Piece work at home

Piece work (or piecework) has traditionally been another way to earn cash for home workers who, for whatever reason cannot work 9-5 in an ordinary factory or office.

The definition of piecework is that the worker gets paid per completed item (piece) or task rather than on an hourly rate or salary.

Piece work was popular in many industries in the UK, particularly garment making and light assembly but with increasing globalisation and competition from low-waged third world economies, the amount of piecework in these traditional areas has decreased hugely.

Work in these areas is usually found by word-of-mouth or local advertising but if, you're looking for a vacancy for particular type of piece work, you could call or leave a CV with local employers or ask at your jobcentre.

Before you commit to taking on piecework, you should find out the amount and regularity of the work and exactly what will be involved as well as whether you will be expected to hold stock or materials or store the finished item. Also will items be collected or will you have to deliver or ship and who bears the cost for this?

Be very careful about responding to internet or email adverts for home pieceworkers as this area is full of scams. The most common ones are envelope stuffing and addressing and assembly or craft work:

Envelope Stuffing and Addressing

The envelope stuffing scam dates back to the 1930's and probably earlier. The details of the scam vary but generally run along the lines of offering a piece work rate for each envelope stuffed and labelled.

The nature of what exactly is to be stuffed into the envelope is generally left unclear in the initial advert as is the reason why the 'employer' would pay someone a high unit price for doing something that a sixteen year old on minimum wage could accomplish at a much lower cost. The reason for this coyness is that you will be required to advertise the same deal and will be waiting for people to respond to your ads to get paid. In other words, you won't earn unless you get other people to sign up for the same deal.

Assembly Work at Home and Craft Work

Home assembly is something that was traditionally carried out as piece work and it still exists as a genuine work at home job to a limited extent.

The problem for most beginners in this area is telling the real piecework jobs from the scams which abound in this area. The answer to this is to research the company thoroughly - google it at least - a reputable company with piecework vacancies will have a real address and telephone number (beware of a PO box and mobile), will be happy to fully discuss the work, rates (which will be realistic) and shouldn't mind you talking to existing workers.

The way that the scams work is that whatever you produce will never be quite good enough to pass 'quality control' so you'll never get paid for it. Our advice is if you want to make money with crafts, is to make and sell them yourself.

Although it may not say so in the initial adverts, envelope stuffing and assembly / craft work 'opportunities' will require you to send money to get started. This payment may be described as a registration or sign up fee, deposit to show you're serious, a payment to cover the cost of materials or whatever. The scammers will offer all sorts of guarantees to try and give you peace of mind about where your money's going. Typically, they'll offer guarantees that:

A. You'll make a load of cash and join the ranks of champagne-guzzling boat-owners like the ones on their website!

and

B. If the load of cash doesn't materialise for whatever reason, you'll get your money back.

In the real world neither is likely to happen but it doesn't stop hundreds of people every day sending money they can't afford to lose to people and companies they've never heard of. As long as people are desperate to make money by working at home, the rip-off's will continue. Our advice is:

If it seems too good to be true then it generally is....we have yet to hear of a genuine high-earning piecework or home assembly job on the web. If you are seeking this kind of work, you are far more likely to find it by contacting local employers, asking around local businesses or contacting your job centre.

Finally if you do send any money despite what you've read - be prepared to write it off! - Caveat Emptor (Let the buyer beware).