[Marc Whitbread]

Hi all,

for those that employ some advice is needed I employ 1 guy full time at the moment he is on 18k soon to be 20k I have gone through 3 other people in the last 6 months the last one was caught smoking in the customers garden whilst cleaning and taking payment off the customer at the same time! I don't understand it even on starting salary I'm offering 16k working hours 8-4.30/5
5 days a week the usual 28 days paid holiday etc I've tried advertising on fb pages indeed and gumtree but usually end up with crap.
I must admit I am not very good at the interviewing part but we barely get many applications...can anybody advise
is that a reasonable salary
and where you advertise and how you find the whole experience? I do want to employ and keep growing the business but at the moment starting to get a little sick of this repetitive recruiting process! 

[Smudger]

Employing is the hardest part, we have a cracking team and probably pay slightly less than you,

Drop me an email

Darran

[Marc Whitbread]

Hi Darran thanks have pinged you an email

Cheers
Marc

[SeanK]

All depends where you live and work, that would certainly be a reasonable salary where I'm based but in the south of England
maybe not.
I think its just a window cleaning thing I certainly have  noticed that the employers in my area are constantly changing their workforce.

[Rich Wilts]

It was suggested to me recently to try an employment agency to source staff. I haven't tried it but it's worth a thought - or two.

[Smudger]

Worth trying if you want to spend a grand or two for some dolly bird to read the cv's for you.

Darran

[Matt.]

Finding good staff is the hardest part of are job.

Similar situation for me I don't mind paying the extra in wages but am not paying it to have crap.

I think am guna put me feelers out for any school leavers this summer and see wot comes of it. The best lad I had work for me started wen he was 16, was with me for about 10 years, fantastic lad til he met a girl and started throwing poope up his nose, I even sat down with him explaining that I would sack him for it ........ Long story but I gave him 2 options, either get off the stuff or am guna sack him.

A week later he lost his job which also meant his phone going and his van.
From wen he was 18 he earned 20k plus every year

[Phil J]

I'm currently being held to ransom by my 19 year old employee! He has decided he's sick and has been off for 2 weeks whilst I struggle on Really flustrating but what can you do!!

[andyM]

I'm currently being held to ransom by my 19 year old employee! He has decided he's sick and has been off for 2 weeks whilst I struggle on Really flustrating but what can you do!!

I'm in no position to offer employment advice.
But there used to be a poster on here that had 2 or 3 part timers working for him on alternate days.
Seemed a good strategy to me in theory anyway.

[Smudger]

I'm currently being held to ransom by my 19 year old employee! He has decided he's sick and has been off for 2 weeks whilst I struggle on Really flustrating but what can you do!!

How long has he been employed by you ?

[8weekly]

I must admit I wouldn't use Facebook for staff. I reckon an ad in the local newspaper is probably the best approach. An agency would be expensive.

[Smudger]

Job centre and gum tree work well, but you will get loads of cv's from those who are just going through the motions, always ask for a covering letter it helps gauge whether they can put a coherent sentence together

Darran

[8weekly]

Job centre and gum tree work well, but you will get loads of cv's from those who are just going through the motions, always ask for a covering letter it helps gauge whether they can put a coherent sentence together

Darran

Interesting that you say the job centre. I understood that attendance there is compulsory and hence why an ad in a local paper shows a little more eagerness for work?

[Smudger]

That's true, but so is applying to adverts in newspapers !

The newspaper route will work, but so far gum tree and job centre have worked, normally we get around 30 ish applications of which 25 go straight in the bin, no covering letter, no transport, can't drive so clearly can not follow  a standard set of instructions

Darran

[SeanK]

Job centre and gum tree work well, but you will get loads of cv's from those who are just going through the motions, always ask for a covering letter it helps gauge whether they can put a coherent sentence together

Darran

Interesting that you say the job centre. I understood that attendance there is compulsory and hence why an ad in a local paper shows a little more eagerness for work?

Doesn't really make any difference where guys on the dole are concerned, its compulsory to show that you have been actively looking for work so a lot will apply for a job like window cleaning with no intention of getting it.
The local paper add has more chance of attracting guys already in employment looking for something better or different.

[Smurf]

Hi all,

for those that employ some advice is needed I employ 1 guy full time at the moment he is on 18k soon to be 20k I have gone through 3 other people in the last 6 months the last one was caught smoking in the customers garden whilst cleaning and taking payment off the customer at the same time! I don't understand it even on starting salary I'm offering 16k working hours 8-4.30/5
5 days a week the usual 28 days paid holiday etc I've tried advertising on fb pages indeed and gumtree but usually end up with crap.
I must admit I am not very good at the interviewing part but we barely get many applications...can anybody advise
is that a reasonable salary
and where you advertise and how you find the whole experience? I do want to employ and keep growing the business but at the moment starting to get a little sick of this repetitive recruiting process!

So you sacked a guy on the spot just for doing that ...Going by your employee handbook does that act a grouse misconduct then  No verbal warning , 2 written then a final and all that

[Tom-01]

Hi all,

for those that employ some advice is needed I employ 1 guy full time at the moment he is on 18k soon to be 20k I have gone through 3 other people in the last 6 months the last one was caught smoking in the customers garden whilst cleaning and taking payment off the customer at the same time! I don't understand it even on starting salary I'm offering 16k working hours 8-4.30/5
5 days a week the usual 28 days paid holiday etc I've tried advertising on fb pages indeed and gumtree but usually end up with crap.
I must admit I am not very good at the interviewing part but we barely get many applications...can anybody advise
is that a reasonable salary
and where you advertise and how you find the whole experience? I do want to employ and keep growing the business but at the moment starting to get a little sick of this repetitive recruiting process!

So you sacked a guy on the spot just for doing that ...Going by your employee handbook does that act a grouse misconduct then  No verbal warning , 2 written then a final and all that

The guy you currently have where did you find him? Whats good about him? I think employing in this industry is difficult.

[Smurf]

That's my point as if he was any good he should not have been sacked surely as a verbal warning would have sufficed?

I'm betting during your little chat  if he was any good he would have told you to shove yer job were the sun don't shine.
I know I would have if I had been spoken to like a peace of poop and yes I smoke too 

[Matt.]

But that kid I had working for me was perfect, prior to messing about which was over a few months period, I had to sit and think how much it was guna cost me, I knew I couldn't replace him like for like as he was that good, and I did give numerous then 2 written even spoke with his mum, and she moved him back home with her but the chage was short term, over say a 5 year period we was expanding rapidly and he was involved in everything including traing staff with me, and even tho his insurance was just on 3k it was money well spent, well to a point. Once the messing about started I gave him a brake down of how much he was costing the company ( not nessacerely me ) and that regards his van had to make a profit week in and week out.

Just let himself down so much even tho the company took a hit I never as I cover my own costs easy.

[Phil J]

Hi Darren,
He's been with me about  16 months, looked after him really well and I get the feeling he's giving me the runaround!