Q: After a heavy snow, I hired a teenager to shovel my property. I told him to shovel also for the neighbor. Do I have to pay him for the neighbor?
A: When you instruct a worker to work in another’s property, if the worker did not know that this was another’s property or if you indicated that you are responsible for his wages — you are liable to pay the worker. You can then collect from the neighbor in accordance with the laws of yored lesedei chaveiro, even though you did not do the enhancement yourself (C.M. 336:1; Sma 336:4).
However, if the worker knew that this was another’s property, and you did not indicate that you take responsibility for the wages — the worker’s claim is to the neighbor, in accordance with the rules of yored lesedei chaveiro.
If the neighbor was present when you told the teenager to shovel there and the neighbor remained silent, his silence is tacit agreement, and he is liable for the teenager’s regular wages (Rema 336:1).
