Employee tracking ?

[Out of Character - 0]

What do you prefer for tracking your chimps?

We started with the cell phones, they worked good but they seemed to get turned off or forgotten sometimes. Switched to the unit in the van. I liked it better but now I'm seeing that where the van is doesn't tell me if both crew members are on board.

I'm ready for a video system on the van. Or a implant.

Who's got the best system?

I don't want to hear about the honor system.

 

[Guest]

Hire a manager to run your company for you would do more wonders for yourself.



Chad

 

[Jeremy]

Why not only hire people you can trust?

 

[Jimmy L]

Insert a anal GPS probe with a shocking remote capability.

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Walrus is on track, But I also love chad's idea. I just need to kick out a extra 100k a year. If I pay less than that they ain't gonna work for me long. The anal probes are cheaper.

I do hire people I trust, I trust them to be human. 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 watch my people alot, I've had at least 70 people work for me and have only found 1 who was completely honorable, some are good, most are ok, some just suck, and some are intelligent crooked little bastards.

 

[Ken Snow]

Pay them commission and then don't worry about it. And PLEASE stop calling the people who are our most valuable asset chimps! If they bare chimps wtf are you!

Ken

 

[GRHeacock]

What makes you think you are a good boss?

If you have so much turnover with employees, and can't trust them, probably it is your fault, not theirs.

Only a dissatisfied employee would create problems for the employer.

How would you like to work for you?

I bet you wouldn't.

Gary

 

[Steve Toburen]

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.

 

[Ken Snow]

As usual Steve said it much better than I did. I let my emotions and distaste for calling employees chimps get the best of me. Of course good fences are critical and having spot checks, calling back "jobs that cancel" checking up on cash jobs and also acting quickly when there is a problem are a must.

We have a zero tolerance for stealing and on the rare occasion we catch someone stealing they are given 2 choices: admit it in writing and pay us back or; we bring in the police. Either way they terminated immediately. We have one right now that is being prosecuted and the guy actually had the gall to file a work comp claim and he is on his 3rd appeal trying to collect unemployment. we are fighting all to the end.

Ken

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Gary,

Almost all people of all ages will try to get away with what they feel they can, look around it's human nature.

Your assumption is dead wrong. 70 people is for many positions over 4 years. I have 13 full time janitors, 3 full time carpet cleaners, 1 floor guy, 1 maintenance guy, and 1-3 part timers (they come and go). All of our employee's continually talk of how they love working for us. We pay higher than average, allow for personal time off even with lame excuses when it's not in the companies best interest. I've only had 1 employee I had to yell at. Everything is fine until we catch them taking advantage of us in some way or another without permission. Once confronted even done with a smile, a joke and a laugh, they usually don't handle it well. I could go on forever about how much crap I tolerate to be a good boss.

I've never had a boss that was as understanding, considerate, fair, and cool headed as I. I feel I continually pay the price for it, and only see marginal return. I've got friends here with a much higher turn over rate than I do.

I live in a transient town where every corner has multiple opportunities to loose your money. The gambling in this town has such a huge effect on people's lives. It's sad to see poor people with no money lose everything they have chasing a win. It's addicting and most don't have the control to stop themselves. I continually see people who are a couple dollars short of paying their rent blow the whole thing trying to win enough to make their bills. 98% of people in las vegas gamble, the average gambler risks $85 per day. 90% of the people here smoke, 97% drink, 75% are in a shitty mood cause they just lost money gambling, everyone is check to check, they cash them in the casino's and loose while their there. For a place with a fast growth rate, lots of activity, and huge money flowing all over, it's the saddest place I've seen. Myself, my partner, and nearly everyone I've met here has had or currently has a gambling problem. I have two employee's losing their homes this week. That's why they can't build enough billion dollar casinos fast enough.

 

[Steve Toburen]

I've always instinctively hated Las Vegas. Now I know why!

Here I always thought it was the traffic and the heat.

Steve

PS Jess, have you thought about MOVING????

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Yes! I want to move, but have to much invested here. After we automate our business I'm looking to go to Pheonix and start another co there.

 

[steve r]

j2 i hate to say it but ive read other posts of yours about the negativity towards people in general. i worked for two CDsin my early twentys and when asked i would not clean a room for a tip.i got 20 % for add ons and sold them well, however the owner lied to me repeatedly about getting me a helper and tried to take advantage of my good nature. needless to say i quit went to work for another one working for comm. only. he just started up and i did sales calls to commercial jobs and delivered fliers at no charge while he played golf and when i got things running for him he sold it to his friend without ever telling me.yes it pissed me off and i eventually went into manufacturing which really sucks but it was steady income since i had a wife and kids at that point. i guess what im saying is it goes both ways. just send them to a friends house and pay for the cleaning and have them ask to clean a room for a tip then youll know who you can trust.pesonally i wouldnt fire a good employee for one mistake.if he is caught he may never do it again.see what led him too it you may also learn a thing or two. about yourself. its hard to take critisism from others but after the shock wears off you might understand a little more about how to treat people and to get the most from others and yourself in a productive way.

sorry i hate to ramble but ive been treated very unfairly because others dont get me. i like to help people and always work very hard to be the best i can but when im wronged i dont take it out on everyone else.

damn adhd got me again. lol

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Sorry in advance for the long post. This wasn't as fun as cleaning T&A

You know Steve I'm not negative toward others, I have a negative opinion of people in general. There are a lot of great people out there, and I really enjoy helping people. Unfortunately many people are not deserving of help. There are a lot of people out there that are users and couldn't care less for others but they are smart enough to always say the right thing, and present themselves as respectable individuals. Their true nature just becomes more apparent as time goes on. I've very rarely had to fire someone, most quit or disappear after they make a mistake and get called on it. As I said I've only yelled at 1 employee, he's the one I just fired after I've allowed him to tear down my business for the last year. He worked for me 4 years and was my first employee. He's a truly nice guy with alot of problems. I've been disgusted with myself for the past year for continuing to deal with him. I had one of my best quit after 1 great year, they finished a job 2 hours ahead of schedule. Him and his helper drove around town for 3.5 hours cruising, they were 1 hour late to their next job. 3.5 hrs of their labor was $130 plus fuel. They turned of their cell phone before leaving the last job. I had gps on the van and didn't know yet. The next day I asked why they were a hour late and what happened. I got a bs excuse and let it go. They both turned in their time for the cruz, and I paid them. 1 week later a similar thing happened. I asked the lead after the last job to sit down and talk. We met at starbucks I bought him a coffee, gave him a raise, gave him praise for other stuff he was doing well. I then told him we have gps on the van and he needs to be careful because that doesn't work. He got really mad and defensive even though I was being really nice about it and said nothing negative. We left off ok and he worked two more weeks for us. Then one day he drove across town 45min to his house for 15 min without asking. I called him while he was there and asked what was up. He said he forgot his wallet at home and had to stop by. I asked why he did that without asking when they were late to the next job and he said we obviously don't trust him and he can't work for us. He quit right then and his helper finished the day on his own.

This is one of hundreds of examples of this type of behavior I could give.
Someday I'll learn how to treat people, until then I'll continue to be nice. I'm here for them anyway why shouldn't they walk all over me if they need to. :idea:

 

[Jimmy L]

Do like the grocery stores here and hire the mentally challenged.
It might take twice as many of them to do a job but they show up for work.And they aren't smart enough to take on side jobs or steal from you.

carefree sounds like he would make a good employee for you too.

 

[Out of Character - 0]

I have openings available , It's a black unmarked van we had just got. Just has nice rims, custom grill, red stripe, and a loud tm. Never met another carpet cleaner at that point. Still never had a problem with any who even know what co I'm from. But I'm sure your right anyway, I'm a dick.

Wait till the salvation army takes up carpet cleaning, they already do janitorial. They only charge $5hr and the handie's do good work.

 

[steve r]

j2 i dont know you and it does sound like youve had your troubles with people for whatever reason i cant say but i see a lot of negativity in your posts.ive been dumped on a lot in my life some of it dservingly some not but either way i try to stay positive. i would hate the thought of going through life with that much pessimism.maybe you should look into being a monk, silence is golden.
i hope i never have to work for anyone but my custys again koko but it could happen i guess.

dont worry, be happy!

give me a call if you like jesse i like to talk,anyone for that matter
2693627515

 

[harryhides]

It's really simple guys, - SITE VISITS on an irregular but habitual basis.

I am often out doing estimates or inspections or something and don't have to go far out of my way to show up to visit with both the techs and the customers and find out for myself just how my Company is being represented.

 

[Out of Character - 0]

That's when you either say OMG!!, or thanks buddy.

 

[steve r]

j2 your first employee lasted four years youjust fired him but he tore down your buis. sound like he helped build it. be careful you trcking them but you said nothing negative? is it just me or am i reading to much into this?

 

[Steve Toburen]

Tony pulled the pertinent point out of my original post. (He is pretty smart for a middle-aged curmudgeon.)

Increase employee ACCOUNTABILITY through random, "just stopping by" visits. Since sadly the typical "amoral" employee doesn't have much of a conscience then you must provide one for him by never knowing when you (or a member of management) might just "stop by" to say hi.

The problem is what we will call in SFS on May 14-18 in Portland,OR (a little "subliminal advertising" here!) "building the Little Kingdoms". Your people are out there basically without control and answering to no one. We even encourage this "entrepreneurial anarchy" by telling them to run their truck as their "own business". So they do ... side work and all.

Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success

PS Winston Churchill gave the best definition I have ever heard of the word "conscience". Winnie said, "A man's conscience is that little voice inside him that continually whispers, 'Someone is watching'." Sadly, for too many employees, that "someone" has to be the boss instead of them being accountable to themselves and their belief in a Higher Power. (I'm trying to be politically correct here.)

PPS I don't know Jess personally so I honestly don't have a horse in this race. As far as I know he may be an ogre with his people. But J2's experiences with employees hasn't been too far off from what I encountered. So lets cut him a little slack. What do ya guys say?

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Steve R.,

No offense, but to give a verbatim record of my conversations with that tech and to fully explain the 4 year history of another would require pages of crap for the other less interested people here sift though . You don't have to take my word that I'm not a crazy, abusive, lay back, moron, egotistical, a-hole of a boss. In your eyes I just may be, sounds pretty cool to me. I could fire people out on their heads while smoking a cigar and counting money. I also see lot of hot ladies there, you know there's a hot tub in my office. :mrgreen:

The guy I told about tracking was asked to meet me at starbucks by our warehouse. I bought him a coffee, gave him a raise, asked what we could do to improve things, asked how he liked his helper, told him he did a great job on a nasty call center (6k sqft of filth), and as nicley as I could at the end of the conversation told him he needs to quit turning off his cell phone when he's going to F off. He was aware that the phone had gps tracking in it, thats why he turned it off. I told him that we recently installed a different gps unit in the van and he needs to ask if he needs time off to run a errand or something. He told me he always does. While smiling and being calm through the whole conversation I told him I knew about the 3.5hr tour de vegas last week and said we can't afford to pay you guys to cruise around. I told him that the the 2 of them cost us $130 plus fuel and they were late to the next job by a hour. There is no way to explain a negative situation to the guy without being negative, but I went out of my way to make it as positive, ok, and in the past, and gave him a raise so he would not fear losing his job. What I meant that I'm not the guy you told me I may be. Sorry about your past experience with you previous boss, I've had some great jobs as well.

The other guy is a truely nice guy who means no harm to anyone except himself. I hired him when he was fired by the company I worked for at the time I was leaving to start my co. He was a absolute moron and deserved to be fired but I thought I could have him do maintenance work and little things for me until he got a job. He never got a job because he never tried, his unemployment (I paid him cash) ran out and he was desperate for work. I told him that I'll do what I can but that because he is a moron I'll have limited work for him. After awhile we started getting real busy and decided to have him do more. I moved him from maintenance to floors, to janitor at 1 building, to painting, to street sweeping, to carpet, to the guy who fills chemical jugs and cleans equipment at night. Through every position he went through he lost accounts, pissed off the other employees to where no one would work with him, lost lots of equipment, broke many things and just caused every problem a 50 year old guy with a 85 IQ and a bad drug and gambling habbit could cause. I still like him, were still friends because he wont leave me alone ( he invited me to Aerosmith last night). I just got disgusted with myself for continuing to stress myself out with the daily problems he caused. I fired him because for the last three weeks since he sold his car for $600 after he gambled his rent, he has taken a van home everyday and kept it on his days off. I've yelled at him every day about returning it at the end of his shift he still takes a van. 2 days out of three weeks he left without 1. He says he can't get to work unless he has the van because the bus takes a hour, I'm just being difficult because all I have to do is say I need that one and he'll come get another. The other day I had no vans and had to use my Lincoln like a truck. I spilled paint in the trunk and f'd up my back seat. He worked 1 hour that day and left early with a van. FIRED. My company would be twice as big by now if I wasn't a moron for dealing with that guy.

My fingers are tired and I didn't want to go that far.

 

[steve r]

its cool i didnt read it all. like i said give me a holler. i dont mean to pick on ya i get sucked in too.

 

[GRHeacock]

Jess- I publicly apologize for my remarks above.

I worked as an employee for some 20 years, and for some employers who were "difficult" towards employees.

I stayed only 2 or 3 weeks for several.

One- the best, I stayed for 5 years.

Your further posts suggest to me I was out of line.

You do sound like a good guy, doing your best.

Again, my apologies.

Gary

 

[steve r]

jess i went back and read your last post and yes you gave him every break possible it sounds like.it also sounds like you might be to nice i really dont know ive never had employees so im the last guy to be judging you.thats why i think im going to stay an o/o i dont need the headaches.

good luck though

 

[Out of Character - 0]

I do have some people that are great, right now and so far at least. I was a great employee for 90% of each of my past jobs. After you lose interest it's easier to do go further and further from boss's angel. I've lost interest in jobs for lots of different reasons, and taken advantage of the company. In some cases they didn't cause it, nor could they have changed it. I have a lot of fun with my company. I expect to be smacked in the face with the unexpected, and employee's will always amaze me. Business is a risk and I have lost and won. If you do it right you can have a good business with any number of employees. But please hire help, when you can afford it. I waited longer than I should have and lost some good opportunities. Thanks for the apologies.

 

[minuteman]

J2, I have to agree with a few "chimps" is a bad choice of word to use to decribe anyone that represents your company and you!
As for the rest I complety agree with you.

Start going to "Church" to find prosective employes,...Mormuns, Catholics, or what ever, and change the people you find with the one's you wish to get rid of, and do not be afraid to ask the "Prist" "for his imput" and replace as you feel fit.

You have hour metters and millage metters on each truck - start a log in - out,... you name it, "keep a constant track" . You will soon see a better working inviroment.

Remember each "PERSON REPRESENTS YOU AND YOUR COMPANY"!

Greg

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Am I really the only one here with tracking gps on their trucks? That really surprises me