Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Clear Vision on August 06, 2006, 10:20:16 am
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Hi all,
I have my cousin working with me from tuesday onwards for the rest of the week as he's on school holidays just now. He's 15 going on 16 and has never cleaned a window In his life :-\
I am a couple of weeks behind with my round at the moment so I could do with a hand. But I can't afford to spend that much time with him at a window showing him what to do!
Am I best to show him how It's done and tell him to keep practicing on a window untill he gets It perfect?
I could tell him to clean only one window on every house as many time as he likes just for the first day then maybe move on to a few windows the next day?
I know It took me about 3 months to learn It properly but I was totally self taught.
What do you guys think Is the best way?
P.S. could allways send him off to squeeky for the week ;D
Matthew
Clear Vision
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Thanks.
But why 16?
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I would show him how you do it, then tell him to take his time, tell him quality is better than quantity, if i have a helper, they only work on the downstairs windows, for safety reasons (i wouldnt want them falling on me) ;D
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Matthew (Clear Vision), the law has gone daft if you can't take your nephew out for a few days work, aged 15, as long as he doesn't do anything dangerous; such as work at height.
It could also be classed as work experience, which many people of his age do already.
Just don't pay him anything; honest ( ;)), since it is work experience. I think this would get you out of any tax/ni complications also.
I'd teach him how to clean windows for an hour or two on your own house, before loosing him onto your customers.
He'll no doubt feel a bit self-conscious, so a bit of practice in a 'safe environment' would be best to start.
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Thanks guys for your coments.
He will not be working full time for me! He will only be with me for a week then maybe every saturday!
I will definatly not let him up a ladder incase anything happened to him. He will only be doing downstairs.
Surely there Is no harm In him helping his cousin (me) out for a few hours here and there.
Bloody red tape everywhere. It's a joke! It really is. >:(
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I see no harm in taking him out either,but the Law might,check with youre Insurance Company first,then youre council for byelaws or ask the Citizens Advice Bureau or the Police both of these will be able to tell you,shame its come to this but there are no such things as accidents anymore,only opportunities to sue. :(
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An hour or so of cleaning the same door / window at his own house ( left and right handed ) should get him to an acceptable standard , then for at least a few days i would only let him work downstairs , he will by then be an expert before he does any work on a ladder ! although i wouldnt have a 15 yr old working upstairs
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The world has gone mad, a few weeks back i took my daughter aged 5 upto my office for an hour, she sat at a spare desk drawing, playing withe phones etc. Next day bloody building manager asked if i had done a risk assessment for my daughter , i politely told him to walk away in jerky motions.
HSE won't be happy until babies come out of the womb and get put in bubblewrap.
Rant over Cheers Mark.
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Red tape everywhere! It's realy silly.
Anyway I took him out with me for the first day today! I showed him how to clean a window and then let him do It himself. He just can't get the hang of cleaning the window in one pass >:( After a few hours I told him to only aplicate the windows and then I would come behind him and squeegee off. That worked fine untill he deceided to attempt to squeegee off himself. He started from the top and pulled down and so on. And that still wasn't perfect.
I wish he could get the hang of the one pass. :-\
What do I do?