact them with the same results.
May just swing in next week and see if I can talk to someone.

 

[endobear]

Still screwed. Another week behind schedule. Lost out on about 10k in easy work last week I would have normally been able to jump on.
Did hang around the gas station near the closest sherwin williams to a job for a few. With the mindset of paying way more than i was comfortable with. Talked to some painters. But no pros.. And no one is looking for hourly work.
If I had the time.. I would hang out a few mornings and see if I could make some contacts.