Ben Harris suggests:

If you go the Weenie Beenie route you might want to call the Shirlington Education and Employment Center (SEEC) and arrange something over the phone. Going down to the pavilion where the laborers congregate can be pretty overwhelming when people start to rush your car. If you call, the staff can often recommend people who they know will do a good job. The number for the center is (703) 933-1101.

One advantage of calling SEEC is to find out what the going wage is. As Ben says, you can be engulfed in eager workers if you just drive down to pick up some.

For the woman's point of view, here is a reply from Susan Tenenbaum:

It's all very well to suggest the Weenie Beenie. Some of these guys are great workers. But if I'm right, Lisa is a woman, and those of you who recommend her trying this venue should think for a minute what it's like to be rushed by 50 guys if you're, say, 5'3".

I realize that the suggestion of using the SEEC office is an attempt to deal with this discomfort, but for myself (and I use the corner occasionally...or at least I did before they re-arranged it and penned everyone in, practically insuring an overwhelming rush when you drive up), I want to see the person I'm hiring; that's how I try to determine whether I'll feel safe with them or not. It's hard to describe to an official exactly what qualities might make me feel safe. And I'm not hard-hearted enough to blandly go into the office and say to someone who's been pre-selected (and therefore possibly has passed up other possible employers), "Sorry buddy; I don't like your looks."

I guess what I'm saying is that if you're a woman and you have reservations about using this venue for finding labor, I second your reservations. This despite the very good and respectful workers I occasionally found there. I realize also that most of the risk is borne by the workers and not the employer. Nevertheless, I have not found it a comfortable place to go.

Bear in mind that the laborers you pick up there will not have any tools, so you will have to furnish any tools they need. You have to pick them up and take them back to the Weenie Beanie. They may have few skills. You know nothing about their legal status. Many speak only Spanish, but since the tasks for which you hire them are usually not complex that may not be a problem. They are usually willing workers, and if you need manual laborers in almost any quantity you can find them there.

This page was revised on: July 1, 2005.