[simbag]

Hi Guys,

Haven't been on here for a while, but now I back looking for some more advise as we start to grow bigger.

As you will have guessed we are looking to take on an employee. I'm looking for some advice from those of you in the know please:

What method of employment have you found the best, eg. self-employed subbing, PAYE, agency etc?

Which method of payment do you allow the employee to accept (if any)?

Any pitfalls we need to look out for, or must do's (eg employers liability ins)?

The prospective employee will be interviewed, we have no experience of that, so any suggestions for questions that need to be asked etc?

Very much looking forward to hearing all that you knowledgable lads and lasses have to offer.

Regards,

Simon

[bobby p]

i juggle 3 part timers rather than just 1 worker. that way if the number 1 leaves or is ill, theres a backup to take over. also far  less chance of a burnout by sharing the loading

[glen parva]

i juggle 3 part timers rather than just 1 worker. that way if the number 1 leaves or is ill, theres a backup to take over. also far  less chance of a burnout by sharing the loading

same as us a good way to do it

[JSMC]

if subbing work out how does that work ? do you still have to pay tax or insurance or is it just cash in hand to the worker?

[trevor povey]

get somone part time in if u have someone full time on the books and we get another winter like last year your going to have pay the lad his full wage for maybe a dys works or worse still for doing nowt..if u get a part time worker you will always find summatt for him to do on a bad day  ie   garage tidying up.maintaince on equipment, if nowt else to do get him to cut your toenails 

[JSMC]

so subbing work who does this?

[mci services]

so subbing work who does this?

I sub from and also sub work out, they need to have their own work and they invoice you for work done and you pay simples really, it isn't really an alternative to employing although some seem to get away with it

[JSMC]

so if the person you are subbing out to doesn't have their own work you cannot do this?

anywhere online where you can read up on subbing work out

[simbag]

Thanks for all the replies people, much appreciated. 

I see what you're saying about part timers, but that just seems like a lot of hassle, having to mess about with 3 people. How does the agreement work with them, is it all just flexible, and you call them when you need them? TBH as far as the winter goes, we managed to work through it, having said that I think we probably got it easier here than most other places!

What I'd like to know, is how do you collect the money when the employee is working separate from you? We thought about basically invoicing every single job, but this seems a lot of hassle, especially when we're used to collecting from most jobs on the day. But, I can't see any other way of getting payment without employee knowing the value of the jobs. Any other ideas?

Any of you that do employ, have you had a contract of employment written up at all?

Thanks again.

Simon

[alanwilson]

to answer original question

PAYE + Bonus
They can accept any type of payment from customer (most are bacs anyway)
Pitfalls - you need to employ really good, honest and harworking staff.  If you are fortunate enough to get someone like this then hang on to them, few and far between.  My lads get paid well, get a bonus for getting finished early (works out to be diesel saved on returning to same area twice, so if we get one area finished on day one and don't have to come back on day two then they pocket the diesel money)

They work hard but in return get paid welland most weeks are off on fridays.  They are flexible with work arrangements but in return I'm flexi with holidays etc.

For instance Gregs wife rang him a few months back to tell him she was pregnant, he said nothing but I knew anyway as I could hear her over-excited voice tell him - I said nothing, drove to his gaffe and told himt ot get out and spend the day with her, all the time saying nothing but he knew I knew anyway.

Told the lads I let Greg have the day off, no questions asked and nobody miffed - everyone knows if theres a good reson then I'd EXPECT them to stay at home (let me know they're not coming into work obviously).

Next day he shows up, usual time, big smile, "thanks" - all I needed.  Family first, work second.

My reward for being the nicest boss in Scotland?

Nothing apart from keeping one of the best members of staff I've ever had, happy and on my side.  But then thats all I need.

[simbag]

In the early days weren't you worried that offering a bonus for finishing earlier, might result in a compromised quality of work?

Thanks for the post BTW.

[alanwilson]

No.  From day one I have drilled it into everyone including my son that sloppy work isn't acceptable.

we all make mistakes, I commonly forget to do certain windows!  But laziness is not accidental.

I've been lucky when it comes to employing, have had a few in the past who were not so good when I was trying to expand the business beyond its natural limit, I'm happy with what we have now, not too big, 2 vans, 4 men. 

[bobby p]

i find if you have parttimers each can work a longer harder day as they can recover next day at home,rather than come in next day  weary and no good  .  1 of my lads works 3 days a week , the others do a day or 2 days .  this leaves them to go do other work/college if they want to  and it works out well . before starting each was told the minimum number of hours each week i could promise them but usually they work more in practice

 When i got employee insurance it was only a fraction extra for 3 workers than just 1

 think about it,thats how macdonalds etc do it, they dont have 1 hardworking cook who might quit  and leave them stranded when the going gets tough,they have lots of parttimers  sharing the load

[Pope vader]

the one pitfall of employing is what happened to my mate,  he has had 2 lads lave and take all there custy with them  cost him about 7 k a month he reacons,  he didnt pay them enough and they did all the work so left and custy wanted to be with them,  as if you have the same lad on the same run every month  he is there window cleaner not the company he works for

he expected them to do collecting and they only ever managed to collect enough to pay there own wages

[G & M]

If you're in Ireland make sure you give terms and conditions in writing to employee within three months.
I got taken to rights comissioner  by a former employee (polish) for this  and had to pay. Also  make sure to pay everything by the book. Be very careful who you employ.

[clarkson]

so if the person you are subbing out to doesn't have their own work you cannot do this?

anywhere online where you can read up on subbing work out

hi
exactly the hmrc are hot on this, so mant try and avoid employing by this route but if you are planning on expanding you have to employ at some time so best to get organised now and employ imo.

you must insure them, make sure you do some training with them record this and make them sign to say you showed them the safe way to do it.

as others  have said go for part timers if you offer 16 hours they can get tax credits so will be ok for money.
you will then avoid employers NI as you are only paying 100 or so.  you can offer them overtime if you get extra job in etc.

you will have to pay them holiday pay which is the only downfall from your point of view. so 20 days plus bank holidays or pro rata on the 16hours. if they have been doing a lot extra you work out an average of the last 12weeks hours.

i cannot strongly reccomend enough using a payroll service for your paye and deductions, they will do everything for you for a few pounds  a week.

cheers

john

[alanwilson]

like I have said many times, you need to pay staff well.

Min wage? forget it.

Good staff deserve a good wage, be well treated and respected.

[simbag]

Thanks again for all the replies, you're really helping us get our heads together over this.

Can I ask you all what wage you started off offering, or what you would do now?

One idea of ours was to offer a salary of say £250 per week, and let them know what we expect of them. (This is based on taking one person on)

We were thinking about offering a lower wage for a probationary period, and then once their quality of work had been assessed, and turnover of work was satisfactory their wage/salary would go up accordingly at intervals. Also, we want them to canvass, would you possibly offer some incentive in terms of commission or something to insure they complete the canvassing expected?

Thanks again

[alanwilson]

£250/week based on 36.5hrs is only £6.85/hr = £13,000 a year
I found that most people need a basic of £8/hr = £292/week or £15,184 a year.

£13k is what you'll get behind the tills not out working hard in adverse weather.

I started my lads on £8 an hr plus bonus.

Both on over £11/hr plus bonus now

[JSMC]

this is interesting reading. good topic!!! In future i would like PT worker