Another Good Deed - Punished

[Por_sha911]

$7.15/hour (14 hours total) is light. Tips can be rescinded (or an extra $5 if the person is a cheapskate) and they probably don't need the turkey.

If benevolence is the goal then bless them with at least 10-12/hour.
If you are just looking for cheap labor then don't pat yourself on the back for being a big spender and then be shocked when people turn you down.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I'm taking names for my black walnut removal for next year.

If you were nearby, I would be happy to do so. I do all the work on my own acreage.

[Rick Lee]

Been a while since I was at VaSteve's house, but he has a teenage son.

[fintstone]

They are likely paying no taxes. $100 for a short day of doing unskilled work (when the alternative is to sit around and do nothing) seems reasonable to me. Especially in rural Virginia where there is really not much gig work outside of labor. Most folks have to make close to $200 to pocket $100.
Hard work and fresh air never hurt anyone.

[porsche930dude]

Whats the average wage in ukraine. Probably 100. per week for skilled labor

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by fintstone

If you were nearby, I would be happy to do so. I do all the work on my own acreage.

I appreciate that...but the walnut season is normally about a month long. This year it was nothing. I'm sure next year will be back to normal.
My pile of walnuts is about waist deep from past years. I'm running out of room!

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I appreciate that...but the walnut season is normally about a month long. This year it was nothing. I'm sure next year will be back to normal.
My pile of walnuts is about waist deep from past years. I'm running out of room!

I gather mine and plant them now.

I harvested and shelled them as a youngster...and picked berries to sell as well (spring/summer). Sold them to middle class folks too lazy to do that kind of work, but too cheap to pay supermarket prices. Something to do in the fall after working in the fields is over and hay is in the barn...but before serious wood cutting and hog slaughtering. Walnuts made my hands black for weeks but helped provide for my family during the recession.

[stevej37]

From one black walnut tree...last year.

[fintstone]

That would be a goldmine for me back in the early 70s...of course I was probably working for .10-.25 an hour as a laborer then.

You should cut those vines off of your trees though. They will eventually beak/kill them in some cases.

[stevej37]

That tree is already dying. The roots are covered too much by the walnuts. I placed an ivy vine at the base of it to make it look better. It's only going to last a couple more years.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Whats the average wage in ukraine. Probably 100. per week for skilled labor

But this is the US and they know it. Probably thought they were being taken advantage of.

I'm surprised a kid replied because they don't want to work hard. They can flip burgers or take orders for $15 hr, and they still don't want to work.

[fintstone]

So, it is better to do nothing? They should go back to Ukraine and wait for more of our tax money.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by fintstone

So, it is better to do nothing? They should go back to Ukraine and wait for more of our tax money.

Wow.

[asphaltgambler]

To reiterate my post, the Ukrainian family wanted to do it, but the above middle-class sponsor family decided amongst themselves to withdraw the offer, W/O consulting the family actually willing to do the work

[Steve Carlton]

You agreed to 2 people for 6 hours for $100 = $8.33/hour + tip + turkey. It doesn't seem generous, but it doesn't seem predatory, either. It's tax free cash to them. Tipping "generously" is a pig in a poke. The turkey isn't insignificant if they can use it. How could they not? It's good food and doesn't have to be eaten right away.

12 hours of yard work doesn't match up with the sponsor's characterization of 12-14 hours of "hard labor."

It sounds like the sponsor family was trying to be protective of the Ukranian couple and cost them what, $120 and a turkey. I don't think they did the Ukranians any favor and they wasted your time. Renigging on an agreement is classless.

If it's not too late, I would say up the offer to include the tip plus turkey. If they say no, move on.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Whats the average wage in ukraine. Probably 100. per week for skilled labor

What’s the average cost of living un USA vs Ukraine?

$8/hr is probably not worth their while. Chalk the whole thing up to a misunderstanding fuelled by the sponsor family, not AG.

[stevej37]

Is it normally a 2 or 3 beer job?
A turkey aint gonna cut it on a hot day.

[Rick Lee]

My experience is limited to a few days I spent in Ukraine, but everything ran on bribes and we knew that from the time we got hauled off the train by the border guards. We brought cigarettes just for bribes and we ran out fast. We had to give a few packs to get a table at an empty restaurant. I almost had to give up my watch to get back across the border into Poland. I had no problem with that and knew it was likely before setting out on the journey. It's just how things work in a lot of the world. If those folks had a better offer than the OP's for how to spend that day, then good for them. I'm guessing, however, their American bleeding heart "sponsors" talked them out of a day's pay.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Wow.

Why wow? Because I believe that someone out of work should be willing to do the same work that I am willing to do? That applies to U.S. citizens and other "migrants" as well. We don't need any more dependents.

Because I am not really happy that billions of U.S. dollars are being spent in Ukraine and we have no idea where they are going (other than to FTX, the second biggest contributor to the Democratic Party)? Likely a massive money laundering operation that regulatory agencies seemingly looked the other way to enable? It is my money too...and I have every right to be concerned.

Or, because I wonder why an able-bodied male from Ukraine is in VA (since all were conscripted making him a deserter)? I served my country in good and bad times and have little sympathy for deserters.

Take your pick...but if the family only speaks Russian, maybe they should have emigrated there.

Gambler was very generous to offer more money than he would have paid a single teenager (which is what he advertised for) plus throw in a turkey (have you seen the price of those things this year?). Two adults (that don't speak English) showing up to do the work of one teenager was their idea (and they called him), not his. That they (or their "sponsor") would choose sloth versus honest work seems pretty lame...especially after contacting Gambler, accepting the job/conditions and then wasting his time by not showing up/doing the job.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Why wow? Because I believe that someone out of work should be willing to do the same work that I am willing to do? That applies to U.S. citizens and other "migrants" as well. We don't need any more dependents.

Because I am not really happy that billions of U.S. dollars are being spent in Ukraine and we have no idea where they are going (other than to FTX, the second biggest contributor to the Democratic Party)? Likely a massive money laundering operation that regulatory agencies seemingly looked the other way to enable? It is my money too...and I have every right to be concerned.

Or, because I wonder why an able-bodied male from Ukraine is in VA (since all were conscripted making him a deserter)? I served my country in good and bad times and have little sympathy for deserters.

Take your pick...but if the family only speaks Russian, maybe they should have emigrated there.

Gambler was very generous to offer more money than he would have paid a single teenager (which is what he advertised for) plus throw in a turkey (have you seen the price of those things this year?). Two adults (that don't speak English) showing up to do the work of one teenager was their idea (and they called him), not his. That they (or their "sponsor") would choose sloth versus honest work seems pretty lame...especially after contacting Gambler, accepting the job/conditions and then wasting his time by not showing up/doing the job.

It sounds like the sponsors decided they shouldn't take the job, not the Ukranians. Saying they should go back to Ukraine is ugly and xenophobic. Thinking they'll collect taxpayer money is ludicrous.

A lot of your post should be in PARF and it's out of bounds in this discussion. I don't think AG's offer was bad- see my above post.