[Stoots]

So having had a few part timers come and go in I'm leaning towards going for it and getting a full timer next...

I'm in that awkward position of having too much for myself but maybe not quite enough for a full timer, well I have enough I would just have to take the hit personally but I guess that's how it goes....

Anyway how do you guys who employ work it?

Do you pay 40 hours rain or shine or do you pay less say 32 hours 4 days. What to do about bad weather days? Make them catch up on a Saturday or pay for every day or half day off?

Or maybe have a monthly hourly target

Any thoughts or ideas?

I know just pay 40 hours but I must admit it sickens me to think of having to pay out for non workable days. I guess it's not legal to make them take it as a holiday....

[britishwill]

Would you want the deal you are offering? Treat employees with respect so they can build a future with the company. If they have stability they will probably stay with you longer rather than look for a job that does. Employing 3 people as I do I want them to be hardworking trustworthy people who my clients get used to seeing so when I take a day off or two they are familiar with them and also they know the round. If they don’t work hard and respect the company and what we have built together. Off they go.

I have had 3 employees down to one and the biggest thing I have learnt is if the staff are not good get rid of them. If I cannot get good staff I am fine on my own and will always earn more money being on my own but what about illness or the possibility of long term sick?  Employing It is in my eyes and insurance that is you treat them with respect and offer them a good employment if and when needed they can step up and cover you when needed. In the long term for a successful business this is only going to be a concern for a very small period of time until more work comes in. It will also give you and opportunity to market the company rather than constantly working and having no time to grow.
Just a thought....

[Stoots]

Would you want the deal you are offering? Treat employees with respect so they can build a future with the company. If they have stability they will probably stay with you longer rather than look for a job that does. Employing 3 people as I do I want them to be hardworking trustworthy people who my clients get used to seeing so when I take a day off or two they are familiar with them and also they know the round. If they don’t work hard and respect the company and what we have built together. Off they go. I have had 3 employees down to one and the biggest thing I have learnt is if the staff are not good get rid of them. If I cannot get good staff I am fine on my own and will always earn more money being on my own but what about illness or the possibility of long term sick?  Employing It is in my eyes and insurance that is you treat them with respect and offer them a good employment if and when needed they can step up and cover you when needed. In the long term for a successful business this is only going to be a concern for a very small period of time until more work comes in. It will also give you and opportunity to market the company rather than constantly working and having no time to grow.
Just a thought....

Thanks for the reply although I'm not offering anything just yet I'm just looking for advice and opinions.

Of course I agree with paying a great wage and all that but it also has to be profitable and worthwhile financially. So it's finding a balance.

Just looking to see how everyone else works it, the main stumbling block being the weather.

I can afford to pay a full timer if they do a certain amount per week, if they regularly don't hit that target due to weather it becomes a bit pointless.

[Johnny B]

How many hours could you offer a new employee at the moment?

If you are looking to employ now, how about offering what you can afford to now without compromising your own financial needs and telling your prospective employee that with new work that you are seeking, there will be the opportunity to offer him/her more hours as your business grows.

John

[jo5hm4n]

I offer my employee 35-40 hours per week.  If the weather is terrential then he knows we must make the time up on a saturday or do an extra hour each day to avoid getting behind.  If we finish early at the end of the week he still gets paid for a full day.  He respects this and in turn when i ask him to work late or work extra to make up for terrible weather days then he has loyalty to me.

Generally though unless the weather is severely bad i still send him out in it.  You cant be prancing about if its light drizzle or a bit of wind when you have employees to pay.  It wont work.  I'd rather send my employee out and risk getting the odd complaint than to pay him a full days wage and hes sat at home doing nothing and im actually losing money.

If you do employ a guy full time, instantly you will have lots of free time.  You could then use this time to get lots more work in?  So that there is enough hours for you and him full time.

If you give somebody a job with good hours and pays well you are more likely to get somebody who will stick at it.

Good luck mate!

[Simon Trapani]

I pay my employee on paye full time rain or shine. I wouldn't dream of asking him to make up the hours on a Saturday. He gets paid rain or shine. He has bills to pay too so needs to know when he's working & what he's going to earn. It rarely rains all day. You gotta make hay whilst the sun shines to a degree but without killing him. Take the rough with the smooth. The good will outweigh the bad, it has to, otherwise no it's not worth your while. It's one of the things you take into consideration when deciding their wage beforehand.
Sometimes if heavy rain or a storm is forecast coming then my employee has luckily offered the day before to take it as holiday but otherwise I just gotta absorb it.  We often save gutter & fascia cleans for rainy days or he'll sit it out until at least dinner. It's just making the most of a bad day. Anything he can get done will help towards his wages & the bigger picture. ie annual turnover.
I would add I live in the south so we don't get too much rain. Also I think if you had multiple employees you may have to plough on through the rain. Others on here will have experience of that.

[Stoots]

Thanks.

yes i suppose thats the options, low wage and guarantee it or higher wage and have him make up hours.

Either will work ill have  think...

[AuRavelling79]

When Dan the Man worked for me I guaranteed him 32 hours and said the aim was to cover that Mon-Thursday but that he might have to make up Friday or even Saturday. I also said that if the weeks work was done in less than 32 hours then he'd still get paid.

Basically he had a monthly salary that although contractually was based on hours it was assumed he would get paid and that the work was done.

In the three years he worked for me I think he worked a Friday about a dozen times and never once on a Saturday. More often than not he worked 8.30 - 3.30 and the days work was done. Rarely would he have to work after 4.30.

I also had a bonus system on turnover which was an extra £100 a month if target was reached and an extra £100 quarterly if all three months targets were reached plus a bit more.

He also had use of the second van which was not sanctioned for private use (other than to/from home to fill up).

[Plankton]

banked hours is better for the employer, I know there's one person on here that works this way or used to at least. So on banked hours you'll have a salary which guarantees your income but you'll have to be flexible with the hours worked.  Don't see anything wrong with offering that. Better for the employee as it means they don't need to endure the unpredictable and sometimes harsh Scottish weather, but they'll need to work more hours here and there. 

[SB Cleaning]

If you have too much work I would personally sell part of your round.

I wouldn't employ again it's to much hassle imo.

[Arnold Palmer]

37.5 hours.

Ive got 18 full time employees. Scary stuff if the weather changes.

[Stoots]

If you have too much work I would personally sell part of your round.

I wouldn't employ again it's to much hassle imo.

Too late, already committed to it. Tried 3-4 guys out, spent money on extra work and a bigger 2 man setup etc.

Started so ill finish, ill find someone if it kills me......

[nathankaye]

This is what puts me off employing. Ive trained people up and in the past ive had guys work with me, but that has been on a day for a day basis. Ie, i would owe my friend a day helping him back etc. So rarely did we hand cash to each other.
I also worked a day a week for a friend who paid me a days wage for doing so and we went out if it rained or not.

But to employ full time sounds like an headache as you can not expect an employee to work the same as the boss, ie play catch up on the wknds for instance.   

Then you have to get plenty of work just to cover their wages and extra cost before you start making any money on them.
For me, if i was in that position i would simply refine my work and loose the dross or pasd dome on or sell on etc and obviously keep the best for yourself

[Leeds]

don't understand this weather business. in the last 3 years we probably missed 6 days. If they have adequate work clothes, crack on.

only torrential and blizzard should affect work.

[Arnold Palmer]

don't understand this weather business. in the last 3 years we probably missed 6 days. If they have adequate work clothes, crack on.

only torrential and blizzard should affect work.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/mobile/about-us/who/how/case-studies/winter09-10

[Stoots]

Must have missed the beast from the east as well

[Simon Trapani]

Also I’ve found some customers don’t want the window cleaner around on a Saturday unanounced. I know I wouldn’t.

[Simon Trapani]

don't understand this weather business. in the last 3 years we probably missed 6 days. If they have adequate work clothes, crack on.

only torrential and blizzard should affect work.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/mobile/about-us/who/how/case-studies/winter09-10

I remember that winter... my ibc froze solid in my garage.

[Matt.]

Employing is a nightmare ....
I have 2 full timers and pay them both 40 hrs basic each week,  but they will do more. All work is commercial so unless it is really bad work goes on.
Both great lads who I have given vans to, and they manage there own work no problems, ( using an app we use )which is key to employing, u don’t want any problems or you mays well go do it yourself
If they want to work late and finish early on Friday that’s fine by me or if they want to work late and be paid for it that also works for me.
It’s hard to find a perfect window cleaner who will just turn up and do the work.
In all honesty after having job adverts out for years am now looking for a couple of younger lads who want to work and we can train them ourselves.

[Smudger]

I employ 6

3 full time and 3 part time

Full time are 35 hr week but the yearly total is di used by 12 so I think that’s 151 hrs a month
Time is semi flexible so if it’s too bad to work they don’t get paid and catch up hours later in the week or Saturday  ( very rarely happens ) hours over at the end of the month are banked and paid the following month - if they are short the difference is made up with banked hours or we pay the difference and claim th hours back next month

The trick is not to have a high 40 hr week as the daylight hours this time of year makes it hard to cover all the hours

Part timers are brought in at high demand weeks as not to overload the full time guys

Darran