[Inside Out]

At what point does it become worth taking somebody on. I calculate, and please tell me if I'm wrong (like you all wouldn't), but I have spent all night on numbers.

After wage, still have to put up 28 days a year holiday pay. Based on 5 day week. Plus employers liability premium, extra gear used, uniform, clerical costs, ie wage slips etc, on and on. I reckon an employee would have to be making me about 100 quid a day before it was even worth the hassle!?

Thoughts please.

[richywilts]

Don't don't!!!!!!

[Inside Out]

Don't don't!!!!!!

I'm pulled that way. But must be worth while as so many here do! 

[Ste M]

At what point does it become worth taking somebody on. I calculate, and please tell me if I'm wrong (like you all wouldn't), but I have spent all night on numbers.

After wage, still have to put up 28 days a year holiday pay. Based on 5 day week. Plus employers liability premium, extra gear used, uniform, clerical costs, ie wage slips etc, on and on. I reckon an employee would have to be making me about 100 quid a day before it was even worth the hassle!?

Thoughts please.

2 an a half days a month holiday pay so roughly =£200 a month.
employers insurance isnt as much as you think, i pay less than £400 a year so =£34
extra gear, depends if you have a two man set up with hoses already as i did so extra pole maybe clx 30 = £200 easily last a year so =£18 a month
uniform, i provide 3 polo shirts an 2 jumpers they do the rest, oh and gloves, probably 120 a year so = £10 a month
clerical, i pay my mate whos an accountant to do it all 120 = you'll probably pay a bit more but you can get the software to do everything yourself so first year is higher outlay = £200 ish so £16 a month

so roughly an extra outlay of £300 a month, then his wages so around £1200 depending on what you want to pay so £1500 in total, do you have that amount of extra work?

I got to a certain point an then employed, i didnt make a vast amount the first few months but i covered all costs and made a bit extra so was happy, ok you have bad month like now where theyve broke 2 poles and i have a few other shocks but you cant put a price on spending more time with the family. i will not allow my lads to do my cream work alone though as this is where i make my big money which covers a lot of my bills so i never want to risk losing them. Employ part time at first for say 16 hours and then go from there, that way if it doesnt work out then its not that bad

[bobby p]

as said.take somebod on parttime and go from there,its not as hard as you think,

 another benefit of having a helper worker is it gives you real  motivation,you cant lay in bed  anymore so you step up to the plate as it were
. only yesterday a woman was telling me about her husband who was a windie on his own for 11 yrs and then one day he suddenly just could not get out of his car ,the job had got to him,all those yrs alone he finally snapped , thats a real risk if you stay on your own.

i have 2 parttimers now and this summer will double that, i wont ever have a fulltimer because that leaves you relying too much
 taking on workers is a big learning curve , but its a few laughs too  . dont take any sh/t is my motto these days -  but also dont be hasty ,let them settle in first before even  thinking of sacking. i put up with 1 lad using 30  scrims in 1 day (honestly) , also i had a doper,a drinker  and one lad with big time IBS . yeah,dont take no sh/t  

[Richard iSparkle]

At what point does it become worth taking somebody on. I calculate, and please tell me if I'm wrong (like you all wouldn't), but I have spent all night on numbers.

After wage, still have to put up 28 days a year holiday pay. Based on 5 day week. Plus employers liability premium, extra gear used, uniform, clerical costs, ie wage slips etc, on and on. I reckon an employee would have to be making me about 100 quid a day before it was even worth the hassle!?

Thoughts please.

it is definitely a decision you dont want to take lightly as it is so expensive.  I would say that £100 a day seems quite steep.  i dont know if you're over estimating costs so you're not caught out (which is wise), or what you're thinking of paying in wages?

i;d definitely say now to pay only minimum wage to start, and then keep their basic wage low but offer bonuses for picking up new clients, and for hitting targets.

[Inside Out]

Defo have work for a part timer. Was thinking just a small hour contract, I'm aware ill hav obligation to holiday pay, but then not have to pay out loads if have bad week where can't work.
Thanks for breakdown ste.
Never really suffered with motivation bobby, as have a young family, but get what you're saying
My 100 rich, was not just cost of employing, but of making it worth while! Is it worth all hassle to make another tenner, or little more a day!?

[dazmond]

getting decent staff is hard,getting them to stay around is even harder as if they ve got any nous they ll go off and start up themselves.

if your earning a good wedge and easily cover your outgoings id think long and hard before employing.it is a hassle and can be very frustrating.if your up for the challenge then go for it.

if you want a less stressful,happy and simple life then dont bother!!!

[Pope vader]

i was looking at employing lad was due to start on 16,  but he contacted me yesterday saying he has been offered a job on £300 a week and could i beat it,  said no, i would take take that job if i was you.

one of the probs you have with this job is   people start then go on google and come across places like this and then find out that they can make 350 a day and think i should be on better money,  i actually had this happen to me  when i first started 3 years ago,  had a lad say to me he was looking for work, but wanted £15 ph as he knows how much window cleaners make, but didnt want to start his own business,    had one lad who wanted 40 h per week at £10 ph, but only wanted 16 h on tht books,  rest he wanted in his hand 

[Richard iSparkle]

i was looking at employing lad was due to start on 16,  but he contacted me yesterday saying he has been offered a job on £300 a week and could i beat it,  said no, i would take take that job if i was you.

one of the probs you have with this job is   people start then go on google and come across places like this and then find out that they can make 350 a day and think i should be on better money,  i actually had this happen to me  when i first started 3 years ago,  had a lad say to me he was looking for work, but wanted £15 ph as he knows how much window cleaners make, but didnt want to start his own business,    had one lad who wanted 40 h per week at £10 ph, but only wanted 16 h on tht books,  rest he wanted in his hand 

what planet were they on!  it's crazy isnt it.  if they look at other jobs which require no skills and little responsibility do they get £10 an hour for those?

to be honest i've not had a problem getting people on min wage or keeping them so far, tho not had anyone for over 13 months yet...  i guess its apartly down to recruitiung the right type of people.  you dont really want anyone too ambitious working for you in this job, and you want them to want a steady job and easy life.

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

I employee on a part time basis, 16 hour contract. Full time would be to much of a mine field in my opinion.

[Pope vader]

they are all crazy,  gut a lot down here have a few kids and liv ein council houses,  so want 400+ a wek to make it worth getting out of bed,  had one bloke say he would work for £50 a day  cash in hand,  but only between 9-3 so he coudl be home for when kids get home

[Richard iSparkle]

they are all crazy,  gut a lot down here have a few kids and liv ein council houses,  so want 400+ a wek to make it worth getting out of bed,  had one bloke say he would work for £50 a day  cash in hand,  but only between 9-3 so he coudl be home for when kids get home

dont get me started on lack of working mindset!  hopefully the government dismantling the benefits system will change things for a lot of people like that 

[Pope vader]

some of the council houses i do have more money than me coming in,  better stuff and better cars

[Crystal-clear]

at 16 hours a week do you still need to pay them holiday pay? etc
that would be a good start then if you dont.

[Pope vader]

yes,  you have to pay them 16 holiday a week

[Inside Out]

Done a bit of reading up today. All are entitled to 28 days a year from what I can make out, but if they take a week off say, then they are paid an average of the last 12weeks in holiday pay. So yes, if contract was 16 hours, and worked only 16 hours, would be entitled to 16 hours holiday over a weeks break. Other 3 would be unpaid.

[Inside Out]

*other 3 days

[Pope vader]

i think you find the hols are pro rata

[Inside Out]

http://m.direct.gov.uk/syndicationController?action=view&st=0&utn=2ff8ac8d4ee845f0b692201201072004&param=DG_10034642

 If you are a part-time worker, you are still entitled to 5.6 weeks' holiday – 5.6 of your normal working week. For example, if you work two days a week you would be entitled to 11.2 days' annual leave a year: 2 days x 5.6 weeks = 11.2 days You should be treated no less favourably if you are a part-time worker than an equivalent full-timer. This means that if your employer gives extra days off to full-timers they may have to give extra time off to part-time workers as well.

Copied and pasted fro direct gov website.