Gotta love it

[Timberhauler]

I have five employees altogether....Four are full time,one is part time.He has another full time job,but helps me on his days off,usually two a week.This does not include my wife,she'll soon be joining us for as long as she can..The last time my part timer called me and wanted to work was two weeks ago.He showed up...thirty minutes late...but he works so hard and has such a good attitude,it's hard to fuss at him.I pay him good money when he works for me also..Last week he wanted to work,so I told him to show up at my house on Friday morning,he never showed.It was no big deal,My full timers are all off on Fridays,so if he works,it's him,myself and my wife...One of my full-timers wanted some overtime this week,so I lined up a job to do today.He got suddenly ill,and had to cancel on me last night.No big deal,he NEVER lays out,so something was obviously wrong.My wife had made plans to hang out with a friend and do whatever girls do,and I didn't want to interupt that by no means...So that leaves my part-timer.He made the week before right with me later on,and I decided to give him another chance..This particular guy we were going to work for took the day off from work so he could be there...So guess what,My part timer was supposed to be here at seven this morning and he didn't show.I waited til' seven thirty,and he never showed.I tried to call him on two different phones..No answer....He called me wanting to work on Wednesday,and he said he had child support to pay,or he was going to jail and he needed money bad....We checked,he's not in jail yet...2nd time in a row,he's gone for sure....Am I the only one who seems to attract these sorts of people??:censored: :censored: ...Now my customer is pissed at me as well.

 

[yooper]

Back when i ran a R.O.W crues it seemed like a every week thing.Big turn over
in that business. Unfortunately every time ya got somebody whom worked well showed up and didn't ????? about everything ended up down the road after the first surprised pee test. I Finlay had enough of r.o.w work to many chiefs not enough Indians. the best excuse tho i did get from one guy was when i asked him "Why do you only show up 3 days a week" his answer was "because i just cant pay the bills only show-en up two days a week" needless to say he was fired.

 

[Timberhauler]

He called today and tried to make it right,and I told him not to bother me anymore

 

[John464]

Am I the only one who seems to attract these sorts of people??:

No, you aren't. part of the business which attracts low lifes. sorry to say, but thats how it is.

My most loyal employees who take off less times per year are the ones who are paid the least and are not from this country. Figure that one.

 

[Timberhauler]

There are so many people complaining about immigrant workers coming over here and taking jobs away.....But take some of these same people that complain,and see if they'll do what those guys are willing to come over here and do....

 

[oldirty]

know what i love

looking at my first paycheck and seeing another dollar in the mix with nothing said, and then the crane operator telling me "its about time we got someone like you around here."

thats what i'm talking about when i say you gotta "feed" your workhorse.

1 check and a raise. thats what i love.

i think at the 30 day review i am gonna ask for a gym membership. thats a plus/plus for the both of us. and would cost less than another "raise".


take care of your stable fellas (those who sign the checks) it'll only make your horse work harder.


ol dirty

 

[Adkpk]

Nobody is willing to do hard work anymore. Everybody wants something for nothing. I am down to one other guy. I gave up over 70% of my business last year due to not being able to handle employee episodes like you speak of. I want to offer quality work at reasonable prices so I can keep a steady work schedule for myself and when guys are coming and going as they please it is impossible to be doing satisfactory work without becoming a management company.

 

[hornett22]

i offered to work for a guy having those same problems.

i show up.i'm stone sober,i have my own equipment,i have my own transportation,i'm safe and if i have to use you're equipment,i treat it like it's my own.i have a clean driving record,plus i'm a mechanic and a welder and i'm willing to do field repairs if needed to get the job done.as well as help my employers off the clock and after hours if need be.funny,i can't find a job and when i have had one,drunks and dopers get promoted over me,after they pull no shows and wreck company vehicles and equipment.

he's not intersted.go figure.he's down at the jail trying to pick up guys just getting released.

i understand he's a cheap bastard but don't complain when it bites you in the a$$.

it's not that americans won't work,it's that MANY american employers have gotten greedy and don't want to pay and wonder why no workers show up in the morning.don't get me wrong,i hate unions but unions were the start of headaches for the US employers.you get what you pay for is my motto and it always rears it's ugly head sooner or later.when will some people learn.

this is nothing against you Timberhauler.i have always thought of you as a standup guy and a hard worker.i'm the same way and some of us just seem to struggle the harder we try.not to mention you're a southerner and it's a different mindset than up here.this place is strange to say the least.

 

[Timberhauler]

i show up.i'm stone sober,i have my own equipment,i have my own transportation,i'm safe and if i have to use you're equipment,i treat it like it's my own.i have a clean driving record,plus i'm a mechanic and a welder and i'm willing to do field repairs if needed to get the job done.as well as help my employers off the clock and after hours if need be.funny,i can't find a job and when i have had one,drunks and dopers get promoted over me,after they pull no shows and wreck company vehicles and equipment.

he's not intersted.go figure.he's down at the jail trying to pick up guys just getting released.

i understand he's a cheap bastard but don't complain when it bites you in the a$$.

it's not that americans won't work,it's that MANY american employers have gotten greedy and don't want to pay and wonder why no workers show up in the morning.don't get me wrong,i hate unions but unions were the start of headaches for the US employers.you get what you pay for is my motto and it always rears it's ugly head sooner or later.when will some people learn.

this is nothing against you Timberhauler.i have always thought of you as a standup guy and a hard worker.i'm the same way and some of us just seem to struggle the harder we try.not to mention you're a southerner and it's a different mindset than up here.this place is strange to say the least.

When I started my business and got big enough to need extra help,I had worked for every cheap bastard in the county it seems like,showing up everyday,working my ass off,and hardly ever saying anything to anyone and just doing my job...It seemed like no matter what,I always got the raw end of the deal...I would help out off the clock,and even did a bunch of climbing for a guy I was working for once,probably made him about three grand on that one job,I worked there two days straight,using my own saws,ropes,and climbing gear....He paid me $150.00..I told him to go to hell....So when I started hiring people,It was my mission to make sure that I was the best person they had ever worked for...I buy their breakfast and lunch....I pay my other climber $200.00 a day,and my other groundies $120.00 a day..I don't yell at them or boss them around,I ASK them to do what I need them to do.I've had a guy quit recently,and I knew it was coming,as he was a smart kid..His leaving was to better himself and wasn't the result of a fallout...But I've got a pretty decent crew right now...It seems like the better I try and be for them,the more some try and take advantage of me...Especially this part timer I was talking about.He was supposed to be a good climber,and on the first job,it was very obvious that he wasn't,he was gonna end up badly hurt,he was supposed to be among the best of groundmen,and we had to teach him everything.If someone,and I don't care who it is will work,I don't care about their nationality or anything else,I take care of em'.I do not have one single mexican among my crew,although I have had a few good ones,I'm just interested in people who want to work and help my business so I can help them as much as I can..I don't care who it is.If they hustle and do a good job,then I reward them for it...No one gets left out,I watch them very carefully.

 

[Timberhauler]

I failed to add that a while back,my business got a little slow,and we tried to do some sub-contracting for another outfit that is not too far from here...The guy had no problems with my rates and at first it was working out well....Then we figured out why he had no help......Money was no issue,he always paid,but he got to where he would show up on every job we did for him,and start not only bossing me around,but talking to my men like they were dogs.No matter how we were doing the job,it wasn't right by his so-called standards....I run one of the cleanest outfits in three counties here,and even have other tree services reccomend me for certain jobs they are afraid to take on,ask any customer I have ever done anything for,we do the BEST of work and go out of our way to please the customer..That's what it's all about...But this guy was questioning everything we did,from roping techniques,to why we were cutting stuff up so small,or why we weren't just dropping trees on the ground just because there was a slight chance we could do it without hurting something...I am a champion faller,but also a champ at doing zero damage,I don't like to so much as break a blade of grass...Not to mention,we did a huge job for a college campus near here,he had wrangled up his own crew,and I brought mine,and guess what???We were doing about twice the work in a day that they were,with less damage and less waste.....My guys were willing to bear some of his verbal abuse just for me because they knew this was a temporary thing,but I wasn't.....He blew up at my knuckle boom truck operator one day,and we promptly loaded everything up and headed out leaving him to finish a job with one guy and hardly equipment.My final words to him were that if he ever talked to one of my guys like that again,he was gonna eat whatever I had in my hand....I don't know what it is about this business,but it sure brings out some interesting people.

 

[Timberhauler]

I also want to add this...For all of you who are working your ass off everyday for someone who doesn't who seemingly could care less about you,and for all of you who are dreaming about the day you have no strings attatched and no one to answer to but yourself,or for you guys that are on your own,but never can seem to get off the ground...I have been there...Just because I have a fairly successful business does not mean that I feel like I am better than anyone else....I have walked the shoes of every one of you....Hang in there.If you work hard and do right by other people,your time will come.

 

[ben14826]

Timberhauler: Don't take this the wrong way but if it's any consolation I think yer a top notch guy who's doin the best he can. Remember that someday what goes around will come around. Sometimes it seems like the best/nicest people always get the short end while all the low life/losers get the best. In the end it all evens out though. I have great respect for what you do, and I can tell just by listening to your posts that yer a good guy. Keep it up. and I can tell ya that if I lived in SC instead of NY I would be glad to help you out. I certainly don't mind a good days work- in fact I enjoy it. There are a few of us who still do! Anyways have a good one man. Try to stay positive

 

[oldirty]

I also want to add this...For all of you who are working your ass off everyday for someone who doesn't who seemingly could care less about you,and for all of you who are dreaming about the day you have no strings attatched and no one to answer to but yourself,or for you guys that are on your own,but never can seem to get off the ground...I have been there...Just because I have a fairly successful business does not mean that I feel like I am better than anyone else....I have walked the shoes of every one of you....Hang in there.If you work hard and do right by other people,your time will come.

aint that the truth brother! finally get'n mine. if one cannot take GREAT pride in their work what can they take pride in. to me your work ethic is what defines you. good things happen to good people timbah. you'll get what your looking for and soon.


oldirty

 

[hornett22]

i agree.

i'm self employed now but i'd give it all up in a minute to work for someone like Timerhauler.you can tell class when you see it.

i used to be an auto mechanic and i saw the same crap there. i thought things would be a little different in tennessee than michigan but they weren't.it's not just the tree industry.i will never turn a wrench again for a living.you haven't seen employee abuse till you have worked in the automotive industry.i help people now that are down on their luck or friends and family but i only do it to keep my skills sharp.

 

[SilentElk]

Sometimes I miss the tree trimming days. Stories like this remind me of one of the numerous difficulties associated with doing trees and I find I dont miss them so much. Finding reliable and competent help used to be difficult. Sure, you get guys that will work good here and there but never lasts. Good pay and such.

As said before, I am sure it is in more industries than just trees, but I swear the second a guy gets enough money for equipment they start doing side jobs. Then they start wondering why they are working for you making money when they could do the same thing for themselves and make all the money.

There is a surprising amount of tree companies that are 1 or 2 man shows. 2 man shows usually comprise the owner/climber who runs the show and the other guy the climber needs to play groundman for the day.

I feel your pain.

 

[Timberhauler]

i'm self employed now but i'd give it all up in a minute to work for someone like Timerhauler.you can tell class when you see it.

i used to be an auto mechanic and i saw the same crap there. i thought things would be a little different in tennessee than michigan but they weren't.it's not just the tree industry.i will never turn a wrench again for a living.you haven't seen employee abuse till you have worked in the automotive industry.i help people now that are down on their luck or friends and family but i only do it to keep my skills sharp.

I got out of the business a little while when I was 18 and went to school to be a deisel mechanic,and worked in the feild for four years...It's no different in the heavy equipment/heavy truck end of it...I'm glad I did it for a little while though,because I don't take anything to the shop...It gets worked on by me.......Don't give up being self employed for anyone,keep at it or you will never get anywhere.

 

[hornett22]

i know.

somtimes it would be nice to let someone else have all the hassles.

 

[ASEMASTER]

i agree

i'm self employed now but i'd give it all up in a minute to work for someone like Timerhauler.you can tell class when you see it.

i used to be an auto mechanic and i saw the same crap there. i thought things would be a little different in tennessee than michigan but they weren't.it's not just the tree industry.i will never turn a wrench again for a living.you haven't seen employee abuse till you have worked in the automotive industry.i help people now that are down on their luck or friends and family but i only do it to keep my skills sharp.

as my name implies Ive been there , now work for a city and in the union with others that cant change oil without making a mess , they get the same pay as I.