Lending out your stuff

[Dillweed]

Can I borrow your chipper? Can I borrow a chainsaw? Can I borrow some money? Sound familiar? I'm starting a NO LOAN POLICY. I get screwed every time I give in. Employees seem to be masterminds of persuasion, especially on the money.

The latest was an employee wanted to do a side job and use a saw. I told him he could use the Echo, the ms200t was off limits. I get to the shop and what saws were missing? Yes, the 200t and the MS660, along gas tanks, oil, and accessories. There is an arsenal of good commercial saws he was welcome to use and he takes my two best saws.

If I lend them money, they get mad when I take some out of their pay to pay me back. Remember, if you loan money, don't expect it back.

 

[Marshy]

Sound like a bunch of losers ya got there. You know they are making money off of borrowing equipment, maybe charge them for borrowing it.

 

[porsche965]

I usual work for free and help others in need. But I ALWAYS come along with my equipment. Never loan out equipment. Learned that the hard way.

 

[Zale]

Sounds like you're a push over.

 

[Warren89]

You definitely have bad workers. Maybe it's just me but I strive to please my bosses. I also have all my own gear so borrowing isn't an issue.

 

[Pelorus]

Dillweed, you got a situation where the tail (the employees) is wagging the dog (you).
Not good, and it is gonna get worse if you don't smarten up.

 

[Warren89]

Interesting analogy

 

[capetrees]

Why would you give anyone your equipment to do a job where they will make money and you won't? These guys work for you so why aren't they pushing the work your way if they don't have the equipment? Work in their own yards or for their relatives, sure, borrow some equipment. Make money at it? No way.

 

[ksvanbrunt]

First off, you seem like a pretty cool boss to allow your employees to do side jobs. An outfit I used to work for would let me borrow tools for side jobs as long as it wasn't anything too big, and it wasn't one of his previous clients. He decided to talk with his insurance company about it and they told him that if I was to get hurt on a side job with his tools then he would be in big trouble. So keep this in mind next time you lend out tools. In my mind, if someone wants to moonlight business then they should own their own gear. What disrespectful scrubs to completely disrespect you especially when you were willing to help them out. Hope you get some more helpful replies and you come up with good punishment. Cheers!

-Kevin-

 

[RDAA]

I just got rid a piece of **** employee three weeks ago. I am an easygoing boss and guy but you give those bastards an inch they will take a mile. I had him call in sick and about mid afternoon he calls me asking to use my truck and dump trailer to move some furniture! I wish I could pay good money and some bennies for decent employees. But in this country it is impossible. It makes me want to sell everything some days.

 

[troutbum]

Our silent partner brought up the same insurance point last year...now it's NO across the board: truck, saw, trailer, weed wacker...nothing

 

[BC WetCoast]

The way to get around the borrowing money is to have a weekly payroll. A two or 4 week pay period, can lead to money shortages, weekly tends to prevent this. I know it is more bookkeeping effort, but once the cycle is established then you are good.

 

[mu2bdriver]

I told him he could use the Echo, the ms200t was off limits. I get to the shop and what saws were missing? Yes, the 200t and the MS660...

If he's anything other than a stellar employee, which is highly questionable, that would be an immediate termination in my book. Unless you were speaking English and he's Espanol solamente your instructions were quite clear and would hold up in an unemployment appeal.

 

[pro94lt]

My tools will never get loaned out. In my opinion I pay them well, treat them well give them hours when i dont have to. they know what is crossing the line. Side jobs and borrowing tools are definitely crossing the line... how often do they do side jobs?

 

[gorman]

A company in my area I hear will "rent" the bucket and chipper to employees on weekends so they can make side $$$. I hear it's around $800 a day plus fuel. [emoji12] they better make their nut for that cheddar.

 

[kstidham]

Not commercial but I just learned the hard way. I loaned a saw out to a guy just starting up and he brought it back burned up.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[mbrick]

Sounds like at a minimum you should let that employer go, if you are in the position to do so. More, maybe stop loaning altogether.

Why can't we just be loaning to each other, where we have the same opinion about this topic?? Or maybe we have our own gear...

 

[marne]

"Can I borrow...? " No!

And never again.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

My guys are welcome to it, part of the perks to the job, its safer for them to have to right gear, besides if they start buying there own gear, why wouldnt they start there own business?

 

[mu2bdriver]

why wouldnt they start there own business?

You are very generous.

Your last line has me curious. How many employees have gone on to start their own business, the right/legal way, with proper licenses, insurance, tax payments, etc.? I'm not talking about someone with a saw and a truck working for cash. In my experience there are people made to be owners and people made to be employees and few are able to make the crossover.