[Griffus]

We are forever fighting a losing battle with recruitment.

All the usual channels pretty much exhausted, any one have any 'out of the box' suggestions?

[Rob_Mac]

Griffus

What are the usual channels? -

Directly employed
Self employed
Sub contract
Agency

Have you tried all of these?

What are the problems with these approaches and how many people are you looking for?

It could be that they are not being trained properly, the incentive is not enough and or other reasons (I am not saying it is any of these)

Rob

[chris scott]

We are forever fighting a losing battle with recruitment.

All the usual channels pretty much exhausted, any one have any 'out of the box' suggestions?

How much do you pay?

[Rob_Mac]

Chris

I will draw your attention to this comment -  'the incentive is not enough'

Though he could be paying in other ways, the general way is to offer financial incentive.

I am sure you were aware of this

Rob

[Griffus]

Rob,

When I say other channels, I mean for advertising vacancies.

We do all four of your suggestions.

Employed prefered on the whole.
Self employed help in busier times.
Subbies are again back up during busy times.
Agency, when we hit this stage we are really struggling. I have a vast amount of experience with agency from previous roles and even when you've 50 + agency staff a day you still have to filter through the bs the agency give you, so as a small firm that is amplified.

We are always on the look out for good quality staff. Stage 1 = receiving applications. Recently we just aren't getting many, and none that reach stage 2.
Chris, is that a reply?

[chris scott]

Rob,

When I say other channels, I mean for advertising vacancies.

We do all four of your suggestions.

Employed prefered on the whole.
Self employed help in busier times.
Subbies are again back up during busy times.
Agency, when we hit this stage we are really struggling. I have a vast amount of experience with agency from previous roles and even when you've 50 + agency staff a day you still have to filter through the bs the agency give you, so as a small firm that is amplified.

We are always on the look out for good quality staff. Stage 1 = receiving applications. Recently we just aren't getting many, and none that reach stage 2.
Chris, is that a reply?

Sorry disregard that ..i misinterpreted the post

[Rob_Mac]

Chris - I miss you when we don't 'chat' x

Griffus

I feel your pain - just had a brilliant lad from an agency. We went quiet and he kept texting about work.

Phoned him about work couple of weeks ago and he has another job. Someone else's gain, definitely my loss.

I'll be okay for the next couple of weeks but we are just going into our busy period and I will have the same needs as you, with all the same frustrations.

The answer is to 'bang the head against the wall', scream and then carry on the never ending cycle

Rob

[Andrew Briscoe]

We are struggling to get staff at the moment, I have advertised through loads
of different channels and not having any luck.
The everage term of employment for a general cleaner in this country is 3 months.


The 14 staff we have are top notch, however I genarally have to employ 3 before I get 1 good one, who is in it for a career.

I got only 4 replies for last post, I asked all to come for an interview and
none turned up, really pes you off sometimes, and people moan there is no work.

Just took 1 guy on, he is 62 and is top notch, so from now on i am going to be like B&Q and employ the grey brigade, they seem to have a different work ethic.

[Griffus]

Not just me then 

Head and wall, sounds like a plan 

What makes matters worse for us is we need CSCS on majority of jobs, we do pay this for the right people (unfortunately, after the event they aren't always still the right people  )

[Rob_Mac]

Griffus

We need CSCS as well. On top of that, virtually always high level work, so IPAF and just when we were getting cosy, SSSTS (supervisors) even when there are only two people on site, one of them must be Supervisor trained.

Who do you work for if you need CSCS?

Rob

[Rob_Mac]

Two and two together.

Griffus - are you Ian Griffiths?

Rob

[Griffus]

Two and two together.

Griffus - are you Ian Griffiths?

Rob

One and the same

[Richelle]

Hi there,

I had posted this in the frequently asked questions about general cleaning yesterday evening....so everyone is struggling with employing staff. 

Where is everyone putting their adds for staff - I have been putting adds on gumtree and at the job centre - but not getting many responses - when you get a response you arrange interviews and they don't show. 

I was putting it down to the time of year (school holidays) but from this post I am worried that it may be like this all the time.

Good luck to everyone - hope our heads and walls hold out.

[B Bailey]

I never put it up at job centre anymore, only get people who have to
Prove they're applying for jobs.
They never turn up for interviews.

[AndrewR]

Have you heard of A4E (Action for Employment)? They are government funded (so no hefty agency fees) and help people who are finding it hard to find work get a job.

From my experience they can throw up some good people (they have the usual dross of course but they also have some people who are desperate to work and keen as mustard when they find work).

They do help some people who made mistakes in the past that have found them in trouble with the authorities (so if your work requires CRB checks that may be a problem for some of them) but that isnt their only client base and, like I say, they have found me some real diamonds in the past.