An agent hired workers at 4 zuz when authorized to hire at 3 zuz. He told them 'the employer pays.' What does the employer owe if their work is demonstrably worth 4 zuz?
When the work visibly demonstrates extra investment worth 4 zuz, the employer pays 4 zuz. The workers only worked harder because of the agent's promise. If the agent had promised 3, they would not have invested extra effort.
Question 2
Workers are hired to irrigate from a specific river. The river dries up unexpectedly (not its usual pattern). What do workers receive?
When the river dries up unexpectedly (not its usual pattern), the employer was obligated to warn the workers. Since he didn't, he pays them their full wage for the day.
Question 3
Can a day worker quit his job in the middle of the workday?
A worker may quit mid-day. The verse states 'the Children of Israel are servants to Me — not to servants.' While the employer can seek financial remedy (pay for work done only, or hire replacements and charge the difference for perishable work), he cannot compel the worker to continue.
Question 4
A worker finds a lost wallet while working in the employer's field. Who does the found object belong to?
A worker's found objects belong to the worker, not the employer. The exception is only when the worker was specifically hired to collect ownerless items (e.g., fish from a dried-up river). Regular found objects during work belong to the finder.
Question 5
Workers hired to bring vegetables for a sick person arrive to find the patient has died. What do they receive?
The workers get full pay. The employer hired them for the effort of going, not for the patient's recovery. The Rambam is explicit: 'Do not tell them: take what you brought as your payment.' They are entitled to their full contracted wage.