Tweet
Had to get rid of my last employee today for showing up late, again. It really couldn't have happened at a better time. I've been gradually becoming more and more irritated largely due to the fact that he doesn't speak hardly any english. Knows how to trim, blow, edge, plant, but growth potential: 0. I know that the key to gettin this thing big is to find that hard to find pointman. So its just me, 115 lawns, commercial/residential a few big landscape jobs waiting along with a few major cleanups. Yikes! Obviously, I need someone now, thankfully already have one prospect to interview Mon. Seriously wondering if the guy I let go even understood, better be out the door extra early Monday morning!
-
-
reply
Alcpi,
I have the same problems - I have a couple of guys that are really good - at least when I'm around - but no Drivers license!
It's true - if you want to increase your sales volume - you gotta have help.
I suspect that paying 8.00 an hour is one of the reasons I've been unable to find that perfect person to start another crew. I do know that they are out there.
You actually interview? We've got so many immigrant workers in this area that they call me. The interview is how they work the first week or so. Just curious.
Gary -
reply
Well my interview consists of giving them a weedeater and seeing them in action in the corner of my backyard. Within 10 seconds I know what I've got. Wow $8 per hour won't get me much here, basically what I just got rid of. I'm looking to start at $10, this is someone that will run the crew eventually, communicate with customers, get plants @ the nursery, and move fast. These types wont even show up if I don't offer them at least $10. No foolin', my last guy was not able to open a combination lock, I sat with him an entire lunch one day, and still couldn't even come close. Knew no english, and was making $10 an hour, I know, I know, WAY overpayed! Last Friday, gives me an attitude because his check was $308. Get lost!Comment
-
reply
[|)] We pay our lawn guys between $8 to $10, ( lawn guy means can drive and tow plus crew lead for $10 )...sometimes I wonder how their SS #'s run clean....LOL ! [
)]
If you're a 1 man standing with 2 guns blazen' most likely you need help..
Sometimes people treat their business like a spouse and get "fed up" with employees who see only a paycheck... well after all YOU started it and it's OK to feel that way.... Don't take yourself too seriously around your help, and don't expect what you expect from YOURSELF from your HELP.....it's all about TIME MANAGEMENT and the final realization that your client MAYNOT notice the little bit of something over there that get's you upset with your EMPLOYEE for not doing..... after all there's other things he does right?
What I'm saying is it can be hard to expect your "followers" to understand the pressure you go through and don't be too hard on people....
Afterall if I had 100 = mows PLUS cleanups to do I would need HELP....
GOOD LUCK COMRADE!!!
[
]
Comrade Stalin has spoken.....Comment
-
reply
I pay my employees a % of each job. that way thy can work as fast or as slow as thay want.Most of the time thay work very well becuss thay would rather beet the heat and get down to the swimming hole, and thy do a good job becuss business lost hurts them to.Thay make betwean 8 and $18 an hour dipending on how fast or slow thay work. Plus there bizzy bringing in new business more business more money. And I lose nothing.In fact I gane a hole lot.Just an idea.[
]
SchieldComment
-
reply
schield what is your % that you pay your helpComment
-
reply
Kidsweet; 20% for my right-hand man. When ther's two or more of them it is 15% for right-hand and 10% for other.Of course you know it depends on the pricing of your lawns, your expense, what you can offer and what you think is fair. For example I cut two tweny doller lawns an hour by myself including drive time. With three guys we cut five twenty doller lawns an hour. thats $100. $15.for right-hand man and $10.for other guy. Pardon my writing,gramer, thanks.SchieldComment
-
reply
I do similar to what Schield does. My percentages are pretty much the same. 20%, 15% and 12%.Wayne
"If the grass on the other side of the fence appears greener...it must be all the fertilizer they are using!" (Kevin Rodowicz)Comment
Comment