[Sean Dyer]

How did you go about getting the first one.
Did you keep picking up work until you were a few weeks behind?
Or did you just let them do the work and then spend your time looking for more like a madman
Also , would you or do you let them use a ladder?

Thanks
Sean

[robertphil]

i put an ad in local post office window for a "helper" . that got me a lad of 22 .  all i asked was for him to do downstairs work to start with + leafletting on quiet days .after 3 months he was on a ladder (get employee insurance at that point ) once i knew he was staying.  
month later he started not turning up ,doh,, and various lame excuses so he had to go!  after that i went thru 4 or 5 who after a week or 2 started to  let me down etc  

 but i have never regretted employing and now hav got 3 who have been  reliable for over a yr so all is good . i dont let anybody use a ladder until at least 2 months of  only doing downstairs work, my current main lad took 6 months before i let him carry a ladder cos he was slow but is very good now !

i find if you give a new worker a few days of leafletting ,this sorts out the worker from the shirker ( be sure to keep an eye on them)
 also tell anybody new they are on 3months trial period ,make that clear

[Smudger]

Good points from RP

I built up until such time I could not keep to the schedule esp. If it rained !

Defo have a trial period and then a probationary period before taking on perminately
Remember you don't have to offer 40 hours per week our staff are on 30 hours PW flexi time Monday to Saturday

Start someone on 18 hrs 3 days at 6 hours and see how they go. You can increase later as more work comes in.  We've got great lads all in their very early twenties

Darran

[Total shine cleaning services]

prior to employing I went to a 6 day week, my employee started last week so I'm canvassing like a madman as said, he is doing most of the round and I'm doing canvassing and first cleans and a bit of pressure washing, gutter vacs etc

Graham

[roundbuilder]

Thats what im in the process of doing with the saturdays. I have both vans out doing 6 days a week which will give me near 2 weeks of work for next van/round to build from.

[formb]

Don't.

Just don't.

[PAUL ERITH]

Don't.

Just don't.

What do you expect you called the landy the starship enterprise the employee was trying to get into space  

I know this isn't funny for you though how many of these have you had roll over or go off the road.
  
Paul

[formb]

I know this isn't funny for you though how many of these have you had roll over or go off the road.

This is the second serious accident. Both by the same lad 5 years apart. Believe it or not he is a good driver, both times it was just a momentary lapse in concentration. He hit the verge at the side of the road, burst a tyre and rolled it, twice. Luckily no one was hurt.

[formb]

How did you go about getting the first one.

Try an ad on Gumtree. I always get lots of replies

Did you keep picking up work until you were a few weeks behind?

Yup

Or did you just let them do the work and then spend your time looking for more like a madman

I took the first employee with me for 3 months training.

Also , would you or do you let them use a ladder?

Absolutely, positively no way in hell.