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Frequently Asked Questions and rates

With COVID-19 in the area, can I still make a reservation?

Yes! We are still open here at the center. We at the center are following the guidelines set by Santa Clara County Health Department in regards to COVID-19. We vigilantly monitoring the status of COVID-19 and taking every precaution necessary. The Center is still open until further notice if anyone is of need of our services.

Where are you located? 

We are located at 113 Escuela Ave., Mountain View, CA 94040; the Center is at the end of Escuela, going towards Central Expressway, right before the railroad tracks.

What are your hours? 
We are open Monday-Saturday, 7AM-3:30PM.

Who does Center serve? What is the Center's mission? 
We serve employers and workers throughout the Bay Area. We help employers find reliable, skilled and friendly workers easily and safely. Our mission is to connect workers and employers in a safe and supportive environment; empower workers to improve their socio-economic condition through fair employment, education, and job skills training; and participate in advocacy efforts that support the day laborer community.

How do I hire someone? 
Start with our Reserve a Worker page to send us your request. Or simply call or come by to reassure you have the worker with the skills you require. Along with our members of the Day Labor Collective and staff, we can help you connect with a member who meets your specific job needs and who will be ready to go to work.

How are workers and employers matched? 
Along with our members of the Day Labor Collective and staff, we will match you with a member that is best suited for your job. When you come to the Center we ask for details regarding the job. Then, with our staff and members of the Day Labor Collective, we match you with a member that can meet your needs. For example, if you need an expert painter, our staff and the Day Labor Collective will work together to find you the member with the proper skill set: we will not match you with a member that does not have the skills required for the job. Together, we do our best to accommodate preferences regarding English proficiency and employers are welcome to request workers by name.

What kind of jobs does a member of the Day Labor Collective normally do? 
Usually general labor or cleaning, but the workers have many more skills: 

• Carpeting and Floor installation

• Child care

• Construction

• Cooking

• Driving

• Electrical work

* Members of the Day Labor Collective do not have contractor licenses.

How are Center workers different than hiring from the street? 
Here it's safe, neat and easy. Bargaining with day laborers on the street could be intimidating as you have no knowledge of their skills or reliability. The Center helps greatly in the hiring process. All members of the Day Labor Collective are registered at the Center, so that when you tell us the job, together with our staff and Day Labor Collective, we can identify the appropriate member for you. The members of the Day Labor Collective offer a large skills inventory ready to fulfill your needs. We'll coordinate with you and members of the Day Labor Collective in a low-pressure atmosphere to decide an acceptable rate. It is easy to contact the same workers for follow-up and we minimize language problems with our bilingual staff and English classes.

What can you tell me about member reliability and security?
Although employers and members of the Day Labor Collective undertake a work relationship at their own risk, we take reliability and security very seriously. First, all members of the Day Labor Collective fill out an registration form and is entered into our database. Then the Center assists in providing job skills training and certifications in a variety of vocations to help them be efficient, safe workers. We contact all employers to collect feedback about the member’s work and the service provided. Each worker receives ratings, which can be used as a measure of reliability and overall quality. On average, workers receive 4.5 out of 5 stars from employers. Additionally, the community aspect of the Center means the workers you hire are part of an extended family; we know them and are pleased to recommend them to you.

Are the members of the Day Labor Collective qualified? 
Yes. Most members of the Day Labor Collective have years of experience in tasks such as yard work, moving, or cleaning. For more complex projects, such as carpentry, we suggest you call in advance to ensure you get a qualified member suitable for the job. It is important to note that the Center offers job skills training and certifications in a variety of vocations to help members be efficient, safe employees. We contact employers to collect feedback about the members and the service provided. Each worker receives ratings, which can be used as a measure of reliability and overall quality. On average, workers receive 4.5 out of 5 stars from employers. However, we are not an employment agency and therefore have not done background checks. We are a nonprofit and provide job matching as a community resource.

Can the Center accommodate me if I need someone who speaks some English? 
Most of the members of the Day Labor Collective speak Spanish as their native language. Members of the Day Labor Collective participate in daily English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the Center, and most understand quite a bit of English. Some members speak English well and others are still learning, so be willing to talk slowly and clearly. We can translate your instructions and along with the members of the Day Labor Collective, connect you with someone who understands exactly what you need done.

How much should I pay?
Members of the Day Labor Collective decide the rate that they will charge for the work they perform. Starting January 10, 2022 typically, rates start at $25 an hour ($25 minimum for jobs with a duration of one hour or less). Members of the Day Labor Collective earn a minimum of $25 an hour or $25 per hour for heavy labor. Specialty skills require higher pay. Members of the Day Labor Collective have agreed that they would like to be paid after the job is finished, the members preferred method of payment is cash. Bonuses for a job well done are always appreciated. The actual wage is determined when the job is assigned, so there is a clear understanding prior to leaving the Center. Many employers call to say how pleased they were with the work performed, and are repeat users of the Center’s services. If you have a good experience, please share it and recommend us to your family and friends.

How much of the pay goes to the member of the Day Labor Collective?
100% of your payment will go to the worker. The Day Worker Center does not charge for its services.

What about transportation? 
Typically, employers pick up and drop off the members of the Day Labor Collective at our Center. As the bus system does not always connect to work sites, we suggest that you plan on picking up the workers from the Center and returning them to the Center when your work is done. At their expense, employers also have the option of arranging an Uber/Lyft to transport the workers.

Is there anything else I can do for the members of the Day Labor Collective while on the job? 
Yes. Most members will not have food or drink with them. Please consider providing something to eat and drink during the workday -- they will greatly appreciate it. Please provide access to drinking water and a restroom they can use.

What does the Day Worker Center offer besides job coordination services? 
True to its mission, the Center functions as a Community Center and place of learning. Other offerings include:

• Workplace etiquette

• Job skills training

• Leadership development

• English as a second language

• Green cleaning techniques

• Weekly health services (dental and vision referrals)

• Weekly mobile Gardner Medical Clinic

What does a typical day look like at the Day Worker Center? 
Every day is a little bit different, but the members of the Day Labor Collective always receive training or services while waiting for employment. Members of the Day Labor Collective check in with us daily. They eat breakfast and while waiting for jobs participate in activities such as English classes, job-skills training, or exercise classes. Our Healthy Meals Kitchen Collective prepare a the hot meal for noon, and more classes and hands-on workshops continue after lunchtime. Late afternoon is usually reserved for Center maintenance, when everyone contributes to keep the Center clean and organized.

Where do you get your funding? 
Community generosity. Most of our funding is from private sources: grants from foundations, donations from individuals and corporations, etc. 72% of our funding comes from foundations, 15% from individual contributors, 10% from communities of faith, 3% from local governments, and other support from local businesses in the form of in-kind donations.

How can I support the Center? 
Hiring, volunteering, or donating. Bring a single job to the Center in the next 30 days or recommend the Center personally to a friend or colleague. You can like us on Facebook. You can also connect us with your Neighborhood Group or Homeowners Association and send email testimonial to the association listserv. After using our services, you can follow-up with a Yelp or Facebook review to get the word out about the DWCMV.

There are also many volunteer opportunities including English instruction, translation, event planning, publicity and marketing and job development. Check out the complete list.

Am I liable if a member is injured while working at my residence? 
California law requires a homeowner's insurance policy to provide worker's compensation coverage for injuries incurred by a "residential employee" injured during their course of employment by the homeowner. A "residential employee" is someone who has earned more than $100 during the preceding 90 days. Most homeowner's insurance policies also include coverage for personal liability and medical payments to others as a result of injury while on your property; however, you may prefer to contact the provider of your homeowner's insurance policy for more information. Finally, as in all situations when you invite a guest onto your property, make certain that the environment is safe and you are not consciously putting someone into a dangerous position.

Could I get in any trouble for using a member who does not have proper documentation? 
Since we are not an employment agency nor temp agency, we do not check documentation for either members of the Day Labor Collective or employers nor perform background checks. We consider information about employers and members private, and our policy is to never share such information.

Do I need to report the wages I pay for tax purposes? 
For one-time, or short-term jobs, reporting wages for tax purposes is not usually necessary. There is no need to report less than $750 paid to an individual per quarter or $1,000 per year. If you have a long-term project, we suggest you talk to an accountant with any questions.

If you have any other questions, feel free to call us at (650) 903-4102. We'd be more than happy to provide additional information or answer questions more in depth.