Employees Can Be Fixed

[Az Gardener]

I want to preface this by saying I respect you and your operation amlawn I just wonder why your employees don't make enough to buy cars on their own? Wouldn't it be better to pay them a higher wage and make less profit on your end. I may be naive but my guys are buying houses with the money I pay in wages. Maybe I pay too much.

Your company is bigger than mine so I guess maybe I do pay too much. I just think if you want good responsible employees that are proactive with the clients and the job they do you have to provide them a standard of living that will allow them to have a normal life. Which in my mind includes health insurance, a home, yearly vacation. Also an opportunity to be more than the paid help.

Just some food for thought, you seem like a good guy and I believe you are trying to do right by your employees. You might just be able to raise the bar in the industry by paying a little more.

[americanlawn]

Thanks Az - I appreciate where you're coming from. We pay our guys well -- average wage = about $20 per hour plus vacation pay & co-pay health/dental. Much better than other LCO's around here. (pretty good for corn Country).

My wife & I make less income than the lowest-paid specialist. All of my guys are top notch. They have been thoroughly trained and attend regular land grant university training/events.

Experienced guys get 3 weeks vacation during the work season. All employees get weekly (uncontested) unemployment paychecks during the 3 months in winter. Unless it snows - then they get paid on top of their weekly unemployment checks.

While we never buy them a "home", we try to give them the financial tools that most folks need. If they have fines to pay -- It ain't our fault. If their wife can't get a job cuz she has no car -- it ain't our fault. Yet I will go way out of my way to find a cheap vehicle & pay for it (out of my pocket).

I believe in Karma - What goes around, comes around. Tonight I just fixed the soft water unit in our next door rental house where employees live.

In the past 2 years, 2 of my guys have been able to buy their own homes. Before that, they rented. Nuf said.

Originally Posted by Az Gardener

I want to preface this by saying I respect you and your operation amlawn I just wonder why your employees don't make enough to buy cars on their own? Wouldn't it be better to pay them a higher wage and make less profit on your end. I may be naive but my guys are buying houses with the money I pay in wages. Maybe I pay too much.

Your company is bigger than mine so I guess maybe I do pay too much. I just think if you want good responsible employees that are proactive with the clients and the job they do you have to provide them a standard of living that will allow them to have a normal life. Which in my mind includes health insurance, a home, yearly vacation. Also an opportunity to be more than the paid help.

Just some food for thought, you seem like a good guy and I believe you are trying to do right by your employees. You might just be able to raise the bar in the industry by paying a little more.

[cod8825]

I haven't contributed to this thread since the start several weeks back so here I go. When I commented at first I was accused of being a whinny employee and in some regards I can see exactly where he was coming from because at the time I was. After reading the dialogue between American and AZ I think that you both are great employers and are concerned about operating a profitable business and treating your foundation(employees) well. In the book Good to Great every great come had a strong commitment to finding, hiring, and retaining great employees and at seems you have a good start on it.

Matt

[pararest]

I hired my first employee about 11 years ago and it went OK as long as I was there to keep an eye on him. As my business started to grow and we added a second crew I quickly realized what a disaster employees can be. Now with over 30 employees (and a lot of head aches later) I take the time not only to screen my potential employees, but I try hard during the interview process to see if I can detect anything in his attitude that would make it hard for him to fit into our system of doing things. Even if he comes with a lot of experience, if I feel he will not be a team player I don't make the hire.
When I do find the right guy, we provide him with an employee hand book. We then go over our expectations of him as our employee, then he gets thoroughly trained. I have had no problems at all for 5 years now keeping guys. When I do have a complaint it is taken care of fast and the employee is notified and the problem is fixed for the future.


owner: Paradise Restored
http://paradiserestored.com

[jeffslawnservice]

This is a little off topic but if anyone has an employee hand book or any type of employee training book that they would be willing to share can you PM me. I am in the process of hiring my first employee for next season. Thanks.