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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: julianbiggs on September 18, 2007, 08:10:07 am

Title: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: julianbiggs on September 18, 2007, 08:10:07 am
We are thinking of employing 1 or 2 people to work for us. We are experienced in managng people and understand all that goes with employing but one thing we are not sure how to manage is...If we have a Summer like we've just had where it rains for weeks and weeks on end what do you do about paying an employee??

Do you employee them with a written agreement that if it rains, we don't work and none of us earn any money ??

Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: Sir Squeaky on September 18, 2007, 08:19:57 am
I think you'd have to.
Unless you set the wages really low, then you'll find people won't want to work for you.

It's the winter that's the problem, not the summer.

This so called "wet" summer cost me about 3 or 4 days off.
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: john masterclean on September 18, 2007, 09:13:39 am
i do min wage but give good bonus if all work is done also only gurantee about 15 hrs a week with rest same rate overtime
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: williamx on September 18, 2007, 09:15:38 am
I do not think that you can have a written agreement that if its rains you don't have to pay them, check with the inland revenue.
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: simon knight on September 18, 2007, 09:31:19 am

i do min wage but give good bonus if all work is done also only gurantee about 15 hrs a week with rest same rate overtime

I think this is the only way as people need some sort of guaranteed income.

Julian if you employ you employ and you're subject to UK employment laws which I don't believe allow you to cherry pick when you can pay your staff.
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: windowwashers on September 18, 2007, 10:34:55 am
I do not think that you can have a written agreement that if its rains you don't have to pay them, check with the inland revenue.

I have a written agreement that the job is weather permitting, and work not carried out on the said day would have to be done the following, so in a way you are still paying them when it rains but you do not lose out on money as they catch up with the work, if it rains every day for a month (get a wfp)
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: Neil_A on September 18, 2007, 04:41:07 pm
People i have had working for me in the past i have had a set wage...

1. If its raining all day the worker gets his set wage for the day

2. If its a sunny day and we get loads of work done he gets a small bonus.

£30 a day set wage...  working hours 8am to 4pm

then i used to give 20% of work we get done

In good weather on this system they can earn a nice sum

Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: Ian Rochester on September 18, 2007, 04:54:04 pm
We employ all our window cleaning and carpet cleaning staff on piece rate, they get paid for what they do, regardless of the weather, if they do nothing, they get paid nothing.  The rate we pay is quite good so on average they come out with a good wage throughout the year.

All our staff sign this contract prior to being taken on on a permanent basis, it suits them that they have the ability to earn well, it suits us that we don't have to pay if they are not bringing in any turnover.

You will find a lot of factory staff on a similar contract, especially in the fish industry where their workload depends on what is landed.
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: williamx on September 18, 2007, 04:55:09 pm
People i have had working for me in the past i have had a set wage...

1. If its raining all day the worker gets his set wage for the day

2. If its a sunny day and we get loads of work done he gets a small bonus.

£30 a day set wage...  working hours 8am to 4pm

then i used to give 20% of work we get done

In good weather on this system they can earn a nice sum



I think that you are breaking the mimimum wage regulations by only paying £3.75 per hour if its rains.

I would check this out otherwise it will cost you thousands in back pay and fines.
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: Sanity on September 18, 2007, 05:01:22 pm
Well, I have one 17 year old lad employed and I pay him daily.

If we have a full day (6-8 hours, 9am to finish), £30 (Minimum wage for him is £3.30 ph by law...)

If we have a slack day, only a few hours for example I pay him a percentage of the days take (usually about 25 %/ 45 % )

As we get faster (currently 1/2 hour per house or 1 hour for first clean traditional ) his money will go up...
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: simon knight on September 18, 2007, 05:32:08 pm

This sounds fair and underscores the point that a minimum wage has to be paid irrespective of trading conditions. By the way how does it work with NI and insurance?
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: simon spencer on September 18, 2007, 06:55:49 pm
I use give my cleaners 60% of what they cleaned, so if it rained all day they would not get paid. I found this a problem, the reason being most people wanted the security of a guaranteed wage ever week. Also if they had started cleaning and it started to rain they would down tools and clear of home. I use to ring them when the rain had cleared and they would not come back to work, the rows it coursed. At the end of the day they thought whats the point going out for a few hours to maybe earn £25.00.

Now I do it different, I pay them a fixed wage every week. So if its raining they have to stay at work no matter what, Im paying them for that day so they have to stay for the day. It works well for me, Its not very often it rains all day, so if they can get out between the showers to clean for a couple of hours that day it just about covers there wages for the day.

Hope this helps.

Simon
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: brett walker on September 18, 2007, 07:03:38 pm
If you pay peanuts you get monkeys ;D ;D


It is very hard to get hardworking reliable trustworthy staff when you find them pay them well they are worth their weight in gold


Brett
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: simon knight on September 18, 2007, 07:25:40 pm
If you pay peanuts you get monkeys ;D ;D


It is very hard to get hardworking reliable trustworthy staff when you find them pay them well they are worth their weight in gold


Brett

P I N N A C L E
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: Sir Squeaky on September 18, 2007, 07:31:05 pm
P I N N A C L E
What's golf balls got to do with it? ???
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: simon knight on September 18, 2007, 08:34:24 pm
P I N N A C L E
What's golf balls got to do with it? ???

???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: S.A.J on September 18, 2007, 08:41:34 pm
This is the reason I do not employ anymore. It’s been a year without staff and can honestly say it’s the best I have felt for a number of years.

NO more stress. Just do what I want to do now!!
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: windowwashers on September 18, 2007, 09:16:12 pm
If you pay peanuts you get monkeys ;D ;D


Brett
I just love that quote, is true been saying it for years  ;)
Title: Re: Employing people - what if it rains??
Post by: brett walker on September 18, 2007, 11:02:51 pm
If you pay peanuts you get monkeys ;D ;D


Brett
I just love that quote, is true been saying it for years  ;)

If you pay peanuts you get monkeys ;D ;D

Its true the old ones are the best :D

Brett