regarding the with holding........
last month I contracted with an old family firm to re roof my house. I dealt with two of the brothers during pricing and sale. I had contracted with them before, good reputation etc
One day, the roofing materials distributor delivered the shingles and all the other materials to my driveway.
three days later, just before noon several trucks an ten or so Mexicans arrived. One spoke excellent english and talked with me and directed the crew telling them what to do. There was another foreman type that looked after the work in progress and kept everybody working. They really worked hard and fast. They were very skilled.
it turned out that one of the 10 was actually white. he drove a dump truck into which all the refuse shingles etc was loaded. he actually was employed by the family business I contracted with.
all the others and their trucks with tags from several other counties and even states, were employees of what amounts a roofing labor subcontractor. I have no reason to believe that at least 4 of the crew that were essentially laborers got minimum wage or had any with holding. Lots of shenanigans can take place within such a subcontract for what is probably a non licensed business
Since there are no Americans that will do the hot and dirty work, this old line firm has changed the business model. they have a vendor deliver materials and sub out the labor. they essentially become a roofing construction manager...... sweet business
Very interesting post.....and I totally changed my business model for any number of reasons, including Obama Care, immigration issues, unemployment insurance costs, workers comp costs, and other regulations - to a purely contracted out model.
Like your family roofing firm, I was sickened by what had happened to the labor market over the past 2-3 decades. I didn’t cause it. Your roofing firm didn’t cause it, but we had to try and survive.
Now I’m mostly out of that business.