Burning out

[Bendroctanus]

Honestly, it sounds like you’ve made it a privilege to work for you. Unfortunately, in this day and age, it seems like you have to beg for anyone worth their salt to work for you. And most of the time, they’re at a better position elsewhere, like doing their own thing. I feel you there. Can’t find a good employee to save my life. And looking to bring on an intern, can’t find any one to give me a worker’s comp policy, which is required. Partnerships seem like the way to go. But I’m still open to “a few good men”, if they’re out there. Feeling for ya. Hope it comes together sooner rather than later. Sounds like you’ve got a good place to get good counsel whilst you vent.

Also, back to being a privilege to work for, you ought to market yourself that way. Most “tree services” I feel are crap to work for. The typically scuzzy tree topping service. You’re top tier compared to that. Don’t sell yourself short, to clients or employees. You’re being mighty fair from what I’m hearing.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Oh man what a drag. Are there any colleges in your area that you can reach out to?
Finding the right folks are tough, apprentices are tough, and trying to train greenies are too. They don’t know what they are getting into and the nature of apprentices is a stepping stone to move on.

One issue with starting at a high wage is that it limits advancement opportunities. (Random numbers here) Maybe offer $45 and hour after three years, start at $25 and give raises every 6 months as incentives to stay on. Of course still offer raises after the three year mark but at a more normal rate?

I'm actually working with our college to implement a pre apprenticeship as a stepping stone to an urban Forestry course.
The apprenticeship does that very thing, stable incremented raises with bonuses. Hell I'm paying 20+ an hour in fringe benefits too.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Can you cut back on any cleanup?

Is it a location that will forever be difficult with staffing?


What does this needed person do for you that a machine can't?

Not really, most of my clients are well to do.

I hope it won't be. Hr hasn't been my strong suit. We actually hired a PEO to take over because I suck at it, but it hasn't been implemented yet.

This person needs to hold a rope idk. I mean I can do stuff alone. I'd make more money doing sales for someone else if that's the case though. What's the point in being a glorified one man show?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Honestly, it sounds like you’ve made it a privilege to work for you. Unfortunately, in this day and age, it seems like you have to beg for anyone worth their salt to work for you. And most of the time, they’re at a better position elsewhere, like doing their own thing. I feel you there. Can’t find a good employee to save my life. And looking to bring on an intern, can’t find any one to give me a worker’s comp policy, which is required. Partnerships seem like the way to go. But I’m still open to “a few good men”, if they’re out there. Feeling for ya. Hope it comes together sooner rather than later. Sounds like you’ve got a good place to get good counsel whilst you vent.

Also, back to being a privilege to work for, you ought to market yourself that way. Most “tree services” I feel are crap to work for. The typically scuzzy tree topping service. You’re top tier compared to that. Don’t sell yourself short, to clients or employees. You’re being mighty fair from what I’m hearing.

Thanks bud. We're trying really hard. I want this to be a place folks are taken care of and want to work. Kay is pretty upset, she puts as much into this as I do. She bends over backwards for our people too, so it affects her just as much, if not more so because when I have to do 16 hour days she makes up for it.

Venting is needed yeah. We had our first actual weekend at home for the first time in close to 4 years last week. The kids have been so excited that I got to be home. It's crushing to think of going back to being a slave. Haha.

 

[evo]

Not to sound like an ass, there is a limit to bending for an employee. Healthy boundaries, and what I have found out is it works out better for both in the long run

 

[Bendroctanus]

Not to sound like an ass, there is a limit to bending for an employee. Healthy boundaries, and what I have found out is it works out better for both in the long run

Well said.

Don’t muzzle the ox, but don’t pamper him either. He won’t want to work.

A friend of mine recently explained it to me like this, which I found very helpful: as an employer, you take on all the risk and responsibility of running the business, and therefore gain some freedom in how to run it and compensate yourself. Seems we all know that it is very taxing because of all the business and the governments require from you to do so. An employee is not a slave. Should not be a slave. Rather, an employee outsources most of the risk and the administrative requirements of the job to the employer. I found this helpful because it doesn’t negate the responsibility of either party. We’re all trying to make a living. And I think entitlement and blame casting is working backwards. We’re all equal, but our responsibilities are different. We should respect all positions. I tell ya, I had a lot of respect for my old boss, but I understand him so much better now that I run my own company. I miss working for him a lot.

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

Well said.

Don’t muzzle the ox, but don’t pamper him either. He won’t want to work.

A friend of mine recently explained it to me like this, which I found very helpful: as an employer, you take on all the risk and responsibility of running the business, and therefore gain some freedom in how to run it and compensate yourself. Seems we all know that it is very taxing because of all the business and the governments require from you to do so. An employee is not a slave. Should not be a slave. Rather, an employee outsources most of the risk and the administrative requirements of the job to the employer. I found this helpful because it doesn’t negate the responsibility of either party. We’re all trying to make a living. And I think entitlement and blame casting is working backwards. We’re all equal, but our responsibilities are different. We should respect all positions. I tell ya, I had a lot of respect for my old boss, but I understand him so much better now that I run my own company. I miss working for him a lot.

Ha ha!
My old boss is a constant fixture in my mind.
You start to see his reasoning more and more.

 

[southsoundtree]

Not really, most of my clients are well to do.

I hope it won't be. Hr hasn't been my strong suit. We actually hired a PEO to take over because I suck at it, but it hasn't been implemented yet.

This person needs to hold a rope idk. I mean I can do stuff alone. I'd make more money doing sales for someone else if that's the case though. What's the point in being a glorified one man show?

Different stroke for different folks.

I'm not suggesting you be a glorified one-man show.

A burnt out show is no good.


Are you trying to grow at an organic and sustainable pace?


I'm curious what you are looking for from your employee. Do they work around pruning/ removal/ grinding cleanup 95% of the time?
Do they drive? Prune? Fell? Grind? Bucket op?

I was surprised to hear from one owner that washes his own truck, not the employee.

Some people only use an employee for job site things, I guess.
I use them for basic shop maintenance, as well.






There's an local, solo arborist who has done only ground-based pruning for a very long time with a BC625 and a Tundra. I saw his rig the other day... met him 15 years ago, once. He used to climb. Some injuries and bad experiences worrying for others, something, something.



I do lots of solo work because it pays the bill, continues to expand my client base, it's so super chill, scheduling is easy, and I never spend time or energy changing plans if an employee is unexpectedly unavailable. Lots of stuff is too much to ask another a person to do (important felling,
heavy rigging, machine- feeding the chipper).
I take days off when I feel like it. If I want to take an overnight, weekday rock climbing trip, I do without being concerned about what's happening at work.
4 weeks off this summer for family time.


When I do have good help, I'm happy. I stay away from any problem employees because I never Need them. If they don't want to work safely and predictably, communicate well, and be reliable, they can go down the road. No worries.

I don't want fancy new (finicky, hard to fix) machines, and I can replace anything, if needed, right away with a dealer's machine.




Overall, my best employees were short timers pursueing training or education. My current employee is an engineering student. He doesn't have training or experience but he is smart and can be trained for simpler things.



It's tough to have top of the line equipment and nobody to operate it, while having payments to make.




IME, so much is personal preferences and tailoring to your market in running your business.

Does your market support/ require your service levels? It sounds like it might, if your in with enough of the right people.



Where are you advertising?




What do you have in your knowledge bank about housing for incoming employees? Schools? Other employment opportunities for an employees partner.

Giving out-of-towners some resources might help them explore.

Right this minute, customers of mine have a rental house available that is literally walking distance to work, like 0.5 miles. WorkSource is a WA State employment agency.

We have lots of State and City jobs locally that could match an employees' partner.

We have a community college, state college and private college in town.

 

[96coal449]

I did the ''run a crew'' thing as an owner operator. Same results but with a different trade. This was 30yrs ago. I did roofing solely at the time. 4-5 man crew plus myself. I was banging out sub contracted new construction, plus a few of my own reroof jobs in between. On weekends, I was hammering down on the new roofs solo. Had to keep deadlines met. At the time, I only had a dog and no immediate family to tend to. I was a young workaholic.

Keeping a well oiled crew was, and has always been, the same problem. "I can't come in today, My clothes are in the dryer, my head hurts,'' ...... yada yada yada. Then I also got, "I'm quitting,'' the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I had one good dedicated friend who worked with me the whole way through. Also, the only one with a vehicle and license. We both shared the load of picking everyone up for work. We would meet at a local convenience store where everyone could grab coffee or whatnot. It was a convenient start of the day, and that's where I started the clock. Pay included the ride to the job site. Lunch was a half hour. Since it was a hard line of work, we always took an extra 15 minutes. The extra was also on the clock. The clock stopped when the tailgate of the truck was closed at the end of the work day. No free ride home. But wait.....remember when I said the grass is greener on the other side of the fence? My guys were also paid well besides.

I gave it up after about 18mons. I had had enough. Reduced all down to my dedicated friend and myself. We plugged away like this for another 3yrs or so. During this time, I had gotten introduced into tree work. I prefer that over roofing. My friend did not and eventually followed his own path. With the employee experienced, deeply burned into me, I stayed solo with the tree work, and on occasion knocking out a roof here and there. I worked with one friend the most with his outfit. He was just starting out in trees with myself having a couple more years of experience. I watched him cycle through workers at a regular pace, reminding me of all the headaches attached. He's "retired now'' but still runs his log truck moving wood for different companies.

This led me into the contract climbing. I show up and put shit on the ground for a day rate. Lots of times, I miss the big bucks off having my own outfit. I've got a shit ton of gear, 1-ton dump, and a 33k GVW chip truck. Lacking a good chipper, especially of suitable size for the truck, the CDL, and a mini articulating loader/grapple. But wait, also lacking a good crew which I don't miss so much.

Meanwhile, I climb and ride the ball, watching the owner struggle with broken gear and equipment, and all the other happy horse shit that trails along with it. I try to help by directing the crew to easier outcomes. Just hints and suggestions. The results can be a beaten dead horse. Sometimes, my intervention does help.

I feel as if I'm walking the fence while gripping my climbing line. Some weeks get short on the days worked. I give the one company priority for they sub me the most and, I love that 50ton crane. Time will tell what's ahead in my path. Most times I feel as though I just want that big chipper, and CDL. Sub that, with myself, as a big chipping service to smaller services and landscapers.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Different stroke for different folks.

I'm not suggesting you be a glorified one-man show.

A burnt out show is no good.


Are you trying to grow at an organic and sustainable pace?


I'm curious what you are looking for from your employee. Do they work around pruning/ removal/ grinding cleanup 95% of the time?
Do they drive? Prune? Fell? Grind? Bucket op?

I was surprised to hear from one owner that washes his own truck, not the employee.

Some people only use an employee for job site things, I guess.
I use them for basic shop maintenance, as well.






There's an local, solo arborist who has done only ground-based pruning for a very long time with a BC625 and a Tundra. I saw his rig the other day... met him 15 years ago, once. He used to climb. Some injuries and bad experiences worrying for others, something, something.



I do lots of solo work because it pays the bill, continues to expand my client base, it's so super chill, scheduling is easy, and I never spend time or energy changing plans if an employee is unexpectedly unavailable. Lots of stuff is too much to ask another a person to do (important felling,
heavy rigging, machine- feeding the chipper).
I take days off when I feel like it. If I want to take an overnight, weekday rock climbing trip, I do without being concerned about what's happening at work.
4 weeks off this summer for family time.


When I do have good help, I'm happy. I stay away from any problem employees because I never Need them. If they don't want to work safely and predictably, communicate well, and be reliable, they can go down the road. No worries.

I don't want fancy new (finicky, hard to fix) machines, and I can replace anything, if needed, right away with a dealer's machine.




Overall, my best employees were short timers pursueing training or education. My current employee is an engineering student. He doesn't have training or experience but he is smart and can be trained for simpler things.



It's tough to have top of the line equipment and nobody to operate it, while having payments to make.




IME, so much is personal preferences and tailoring to your market in running your business.

Does your market support/ require your service levels? It sounds like it might, if your in with enough of the right people.



Where are you advertising?




What do you have in your knowledge bank about housing for incoming employees? Schools? Other employment opportunities for an employees partner.

Giving out-of-towners some resources might help them explore.

Right this minute, customers of mine have a rental house available that is literally walking distance to work, like 0.5 miles. WorkSource is a WA State employment agency.

We have lots of State and City jobs locally that could match an employees' partner.

We have a community college, state college and private college in town.

This is hard to reply to on the phone, and every time I get to my computer work happens... Lol.

I'm trying to grow at the pace my market is dictating, which has been a faster pace than I anticipated this year for sure.

I'm looking for someone with individual drive. As it turns out, the kid that quit didn't want to quit. He repealed his resignation. He just doesn't think he can keep up with tree work, so I'm moving him into a support role as a mechanic/driver/operator. He's young and silly. But, it proved and reaffirmed my thinking. I need people who can help with the work, of course. Cleaning, chipping, dragging, operating, climbing, rigging, the works. But bigger picture, if a guy wants to be a mechanic or a manager or an operator, I want to make that happen. I'm hiring mindsets..

Our minimum qualifications are healthy, able to drive, drug free, and motivated.

I know my time climbing and being the work horse is coming to an end. My body won't allow it much longer due to my spine injuries. With our registered apprenticeship in place, it's time to get folks who want to grow and learn. And I plan on franchising, so educate them very well, give them the opportunity to grow, and give them no reason to leave as they can start their own office wherever they like with support. That's the hope.