Ok,<p>First of all guys, i don't even mow lawns or do landscape maintmance or installs. I found this forum, from the snowplowing forum ( i read the lawn care one, because i needed to buy a new mower). I am a ultilty construction contractor located in maine, where i have over 30 employees. <p>The work these guys do is very hard, i have several ex landscape workers now working for me. They say they work harder than they did in the past, but the reason that they went to work for me, will me explained.<p>First i am not trying to piss anyone off, I am just trying to explain this from the workers point of view. I know there are some slackers out there, but there are great workers that just need to be given some respect.<p>OK these landscapers left their past employer for a few reasons:<p>1. Year round work, they could work for me all year. Ultity construction in the summer, and snow removal and some construction in the winter.<p> Their past employers wouldn't keep them on full time in the winter.<p>2. Respect, all employees get uniforms, and 10 employees have company trucks. Good pay, these guys are paid very well, some over 32 K a year, only they work very hard just like landscapers. Like i said some ex landscapers say they work harder for me then they did in the past.<p>Also the guys work from 7 to 5 five days a week, no more no less ( except in the winter, with plowing it gets a little crazy). <p>3. If you are good to the worker they will be good to you.<p>The guys that have company trucks, wash them weekly, and clean them inside to they look like new every 3 or 4 weeks.<p>These guys would work extra if i asked them too, if something needed to be done.<p>My point:<p>I know there are slackers.<br>Only explain to these guys why they are doing the grunt work. Tell them why they are walking and not riding, its because they are the employee not the owner, be firm, but calm.<p>It is amazing what a few bennifits to the employee will do. If you only have one employee, buy them lunch one day, or a cold drink if they have been trimming all day. Pay them well, not just the standard 7.50 to 8.50, if you pay them more, they will probably work harder.<p>Also do yourself a favor.<p>Try to find out before if the employee wants to work weekends.<p>Also everyone needs time off, the owner should have weekends off too. So maybe if you need to work 6 days a week to get all your work done, you have too much work, let some go. If you don't have anytime off all week, you will go crazy. I have a very good friend that is in the landscaping business and 3 heart attacks later, and a depression, and neverus break down. He let some work go, and started taking weekends off. <p>Just try to think of it in the employees eyes too. You have the fancy mower, all the accounts, the truck, they think you are making tons of money, when you probably aren't. Try to explain that you don't make 100K a year, and that the equipments, insurances, licences, ect, are expensive.<p>Invest in the employee, and you will have greater returns.<p>I am not trying to piss anyone off, but i just thought it was fair to stand up for the employee. Sometimes ya got to take a step back, and look at in their eyes.<p>Geoff
<br>Travis<br>AG&G Lawn Maintenance<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: AGG Lawn Maintenance
