Gig companies set a terrible example for on-demand services, so we at Poached set out to do better.
A few weeks ago, it came out that Washington DC’s District Attorney, Karl Racine, is suing Grubhub over various accounts of misleading consumers. This isn’t Grubhubs first rodeo around a lawsuit for malpractice, so it isn’t too surprising. What is hilarious, though, is that when reading the complaint on violations against consumers, one can’t help but see the horrific infractions against local restaurants that aren’t part of the lawsuit! Truthfully, this is just another example on top of the pile of examples concluding that gig companies just suck. Whether they’re screwing over businesses or taking tips to supplement workers’ pay, something unethical often surfaces in the news, with a frequency that is no longer that surprising.
That’s why we made sure Poached Shifts would be a better experience. We knew the gig model for hospitality staffing could benefit workers and businesses. We also knew that if we didn’t fill the hospitality gig space, someone else would and do it horribly. So here are a few ways Poached Shifts is resetting the standard on gig work.
Transparency
Poached Shifts is entirely transparent every step of the way. There are no upfront costs for employers until the shift is booked and worked. Then you pay the hourly rate you advertised, plus a flat $39 service fee per shift worker and shift worked. The fee goes toward our ability to promote your position and provide Occupational Accident Insurance to booked workers. Additionally, there are no fees if you decide to hire a worker permanently. At Poached, we want to promote hospitality work, not create a blockade.
For workers, there are no fees to work a shift — it’s completely free to use. You also see a job’s hourly rate in the shift description, so you can choose if that’s a rate you’re willing to work for before you apply.
Flexibility
We created Poached Shifts to give employers and workers more flexibility around hospitality work. Shifts can be used however you see fit, but we highly recommend them as a supplement tool to permanent employment. For employers, you can fill in with shifts while hiring for a permanent position — plus, it’s a great way to meet potential employees. For those looking to work through Poached Shifts, you can easily make it your full-time job, but it’s also meant to let you have more control to pick up shifts, earn extra money when you need it, and find permanent employment on Poached.
There are no contracts for using Poached Shifts, employers or workers can use this service whenever they want.
Integrity
Because shifts are worked by freelance professionals, who will have to subtract taxes from their hourly pay, and because shifts need to be filled quickly — we are constantly advocating for employers to pay higher than their prevailing wage. We do this by displaying a suggested hourly rate when employers fill out their shift post form and when our customer success team connects with employers to get their shifts filled. Our suggestions are fair and based on location and job type.
In addition to advocating for a fair wage, we also make sure payment is received quickly. We give employers 24 hours to review worker invoices before automatically processing payment. Then, with our trusted payment processor, Stripe — workers get paid directly within three business days.
Opportunity
As mentioned before, at Poached, we don’t want to create barriers to employment. As a jobs marketplace, we want more opportunities — whether permanent employment or having the flexibility to work or fill shifts as needed. Poached Shifts just widens the possibilities of hospitality work. We aim to create more flexibility and security and allow workers and employers to have more control of their employment or staffing needs.
With Poached Shifts, employers gain a safety net never to be understaffed, and workers can earn extra income, gain new skills, and network with the industry’s finest.
Gig work should benefit everyone involved and provide a quick solution to a much-needed problem — it should not exploit or take advantage of workers, businesses, or consumers. This is something we feel strongly about at Poached and guides how we do business. If you haven’t checked out Poached Shifts yet, what are you waiting for? Find out more here.