Larry hit it squarely, I'd say. I'm only a couple of years old as an owner/operator, but have been the 'boss' in many settings prior to this.
Text messaging drove me crazy, they'd do it most while driving MY vehicles! Laziness and tardiness too
Personally, for my business, I realized it was ultimately my fault for expecting someone to be WHO THEY WERE NOT.
You may be expecting too much from someone who just isnt hard-wired to be who you need them to be.
You can teach them how to mix chemical, push the wand, and fill out the invoice, but one thing we cannot teach is character. (In my opinion)
My favorite line when it comes to help: 'Expectations are nothing more than pre-meditated resentments'...
The other thing Larry said that rang very true, maybe try & find a good man, a good family man, maybe one who's already employed, & see if you can win him over to your company; cut him in on the action. Thats what I did recently and though my payroll cost went up, so did my SALES and peace of mind.
Make your tech leave his cell phone at the shop. Or in his car. Or if he likes his phone that much, and you're the one driving, pay him windshield time while he calls daycares, churches, banquet halls, etc, asking if they are currently taking estimates for carpet cleaning.
Anyone who's ever been frustrated with the help they hire, click and read the link below.
http://www.birdsnest.com/garcia.htm