employees sidework

A

acushman

Location
tampa, fl
one of my climbers takes on some side work on the weekend.
how he spends his own time is his business. being a hard worker myself, i can respect that kind of drive.
but, he has recently asked me to use my chipper and boom for a side gig.
i had to say no to him due to liability reasons and the fact without my gear i don't work. meaning if he were to break it.
also, he did not like the fact that i wanted a fee if i did let him use it. fuel costs and such. i explained to him that i would be hired as a sub contracter for clean up only.
the long and short of it is, he hasn't been to work in a week since our little deal breaker.
do any of you feel i was being too dificult of just paranoid?
is there a better way to handle this?
 
Not paranoid....sounds like you are a realist to me...stuff costs money.

Some folks break stuff or it just happens to break while they have it...but, then, they may not want to pay to have it fixed. It could be hard to tell if it was negligence on their part or if it was just normal wear and tear.

Your equipment is a major part of your job...most folks won't take as good care of your stuff as you do.
 
It sounds like a fair offer to pay a 'little' fee for use that equipment. Our guys can use equipment free for OWN/PERSONAL use and maybe incidental for a neighbour or family. For use some more frequently they have to pay regular hourly fee that the stuff is listed for. But we have to know what and where they will do the job in advantage as i dont allow them to hack around with equipment with the company name on it. We check them to at there 'private' work to be sure no strange sh!t happens to them and our equipment. We had some guys doing more they told they would do and some braking stuff and not telling. No more use off the equipment for them.
 
personally i wouldnt loan out my kit. i dont see why other people should profit from my investments.....maybe its because ive worked at a company in the past and watched the staff borrowing kit left right and centre. you'll be hard pushed to find someone who will look after your kit the way you want it looked after and at the end of the day they wont respect you any more for lending them it....maybe even the opposite, view you as a push over.
 
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It sounds like a fair offer to pay a 'little' fee for use that equipment. Our guys can use equipment free for OWN/PERSONAL use and maybe incidental for a neighbour or family. For use some more frequently they have to pay regular hourly fee that the stuff is listed for. But we have to know what and where they will do the job in advantage as i dont allow them to hack around with equipment with the company name on it. We check them to at there 'private' work to be sure no strange sh!t happens to them and our equipment. We had some guys doing more they told they would do and some braking stuff and not telling. No more use off the equipment for them.

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Well said. /forum/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif

I bet the climber is not working for free, and I wont lend my tools/gear out either.

For example, if you wanted to "borrow" my loader/grinder then I'd be coming with it ... paid. The truck, well no big deal, but if you bend it you mend it.

What if you lent your ropes,saws etc and the bugger didn't come in to work the next day?

This is a very difficult area, some people will get pissed off if you say no or charge etc ... I would say in your instance he has got pissed off.

But, in another thread here on Finding Employees

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.p...=true#Post45869

I wrote about these sorts of things. The sabatuer, usually the climber, trys to screw you by not showing up or dictating their terms and conditions.

If you cant have upfront open honest adult communication then WTF have you got? Who knows, but trust gets broken down, suspiscion rises, assumptions are made and there goes the working relationship ... sheesh.
 
In your bus. you rely on the equipment to function properly. I know you trust him you also have that what if thing banging in the back of your head. you handled it alright, if he can not accept the fee then I do not know what to say. In this area some of the smaller guys are highering prices do to feul costs. Good call on your part, after renting the eqipment he will see that the fee was the best way to go.
 
You were right on track in my opinion. There is a conflict of interest when an employee wants to work for you and yet, as a competitor. Sounds like he may need to venture out on his own.
 
Might depend on the situation.
Maybe it was for a relative or close friend and he wasn't charging the person but he should still compensate you for using the machine.
 
I agree 100%. If he wants to make the money on a side job he needs to learn the responsibility of the costs involved. He already has some training I would suspect on your dime, paying a nominal fee for equipment is only fair.
 
Not only could the Equipment be a major loss and yeah it does cost you money and wear and tear but its also competition. If someone sees you trucks or equipment out there with your name on it and say he is being a fool or doesnt trim to your standards that could be customers down the drain for you. BUSINESS IS BUSINESS.

Although, after I worked for a company for several years I did some of my clients jobs with my employers equpiment and split the money with the boss after cost.or I would sell him the job for 10% and get to work it. but being a business owner my self I would say you werent hard at all like I said "business is business"
 
I keep my side gigs in the realm of the equipment I own. If anything I'll hire a company to come by and chip my brush. You made the right call and your employee will one day realize it.
 
I've done side jobs under every employer I've ever had. I never begged for gear, equipment, or time. I kept my time to myself. As well I never solicited work while on duty. I can look anyone of those guys in the eye and say I never rooked them. Now I'm an owner, and I encourage side jobs, as long as they keep it ethical and legit. Good for them, more money, less time partying on the week end, therefore more money.....and good for me. They become more productive. Guaranteed they will work harder on Saturdays, but it will have in impact on their speed in their daily thought process.
 
so mangoes are you saying i messed up and should have let him use my gear?
i don't have any problem with side work. i have a problem with my gear and my name being asociated with it.
as for it maybe being for a family member, that would be a different story.
 
I always sold potential side jobs for a commission as I didn't have the set up to properly handle the work, i.e., liability insurance, gear, Worker's comp, etc.... When I'm in that situation i would "hire" my employer and factor that cost into the price. Even if I was doing the job for no cost for family or friends. That cost would have to be passed on to them. I think they would appreciate that as they would be saving large as it is.

You did right in principle but it may have been your execution that went wrong. I would think that it should be discussed up front in the terms of employment. This way it's not an issue. Stating that side jobs are allowed and equipment required from the company will be charged out at standard daily rates.
 
If my guy's get side work then they can either a. borrow safety equipment only (i want them at work on monday in one piece) or b. I will go help them and they pay me the normal day rate.
I will not lend them vehicles saws rigging kit etc. If the job requires this then they either source there own or pay me.
I agree with your decision and after working for companies who were less than helpfull in the past i believe that any stance is correct, as long as your staff are aware of where they stand.
 
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