[landy2]

i some times wonder if its worth emlpoying or just working on your own , i mean like picking them up , laying out the work , not as dedicated as yourself , not shuting gates , to heavy handed (breaking things ) , to outspocken .  There are good points like passes the day ,  , but sometimes i think beter on your own and just plod on maybe it just one of them months   

[Smudger]

Staffing troubles?

Best move we have made (so far) and I can't see me returning to being on my own


Darran

[Archer]

Landy2,


Personally, I could never work on my own, and fair play to everyone who does work on there own.

There are lots and lots of people out there that don't give a toss, in regards to what you say, but there are some good people out there that would behave and do the work in the way you like, its just finding them.

Im sure you know what you need to do, and have people that can help but if you struggle your welcome to my house if you are near me and I will try and help you.

[bobplum]

what sort of turnover point do you all feel its worth employing

[Archer]

bobplum,

I don't think its at what point your turnover is, I think its more what you want within your business, and in which direction you want to take it.

Personally speaking I have never worked on my own, so I cannot advise in that respect, but it is the same principle when employing.

I work to past maximum, and when I am at breaking point then I take someone on, and stop cleaning myself

Then when more work comes on board, the cycle starts again, I am at that point at the minute.

It is what YOU feel comfortable with within yourself and how confident you are in gaining more work.

[robertphil]

once you have a full diary  you have 2 options-

1. sail on solo and try and catch up when you take a break/holiday , go ill and youre in trouble  as it will  easily fall behind

2. take on a parttimer or 2 .        its a leap of faith but what isnt in life. soon as you take on youve got folk relyin on you,so you must keep funnelling in new work and step up a gear

but the great thing is if you feel ill theres somebody else who will do it,same as when you want a proper break

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

what i can't get my head around is what has to be done legally when you take someone on?

[Smudger]

Employers insurance

And pay the tax bill.  Not even this if going self employed route.

Our staff have a contract of employment covering everything from hours, time off, Christmas shutdown, to disciplinary procedures etc..
Time sheet for each week

We have 2 really good guys working for us.

Darran

[Smudger]

hi jim

lots of help on the goverment websites, we have found it all fairly straightforward taking people on, payroll is easy (we use the payroll site) its all automatic re tax and employer contributions/ni , you just have to make the actual payments. Finding the right staff is by far the toughest part, we interviewed well - and have taken on 2 great guys this year 21 and 23 they have been fantastic, keen to please, take pride in work, we pay them a good wage, and offer a bonus system based on work quality and attendance a bonus for each and an extra bonus if they get both the others, we want lots from them effort, politness, speed a good job etc etc, BUT we try and be really back, we have both worked for lots of firms where you aretreated badly or just as someone who doesn't matter, we want our staff to feel part of our company and be rewarded for hard work. Could we pay them less, yes, do we need to pay quartlery bonues, no, BUT we haev two great guys that we WANT to keep - any questions please ask. Or message us trhough website if you prefer.

Mrs smudger

[Archer]

Smudger,

couldn't have put it better myself, spot on.

Its very hard to get good reliable, trustworthy staff that try to do the job how YOU want it done, without taking time off and generally thinking they know it all.

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

Mr And Mrs Smudger I thank you for your advice.. I will certainly give you as shout when we get close to it… I have my eye on a neighbours lad. Works like a trojan, never going to win a nobel prize but Is clearly reliable as anything.. He is getting paid peanuts doing gardening and the likes. and if he gets faffed around by his current employer any more he will walk,,
I need to get my head round this employment thing..

[Dani J]

hi jim

lots of help on the goverment websites, we have found it all fairly straightforward taking people on, payroll is easy (we use the payroll site) its all automatic re tax and employer contributions/ni , you just have to make the actual payments. Finding the right staff is by far the toughest part, we interviewed well - and have taken on 2 great guys this year 21 and 23 they have been fantastic, keen to please, take pride in work, we pay them a good wage, and offer a bonus system based on work quality and attendance a bonus for each and an extra bonus if they get both the others, we want lots from them effort, politness, speed a good job etc etc, BUT we try and be really back, we have both worked for lots of firms where you aretreated badly or just as someone who doesn't matter, we want our staff to feel part of our company and be rewarded for hard work. Could we pay them less, yes, do we need to pay quartlery bonues, no, BUT we haev two great guys that we WANT to keep - any questions please ask. Or message us trhough website if you prefer.

Mrs smudger

Hi Smudger
Could i ask how you work out the bonus system ?

[robertphil]

more by luck than judgement iv ended up with 3 workers who cannot drive .  one good thing is that its very unlikely theyre going to go on their own and poach work

  once you take on a worker you must have a stream of new work coming in to keep the worker busy
  whether you get it by leafletting,website,doorknockin doesnt matter -but its essential you have extra work flowing in to cover their wages 2 times over  

[Smudger]

hi dani

we have found works well £50 for 100% attendance in the quarter (ie no sick days) £50 for no more than 3 GENUINE customer complaints,not silly snag, but a genuine bonifide complaint, in the quarter, get both get an extra £50 - my guy that has been with us longer is on the same but instead of £50 he is on £75 for each one - i will add that although we do not pay sick pay we give the standard 28 days holiday (inc bank holidays) we also give them 2 duvet days, these are two paid days that they can take ANY time and without notice - it is drummed into them that they can use them when they like BUT they are good days to save incase they are sick and want to "protect" their bonus.

It has worked well so far

[George P]

smudger - how come you dont pay sick pay, thought its a legal requirment once theyve had the 1st 3 days and a sick note,

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

I thought the only entitlement was to Statutory sick pay (SSP) from the government, you don't have to pay full wages..

[George P]

thats what i meant

[Smudger]

Sick pay is optional for employer you are referring to SSP this is claimed by the employee from the government (maybe in the future we will add full sick pay) We do of course pay SSP.

Darran

[Dani J]

hi dani

we have found works well £50 for 100% attendance in the quarter (ie no sick days) £50 for no more than 3 GENUINE customer complaints,not silly snag, but a genuine bonifide complaint, in the quarter, get both get an extra £50 - my guy that has been with us longer is on the same but instead of £50 he is on £75 for each one - i will add that although we do not pay sick pay we give the standard 28 days holiday (inc bank holidays) we also give them 2 duvet days, these are two paid days that they can take ANY time and without notice - it is drummed into them that they can use them when they like BUT they are good days to save incase they are sick and want to "protect" their bonus.

It has worked well so far

Thats interesting, thanks for info.

[Richard iSparkle]

Iit really depends upon what you want from your business.

if you want an easy life, and you're earning enough for what you need, then being a one man band is fantastic. 
if you want to be BIG, then the only way is thru employing in this industry.

employing is definately not easy and takes just as much work to work out how to recruit and manage people as it does to run the rest of your business.

i've been employing for 5 years now and am only just starting to feel like i'm getting good at it.  my recruitment was pretty terrible when i started, but i now take the whole recruitment process really seriously and take my time over it.

i would steer clear of your neighbours son for a start.

1. if it goes wrong you will most likely have problems with your neighbours (whatever happens they will sympathise with their son)
2. if he's talking about walking out on his current employee he is likely to do the same to you when the going gets tough.

it takes me from 4-8 weeks to advertise and recruit someone now, but my success rate is far far higher