[paul alan]

Had to call my employee and tell him I'm letting him go!

Feel crap about it.


It's nearing the end of the 3 month probation period and although he's a decent worker, always early, willing, eager to learn etc he's missed one too many windows for my liking. I would have liked to have him go out alone by now but it wouldn't be a good idea. He's still making newbie errors.

The other day I left him to clean 3 upstairs windows while I went and did the insides, I watched him do 1 then walk off to start the downstairs. I don't think its on purpose, more absent-minded but the customer won't care what the reason is.


It's happened too many times.


Anyways its back to the drawing board, I do feel bad but its best for business.

[Stoots]

Back to the drawing board mate.

I let my latest chap go a few weeks ago,  similar reasons.

He was fast, always turned up to work but no matter how many times he was told he was still too slap dash.

Had about 6 complaints on work he had done, stuff like missing sills, cobwebs still left, drip marks etc.

We did one house where i watched him clean a window above a conny, gave the window a quick brush and rinse then onto the next......i stood and looked in amazement at the big glaringly obvious bird turn he had totally neglected.

Not easy is it this employing lark  .... im happy on my own at the minute, refining the round and earning not much less than i was with the part time help all without the hassle.

Just think you can have a week or so off at christmas and not have to worry about paying someones wages

I think i will employ again but i want to make the round as cream as possible first

[cleaniac]

This is all good feedback to read, im about to take the plunge myself into employing.

My emphasis will be, not on speed, but a decent job done.

[Kev Martin]

Employing people is not easy.  Sometimes you can be remarkably lucky but most of the time the truth of the matter is employing people is a nightmare.  The answer is a tight team and give them incentives to get a share in your success otherwise you end up with them being too clever and shooting off to set up on their own,  or they simply just don’t care and they end up screwing up.   I had a couple who did the long term sick call on me that really grates, you pay while they are doing what they like.  I even had one run away . No I am not that bad

[paul alan]

This is all good feedback to read, im about to take the plunge myself into employing.

My emphasis will be, not on speed, but a decent job done.

The fact is though, it needs to be quality work done efficiently. He's got to be earning enough money to pay all costs and make a profit. I couldn't see my guy doing that.

[John Mart]

I assume you pointed out about missing windows? To be honest, if that’s all it was I’d have extended the trial and said I don’t want a single complaint of missed windows in this month. If everything else was good, I think you should have persisted.

[alank]

You've made the right decision then Paul and taken the correct action for the good of your business so onwards and upwards best of luck with the next one.

[JandS]

With sick pay to pay, holiday pay and pension to sort out don't think I'll bother.

[nathankaye]

This is why I don't want to employ, as you have to stress to make sure you have enough extra work constantly to be able to employ and then make sure you gain a whole lot of extra work to be able to grow and make extra profit. For me it's about refining my work still and targeting bigger houses for a much higher fee and clean less per hour.

I helped out a good friend by giving him a day each week for quite a number of years, to ensure he could get all his work done etc etc.  He paid a hundred a day and for virtually all that time it was trad work. Now I was good at trad and fast (yes and maintained quality), faster than my friend, the boss.  Who started to take it easy and let me do the majority of the work (which is why I suppose one's employ, I get that) but when I'm also self employed I didn't take kindly to this and so I also started slowing down. Because we didn't finish and go home early, more work was added instead.
At the same time, I ensured that I gave a good job but it wasn't a great job that I would do for my customers.
So with my own experience, I know what most would be thinking if I employed someone and therefore I can't see why one's put themselves through it.

[Slacky]

I assume you pointed out about missing windows? To be honest, if that’s all it was I’d have extended the trial and said I don’t want a single complaint of missed windows in this month. If everything else was good, I think you should have persisted.

Thats what I would've done.

[paul alan]

I assume you pointed out about missing windows? To be honest, if that’s all it was I’d have extended the trial and said I don’t want a single complaint of missed windows in this month. If everything else was good, I think you should have persisted.

We, ve had a few chats about it.


There's one house I do inside and out each month, the guy pays well and I like him.
 The first time I took my ex-employee there I explained I didn't want any mistakes, he missed a window. The next month we went back and I told him en route to be more careful this time, he did it again.


One that still makes me laugh, we did a FSG and I pointed out a black mark and told him to remove it and the best way to go about it. When I checked it was still there so I asked him, knowing he hadn't, if he had removed it"yeah" he says. I asked "all of it?"-"yeah" So I pointed it out and asked what's that then?  "oh thats just what's left of it" OMFG!


Too many things to list but its become apparent to me that he's not going to be able to produce £xxx per day as I need, too many things tell me he's not right for the job.

I have invested 3 months in him and didn't want to just drop him like that but my gut instinct told me to do it today.

[John Mart]

I assume you pointed out about missing windows? To be honest, if that’s all it was I’d have extended the trial and said I don’t want a single complaint of missed windows in this month. If everything else was good, I think you should have persisted.

We, ve had a few chats about it.


There's one house I do inside and out each month, the guy pays well and I like him.
 The first time I took my ex-employee there I explained I didn't want any mistakes, he missed a window. The next month we went back and I told him en route to be more careful this time, he did it again.


One that still makes me laugh, we did a FSG and I pointed out a black mark and told him to remove it and the best way to go about it. When I checked it was still there so I asked him, knowing he hadn't, if he had removed it"yeah" he says. I asked "all of it?"-"yeah" So I pointed it out and asked what's that then?  "oh thats just what's left of it" OMFG!


Too many things to list but its become apparent to me that he's not going to be able to produce £xxx per day as I need, too many things tell me he's not right for the job.

I have invested 3 months in him and didn't want to just drop him like that but my gut instinct told me to do it today.

Ah well there you've added additional issues. Notably lying.

[SB Cleaning]

I have employed and it's not all it's cracked up to be , much better off on your own, build work up and sell it or franchise

[Den68]

I missed a window today on a house that I have cleaned 4 weekly for 18 months lol mistakes can happen.,

Seriously I know lots say don’t employ  family, I have my son work with me and couldn’t asked for better as he knows exactly what’s at stake with regards to keeping the customers happy and doing a good which returns pays his wages he knows if we start to loss customers due to bad work then one of us will have to go and it won’t be me 😀

[Johnny B]

My daughter helps me on occasions. The only complaint I have is that I would like her to help me more often! I am 100% trad, so I do all the ladderwork and she does the ground floor. We do a few inside windows and porches as well, and her work is faultless (and I am very fussy).

I pay her 40% of what we turn over plus I pay for lunch etc. Why? Because she's worth it.

John

[AuRavelling79]

All my daughters have worked for me at times on an as and when basis. Currently my youngest is at university in London but is always after work with me when she is home between terms.

She's very good and I put her on ground floor and conservatory sides and pay her £10 an hour for six hours work at a stretch. I reckon she adds about £80 - £100 in a working day to the turnover and we often finish in 5 hours.

Last half term I had a school to do and said I'd pay her £60 however long it took. We finished in three hours. She was well chuffed.