Hiring new employees

[TaskForceLawnCare]

Min wage here is nearly 10 an hr My old boss does a phone interview then checks your references then person to person interview random drug tests at least once every month or two . When he hires you he does a one day trial period working with him if you pass that you on a 90 trial period with the crews he starts 10 cents over min after 90 days he gives u a 1 dollar raise he had crazy standards of appearance and doesn't allow smoking at or near job sites no customer should ever see or smell smoke on you or truck. Cloths well fitting and clean and up to osha standards steel toe shoes year round he catches you without he sends you home and may not invite you back. He won't hire someone who appears to not take care of themselves if they can't take care of themself how can he trust them to take care when he's not looking his hiring process I thought was insane untill I saw the results he had good people good clean business and people were.comfortable with us

Sounds like he spent some time in the military and brought some of that life to his business. Sounds a lot like how i run the show. It is good to know someone is still running a business with employee standards. I usually go through a couple college kids every year. My dad even quit working for me one day. I don't snoop their Facebook or anything. I'll ask them if they have a problem with being critiqued, taking orders and be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Keep a neat appearance, never let the customers see you not doing something. Obviously don't smoke around/in the trucks or customers houses. N

 

[combatcarl]

In Nashville,Tennessee 9.00 an hour is a above average starting pay wages have taken major drop backward in last 12 months you will have highly educated people apply even at 8.00 here. Sad but just how it is now.

Wow. Rough. I didn't mean to sound like a hardass there. Apologies if I did. But seriously, look for vets. I know here, in OR, you will have to start paying a buck over minimum pretty soon, unless you want to churn through lots of McD's quality employees. The outfit I run is just myself, and just a side job, so I don't need to worry about hiring or firing.

 

[Ric]

First thing I do is look at their Facebook page it will tell you what kind of person they are. If they make it passed that I have them come out to a job and talk to them for about 30 mins.
Things that I will not hire them for.
Dressing like a bum ( baggy pants, shoes not tied, shirts or pants with holes )
Walking or standing with hands in pockets.
Throwing cig butts on the ground ( I smoke and put my butts in my pocket)

Must pass a drug test and background

I prefer that they have not done a lot of lawn care that way I can train them my way. First 30 days $9.00 a hour then jump up to $11.00 I pay for shirts and gloves.

Phones stay in the truck
If I see you start a mower and not check the oil you pay me $5.00
If your late or miss a day without calling me your gone. If your late two days in one week your gone.
If after the first 30 days you can not do a yard on your own your gone.

Wow, I wouldn't work for any of you. :confused2: Your requirements are ridiculous to say nothing about being board-line discrimination and don't come close to conforming to most state guidelines.

 

[Mid TN Lawn]

Hire under 30 day probation period, in there hiring packet include page that states we randomly drug test. Ask if they have a family and socially drink, i stay away from drinkers. Employees with family responsibilitys are much more reliable. Ask them if they see themselves doing this kind of work in 5 years. Have them sign a non competion agreement if your state allows. Use your instincts and if they dont work out start over. There are good workers out there that speak enough english to communicate with. I will say pay 1.00 more than most you get better workers i start everyone at 9.00 min

My reason for avoiding drinkers is simple have I had employees who say they don't have a problem but beer cans and whiskey bottles would be hidden on job site. We kept a heavy equip operator for 25 years even though we new he had kept a fifth in his vest everyday he died from it this year. We always worried would be tosha on job site or accident but we got away with him for 25 years. I just do not want that sort of worry anymore. Also just because I start someone at 9.00 does not mean they stay there at one point my lowest paid employee was 14.65.
The equipment operator whom died this year was paid 1000. Week salary for last ten years. He was also helped with heavy equip maintenence.

 

[Lawnboy18]

I try to hire students. They are ready to work and don't need a huge wage. I make sure this student is a hard working one and that he is ready to work hard and won't cry and complain.

I also check his Facebook page. If I see that he is a party boy well he is out.

The test? Make him mow my overly grown newly layed sod in my backyard. If he can mow that and trim around he is good to me. I tend to see when one is good or not for mowing. Some just have that touch to trim like a pro or do straight lines. Some are just no good and go back home.

As for clothing, well I am not too picky. Myself I wear old cloth. But, most of the time we both wear green shirts and have steel toe. I tend to go fast with my mowers and I don't want to chop off some toes and remove them from the bagger to get them stiched back up. What is the point to dress well and mess up my nice cloth? All tho, next year I am looking for some company shirts I can get done for not too much.

I know my worker is good. He is always on time and waits for me outside in his entrance. He hops in the truck and mows all day with me without crying. He is never drunk.

For that drug thing... I think a lot of people on the forum might of allready smoke a joint once in a while or get drunk one night. So what? As long that he does not bring good ole Jack for mowing or a bag of Marie Jane, it is fine with me. If he was a drug addict or alcoholic he would surely not work with me.

 

[combatcarl]

All decent points. Whatever works for ya. I drink. How much, and how often, is my business. Ask me, and if you're a prospective employer, I'll say no. I spent 2 1/2 out of almost 5 years playing the drink like a fish and show up for work sober game. Most kids out there can't do that, you are correct there. I don't get the Facebook checking, though. I know why you think it gives insight into someone's work ethic, but most times, it won't. I'm a little old school, I guess. Show up, work your butt off and appear neat on the clock, and I don't really care about your personal life.

 

[X-man]

A lot of you guys sound pretty strict. I probably wouldn't work for over half of you. As far as dressing goes just make sure you dress like a normal person does and not wear pants full of holes and also don't wear anything that's offensive. Drug and alcohol wise, one of my workers smokes pot about twice a week but he doesn't screw around. He come to work when I need him and he does the job right. And nothing is wrong with someone who drinks. As long as they come to work sober and they do the job right, there should be no reason to not have him work. If you're really concerned about cigarette smoking then have them smoke e-cigs. They're cheaper and they don't leave a bad smell.

Just because someone drinks/smokes, it doesn't always mean that they're nothing but trash.

 

[X-man]

And another thing, I personally think that the whole "checking his/her facebook" thing is kinda stalkerish. I don't give a flying f*** what they do away from work, as long as it ain't illegal.

 

[X-man]

If I see you start a mower and not check the oil you pay me $5.00...

I check my oil every other day. I highly doubt that one day it's gonna be full of oil, then the next day it's dry as hell (unless theres a pool of oil sitting on my shed floor).

 

[Carscw]

By looking at their Facebook you can see if their life is full of drama. People who have a lot of drama in their life always has some reason they can't work today. They have to do this or something came up always some bull ****.
Smoking pot puts me at risk and can cost me money. What if they are driving my truck and someone pulls out in front of them and he hits them and they die. They find pot in his blood. I am screwed.