Hiring people. Ugh.

[Groundman One]

I hate it when a new guy overhears the price of a tree and gets all bent out of shape when he knows I'm charging $1k to take down a tree and he makes $15/hr.

So tell him you`ll double his pay on the spot if he agrees to pay a fixed % of all the bills out of his salary.

"Oh, no thank you. $15 an hour is just fine, thank you. Sir"

 

[Brendon Phillips]

So tell him you`ll double his pay on the spot if he agrees to pay a fixed % of all the bills out of his salary.

"Oh, no thank you. $15 an hour is just fine, thank you. Sir"

That's an awesome idea.

What do you owners out there pay your guys starting out and the experienced ones?

 

[Groundman One]

That's an awesome idea.

What do you owners out there pay your guys starting out and the experienced ones?

For ground pounders: $12 for a shmoo. $15 on the spot if he`s willing to show some pain. Past that it`s either because the guy is really good (meaning motivated and/or experienced with tools) or if it`s a buddy who`s an independent cutter who just needs some work for a few days. Then it`s $20 just out of respect, even if it`s for hauling branches.

We have our climbers and very rarely take on extras. If we do, it`s one of our buddies and we`ll give him $25, but it`s always basic climbing work for the extra guy, nothing fancy.

Just FYI, I`m not an owner, just a surly Groundman.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

For ground pounders: $12 for a shmoo. $15 on the spot if he`s willing to show some pain. Past that it`s either because the guy is really good (meaning motivated and/or experienced with tools) or if it`s a buddy who`s an independent cutter who just needs some work for a few days. Then it`s $20 just out of respect, even if it`s for hauling branches.

We have our climbers and very rarely take on extras. If we do, it`s one of our buddies and we`ll give him $25, but it`s always basic climbing work for the extra guy, nothing fancy.

Just FYI, I`m not an owner, just a surly Groundman.

Yeah... That's pretty much how I roll. Thanks man.

 

[jefflovstrom]

That's an awesome idea.

What do you owners out there pay your guys starting out and the experienced ones?

Illegal here, guy could forget a brand new saw on a job and the company pays. Dont mean the guy keeps his job.
Jeff

 

[Brendon Phillips]

Illegal here, guy could forget a brand new saw on a job and the company pays. Dont mean the guy keeps his job.
Jeff

You lost me somewhere. What's illegal? I know you can't make someone pay for the saw, not exactly what we were talking about though.

 

[KenJax Tree]

You lost me somewhere. What's illegal? I know you can't make someone pay for the saw, not exactly what we were talking about though.

Excuse his ignorance he's a dumb tree guy


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[BC WetCoast]

Here, worker's comp is mandatory (government run) and holiday pay is mandatory (for the first 5 years either two weeks paid if the person works full time or 4% added onto the wages; after 5 years it's 3 weeks or 6% - most small companies add the holiday pay onto the wages to avoid large cash bills when someone leaves).

Employee is on the clock from marshalling point to marshalling point back and it's time and a half after 8 hours and double time after 12. Also time and a half for all hours after 40 in a week.

But these are all labour code requirements so everyone is in the same boat.

One way to get around the 'how much you charge how much I make whining' is to break down how much each crewman (or crew) costs per hour. If you add wages, plus workers comp, plus whatever wage taxes you have to pay (here it would be Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance), holiday pay etc, you can show him that although he makes $15 it costs you $30 (or whatever), then you can breakdown the cost of truck and chipper per hour.

We have a target man hour rate (job billing divided by total hours). That target will include labour, equipment, fuel, marketing, dump fees, insurance, travel time etc. It's an interesting exercise and will quickly make your crew's eyes glaze over when you explain it to them.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

Excuse his ignorance he's a dumb tree guy


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Me mondo. Mondo cut down your trees and mondo get paid.

 

[Blakesmaster]

I've had this kid with us for about two weeks now. Good driving record, decent worker, shows up on time and doesn't complain much. Not bad but he started wearing these cowboy boots yesterday and I'm just not sure it's gonna work out. Lol

 

[pro94lt]

I personally can't wear cowboy boots while working but hey most of the hardest workers wear em 12 hour days somehow

 

[4x4American]

good grief...he's gonna slip and bust his hyde them things have no grip

 

[OLD OAK]

Thanks BC. Those are great ideas. I hate it when a new guy overhears the price of a tree and gets all bent out of shape when he knows I'm charging $1k to take down a tree and he makes $15/hr. What he doesn't know is all the costs associated with that removal and knows nothing about business. Drives me nuts.

Had the same problem with a contract climber, The customer added 1 more tree to the mix and i gave him a price in front of the climber. The climber got bent out of shape about his pay for the day.

 

[lone wolf]

If I had ONE smart hardworking person it would be so much easier. Instead I have 2 clueless goons that have never worked a labor job before and think it's rough working in 78 degrees. Yeah, they won't be around when Summer kicks in. But at least I know they won't steal my stuff. Learned my lesson about putting ads on craigslist. One of them worked 4 hours then quit. 2 weeks later I had detectives calling me lookin for him. He was on probation and violated it. Told them I was his employer. Turns out he likes to steal expensive equipment. Good thing all my stuff looks like junk. Haha.

My question is, how do you guys go about finding good guys to work for you? Not just branch dragging gorillas, people who learn and get better. These guys are killin me.

Hire family and relatives.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

I had a guy show up in cowboy boots, board shorts and a tank top. Laughed my ASS off. He ended being the best guy I've ever had. He just wouldn't quit no matter what. Heat exhaustion, poison ivy, ****** trees, long hours, just didn't care.

 

[Magnum783]

lets look at the pants tucked into the boots as a use of what he has. I tuck my boots in my pants all the time keeps them from getting wet on wet grass. protects my pant lets from wearing out from rubbing. Protects my ankles from getting worn raw by tall grass or sturups which ever the case my be. Just my two cents pants in boots rock.

 

[no tree to big]

lets look at the pants tucked into the boots as a use of what he has. I tuck my boots in my pants all the time keeps them from getting wet on wet grass. protects my pant lets from wearing out from rubbing. Protects my ankles from getting worn raw by tall grass or sturups which ever the case my be. Just my two cents pants in boots rock.

Collects sawdust though one piece stuck in ur sock is annoying an entire boot full, yikes

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[TreeAce]

cowboy boots and tree work. HHmmm. Odd for sure and I know hes screwed the first time he has to drag brush on wet grass. But if he works good and all that then I say let him figure it out. Most HO are clueless and wont know how odd it is. Boots are boots to most people. They could be a danger in some cases though. Does this kid use a saw?

 

[KenJax Tree]

Boots are not just boots to me. A pair of comfortable,warm(in the winter),waterproof, and good traction boots are priceless. I spend $$$ on my boots.


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[KenJax Tree]

I've had this kid with us for about two weeks now. Good driving record, decent worker, shows up on time and doesn't complain much. Not bad but he started wearing these cowboy boots yesterday and I'm just not sure it's gonna work out. Lol

Maybe he misunderstood you when you mentioned your saddle and spurs.


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