*****ing Employees

mikec

Well the last two weeks have been tough employee wise. I have/had 2 full time guys. Had one guy(helper) start last tuesday. Came back wed and said he was sick and had to leave at 11 to go to the doctor. Came back thu morning to tell me he didn't think it would be so hot,and this isn't for him.
Ok friday morning. We're starting a 35 square 2 layer tear off re-roof. I call labor ready for more help. They send out a guy expierenced in roofing. He rolled in with two dollars to his name and ready to work. The guy works good,hard worker does things the way I want them done. At the end of the day I ask him if he'd like to come on full time. He looks up at the sky and says "thank you jesus"! Tuesday morning after the holiday the new guy is there by 6:45(we start at 7) and works just like he did the week before. Wensday morning he rolls in at 7:05 and apologizes apparently he over slept. As the day goes on he starts spending a lot of time telling stories about past jobs and general BSing. At one point I tell him less talk more work. He shuts up and works ok the rest of the day. The next morning he shows up about 8. He over slept, he's very sorry, it will never happen again. I explain to him that we start at 7,if he can't be here by 7 I can't use him. A thousand apologies, and he swears he'll be there at 7 in the morning. Ok, we start to work. as the day goes on he starts with little comments like, "boy you must be getting X dollars a square for this". I don't respond. Then its "be a nice feather in your cap tomorrow when we finish this". Now I'm getting annoyed. What the F is it to him what I'm getting paid? He agreed to his hourly rate, that plus the 5k ayear I have to pay for comp on his a$$ I expect him to shutup and work. After lunch he starts complaing about his heartburn,oh its killing him. Every 10 mins he's down at the water jug. I'm starting to think he ain't gonna make it.
Friday morning. A fairly easy day, finish up the roof before the T storms hit, and call it a week. 7 am-no new guy. 7:15-no new guy. 7:30 he pulls up. I go out to his van. He gets out,and can barley speak due to being on an all night binder!! He slurs "I-I can't work up on the roof today, My knee is killing me, I'll work on the ground" I say F you and your knee,what time is it? And do you see any roofing that has to be done on the ground? He knows-he knows he over slept again. I say plus, you're drunk(he wreaked of booze). He looks at me with a cocky grin and says "what you want me to leave?" I said get in you're f ing van and get out of here! He does, and me and my man finish up the roof, and get packed up and pulled out by 4.
But now I'm worried about the knee. He said nothing about his knee until yesterday morning. No mention of any injury. I hope he doesn't try to put in a comp claim on me, I pay high enough rates now. Sorry for the long rant, just needed to vent to some people whe could relate.

mahlere

who do you actually pay? him or labor ready?

i believe, you are paying labor ready, hence he is their employee and should be covered under their WC policy.

Did you call your insurance agent and add him?

And, now you know why he was working for labor ready...

A.W.Davis

Man I am glad I work by myself.....I probably woulda hit the guy in the nuts to help him forget about his "knee problem"



$20.00 says hes going to file a workmans comp claim and milk it for all it's worth!!

any takers?











just kidding

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A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

Driftwood

Roofing is their 1st job ! What do You expect from labor ready !!

The good Men are working. Didn't it occur to You ,that there's a reason this guy has $2 in His pocket.
I'm sorry to say this ,but this is why Mexicans are getting the jobs !

They don't have liberal momas kissing Their butts . Letting teenage boys getting up at the crack of NOON .
The truth is inflammatory , fire away

Celtic

I'm sorry to say this ,but this is why the ILLEGALS are getting the jobs !

More PC

mikec

I paid labor ready the first day,then put him on my payroll.
And I added him the first day he worked for me.

mahlere

that was a mistake...I know...hindsight...20/20...

but labor ready would have held on to him for a while...kind of like a trial period...

next time

mikec

This was a mistake. This is my first year in business, and everyday is a learning expierience.
It did occur to me that something had to be wrong given his skill and situation, but he told me he had recently been through a divorce. I figured he was down on his luck, and I needed the help so.... Believe me I won't be so quick to react in the future.
Maybe I should call him and make ammends, then invite him out on my boat for a "fishing trip"

mahlere

where are you from? Jersey?

tinner666

Every several years or so, I forget that that's all I ever saw from employees.n Then I'll slip and hire somebody. Same story. Twice, over the years, I've met all the crews at the shop and handed everybody btheir last check. Most times, it's only 1 or 2, but I've been there.

__________________
Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

JamesNLA

Uhhhgh,

I used Labor Ready once. I got a mexican that had a broken hand, and a homeless / toothless (most of em) pair of guys.
They make min wage. I will say this, they worked almost hard. Put it this way, alot harder than I would work for 7 bucks an hour.

Hay, at least he didn't walk off with any of your tools. And You have your other employee to vouch that this guy's knee was fine. Probably got his ass beat the night before when drinking

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

mikec

No Connecticut. Great fishing here

send_it_all

Would this "fishing" include the use of concrete or chains at any point?

TridentOps

My parents are both 'liberal' and I didnt know wtf sleepin in was until i lived on my own. As for your comment about mexicans, guess it shows how truly dumb you are.

I had a legal latino worker flake on me last week. and dont get me started on all the illegals that I see flaking on other contractors. Silly man, are you even in the trades? They get hired because they will do it cheaper without all those pesky regulations, not because they are 'super hard workers'. Maybe in other markets its different, but in SoCal, thats what I see the most. And its funny when the HO is stuck because their illegal crew got better money elsewhere and abandons them. Ok, not that funny, but you see my point.

To the GP, that sucks about the employee situation. It seems to me that everyone wants a free (or easy) ride now-a-days. Regaurdless of where they are from. Good luck in the future with finding dependable guys, its tough.

I would be interested in hearing how other guys here find and retain QUALITY employees.

I've used labor ready a few times w/ no problems. But then I wasnt looking for permanent employees. And not everyone who works @ labor ready is a con. Hell I worked there on weekends to bring in extra money when I was a squid up north in Washington. Maybe this impression is a geographical thing? Or did I just get lucky those times?

__________________
Trident Construction Management
Remodeling, Landscape and Water Features

TridentOps

Ok maybe not the state, Just that damn hellhole of a SubBase @ Groton. Rude awakening for a Ca kid

__________________
Trident Construction Management
Remodeling, Landscape and Water Features

Glasshousebltr

I feel your pain mikec.

__________________
Bob

mikec

Isn't that what you everyone uses for tackle?

KentWhitten

25 years later, me still learning!

I like Labor Ready for the fact you can call them up and get junk work done by others. They pay all the overhead and no headaches. Give them an hour, if they work good, keep them there. If they aren't, send them home and call labor Ready and tell them to send out others.

Most times, the guys that come out, at least from here, are usually DWI guys or they got out of jail recently. There's usually one with a license (drivers that is) and the rest hitch a ride. Us ethem for digging ditches, shoveling snow on a moments notice. Never had use for the "carpenters" from there.

Too bad about that. I smell someone going to the workers comp claim, but I hope not for your sake. Fight it, it's your money. Your comp will go up, especially for roofing.

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

JamesNLA

Ya know when I first started as a plumbing helper I was sent many times to go get a guy or 2 to help dig sewer lines...gas lines..ect..

Back then and it's my experience, they worked their asses off as did I.

I have no idea recently (past 5-8 years) about how they work, as I refust to hire any of them, I don't care how bad I need the help.

....and to be totally honest here, I'm glad they are flaky. I hope they get more flaky. I REALLY HOPE that contractors will get hit with huge fines for using them, maybe even some jail time.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

JustaFramer

NO the reason the mexicans are getting jobs is that they will work 15 dollars under scale.

Subs have lo balled the market for so long that the bids really never change much for cost of living from ten years ago. When the Union halls are empty except for the lazy hall hands the residential employee market is even worse. Hell I think it is the worse I have ever seen it. That's a good thing. Because then commercial is booming residential is the last thing on a workers mind.

You mean I can pay my mortgage and a new car and boat and still eat steak 7 day a week.