Wellington, FL Groom Salary Expectations

[Wilish]

What do comp packages look like for those who have grooms in Wellington, FL (or another comparable market, either year-round or seasonal) look like for grooms?

It would be a fairly relaxed job. There would be a maximum of 4-5 horses (only 2-3 showings during the season, and not every week), and the horses would be on turnout most of the day. The job would be slightly busier during WEF season, but the horses would be primarily off competition the rest of the year. Possible travel to 1-2 shows during the rest of the year for no more than 1-2 weeks at a time. Probably 6-8 hour days absolute max when not showing. Possibility to ride and show, if wanted, but not required.

What is weekly pay for something like this? If you don’t have housing to offer (or offer less housing than they require, like if they have a family) in addition to salary, do you rent an apartment for them? Provide a housing stipend? How many weeks of vacation do you offer? Do you offer insurance? Is night check included in this or do you pay additional for it? How many days off per week (assuming 1)?

[MHM]

The rate I’ve been hearing lately is around $200-$250 per day, plus housing, and day money on show days, typically for a six day week.

If the person has to work the seventh day (if they take turns having Mondays off, for example), then they would also get paid for that seventh day.

[Wilish]

Thanks! Have you heard of grooms demanding specific types of housing? i.e. they will only work for a 2 bedroom + $200 a day? Grooms we are talking to have kids and are dictating the type of housing. We can provide a studio, and are open to them coming with a partner, but it’s wild to me that they’re demanding a specific type of house. Was thinking of providing a stipend and they can get their own housing, but is it common to pay for a groom’s entire family’s housing?

[GraceLikeRain]

@Wilish

Have you heard of grooms demanding specific types of housing? i.e. they will only work for a 2 bedroom + $200 a day? Grooms we are talking to have kids and are dictating the type of housing. We can provide a studio, and are open to them coming with a partner, but it’s wild to me that they’re demanding a specific type of house

QFP because wow. Heaven forbid someone say it’s not feasible for my family to live in one bedroom. $200/day if there are no health benefits and taxes aren’t being withheld is hardly even livable in Wellington even with housing unless you’re expecting them to work 7 days a week and never take a vacation.

[jvanrens]

@Wilish

What do comp packages look like for those who have grooms in Wellington, FL (or another comparable market, either year-round or seasonal) look like for grooms?

It would be a fairly relaxed job. There would be a maximum of 4-5 horses (only 2-3 showings during the season, and not every week), and the horses would be on turnout most of the day. The job would be slightly busier during WEF season, but the horses would be primarily off competition the rest of the year. Possible travel to 1-2 shows during the rest of the year for no more than 1-2 weeks at a time. Probably 6-8 hour days absolute max when not showing. Possibility to ride and show, if wanted, but not required.

What is weekly pay for something like this? If you don’t have housing to offer (or offer less housing than they require, like if they have a family) in addition to salary, do you rent an apartment for them? Provide a housing stipend? How many weeks of vacation do you offer? Do you offer insurance? Is night check included in this or do you pay additional for it? How many days off per week (assuming 1)?

Good on you for checking, but insurance or a good enough pay for them to find a place of their own should be no brainers, though the position sounds good.

[Wilish]

Not at all what I meant - that’s totally reasonable. I offered a stipend instead since the housing I can provide is a one bedroom. Stipend equivalent to a one bedroom because one person is working for me, which they said wasn’t an option. We had to pay 100% of the housing directly and provide it to the entire family. It seems like a wild request. My question is, is it normal? With the stipend, salary, and benefits, comp is about the equivalent of $100k per year. A 2 bedroom would be closer to $130k.

[MHM]

Speaking strictly as a practical matter, if you want to have grooms in a place with a very high cost of living like Wellington, you can either provide them with housing or pay them enough so they can afford housing.

Ditto for places like Westchester, the Hamptons, etc., etc.

[Amberley]

@Wilish

We had to pay 100% of the housing directly and provide it to the entire family. It seems like a wild request. My question is, is it normal?

No usually you make an ad outlining the compensation and people who are interested apply. If it doesn’t work for them, they won’t apply. It sounds like this applicant cannot secure housing themselves for some reason but it also sounds like you have jumped the gun and offered them a job without really working out the specifics of what you can offer. I would be hesitant to rent a property and let someone else live there without some kind of legal protection via a corporation/ employee housing agreement myself.

This seems like an atypical job and most people are, rightly, very wary of live in sole employee type roles. You might do better to go through a staffing agency. And yes you’ll have to carry workmans comp offer benefits, PTO etc most likely and advertise those clearly as well as relevant info.

[GraceLikeRain]

@Wilish

since the housing I can provide is a one bedroom. Stipend equivalent to a one bedroom because one person is working for me, which they said wasn’t an option. We had to pay 100% of the housing directly and provide it to the entire family. It seems like a wild request. My question is, is it normal? With the stipend, salary, and benefits, comp is about the equivalent of $100k per year. A 2 bedroom would be closer to $130k.

I’m really not understanding these numbers at all.

Even assuming 6 days a week without a single week of vacation or holidays off only gets to $62k at $200/day.

What is the actual “value” of this one bedroom vs two bedrooms? Having the cost jump by nearly $3k/month for an additional bedroom doesn’t make sense.

On Zillow I’m finding 50 listings currently available for 2 bedrooms at $2,500/month or less.

[2bayboys]

OP, I think your question is impossible to answer without knowing the qualifications and experience of the prospective employee. What is standard in Wellington is less relevant than whether or not this particular employee brings to the table enough added value to justify negotiating the terms of the employment contract in his favor.

[kenyarider]

I’m confused. If you can offer salary of $100K, $130K isn’t that big of a step up and if it’s the right person, isn’t it worth the extra money? It is a very time consuming, physically hard job. Just wondering. I am happy to hear that you are thinking in those numbers since many in your position seem to think they should work for peanuts. ($200 a day is $1400 a week which is peanuts for a 12-15 hour 6-7 days a week job).

[findeight]

You can have a 1 bedroom or studio limit and do not HAVE to fund a 2 or 3 bedroom in your compensation package. Just disclose what the housing stipend is and they can decide. If they want to negotiate, that’s fine but you can offer more or stand firm, it is your call.

Be careful not to hire somebody who is going to end up trying to run your place and bully you into doing it their way…have a friend who fell into that trap and ended up with them squatting in her barn guest house for over a year after he was fired.

Be careful with Florida rental ads-they are not required to include all mandatory fees as part of the rent as most other states stipulate. My rent does not include a mandatory “smart home” package including internet and TV and a monthly “amenities” fee. I choose to add a garage and pet fees but it is almost 300 over what “rent” is listed at.

OP, I know you do have an attorney handy to draw up that contract and help pick the proper insurance, right?

[MHM]

@MHM

Speaking strictly as a practical matter, if you want to have grooms in a place with a very high cost of living like Wellington, you can either provide them with housing or pay them enough so they can afford housing.

Ditto for places like Westchester, the Hamptons, etc., etc.

I’m quoting myself to add that if you want to have grooms who stick around, it needs to be decent housing. Otherwise you should expect your turnover rate to be pretty high.

Not the Taj Mahal or anything. But not a dump. Not an old camper without TV or air conditioning. Etc., etc.

[Laurierace]

If someone needs a two bedroom living arrangement due to wanting to bring their family with them and that is not something you can provide it seems to me that the most logical thing to do is not hire them and hire someone that can live in a one bedroom. With Wellington prices I can’t imagine being able to pay a groom enough to pay for a 2 bedroom on their own dime.

[Spudsmyguy]

@MHM

I’m quoting myself to add that if you want to have grooms who stick around, it needs to be decent housing. Otherwise you should expect your turnover rate to be pretty high.

Years and years ago, my boyfriend and I worked for about a week at a very high end barn in NJ which provided “housing” as part of the compensation package. I use the term housing loosely as this is what they provided: Above the barn, share space with another couple in two bedrooms, bug infested. The kitchen/bathroom had no electricity with the toilet and shower right next to where you may be able to prep food. So no refrigerator, no stove, no electric, and an insect infested bedroom while meanwhile, the owners lived on the other side of the loft, in a spacious, light filled apartment with an actual kitchen and bathroom with electricity. I could have called the health department because this was definitely not decent, safe, and sanitary housing and not fit for human habitation.

[enjoytheride]

I’m not sure what your issue is? If the option is a. one bedroom apartment or b. a stipend equivalent to a 1 bedroom apartment, then someone applying could either take it or leave it. They are just hiring one person. It’s not their problem that person has a wife and two kids. They could very well take the stipend, get a 2 bedroom apartment, and then their spouse fills in the remainder.

Or they could find a different job? A employer doesn’t have to change the terms of their arrangement because their employee has a bigger family. I would just hire a single person or a couple w no kids and not deal with having to provide a 2 bedroom apartment for 2 children.

[enjoytheride]

But she’s not hiring 2 people and 2 kids. She’s hiring 1 person. She doesn’t have to pay 1 person 30k extra because that person is married and has 2 children. Your salary isn’t based on how many children you have.

How did you get “12 to 15 hour days?” out of what she described?

[Demerara_Stables]

@enjoytheride

But she’s not hiring 2 people and 2 kids. She’s hiring 1 person. She doesn’t have to pay 1 person 30k extra because that person is married and has 2 children. Your salary isn’t based on how many children you have.

This. In every other industry, people get a salary and that is it. If you are living with someone, whether it be a partner, spouse, or just roommate, they are expected to pay their share of the rent. Yes, maybe this person is the sole breadwinner but then they need to pick a job that pays more than this job is paying.

The argument of whether or not this job pays enough for the person to live in this area with a family without a second income, or whether this salary is the appropriate dollar amount for this job is a separate conversation.

[Demerara_Stables]

@Wilish

We had to pay 100% of the housing directly and provide it to the entire family. It seems like a wild request. My question is, is it normal?

Obligatory I am not an accountant, but there may be tax reasons for paying the housing directly, either to benefit you or to benefit this employee, that the employee may have in mind when they are asking for this arrangement. In my experience of one season working in Wellington, my shared (with other employees), off-site housing was paid for directly to the landlord by my employer.

As an employer, I would definitely want to check with an attorney about the pros and cons of this arrangement. Paying a stipend seems much more normal and probably offers you more protection.

[GraceLikeRain]

@enjoytheride

If the option is a. one bedroom apartment or b. a stipend equivalent to a 1 bedroom apartment, then someone applying could either take it or leave it

Sure but that wasn’t the question posed. It was whether others had experienced the “wild request” of someone needing a two bedroom.

An employer says “here’s the package” a prospective employee counters with “this is what I need to accept”. Either an employer says yes this is worth it or no it’s not in our budget or misaligned with what we can provide. I have aggressively negotiated every offer ever presented. Some companies have accepted. Others have walked away. I doubt my employer went to a public forum asking if my request was “wild”.

The fact that such a basic compensation negotiation concept was brought specifically to a horse forum has a strong undertone that smells unpleasant. This wasn’t a proactive, what’s the going rate for a quality employee in this market as was originally presented. Subsequent posts made it clear that a package had already been presented and it was the counter offer that generated a desire to have feedback supporting some original undisclosed offer.

I still do not understand looking at market rates how going from a one bedroom to a two bedroom in Wellington represents an additional $3k/month cost to this employer.