Do you ever call a job off if you’re not feeling it mentally?

Know your state and municipal laws. Know your insurance policy and ask questions where any doubt exists. Always have a paper trail.
 
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climbingmonkey24 said:
What if you couldn’t get to the job for another week or so? How would you tell the customer that you need to reschedule if it’s because of something you don’t want to actually tell them like a personal matter?

Would you just say you’re sick or something...?
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Depends on the relationship with the customer. Baseline is they only need to know what they need to know. Simplicity and clarity go a long way with customer communications. Take care of/protect yourself first, reschedules happen when they need to happen.
-AJ
 
southsoundtree said:
No. Be honest.

I am not feeling I am able to give, today, to your job what is required for a high quality, predictably safe outcome. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

I am able to prioritize you in rescheduling. What works for you? My best options are _____?
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I think “honesty” (in this thread overall) is being too broadly applied as a test of personal ethics. This is work, this is not “hiding truth” from significant others, cheating at poker, etc etc. For example you don’t tell a 5 year-old that they’re going to die and before that their teeth will all fall out and their own children will abandon them in a nursing home. Overdoing it on the example but you get it.

A professional tree worker needs to be in control of their “professional narrative” as much as is reasonable. You can’t control how any given customer responds to anything you do or say. Protect yourself, tell them what they need to know in relation to your schedule and agreements. There’s really no reason to tell them what they don’t need to know. This is not dishonesty. In the “therapy world” this is called proper boundaries, not dishonesty. In Buddhism it is called “right speech”. It’s the same thing.
-AJ
 
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moss said:
Depends on the relationship with the customer. Baseline is they only need to know what they need to know. Simplicity and clarity go a long way with customer communications. Take care of/protect yourself first, reschedules happen when they need to happen.
-AJ
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So are you saying to tell them that you’re not right mentally to do the job or not?
 
Mick Dempsey said:
So are you saying to tell them that you’re not right mentally to do the job or not?
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I would never ever say that to a customer. That is not their business to know what I’m going through personally. The only exception to the “never ever” rule is if there is personal relationship with a long-term customer and we’ve previously established mutual respect and trust.
-AJ
 
moss said:
I would never ever say that to a customer. That is not their business to know what I’m going through personally. The only exception to the “never ever” rule is if there is personal relationship with a long-term customer and we’ve previously established mutual respect and trust.
-AJ
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So what would you say if they asked why you’re rescheduling?
 
Dan Cobb said:
Does a tree failure occurring after the originally scheduled date which results in damage have any legal implications? I would think not, but that doesn't preclude someone taking you to court.

If they told me they believe failure is imminent and the work must be done now, I'd suggest they find someone else to do the work if I couldn't. Brings to mind the old saying "Bad planning on your part doesn't necessitate an emergency on my part."
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If a tree is in that bad of shape, it's all the more reason to be 100% mentally ready. If your mind is occupied with non work stuff, the greater chance of that unstable tree coming down unintentionally while working on it.
 
Mick Dempsey said:
So what would you say if they asked why you’re rescheduling?
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Depends on the situation, it would be “what they need to know” to effectively, professionally and fairly reschedule the work.

“Something important has come up that I need to attend to. Can we reschedule at your earliest convenience?”

Or… (this would be an extremely rare scenario):

Something important has come up that I have to attend to. I realize that the work today is critical because the tree is unstable. I’ve contacted a trusted tree service that I have a long-standing relationship with and they are expecting your call to continue work today. Here is their contact info”

-AJ
 
Ok, my take.

If it’s non urgent tell a little bullshit to buy you some time.

If it’s urgent and you’re a business owner who’s said they would be there, time to change your life in some way.

You are letting everyone down.
 
Back in the day I had a mildly built Tacoma I’d crash around in the mountains with. One spring I took it to the tire shop to have my bigger knobbies put on, but only specifically if they could get it on the alignment rack first…. I went next door for lunch. 15-20 minutes later they call to tell me my truck was done…. I asked how they did they alignment so quickly? “We’ll we’re sorry, the guy who did your tires, and would’ve aligned it had to go to his parole officers.” I was so fucking pissed, for so many reasons….. that was too much honesty for me, I wish they had just lied/made something up….
 
moss said:
I think “honesty” (in this thread overall) is being too broadly applied as a test of personal ethics. This is work, this is not “hiding truth” from significant others, cheating at poker, etc etc. For example you don’t tell a 5 year-old that they’re going to die and before that their teeth will all fall out and their own children will abandon them in a nursing home. Overdoing it on the example but you get it.

A professional tree worker needs to be in control of their “professional narrative” as much as is reasonable. You can’t control how any given customer responds to anything you do or say. Protect yourself, tell them what they need to know in relation to your schedule and agreements. There’s really no reason to tell them what they don’t need to know. This is not dishonesty. In the “therapy world” this is called proper boundaries, not dishonesty. In Buddhism it is called “right speech”. It’s the same thing.
-AJ
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Best response so far IMO!!
 
Yes, especially if it's a job that requires A game for a majority of the day.
Once got a call from a buddy who had tickets to Game 7, Stanley Cup Finals.

Rescheduled the next day's job real quick to a cream puff job.
Devils won cup vs. Ducks that night, Ken Daneyko's last game.
 
Jehinten said:
If a tree is in that bad of shape, it's all the more reason to be 100% mentally ready. If your mind is occupied with non work stuff, the greater chance of that unstable tree coming down unintentionally while working on it.
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Agree completely. I was considering any possible legal implications of a reschedule, though I doubt any exist.
 
BooRad said:
Yes, especially if it's a job that requires A game for a majority of the day.
Once got a call from a buddy who had tickets to Game 7, Stanley Cup Finals.

Rescheduled the next day's job real quick to a cream puff job.
Devils won cup vs. Ducks that night, Ken Daneyko's last game.
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Priorities yo
 
southsoundtree said:
If they can't accept that, F- 'em.

Look around, trees and customers are everywhere.
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That is my business motto... I don't work for dicks, the pandemic really weeded many of them off the list! 'SemiautoTom' didn't appreciate me not lying that his fruit trees weren't agriculture or emergency work, fired me from a $500 contract that should have closer to $800 if not more... He once said he's never seen production like that, and I doubt he will again.
 
If you have the option to defer to another employee you can do that too.

I showed up to work one day with a ridiculous weed hangover from one too many edibles the night before. I was the lead climber, but my groundie was a competent enough climber and that day's job was big, but not overly technical. Walked up to him at the shop in the morning and told him it was his lucky day....I'd be the brush bitch.
 
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