Gary, I THINK I was a pretty good boss. Commended my people, paid them well AND on time, trusted them, gave them bonuses and yet everything Jess mentions above happened to me too!
"Long breaks, running errands, two lunches, gambling, cruising, not following map quest and spending 30 min circling the target, side jobs, and alot of other crap. You'll be amazed what "good" people will do."
I tell every
SFS seminar. PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM... AND YOUR GREATEST JOY. But sadly, the emphasis is on the word "problem".
At the end of the fourth day in
Strategies for Success we cover a brutal and shocking topic called "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors". It is the "dirty little secret" of our industry.
You see, the average employee today is not a rotten, immoral or wicked person. (Even though I can think of some exceptions.) In fact, most people like to think of themselves as basically good. However, people are also experts in rationalizing their actions.
Many people (especially young people entering the work force for the first time), while not evil, may be "amoral", which just means without a strong moral center. If the opportunity presents itself- they may cheat and/or steal from you and your customers while justifying it to themselves. This usually starts out as something small and may even be encouraged by your clients. I am speaking about the pervasive scourge of our industry- the ever present "side work"!
Technology and GPS devices will only go so far. I am working on a Special Report on employee honesty issues. But to cut to the chase:
1. Hire the best. Do background checks. Pay more than they can earn anywhere else in your market doing comparable work.
2. Never make them feel "spied on". Trust your people BUT make them accountable.
3. Perform random, "just stopping by" checks. In other words, set a goal for yourself of "just popping in" without notice on each crew once or twice a week. always check their invoice on the job and note where they are working. People do need to have their feet held to the fire. Do it with dignity but do it.
4. When you encounter a verified case of dishonesty- fire them and do so immediately. Set the example in your company that dishonesty will not be tolerated and make it known publicly and up front.
5. On serious accusations- hire a private detective to investigate.
This entire issue is to me one of the most disheartening and depressing parts of hiring employees. But ignore it at your peril.
My two cents,
Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's
Strategies for Success
PS You know, Jess, I realize it is just an expression and you probably don't mean it. But I gotta agree with Ken Snow. It just makes me squirm when people refer to their employees as "chimps". My workers certainly did have their issues as I mention above. But they were PEOPLE and as such deserved respect and dignity ... even when they let both themselves and me down through their actions.