GazCro
Well-known member
Worked on a job near a shop year before last and one of the builders went there 3 times a day for a coffee and summat to eat. We reckoned he was spending minimum £75 quid a week plus fags just while at work.
jd6820
Well-known member
Tricky when it's family, I find it is better to work with them and within reason give them a little slack if you feel they are helping/ worth having about. If they can be productive and aren't costing a fortune, does it matter if they have a slightly longer break? Compared with say a non-family member who doesn't give one whilst on the job and slacks all day, never mind the fact they will demand set breaks, in line with government guidance etc... Working on your own avoids these issues but some jobs require two people. In my experience I've found family members care a lot more about your business than most. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but on the whole I think we all find it difficult to find good staff.
If you are finding it isn't working with your current structure and maybe your nephew doesn't realise the time constraints of the job, so you might be able to help the situation by sitting down and discussing why you are choosing the shorter breaks and the end goal. Having this conversation might make them feel part of the company and see it from your point of view?
TiltyShaun
Well-known member
Working with family is indeed very hard. 3 years ago I took him on full time due to some circumstances that meant I could do with a hand and he was between jobs. His time keeping and lack of enthusiasm drove me mad then and he eventually decided in wanted to do more management role. It appeared he learnt a lot during his time elsewhere. Then all of a sudden, his employer would not send him on a training course and so he just jacked. It suited me to have him with me for those shifts. But by Jesus has his attitude wound me right up!! I did say how can you be expected to manage the time keeping of others if you can’t manage your own!!!
Anyone. Back on my jack today!!
jd6820
Well-known member
I've been in a similar situation twice! Yeah, I should have probably learnt first time round, the problem for me was that they were both family friends. Both were between jobs and looking for something to do as a stop gap. That stop gap ended up with me employing them and the new job search ending. Initially it worked well then, they got comfortable, and productivity slowed, without being blunt I could see why they were between jobs. I'm an easy-going person so like to give everyone their fair crack and I pay well too, it started with turning up late, then taking holidays/ days off at their convenience and short notice, no matter what work I had lined up. Usually scaled up to meet the increased staffing. Next thing you are working on your own, achieving similar output to when two of you are there and got another wage to pay, so end up working harder for less profit. In each scenario I sat down with them both and explained why I had taken them on and what the company required of them to keep moving forward. During the discussions I asked if they had any suggestions or things we could improve on or change and ultimately did they see this as the career for them. The first said, he was looking to go and help his mate 50% of the time as they'd started a fencing business on the side, hence booking random days off. The other said they actually wanted to be a salesperson not a mechanic
luckily for me they chose to go their own ways. I think ultimately you are not in business to carry others, if you feel it has got that way and you've had a reasonable discussion about it, then really, I think you've to do what's best for you. If that means finding an amicable solution to them not working for you then so be it. At the end of the day, they are setting the image for your company, a lot of people employ my services because of me not who I employ so to send someone who doesn't un hold the same standards is a sure-fire way to reduce the client base.The second person I employed I did offer them the option of using my contacts and my help to find them a more suitable career could that be the case with your nephew. That way nobody can say you haven't done everything within your power to see them right, may be another step worth taking because they are family?
CPS
Well-known member
Well I could have practically wrote this post myselfI've been in a similar situation twice! Yeah, I should have probably learnt first time round, the problem for me was that they were both family friends. Both were between jobs and looking for something to do as a stop gap. That stop gap ended up with me employing them and the new job search ending. Initially it worked well then, they got comfortable, and productivity slowed, without being blunt I could see why they were between jobs. I'm an easy-going person so like to give everyone their fair crack and I pay well too, it started with turning up late, then taking holidays/ days off at their convenience and short notice, no matter what work I had lined up. Usually scaled up to meet the increased staffing. Next thing you are working on your own, achieving similar output to when two of you are there and got another wage to pay, so end up working harder for less profit. In each scenario I sat down with them both and explained why I had taken them on and what the company required of them to keep moving forward. During the discussions I asked if they had any suggestions or things we could improve on or change and ultimately did they see this as the career for them. The first said, he was looking to go and help his mate 50% of the time as they'd started a fencing business on the side, hence booking random days off. The other said they actually wanted to be a salesperson not a mechanic
The second person I employed I did offer them the option of using my contacts and my help to find them a more suitable career could that be the case with your nephew. That way nobody can say you haven't done everything within your power to see them right, may be another step worth taking because they are family?
Pretty much the same here, except I got s**t on by a family member. That stung abit to be honest
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DaveDCB
Well-known member
My plasterer who’d done loads of jobs before randomly didn’t turn up after he’d put base coat on some render, loads of phone calls later (2months) I gave up and found some new guys to finish off and skim whole house(still with us now 6 houses later!) nearly a year later he rung asking for payment , said he broke his arm so couldn’t work! Funnily enough I followed him on strava so knew he was bullshitting as I’d seen his weekend rides etc! Good old innocent GPS tracking
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fred
Well-known member
very very common. dead head mentality.
Crack on, dont spend hour and half a day sitting in van. go home an hour early/earn extra hours money.
Left hooker
Well-known member
This might be the answer to a lot of the issues from the posts about staff
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bobthebuilder
Well-known member
dont get me wrong ,we bolock on all day everyday ,but sit for a cup of tea at ten for 15mins ,30mins at 1 oclock and tea on the move at 3 ,it seems to keep everyone happy ,
Storrsy
Well-known member
Good system. Think regular breaks are good for morale. It's the duration that can be a problem
Giles
Well-known member
Little one got it’s first outing today but then I had to run off to get some stuff so didn’t even get to dig the first bit with my new machine.
Attachments
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
same as I used to do with my blokes
all supplied - tea/coffee, toast, biccies - warm, clean, comfy - cooker, fridge, microwave .... was always appreciated
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DaveDCB
Well-known member
On the roofing today, bloody steep at 45deg, ruins the knees simply standing up!
Kept the original roof on this section as it was in good condition, joiners back on Monday to finish the rest, going to be chasing them now!
Kept the original roof on this section as it was in good condition, joiners back on Monday to finish the rest, going to be chasing them now!
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
all 45s here ..... snow don't stick so well at that angle and the wind don't lift the slates so easy
hiluxman
Well-known member
I run by the get in get done and go home early.
We have brakes adhoc. Sometimes several sometimes none but all with the sooner we are done the sooner we are home mentality. I've never in 17 years been asked to stop for a break, if they ever did I'd not say no. Only time we finish any later than 2pm is if your out on day/hourly rate.
pettsy
Well-known member
I did a bit of subcontract work when I first went on my own. Working inside a very big stately home near Bakewell, full Construction design management type setup. Felt like I spent more time walking to and from the contractors car park, signing in and out, and getting kit to where we were working than actually doing the work. Weren’t allowed to work without site supervisor present, so if they went for a tea or dinner break we had to down tools and do the same.
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bobthebuilder
Well-known member
yep i have a "welfare unit" ,toilet ,hot water ,microwave ,kettle ,tea ,coffee etc occasional doughnuts /biscuits etc,same as I used to do with my blokes
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
pays dividends IMHDO ... shows you care
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bobthebuilder
Well-known member
especially as this job when we started was a horders smelly shithole ,with a bath full of excrement,pays dividends IMHDO ... shows you care
you need somewhere to get out of it
Furniss
Well-known member
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