[mick hay]

I'm starting to get my head in gear re what i'm doing next year regarding growing my business.

I keep hearing on here that employing is a minefield, which i can imagine it is, tho once your over the 1st hurdle of your 1st reliable employee, i would imagine thats 1/2 the battle won.

Two ways in which an employee can work when totally wfp...with you on the same van, or out on his own in a seperate van..........which is best?

Theoretically, having someone out on there own, in another van is the way forward as you can duplicate this time and time agian, hence, its up to you how big you want your business.

Having someone working alongside you in your van,is obviously easier, keep your eye on them, know what they are up too, but, thats it, no more growth!

Would like know what the views are of those who do employ, whom are totally wfp.

Cheers.

[russ_clark]

Mick
You have hit the nail on the head mate.
You have to find the right man -which is no easy task.
Once found the only way to go is to give them a daily work schedule
and let them fill their boots.
Its the old saying 'pay peanuts get monkeys'
The right man for the job paid well and its happy days
You just need to keep finding them  
Russ

[D woods]

Hi Mick
The key to employing window cleaners is to filter out all the dross that will phone you. The best way to do this is to ask probing questions on the phone.

The very best question you can ever ask is, who are you working for at the moment? if they say they are out of work. Ask how long they have been looking for work. If they have been out of work for more than two weeks forget them and move on to the next person.

[Ian Lancaster]

The very best question you can ever ask is, who are you working for at the moment? if they say they are out of work. Ask how long they have been looking for work. If they have been out of work for more than two weeks forget them and move on to the next person.

The best employee I ever had I got from the job centre.  He was in his mid forties and had been out of work for 7 years   All he needed was a chance and some encouragement.  That was 10 years ago, today he's still cleaning windows, running his own business with a round I sold him, and earning more than me

My advice would be to talk to people to get to know a bit about them, then go with your gut feeling.

Finding people is hard, don't waste a good opportunity.

Cheers,

Ian

[NWH]

If you do find a good one make sure you look after them,once they`ve gone and your looking for someone else and realise there like gold dust you`ll kick yourself.

[Helen]

Hi Mick
The key to employing window cleaners is to filter out all the dross that will phone you. The best way to do this is to ask probing questions on the phone.

The very best question you can ever ask is, who are you working for at the moment? if they say they are out of work. Ask how long they have been looking for work. If they have been out of work for more than two weeks forget them and move on to the next person.

You never can tell, and just because someone has been out of work for 2 weeks doesn't mean they are no good and it doesn't mean they will be the best thing since sliced bread either! Go with your gut feeling and take on who you think is the best candidate on a trial basis and review at that date, (if they are still with you)
To answer your question, a "new person" will be working with you whilst training and you will get a "feel" for whether or not they will do well on their own.... if you are not happy to let them loose then don't until you are ready. If you have confidence in them, then go and spot check some of their work, don't tell them you are going to though!

[rehcra]

LISTEN TO YOUR HEAD, YOULL KNOW WHOS RIGHT.

I have had some right clowns working for me over the 18 years ive been running my own business, its a tricky one.

I have employed lads that are great window cleaners, but you find out they CANNOT be trusted with the money, as they see how much your earning & they think theyre entitled to be clever b------s, thinking youll not notice small amounts missing.

When that happens i sort it out & get rid, coz i have my money coming in & want them to be flat on their arse.

I took a lad on 12months ago who had been out of work for almost 12 months, hes still with me, the best ive employed, doesnt like stopping & collects with no problems. i pay him well to try & keep hold of him.

Just follow your gut instinks mate.

[Paul Coleman]

Hi Mick
The key to employing window cleaners is to filter out all the dross that will phone you. The best way to do this is to ask probing questions on the phone.

The very best question you can ever ask is, who are you working for at the moment? if they say they are out of work. Ask how long they have been looking for work. If they have been out of work for more than two weeks forget them and move on to the next person.

I don't think that two weeks is enough.
I've worked solidly since school - except for two periods in the early 1990s when I was out of work for about 3 weeks and 5 weeks respectively.  Even though I was 34 years of age and had a reasonable CV (including 13 years in one job) I could not get a job anywhere - and believe me I tried.  In fact, getting an interview was next to impossible. So I borrowed a ladder, bought a few scrims and bits and bobs and knocked on doors.  If a potential employer had excluded me for having been on the dole for 5 weeks, they would have been making a monumental blunder.  As things turned out, they did me a big favour and I now keep my profits instead of making profits for them.

[jdemarco]

I'm starting to get my head in gear re what i'm doing next year regarding growing my business.

I keep hearing on here that employing is a minefield, which i can imagine it is, tho once your over the 1st hurdle of your 1st reliable employee, i would imagine thats 1/2 the battle won.

Two ways in which an employee can work when totally wfp...with you on the same van, or out on his own in a seperate van..........which is best?

Theoretically, having someone out on there own, in another van is the way forward as you can duplicate this time and time agian, hence, its up to you how big you want your business.

Having someone working alongside you in your van,is obviously easier, keep your eye on them, know what they are up too, but, thats it, no more growth!

Would like know what the views are of those who do employ, whom are totally wfp.

Cheers.

Start with a lad working with you get him used to the way you work then if you have enough work set him up on his own and tell him how much work you expect done. then start training another lad up and put them together unless they prefer to work alone. But youll never be on to a loser you should always make more money than your paying them from day 1. should be at least double. But employing is the way to go for the growth of your business.

[NWH]

Never ever put 2 people together trust me on that one,they`ll rip the A*** out of you no matter what your paying them,put them out on there own or nothing.

[jdemarco]

Never ever put 2 people together trust me on that one,they`ll rip the A*** out of you no matter what your paying them,put them out on there own or nothing.

Maybe youve had a bad experience. but the lads ive got i trust and they wouldnt dare rip me off. On there own the chances are they wont stick at it. No matter what you do you need company. But i understand what you mean im just in a good position where its possible without getting ripped off, the lads have good morals.

[NWH]

I don`t trust anyone,it`s happened once to often.

[Andy@w.c.s]

Hi MICK
Its a a difficult call but some of the guys have hit the nail on the head
I have been employing for years and the only tip i can give is
Time all your jobs so as you know just how long each job takes
i have done this both on my own / and with two working , it only takes a few minuites
and when the day comes that you send the guys out on thier own you will have some idea of just exactly what  is being done
I have in the past fallen foul of the timings and without this would  have had so much dought about them
you can never be sure , but to have some hard facts on your side will help you,
even if its only to set your mind at rest