After 3 months of bad weather and a terrible local economy.......we finally start getting the calls and the work is coming in good......
I sat the guys down last week and told them how good I felt about the economy and some opportunities we are looking at to stay busy next fall/winter (as it has been about 60% for 3 months here). I told them I wanted them to step up and take on some responsiblities to ensure there is work for us next winter and now is the time to start thinking about it. I told them I wanted them to become good/production climbers and one of them to become a CTSP and for them to get their CDLs.
This week we kick ass and I am confident this summer is going to be good for us....the work is coming in and tons of opportunity......I give my two top guys raises and thanked them.
We sit around the shop for a bit and my climber who is just getting to be productive tells me his wife wants him to go back to laying block for $30 an hour so he can make more money. I hired him 2 years ago after he was laid off and when it was time for him to go back...he did not want to drive 3 hours everyday and I offered him a full-time gig. Well....I suppose we got to slow this winter and now the wife wants him to go after the quick money. I told him I can't compete with the union jobs but I can offer him 40 hours a week and a 5 minute commute.
So I am bummed.....don't blame him to go after the money....but he was getting productive and a great guy to have on the job site.
I am trying to get my rates up so I can pay guys a good wage but this is what the industry is coming too......so many hacks in the business now that I can't keep good guys around because they work for cheap and do a lousy job.
Well.....not the worst thing to happen but I really like this guy and liked having him around......but $40K a year is not enough for a family any more so it left....sucks!!!
I sat the guys down last week and told them how good I felt about the economy and some opportunities we are looking at to stay busy next fall/winter (as it has been about 60% for 3 months here). I told them I wanted them to step up and take on some responsiblities to ensure there is work for us next winter and now is the time to start thinking about it. I told them I wanted them to become good/production climbers and one of them to become a CTSP and for them to get their CDLs.
This week we kick ass and I am confident this summer is going to be good for us....the work is coming in and tons of opportunity......I give my two top guys raises and thanked them.
We sit around the shop for a bit and my climber who is just getting to be productive tells me his wife wants him to go back to laying block for $30 an hour so he can make more money. I hired him 2 years ago after he was laid off and when it was time for him to go back...he did not want to drive 3 hours everyday and I offered him a full-time gig. Well....I suppose we got to slow this winter and now the wife wants him to go after the quick money. I told him I can't compete with the union jobs but I can offer him 40 hours a week and a 5 minute commute.
So I am bummed.....don't blame him to go after the money....but he was getting productive and a great guy to have on the job site.
I am trying to get my rates up so I can pay guys a good wage but this is what the industry is coming too......so many hacks in the business now that I can't keep good guys around because they work for cheap and do a lousy job.
Well.....not the worst thing to happen but I really like this guy and liked having him around......but $40K a year is not enough for a family any more so it left....sucks!!!
