Starting pay??

[Manna]

We've been looking for someone with a brain for some time now...seems hard to find and obviously that goes without saying.
Tired of hiring "experts", people who "get it", "care about quality" when they suck basically. We want to start at $12 and if they can do all they say they can do (b/c as we all know, everyone's a landscaper....we'll boost 'em to $14 or $15 within a month. Nobody's interested. Is this wrong? Seems to me if you're all that it shouldn't take you a month to show it. Maybe we should start at $15 and reduce to $2 b/c that's what they're really worth???

Maybe we should start at $15 and let them go if they can't cut it.

What does anybody else do?

[Pirsch]

I know a few guys around here that pay their help to just cut and trim nothing much $7.50-$9....if they do more than the basics they may go to $10.

[rusty_keg_3]

We are family owned and operated, so the "foreman" gets $15 per hr, and the labors get $10 per hr, but none of are specialized...

[jeffslawnservice]

When I started working for a landscaper he started me off at $10 and said that if I could prove to him that I knew what I was doing i could get $12. Within a day he bumped me up to $12 so I wouldent wait too long to see if someone can prove themself. For my new workers now they start at $8 because I have had so many bad workers I can start anyone one at a higher price. But for my decent workers they range any where from getting $10-$12 dollars an hour.

[starry night]

I learned a long time ago that an employee will not work "up" to what you pay him.
If he's worth $8 or $9 then that's how hard he will work from the get-go.
Doesn't matter if you pay him $15, he'll still work at the $8 pace.
If he has a high value then he will show you that right away even if you pay only a little. Of course, it's this latter guy that you should raise his pay quickly.

[wburks]

I pay by the job at a rate of 30% of gross seems high but i am a part type lawn mower
evenings and weekends and there for my guy is part time on average works out about 8 to 10 $ per hour well worth the money to ask anyone to give up there weekend if there head is screwed on correctly that person will act as an owner operator i will not tolerate poor work habits fast and accurate get us home earlier
I don`t take any one at there word as to there ability and as matter of fact all employees start with trimming and blowing then the walk behind and onto the ZTR

[hakasaw]

We pay our guys from $7.00 to $14.00 per hour with the $14.00 an hour guy being the foreman. You can tell real quick wheather they can cut it and it's easier to raise someone up than cut pay. Some guys are not worth the $7.00
an hour.:walking:

[srl28]

Isnt $7.00 below the minimum wage?

[hakasaw]

Yeah I think is is now, that was last year. How meny of you guys withold taxes etc. on your workers ? We have some regular employees and we also pick up people as needed that are paid cash.

[baddboygeorge]

People in this world are lazy an the up coming generation dont want to do any hard work! I have tried that pay tactic an it doesnt work either. Thats why the immigration population is rising every year an H2B programs are becoming more an more popular.I offered a few positions a few months ago at $150 cash daily had about 20 guys call , told them all to meet me at a certain time an location , guess how many showed ,,,,,,, none go figure!!

[Mahoney3223]

starting wage is 8.50 foreman makes 13.00

[Duck Dodger]

You may be finding people who have had bad experiences with other employers. I know I wouldn't start a job unless I was geting paid what I asked. Case in point last company I worked for I was hired on as Operations Manager which included sales. I was told 45k salary would bump up to 48k after 90 days. I worked 70 plus hours a week never saw a dime even after 2 years. Some folks may think they won't see that 15.

[mowerbrad]

I don't have regular employees, I just hire some friends from the FD or school to help when I need it, like when doing clean-ups. If they have had no experience before they start at $8/hour but if they do have experience (usually a season or two) they get bumped up to $10/hour.

[Stillwater]

We've been looking for someone with a brain for some time now...seems hard to find and obviously that goes without saying.
Tired of hiring "experts", people who "get it", "care about quality" when they suck basically. We want to start at $12 and if they can do all they say they can do (b/c as we all know, everyone's a landscaper....we'll boost 'em to $14 or $15 within a month. Nobody's interested. Is this wrong? Seems to me if you're all that it shouldn't take you a month to show it. Maybe we should start at $15 and reduce to $2 b/c that's what they're really worth???

Maybe we should start at $15 and let them go if they can't cut it.

What does anybody else do?


your starting pay is high...

[hakasaw]

$150.00 a day !! Dang, I'm glad my guys don't read this.

[Mike's LawnCare Landscape]

$150.00 a day !! Dang, I'm glad my guys don't read this.

If I could find some one to get the work done (hard worker ) . I would pay them $150 a day

[Stillwater]

If I could find some one to get the work done (hard worker ) . I would pay them $150 a day


you can't find a hard worker for 18.75 an hr. or 750.00/900.00 a week in this economy why, what is going on where you are?