OLD CHIPMONK
ArboristSite Guru
Hey man; try working under a climber who chews Sunflower seeds all day & spits the husks . Husks raining all over the place. I'm glad to be wearing my PPE.
finding good groundworkers
- Thread starter Mikecutstrees
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Davey Dog
ArboristSite Operative
LMAO.... Been there. What do you say to the wife when she asks why there are sun flower seeds stuck to your neck......
joesawer
Addicted to ArboristSite
I would be offended if an employer offered me gloves as a perk. If the gloves are part of your PPE the employer is required to provide them.
Mikecutstrees
ArboristSite Guru
gloves....
Well I didn't think it was a huge thing.... The guy I used to work for gave us real cheap gloves which were uncomfortable and didn't last long. He only had size medium, I tried to ask him for larger ones and he said he would split the cost. I supply my guys with most ppe, chaps, helmet, etc but they usually bring their own gloves. So occasionally I will buy a few real nice thick ones for lowering and stuff. They are always real appreciative. I know it's not huge but I havn't had a groundworker stick around for more than 3 months I'd give bigger incentives but I havn't had anyone who has gotten that far. I also always split tips with my workers we get and if they move fast and we get done early I'll pay them for the rest of the day and let them go early.... Maybe I need to be nicer but I don't want to reward for bad behavior.
Well I didn't think it was a huge thing.... The guy I used to work for gave us real cheap gloves which were uncomfortable and didn't last long. He only had size medium, I tried to ask him for larger ones and he said he would split the cost. I supply my guys with most ppe, chaps, helmet, etc but they usually bring their own gloves. So occasionally I will buy a few real nice thick ones for lowering and stuff. They are always real appreciative. I know it's not huge but I havn't had a groundworker stick around for more than 3 months I'd give bigger incentives but I havn't had anyone who has gotten that far. I also always split tips with my workers we get and if they move fast and we get done early I'll pay them for the rest of the day and let them go early.... Maybe I need to be nicer but I don't want to reward for bad behavior.
Jumper
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Yes but most do not......who wants to wear a pair of chain saw pants that got someone else's filth all ground into them anyways and hard hats that were worn by someone who was allergic to shampoo. Ugh. $200 or so should outfit a worker with the basics; steel toe boots, chainsaw pants, hardhat muff combo, glasses and gloves. I always bought my own.
Current job is a different animal, but I guess that is a perk of working for one of the largest oil companies in the world. They provide everything, I likely have received $1000+ worth of clothing, all new, from them in the last eight months.(winter and summer safety boots, Nomex parka, pants and coveralls(not cheap), hard hats, glasses, gloves, ear muffs, hi vis safety vest, a windbreaker, and a winter coat. Need a replacement, I have an account at the tool crib. I also make sure all my contracted workers have anything they need as well. RDS can afford it, and in fact want to spend the money on safety as it is money well spent.
I think a lack of $$$$, and in the case of the US, no health care bennies, is the reason many people move on to something more lucrative, certainly was the case for me. That and many climbers are kinda "charged" type A people and not always the easiest to get along with IMHO. Being rained on by sunflower seeds, ie spit upon, on all day just shows you the high regard that climber had for his groundie, ignorant if nothing else.Why put up with sh*t and abuse, both physical and psychological for $10-$12 an hour?
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highasatree
ArboristSite Operative
I've always supplied all the safety equipment that any of my employees needed. But a new belt or rope belongs to me if they leave...Eugene
a rope and a belt(saddle) are saftey equip, an more personal than all the other ppe. i will agree with ya if you make that clear before you give it to em. why not just keep it all you paid for it
Mikecutstrees
ArboristSite Guru
my old boss kept my last paycheck till I returned 3 worn out t-shirts. What a guy!
ive been there too. i had a guy take my rope back when i quit. the funny thing is whan i started i had a new rope and one of his groundies cut it neer in half. he got me a new one but when i left he wanted it back. thanx Al
Wow. I live in the wrong area I guess. I'm a foreman working out of a bucket and I make $12.50/hr. Our groundies start at $8.50. I think that teaching them some things shows them as well that they are important enough to your business to invest in. When I get a new groundman I try to teach them as much as they can remember in the first couple weeks. I usually use the lunch breaks as "training time" once they are done eating. seems to work out OK for me. although it is hard to keep anyone for $8.50/hr.
wow. i think u just work for the wrong company
Fallen Angel
ArboristSite Member
I've always liked to find groundies when they were in their late teens to early twenties. At that age one can find out whether or not they want to be in our line of work or not. You either like tree care or you don't. Patience is not easy but necessary...Be willing to explain what is going on and the best and SAFEST way to do the job. Praise them for the good they do and don't snap out on the little mistakes that WILL happen. When they mess up, explain what they did wrong and let them know that it can't be done again. When interviewing them search for intellegence and common sense. If they seem slow or just plain duh...no go. Let them know that if they stick around for at least a year, if interested, they can start to learn the climbing aspects. I feel a decent starting wage is $12-$15 w/ no exp. Twenty seems a little high,but then again the cost of living for your area should be considered. Start them at $12 and if they do well the first week give them a dollar raise. You can then give the raises according to their learning and work ethic. You can normally tell within the first 3hrs. if they will work out or not. Always supply good PPE, that's our responsability as employers. This is just my opinion though. I have had my probs. w/ finding good laborers as well.:bang:
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Your starting wage has to consider the job market and other employment options. ARound here, the starting wage for Wendys or KFC is $9.55/hr + food???. Warehousing is $12+, way more if you have first aid and a forklift licence.
Jumper
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Mickey D's, Timmies around here is the far side of $16 with bennies. I do not think you are going to get anyone do anything that requires a sweat on occasion for less than $20, and then they are looking to get hired on by the union for $29. Most I ever earned tuggin' brush was $12/hr. Right now $43.
mattfr12
The Bulldog
ya thats rough 12.50hr thats exactly what i made dragging brush we have 3 classifications of climbers at work the highest being able to do it all pretty much is around 35$ an hour? its atleast 30 if i remember correctly.
Fallen Angel
ArboristSite Member
DAMN!!! Where in Pa is that??? I"m a manual crew foreman and have to do all the nasty climbs...1st.class climber rate is 19.55, was at that for a while and then took over as foreman.I'm in Eastern Pa working for a Line clearnce co., Met-Ed has topped the foremans rate at 21.40$hrly:bang: . I make the real $$ by doing my residential work. Is this LCTT or res. that your talking about?
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Mitchell
ArboristSite Operative
Fallen Angel
ArboristSite Member
Now she's a cutie. I think my youngest wants to be in tree care as well. I got him a plastic chainsaw that blows bubbles when the pullcord is pulled on. He is running around cutting all of the furniture in half!
oldirty
Addicted to ArboristSite
good looking kid mitchell. congrats
