New groundie needs ironing

[Ekka]

I remember I had this "rough" climber once and he had this bad habit of spitting everywhere. No-one wanted to run the ropes for this guy as you'd get showered. Now this was a real ugly problem that we had to address.

So, as an incentive I offered the guy a carton of beer for every day that went by that he didn't spit ... he was thrilled, then I turned to the other guys and offered them a carton of beer if they caught him spitting! This was a one week trial to see if it worked.

The groundies were all over this guy, even if he was taking a leak behind a bush they would watch him. It cost me a few beers but it worked.

If habits are so ingrained that they do things as a reaction you should give them all the team help they need.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

nice one Ekka, simple solution, everyone happy

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Ok my groundie Dan comes from a construction site background where they swear and curse all day long. On a construction site this type of male banter is very commen as is not wearing a shirt etc [going about bare chested ] and takeing a leak behind 'what ever' is again very commen ,its all part of the working enviroment on a construction site . My problems with the groundie realy swearing etc within ear shot of a client rather than swearing whilst in conversation with them .

Basicly [no disrespect to construction workers] he is still or was in the construction site mode.

Anyway long story short i had a few minutes chat with him today and explained to him that a clients back yard is most definatly not a building site ,certain rules have to be abided by etc ,with that he a apolagised and agreed to change his ways .so all ends well ,i hope.

I don't think at first most newbs realise the sensativity of working in a private home all be it a back yard,at first he though just because we succesfully dismantled a large tree and cleared up 99 percent of the mess that it was nesescery to bringt out the rake ,blowers and brooms ,again i had to train him to my ways /standards .IMO for the first few months its a case of re educating a new member of staff who isn't familier to this type of work

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

AHH just one other thing ,i am always the person who gos out to bid /discuss any work with a potential client ,my name is always on the writtern quotation ,'I' always knock at the door before we are about to start work at a clients and re-introduce myself ie i'm telling the client in an around about way that i am the 'BOSS'.

So why the hell do some clients start discussing all types of work related sh+t with the GROUNDIE or WHO EVER' when my back is turned. This realy iratates me

 

[Lawn Masters]

So why the hell do some clients start discussing all types of work related sh+t with the GROUNDIE or WHO EVER' when my back is turned. This realy iratates me

I would imagine such things would annoy you.
I prefer to work hard, then talk when the work is done,or better yet, when I'm not on the clock.

 

[jamie]

talking too

we get that all the time, if the boss is on site we direct them to him (unless it is a simple query) of he aint on site, we reitereate the job description and what we have to do and explain why.

we never accept tea / coffee / food off of anyone (they always try to get 'that tree over there pruned as well, just while you are here').

i do swear from time to time, normally only when pi$$ed off. i do from time to time spit....bad habit and if i gotta go i gotta go, open the pick up door and search for something in the cab

all these things everyone on our squad does....

we wear what we like but keep our tops on (i dont have the body to keep it off)....

keep it profesional and all that bollocks....just cut that fecking tree you bas**rd

jamie

 

[Thor's Hammer]

AHH just one other thing ,i am always the person who gos out to bid /discuss any work with a potential client ,my name is always on the writtern quotation ,'I' always knock at the door before we are about to start work at a clients and re-introduce myself ie i'm telling the client in an around about way that i am the 'BOSS'.

So why the hell do some clients start discussing all types of work related sh+t with the GROUNDIE or WHO EVER' when my back is turned. This realy iratates me

that fecking drives me up the wall, specially when a client asks your guys if they'll come back at the weekend to do a little extra cash work
never mind the groundie swearing, It makes me bloody swear!!

 

[Big A]

Perhaps I'm wrong here, but as a mere simple groundie, if a client comes out to discuss something while the job is ongoing, its MY job to steer them away and maybe answer any queries that they bring up. If they need the boss for something then I 'll explain that he'll sort it out when he's down from the tree and not until then. They may have a concern relevant to the job, and if its bothering them, hopefully I can sort it out and save the boss answering mundane questions. I agree that some sort of uniform is necessary, only if it makes the workers identifiable to the public. I agree that bad language is a no-no as much as possible. One climber I know of will be at the top of a tree effing and blinding at the top of his voice about everything and anything when he gets stressed out, and if I point out that the client is in ear-shot he'll shout "if they dont like it, tell 'em to f*** off!!" He's the boss's best buddy so he does what he likes anyway.

 

[MasterBlaster]

He sounds like a real professional.

 

[Big A]

Yeah, he's in the wrong job, stamps his feet and throws his teddy out of the pram every time he doesnt get his own way. Not even that good a climber either, but gets paid well for it, wouldn't last five minutes anywhere else!

 

[SteveBullman]

hmmmm cant guess who you're referring to

 

[Ekka]

Gee I've been havin a good run lately, coffee & cake, cool drinks etc it's been really nice. In fact I reckon it's the best it's ever been. Just happen to be getting lots of nice people lately ... and they even offer to pay for the extra's!