[andyh]

For the last 5 years all our staff have been PAYE. recently we have found problems with work lists not being complete or unable to work due to bad weather, but we still have to pay the staff a full weeks wage. can anyone offer advice for a better method of wages (in my favour). I have been informed that our window cleaners are not allowed to go self employed. any ideas?

[Roy Harding]

For new employees you can have a guaranteed wage of so many hours, say 10hrs.  Or less, you only need pay there guaranteed wage.  So if they did not work because of bad weather you would only have to pay 10hrs. This would apply to holiday pay as well, two weeks holiday pay = 20 hours pay.

Of course they will normally do more than 10hrs, this would be paid at there hourly rate. 

[Stuart Webster]

Your staff need a to know who is boss. check their contract they signed when you took them on. you must have put in it that work lists will be compleated, before another is started. they are obliged to work to your standards, to your rules. Get them to re sign their contract, pay them £50 per week plus a £% of total work compleated