Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about how The Waiver Wire works, from employee privacy to company onboarding to the legal stuff. Don't see your question? Reach out directly.

Understanding The Wire

The Waiver Wire is a talent marketplace inspired by the professional sports waiver wire system. When a company needs to reduce headcount, instead of issuing traditional layoffs, they can list employees on the platform. Other verified companies that are actively hiring can then claim that talent, giving the employee a direct path to a new employer with minimal downtime. The Wire makes the introduction. The rest is between the parties. Think of it as the first real alternative to the pink slip.
Traditional job boards and recruiting platforms put the burden entirely on the employee: apply, wait, interview, wait some more. The Waiver Wire is a B2B talent marketplace where companies connect directly. Employees are pre-vetted, currently employed, and available through a structured window. There's no job application, just a matching platform that makes the introduction between verified companies and available talent. It's more like a trade network than a job board.
Not at all. The Waiver Wire is designed for companies of all sizes. Small and mid-size companies (50–500 employees) often benefit proportionally more than enterprises, since the cost of each hire or layoff hits harder relative to their scale. Our platform and pricing are built to work for growth-stage companies, not just Fortune 500s. If you have people to move or roles to fill, The Wire is for you.
The Waiver Wire is industry-agnostic. It works especially well for knowledge-worker industries where skills are transferable across companies: technology, finance, marketing, operations, product, design, and professional services. As the platform grows, we're expanding coverage into healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors. If your employees have skills that other companies want. The Wire can work for you.

Protecting the Players

Yes, always. Employee consent is a non-negotiable requirement for every listing on The Waiver Wire. Before any profile goes live, the employee is briefed on the program, how their information is used, and what the process looks like. They can opt out at any time. Personal identifiers remain anonymized until they choose to connect with a specific company. The Wire is built on dignity, not surprise.
If no company claims an employee during their availability window (typically 2–3 weeks), the releasing company and employee decide together on next steps.
No. The Waiver Wire is a professional talent marketplace. We facilitate connections, not contracts. We are not a party to any employment agreement and we don't provide legal advice or compliance services. Companies and individuals are responsible for their own employment agreements and compliance with applicable law. The connections made through The Wire are subject to the same employment laws that apply to any hiring transaction. Think of us as the introduction, not the legal team. If you need employment counsel, we recommend engaging one independently.
Employee profiles are anonymized by default. No names, photos, or personal identifiers are shared until a verified match occurs and both parties consent to connect. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We never sell user data to third parties. Every company on the platform must agree to strict data use policies before gaining access. Violations result in immediate suspension. Privacy isn't a feature here. It's the rules.
Talent availability windows are typically 2–3 weeks. From the moment a profile goes live to an employee accepting a new offer, the projected average timeline is under three weeks. Compare that to the 42-day industry average for traditional rehiring. That's a massive compression that benefits everyone. Employees get income continuity. Releasing companies resolve transitions faster. Hiring companies fill roles before they lose momentum.
No. Expressing interest in a profile carries no formal obligation. Browsing, favoriting, or reaching out through the platform creates no binding agreement. Companies are free to withdraw interest at any stage before extending a formal offer.

However, once a company extends a formal offer to a candidate, that offer is subject to standard employment contract law and the company's own HR policies, just as any other offer of employment would be. The Waiver Wire is the introduction. What comes after is between the parties.

Getting on the Platform

The Waiver Wire uses a hybrid pricing model. Companies pay a low base subscription for platform access, plus a success fee when an introduction leads to a hire. There are no large upfront commitments and no cost for transitions that don't result in a match. Founding companies currently receive complimentary access while we build the network. The success fee is triggered at the point of introduction, not at the time of hire. Once a match is made and both parties are connected, the fee applies. Reach out to discuss pricing for your organization.
Right now, the best path is to join the waitlist. Once we open access, we'll reach out to waitlist companies in order. Onboarding typically includes a setup call with your dedicated account manager, company verification, and platform training, usually completed within 48–72 hours of starting. There's no long procurement cycle. We built this to move fast.

We're Real People. Let's Talk.

Can't find what you're looking for? Email us directly at hello@thewaiverwire.net. Or join the waitlist and we'll follow up personally.