Hour swap
Swap bench hours
Swapping bench hours sounds simple until you need the other company to want exactly what you have spare this month. Hours replaces fragile two-party swaps with a network ledger.
Why pairwise bench swaps stall
Direct swaps fail the coincidence-of-wants test. Your idle React developer does not help if the only firm that needs React has nothing you want in return this quarter. Capacity expires while both sides wait for a neat mirror trade.
Multilateral swap via Hours
Contribute bench hours when you have them. Earn Hours credit. Spend that credit later on whatever specialty another verified member can provide. The ledger absorbs timing and skill mismatches that kill bilateral barter.
Rules that keep swaps honest
- 1 hour = 1 Hour. No seniority multipliers or profession price lists on the platform.
- Receiver approval before minting. Credits appear only after the receiving company accepts logged hours.
- Anonymity until match. You do not broadcast idle bench to the open market.
FAQ
Can two companies just swap bench hours directly?
They can try, but direct swaps need a coincidence of wants: each must need exactly what the other has spare, at the same time. Most bilateral swaps never happen, so capacity stays idle.
How does Hours make bench-hour swaps work?
Hours is multilateral and deferred. Company A provides hours to B and later spends earned credit on C. A shared ledger holds balances, so you never need a closed two-party loop.
Is a swap the same as paying cash for contractors?
No. Between members, no cash moves for the exchanged hours. You settle in Hours credit after receiver approval. Local accounting and tax documentation may still apply — cash-free is not paperwork-free.