No call No shows

[MonkeyMan_812]

This is not an uncommon thing in any industry much less the tree care industry. But just when you think you got a good guy that will stck around, they are nowhere to be found on Monday morning. I have trained this guy for about two months. Just got him to where he could take care of all my ropes, run the porta-wrap properly, set my rope in the trees for me and everything. My first thought was to fire him, but I hate to waste all the time I invested in him by doing that. Mabey an extended probation period is more suitable? Keep in mind this is the first time this has happened and I got another guy to work that day but still :censored: me off!

 

[teamtree]

Been there done that....careful not to give too much of yourself...easy to get burned....

Legit excuse?

 

[tree MDS]

u will have that welcom to tree service treemds

 

[outdoorlivin247]

It's better to train them and loose them, them not train them and have them stay...

 

[tomtrees58]

:agree2:

Been there done that....careful not to give too much of yourself...easy to get burned....

Legit excuse?

:agree2:tom trees

 

[MonkeyMan_812]

Been there done that....careful not to give too much of yourself...easy to get burned....

Legit excuse?

Guy just called a few minutes ago. Said " uh I just had a bad day". After I thought on it all day today I told him I had to let him go when he called.

 

[tree MDS]

Guy just called a few minutes ago. Said " uh I just had a bad day". After I thought on it all day today I told him I had to let him go when he called.

Well I guess thats nipping it in the bud. lol

I'm getting sort of soft these days, I might have given him a chance...then it probably would just go on forever though.

Good for you - but are you sure yer not being hasty just cuz yer po'd?

Then again, I've heard that bad day excuse before too. I always say: well so did I, why does your bad day become my bad day?? answer: durr...uhh..durr (or something to that effect).

 

[Marty B]

If he is a good worker, learns things easily and you don't have to retrain him after lunch, then it's the three strike rule. This gives him a chance to make the adjustment and shows that you are trying to work with him. Did you have a Pin Oak or nasty Cottonwood to work on that day?

 

[teamtree]

So was there a call to say he wasn't showing up or did he just not show up and just now called you?

I think it is pretty sad he could not call and tell you he was having a bad day and did not want to come in.

 

[MonkeyMan_812]

No he didnt call or show at all Monday. And I just talked to him today (Wednesday). I kind of feel bad for it working out this way but I have to deal with customers and if I tell them I'll be there Monday and guys dont show and then dont call till Wednesday, I cant be having that. I understand things happen but there are a lot of telephones in this country.

 

[ozzy42]

No he didnt call or show at all Monday. And I just talked to him today (Wednesday). I kind of feel bad for it working out this way but I have to deal with customers and if I tell them I'll be there Monday and guys dont show and then dont call till Wednesday, I cant be having that. I understand things happen but there are a lot of telephones in this country.

:agree2: been there ,done that.

1$ says he will be asking for his job back in a few weeks.

Hard to keep good help.

 

[pdqdl]

If they are otherwise a good to excellent worker, I always ask some personal questions. Like "Were you drunk, hungover, or stoned?". Or "I need to know more about your bad day, since you gave me a bad day".

In the end, they tell me what was the real deal, or they make up some fabulous story that doesn't hold water. Either way, you have something better to base your decision on.

Then I drug test them, and that pretty much settles the no-show no-call problem. It's amazing how few grounds workers are actually clean. Curiously, the stoners are the ones that seem to be absent with "bad days".

 

[treevet]

If they are otherwise a good to excellent worker, I always ask some personal questions. Like "Were you drunk, hungover, or stoned?". Or "I need to know more about your bad day, since you gave me a bad day".

In the end, they tell me what was the real deal, or they make up some fabulous story that doesn't hold water. Either way, you have something better to base your decision on.

Then I drug test them, and that pretty much settles the no-show no-call problem. It's amazing how few grounds workers are actually clean. Curiously, the stoners are the ones that seem to be absent with "bad days".

I second that. All I am hiring from now on is AA guys with 2 yrs. min sober. Got a great one now and had 2 solid years from him. There is a high level of honesty in this group and you can count on them.

I have given up on the projects. Life is to short.

 

[l2edneck]

maybe he was mad at you?

is he good?

would you use him again?

how hard did you guys bust a$$ last time you work?

Do you pay well for honest work?

i been thru an ass load of guys, i still use a bunch, because they are trained the way i like,could i depend on any of them? Hell no! but thats why i got 5..

just pick the right ppl and you will know the keepers....

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I have given up on the projects. Life is to short.

Ain't that the truth. I tell my clients that they should winnow the chaff til they find someone that works out well for them. You do not have to tell the guy he sucks, just that the tow of you are not the right fit.

I know a few people who hire through labor agencies; they get two or three basic labor guys and work them to see how motivated each guy is. Then bring back the ones that work out and eventually hire them if they seem like they would be motivated. Quite often they are, these people have been dumped on so often that being treated well is a Godsend.

 

[Vangellis]

I'm not in the tree business, but an operations manager for a distribution company. I also do the hiring.

It's always one of my biggest disappointments to find a good employee that goes south after a few months on the job. Wasted potential.

One of the main reasons as stated is alcohol or drug abuse.
It breeds laziness and depression which leads to "bad days".

Treevet, your two year rule is a good one.
I have 12 years myself. Seen them come and go in AA also.


P.S. Just a homeowner here to learn and have fun. Thanks to all for the good information.





Kevin

 

[Sunrise Guy]

I give no second chances. It's cold, maybe, but in my 56 years on this planet I have found that those who mess you over once will definitely do it again. (Same with women, fwiw) I don't like the mystery of waiting for the next axe to fall. I get rid of the guy and move on. No regrets, no problems. If your work-force pool is small, like in some isolated town, you might need to do otherwise. Here, in Austin, I can get rid of a guy one day and have a new guy the next day. Training takes a while, if you want a very good worker, but I have my steady right-hand man, Dan, who's been with me for four years, and as long as he's there, we can work any gig, without others, if need be. There are some guys who will work like mad men the first day, to impress you, and then will slack off as soon as they see that you will use them again. In truth, the day laborers I use, from the city temp office, are mostly good workers, but there are always reasons why they don't have steady jobs. Once you use one of them a few times, it honestly becomes clear why he is not employed on a steady basis. Some of those guys really seem to have a real drive to fail. They do bizarre things that guarantee their failure.

 

[Rftreeman]

I had bad days but I did call in and tell the boss and now that I'm the boss I tell them to just tell me the truth, if they are hungover or what ever tell me the truth and we'll talk about it but don't mistake my kindness for weakness and try to take advantage of me because I'll send you packing in a minute.

 

[treemandan]

u will have that welcom to tree service treemds

haha new u were nutz thedan


who do you think you are anyway?

 

[treemandan]

It's better to train them and loose them, them not train them and have them stay...

How about train them to stay? sit boo boo sit, good boy