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Am I Working My Guys Too Hard???


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#1 Ken styles

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 06:16 AM

When I was running this business by myself, (just last year), I would work back to back 12+ hour days with 1 or 2 hours off during the day for breaks and lunch.

I usually have my 2 guys work on Saturday from 9am until about 10pm with a 2-3 hour break in the middle.
I buy them them breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Sometimes they go with a 3rd person, ( a female), who handles the small stuff like cords, blowers and concessions machines, as well as greeting the customer.

On Sunday, it was going to be a lighter day but still busy with picking up units that were dropped off on Saturday.

My driver called me up early in the morning and said he was sore and asked if I could drive today because he was tired.

Ok, no problem...I went out with them and helped with the rolling and loading. Also got good feedback from customers while we were picking up.

Should I have more men doing shifts? Instead of 2 guys doing 2 long days maybe have 2 teams? A morning team doing drop off's and an evening team doing pick ups?

I just feel that it's better for the guys that dropped off a unit pick up the same unit because they know how they laid everything out and won't forget anything.

I need more workers and another truck

#2 ACP

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 06:26 AM

Naw...just tell em to grow a pair =) lol Seriously though, 2-3hr break is good during the day. We run that every weekend with no problems...it takes a while to get used to it though, it IS alot of work!

#3 Bountiful

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 06:51 AM

If they want money they will ask for more hours. If not, get more guys. Buying them three meals is very generous, but not necessary.

#4 JJ Jumpers

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 09:09 AM

heck no we spend about 75% time just driving and making 7-11 stops .

tell them to shape up or ship out!

#5 The Starz

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 09:56 AM

Kick them in the ball$ and tell them to suck it up. I think im too nice to my people also and couple people took advantage of it and wrecked me being mister nice guy now.
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#6 monkeybouncehouse

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 10:00 AM

That's the way this business is. If you start running a morning and an evening crew one of them will inevitably start complaining about not enough hours

#7 funlight

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 11:20 AM

With staff there is no winning. Keep a long list of potential candidates to replace them and keep going.

#8 the inflatable fun co.

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 11:48 AM

It really depends if your employees are Obama supporters then yes you are working them to hard.
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#9 SuperJump

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 11:55 AM

I agree with funlight, you need to have a long list of candidates in this business and let workers know that list is there should they get out of line. With a 2-3 hour break, paid breakfast, lunch, dinner and the occassional female helper, you are being much more than generous. You can't give too much or staff will get used to it and feel like it is the norm.

#10 B N

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 12:17 PM

I have a drop off crew and a different pick up crew. They all have week day jobs so Im not worried about there hrs.

#11 ACP

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 02:21 PM

Ironic. My warehouse guy called in today sick. The doc said its exhaustion and dehydration. He said its cuz he was non stop from Friday to Monday....sigh...

#12 dbrigs

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 04:22 PM

It's been said a million time that most peoples work ethic is horrible. I have one guy I can always depend on and he works better than any other two guys I've ever had. I pay him very well because I don't want to lose him. He's a carpenter by trade and this job is "easy to him". Don't pay for their meals because they will grow to expect you to buy beer after work, then they'll start pushing for other things like I'm tired will you drive today. If they can't handle there are plenty of people waiting for an opportunity to make some money. Now you may have to go through 10 to find one good one but they are out there.

#13 Castle Party Rentals

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Posted 07 August 2012 - 04:28 PM

You feed them? Wow, I don't even feed my girlfriend, just kidding! But seriously, feeding them 3 meals a day is over generous. Once in a while I'll bring in energy drinks for the guys who gotta come in at like 5 am or work the midnight shift. It's their job to suck up to you, and not the other way around. And if you have a crew of two, then there should be no complaints. We pay our guys to drive around, listen to music, and offer a free workout/gym experience. If anything, you should consider if you are being too nice to your guys.

#14 ACP

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 05:17 AM

Don't feed them or buy them drinks. Providing water at a large event-fine. Otherwise you will spoil them.

Lotso

#15 AHB

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 06:20 AM

Yes, I am working myself too hard!!!

#16 BounceHoppers1

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 08:29 AM

buying each person 3 meals is very generous. I occasionally will buy a hotdog at 7-11 but nothing fancy over here. I tell them to pack plenty of water and a lunch because this truck is a non-stop ride.

#17 natej

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 09:02 AM

You need to get to a point where your employees feel like it's a real job and not just something for extra cash. Set proper expectations and let them know that you are interviewing other people. I interview people every week to continue to upgrade personnel. We use ADP to manage handbook acknowledgement, background checks, and clock in clock out hours. The best thing I ever did was set up a structure for how things work around here. I hated my corporate life and ran things really loose around here for a while until things got too big. Ever since putting into place the proper full time staff and procedures, and spending lots of money, it's gotten a lot better around here and a lot more structured and a lot less work for me.

No job buys their employees all their meals. They are not doing you a favor by working for you. You are employing them, not entertaining them.
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#18 InflatablesPA

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 03:41 AM

I thought my husband was generous with our guys! LOL! We provide water in a mini fridge at our shop at all times and then starting August for the entire month (since it is so hot) we supply a never ending supply of gatorade, that the guys completely demolish, now my husband is supplying snacks from SAMS Club. He picked up 2 cases of chips for them...I thought that was excessive. To each their own.

Our guys vary on what we schedule them. We have roughly 8-10 guys work for us, but I would say 6 keep regular hours on the weekends. We have one real wimpy guy that we know we can only send out 1 day on the weekend, and make it a 1/2 day. It works out for us, because he is a registered inspector so we can send him for inspection setups, and then he is off. Most of our other guys work full from morning to midnight. They really don't complain much about the hours...they complain if they need to go in a part of town that is not as wonderful as they would like...We are constantly hearing things like "Dude, don't book anymore high street. I was afraid I would get jumped". We really don't go in any bad area's so they are just being wimps!

Anyhow good luck!

#19 poposparties

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Posted 13 September 2012 - 02:15 PM

I agree with Nate. We have done it a lot of different ways but have found that the more you structure it like a real job, the more they treat it as such. We have multiple crews run in pairs. Two on Friday three on Saturday and Sunday, two on Monday and one or two on t-th for cleaning, inventory, set ups, etc. We only feed them during training or if we call a meeting. They work until they are finished amd we pay every Thursday, They get a paycheck and the schedule. Two lates or call offs and they are done. One no call, no show and they are done. We give out employee handbooks and do checks. We also provide them with shirts and as much bottled water as they need. We do give perks and bonuses depending on how they do. We have been in business for 16 years and we began by doing all the set ups ourselves. I have not done a set up or tear down in six years. It is nice not having to break my back to do this. I now focus on growing the business. Anyway, that is my two cents for this year!

#20 AHB

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Posted 13 September 2012 - 08:52 PM

I agree with Nate. We have done it a lot of different ways but have found that the more you structure it like a real job, the more they treat it as such. We have multiple crews run in pairs. Two on Friday three on Saturday and Sunday, two on Monday and one or two on t-th for cleaning, inventory, set ups, etc. We only feed them during training or if we call a meeting. They work until they are finished amd we pay every Thursday, They get a paycheck and the schedule. Two lates or call offs and they are done. One no call, no show and they are done. We give out employee handbooks and do checks. We also provide them with shirts and as much bottled water as they need. We do give perks and bonuses depending on how they do. We have been in business for 16 years and we began by doing all the set ups ourselves. I have not done a set up or tear down in six years. It is nice not having to break my back to do this. I now focus on growing the business. Anyway, that is my two cents for this year!


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