Side Jobs

Quinn

What do you guys think of an employee doing side work? We are almost exclusively into decks, porches, sunrooms, railing and fencing. My lead carpenter (who is a very good carpenter) sometimes picks up a side job. Recently, He picked up a bathroom remodel off of one of our customers. This job is not something we as a company wish to do. What do you think?

Burby

If it was from a customer of yours, he especially, as well as the customer should have had the respect to contact you to discuss work first, no question no exception. This should be a standing rule as well as should be explained at time of hiring any workers. If not, put it in writing and hand out along with their next checks or have a company meeting.
Workers, on their own or while working for you, represent your Company & policies.
If they want to work on the side, work on the side of their clock & company, not yours.

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Deicide1

Does the guy carry atleast liability insurance?

TaitINC

I don't mind my guys doing side work, but there are stipulations to it. They are not to do side work for any of our customers, in town, or large jobs. I don't like the idea of them working all hours of the night than coming in the next day spent, and dragging their feet. If they choose to work for a friend, family member or someone local to their home, I don't mind. I don't expect them to take on a full kitchen job, or something that will take a long time to complete. If they want to make some extra money, I don't mind, but only if the money they are making isn't taking away from the company. One other thing I don't allow is them to use the company truck to do work. Most of my employees take their company truck home. I absolutely do not allow them to use the trucks for their personal use. If they do a side job, they are to load their tools into a personal vehicle. This keeps me out of their work, so I have no ties to it. Hope this is of use to you.

Spencer

wizendwizard

I'm sorry, I have to air this.

A bathroom remodel is not a side job.

You must be licensed (depends on state) and insured and bonded to do most of the work involved in remodeling.

If he is going to be working off of your license then you need to bid it and take your share off the top.

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Quinn

Hey Tait, The actual scenario is: My customer (Mrs. Jones) has a niece who wanted the bathroom remodel. Mrs. Jones must have talked with my carpenter and I just found out yesterday that he is doing the job. We actually have done 3 different jobs for Mrs. Jones. She's a great customer. I am just a little hesitant about him getting a job off of one of our jobs.

SelfContract

Just let Mr. Carpenter dates Mrs. Jones' daughter/niece will ya??.. problem solved.. j/k (a side affair lol)

rbsremodeling

I have a policy that my guys ask me about doing any side work.

I have a policy of homeowners do not talk to my subs or workers about work with out my permission

That said for me under the above conditions he would have been fired on the spot.

If the job goes good you might not have heard about it. IF it went bad bet you would have found out about it then.

There is a list of reasons to long to list as to why your guys don't work for your customers and your customers have no contact with subs or employees pass a certain point.

I have given my guys days off and worked around their side jobs, So that they can make extra money or lined the work up for them in slow times myself.

I need to know what my guys are doing to protect my business, my workers and their potential clients.

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ruskent

My one client hired one of my guys to clean her garage on a sunday. Should I have been pizzed?

Brickie

Nope

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wizendwizard

Now thats what consider a side job.

HO asked my guy to change her car tire, mow grass, dance naked with her under a full moon = side jobs.

Do anything they would normally hire a true contractor to do = not side job

__________________
"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

rbsremodeling

If you did not know about it first and he did not tell you about it yes.

If he robs the house, kills the dog. or whatever else.

Even though you did not send him and you have no control over his actions. You will still be tied to him.

The homeowner will refer to him as John, one of Ruskent employess. Can't believe Ruskent employs guys like that blah blah to everyone she knows.

I would rather them ask me for the money or get more/side work through me.

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TaitINC

or backs over their cat!

Patrick

I really dont get too concerned about what my guys to on their own time. They are not allowed to use any company tools or associate with me at all when they do side work. I hear them talk about it sometimes and it kinda makes me wanna say "If ya got so much extra time why cant you work here a few extra hours?" The best is if they try to ask me what they should charge for something I usually just play dumb. From some of the stuff I hear they usually end up making less working on their own than working for me by the hour so I cant see how its worth it to them.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

rbsremodeling

Damn for got about poor kitty

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KennMacMoragh

One remodeling company I worked for said, absolutely no side work. However, people would do side work anyway without telling the company about it. Another remodel company I worked for said, side work is allowed, but only after the job that the company is doing is over with.

To me, it is fair for the company to allow side jobs as long as the company won't be held liable for anything. And if your employee waits until the regular job is done, then no there shouldn't be any liability issues. If you tell your employee "don't do any side work" I think you're just being a dick, and they will do side work behind your back anyways. Which can put you into some liability issues, if they're doing it without telling you about it. So why not let them do it, but just give them guidelines to avoid getting you into liabilities.

John Hyatt

A really good Carpenter on your payroll,pitches a job to one of your wallets who he met on Your Job.>>>>> Find another really good Carpenter first and fire that dude the next friday<<<<

This is not hatefull Guys,that lead man was pitching your Wallet on Co time. Its time for him to find his own jobs= Find out how hard it is with out the Co paying him. The man is kicking in his stall let the mule out into the real world.
JohnMon

T. D. G.

Employees do just about anything. get used to it. If he ends up doing something you have to fire him for fire him, but before that happens talk to him and clarify the rules under your watch.
last time i looked you still have the right to fire, and employees has the right to make you, at least at my level.

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A W Smith

I do subcontract for other contractors at times. As a policy I never ever accept offers to do work for their customers. I don't care if i meet them again at a grocery store and they ask me. I refer them back to the contractor i was working for. The only exception is if the original contractor turned it down or had a falling out I would clear it with him first. In fact on all occasions I have made them aware when clients have asked me because this sometimes sends up a red flag.

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

silvertree

Two years ago one of my guys did a job for the parents of my homeowner. The customer trying to save money asked me if one of my guys would do a tile floor. I didn't endorse it but said OK. The job took forever, was never completely finished and the toilet leaked. I was asked to track down this guy or finish the job myself. I stayed out of it and no longer have that employee or referral from that customer. Happened once before with someone else not satisfied with my moonlighting worker. No More!

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