Comunidad / Hire fairly
Guía para dueños de casa: contratar con justicia
Landscaping, cleaning, childcare, painting. If a price feels “too good to be true,” someone is being underpaid. Minimum wage per the NY Department of Labor.
El salario mínimo en Long Island es $17.00/hr (2026). Oficios calificados deben pagar $25–$40/hr.
If you pay an independent contractor more than $600 in a year, the IRS expects you to issue a 1099-NEC. Get a W-9 from them up front. For one-off jobs under $600, cash or check is fine — but always keep a record.
A simple written agreement protects both sides: scope of work, hourly or flat rate, who buys supplies, how long it should take, and how/when payment happens. A text message counts.
Wage theft — paying late, withholding final checks, refusing overtime — is illegal in NY and disproportionately hurts immigrant workers. If you say Friday, pay Friday.
Water, shade, bathroom access, and a 30-minute lunch break for shifts over 6 hours are required by NY labor law for most workers.
For employees (not independent contractors), NY requires workers’ comp insurance. For occasional contractors on your own home, your homeowners insurance usually covers slip-and-fall liability, but check with your agent.