[Neil Jones]

Hi, i've been a member for a while and enjoy reading all the posts gaining valuable information.

My carpet and upholstery cleaning company has been established nearly ten years and last year we expanded into domestic cleaning. Although I have a few houses that I go to I really want to hire staff and aloow them to clean the properties as I just can't take on anymore work myself.

I've been looking for staff for over 8 month now and it's just impossible, they either don't drive, don't want to work more than x number of hours, or are useless. I'm offering  £7.00 p/h but can't offer them more than 5 hours a week because I can't take on more work!!! Catch 22! I know there is work out there and I can get it but i just need a cleaner or a team of cleaners to do this.

I'm finding this next step in the business extremely challenging, any help on where to find employees or tips would be massively appreciated, or an alternative way round this problem!

Thanks in advance

[TN Cleaning Services Ltd]

If you have the work lined up, go to a staff bureau / employment agency.
You will have to pay a fee for the first 13 weeks but after that you can employ them.
If they are no good, tell the bureau to send someone else.
You dont have to keep them on as they are on trial.

Tim.

[daniel osmore]

Truth be told, you will struggle to get someone to take a job for only five hours per week seriously. If you offer somebody a worthwhile income that makes a difference in their life, you might get a slightly better quality and more committed applicant. I say slightly better, because nobody really wants to be a cleaner these days, generally people will only do it as a stop gap job whilst they are looking for something else or developing other interests. Recruitment and staff retention is one of the most challenging issues facing the cleaning industry in general.

You could continue to find and take on new clients - but just defer the start date by a couple of weeks until you find a suitable cleaner. Many clients will be prepared to wait until you have someone in place. When you have a reasonable amount of work, say 16 hours or more, I think you'll find it easier to find someone suitable. Don't expect your staff to be as good or as dedicated as you (they almost certainly will not be); as the owner of the business you will obviously be much more motivated - as you are trying to build something for the future. Show them exactly what they need to do and how they should do it, don't assume they will know what to do. It might be helpful to produce an idiot-proof procedural manual so the work becomes as easy as painting-by-numbers; this will also help to ensure quality and consistency.

Even if you don't have enough work to begin with, you could always make up hours by getting your new staff member to do some leafleting or by helping out in other ways.

[Neil Jones]

I will check out the employment burea, although I hear agency staff are even less motivated.

I like the idea of deferring work for a few week so may give that a go and try to get a few more domestic cleans. I know what you mean about dedication as well, ideally a person as motivated and spending as much attention to detail as me would be perfect but I know that will never happen for £7 ph!

As for leaflets, I think that's a goer because I have 5000 here but have just stopped delivering because of no staff. I have someone working on Thursday so well see how it goes. But again she won't travel far and can only work 9.45 - 2.45 because of the school run :-(

Thanks for the advice, any more is welcomed!