Helper Not Wanting to Work in Bad Weather

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
I have someone who will help with some jobs doing ground work.

He's more so doing it by choice offering to help so I have to be flexible with him.

However lately I've been getting frustrated because whenever I call him to discuss his availability for the week and what jobs I may need help with he starts going on about the weather, and whether it looks good or looks like it may rain, etc. I called him today to find out his availability for this week and the first thing out of his mouth was tomorrow looks like bad weather and a miserable day, and I finally went off on it. First off tomorrow is looking windy but also sunny, and he was describing it as being miserable weather.

So I said to him point blank this is my business and I make the decisions. When I call I'm calling to find out what he's available for not what the weather is. And I told him this job is not always going to be under the best most comfortable circumstances. For the most part we don't work in the rain a lot but there are some jobs we may work in bad weather, it's the nature of the business. Then he starts questioning me well how am I going to climb in bad weather, etc. and I'm getting pissed because that isn't his concern. He's there to drag brush and do cleanup, all he needs to be concerned with is his availability. Let me worry about the rest.

I've got NO problem whatsoever if he wants to not work in bad weather, because like I said he's helping me out he didn't actually ask for a job so I do give him flexibility but I've started feeling like he is trying to control how I schedule my work, etc. and that is where I draw the line because this is MY business. I will check the weather and determine what's what, all he needs to do is tell me what he's available for but instead I feel like he's trying to interfere with my decision making process because of how he feels about working in bad weather.

It seems like every time I call him he always brings up the fucking weather, trying to analyze it and wondering if we should just not work and I try telling him that is MY decision. We can always plan a job and then call it in the morning if the weather is too bad but he doesn't want to have to get up early just to find out we aren't working.

We did a job last week in the rain, and it went great. I suggested to him that if we find ourselves in a situation like this again he should bring extra clothes to change if he get's too wet and he made the comment that if he has to do that he assumes we shouldn't be working and I'm like WTF? That's not your decision to make!

Time to find a new helper or what you think? The guy is a hard worker and I like working with him, but this is something that has been slowly building up over time and is starting to really frustrate me.

When I told him that it isn't supposed to rain tomorrow his response was that he would have to go check the weather. So told him do what you have to do I'm all set, thanks and hung up. I don't got time for that bullshit.
 
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It sounds to me like it’s time to start looking for a new helper. I had one a few years back who once told me during a surprise deluge “Malik don’t work in the rain” and then walked off the job. I told him “Thats fine, then Malik don’t work here.” We don’t work in the rain any more than necessary, but sometimes it happens. It’s just one of the hazards of working outside.
 
Reach said:
It sounds to me like it’s time to start looking for a new helper. I had one a few years back who once told me during a surprise deluge “Malik don’t work in the rain” and then walked off the job. I told him “Thats fine, then Malik don’t work here.” We don’t work in the rain any more than necessary, but sometimes it happens. It’s just one of the hazards of working outside.
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Exactly it’s not a regular thing but it might happen.

But it’s like the guy wants me to call a job off based only on what he sees on the weather before even waking up in the morning to see how the weather ACTUALLY is because he doesn’t want to have to get up early for nothing. And I get it, but at the same time there’s been plenty of days I called it and it ended up being a good day to work.

The more important thing here is it’s my business, and I’m starting to feel he’s over stepping his bounds. These are concerns I should be dealing with as the owner.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
Exactly it’s not a regular thing but it might happen.

But it’s like the guy wants me to call a job off based only on what he sees on the weather before even waking up in the morning to see how the weather ACTUALLY is because he doesn’t want to have to get up early for nothing. And I get it, but at the same time there’s been plenty of days I called it and it ended up being a good day to work.

The more important thing here is it’s my business, and I’m starting to feel he’s over stepping his bounds. These are concerns I should be dealing with as the owner.
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Yes, I agree with you, you are the owner, therefore it’s your call. Your employee(s) need to respect that, and respect your authority as the owner and employer, otherwise it’s not really your company.

I will occasionally ask for opinions on a questionable day, but ultimately it’s my call. The weather here is so unpredictable, we will not call off the day before unless it’s a full blown monsoon coming, which means we make a lot of calls at 6 AM, but that’s life in the tree industry. I tell all new hires that, and tell them if they can’t live with it, they should consider a different career.
 
If the guy is occasional, whether it be by his choice or yours, I think you gotta be a little more patient. It’s your business but it seems like the status quo has been for him to pick his schedule and when he wants to work. I work in shit weather, I don’t take rain days. but I get it if it’s an occasional help. Most people don’t have the mentality to do it. If you want someone that will I think it’ll make a huge difference if a) you have this person full time and b) encourage working in this type of weather (have a good attitude as the leader when things get more difficult and provide good PPE for rain)
 
Doesn't sound like its an employee and your already asking him when he's available, if he chooses not to be available on rain days then he's not available. You've given him that choice.

If your wanting someone to show up for 40hrs/week regardless of weather, I'd suggest a full time employee.
 
I don’t mind if he doesn’t want to work in the rain it’s the way he was going about it. Just tell me you don’t want to work in bad weather, done. Don’t make it a big ordeal.

He is just a helper not a full time employee which is why I do my best to work with him and be flexible. But this just kind of pushed me over.

I’m not really looking for a full time employee anyways at the moment. It’s been working real well minus this little issue
 
You have to look for other help, don’t be held hostage to your employees. Do accept their input, but don’t allow them to make the call. If it’s real shitty out and the job can be done safely sometime I will let the employees vote on it. I remember what it was like to scrape by, have personal obligations just to have the boss man call it and make me do a makeup day on a scheduled day off.

Don’t shut the door on any help though, just talk to them, let them know that you expect them to work in all weather conditions. If they cannot meet this, let them know that you have to get someone else. Perhaps keep them on payroll as a temp, for sick days or jobs you could use another set of hands on. There is no wrong way, as long as it’s defined. Think of it as simple DOS computer programming “if/then” commands.
 
My partner likes to take off a few days after a big rain to let the ground dry. I try to leave a few jobs open that we can do no matter how much it has rained. If I run out of dry jobs I'll work on equipment. If your guy can pass a drug test, shows up sober, isn't always asking to borrow money, isn't tearing up equipment or backing over every saw you own and possibly has a drivers license then he might be worth another chance. Tell him how you feel and that you appreciate all of his good assets. And to go spend $20 on a rainsuit.
 
I talked to him and we worked things out.

Part of the arrangement is I do need to be flexible with certain things he isn’t comfortable doing because he is retired and is doing this to help me voluntarily.

Communication is key! Sometimes one person can interpret something one way and someone else meant something else. So talk it out.
 
It sounds like you are emotional about a communication pattern. I would suggest taking a deep breathe and having an open conversation about the communication pattern itself.

First, maybe just ask about why he’s talking about the weather. Is he trying to be helpful? Trying to figure out for himself if he wants to work and talking out loud? You can guess, but you won’t know until you ask.

Once you are clear what he is intending, you can approach a conversation to shift the pattern of communication. If it’s to inform you, for example, you can just politely ask him to stop. If it’s about himself, let him know you would rather not be a sounding board for that and to give you a call when he knows if he’s available.

I have given some examples to try and make it clear the process that might clean up the communication. Not because I think I know what’s going on.

On the other hand maybe you are just here to vent. That’d be fine to. Having employees of any stripe is hard.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
I talked to him and we worked things out.

Part of the arrangement is I do need to be flexible with certain things he isn’t comfortable doing because he is retired and is doing this to help me voluntarily.

Communication is key! Sometimes one person can interpret something one way and someone else meant something else. So talk it out.
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Group hug!
 
Reach said:
You mean it quits raining in the summer? I didn’t think you all ever had a dry day!
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Shhh don’t tell anybody but that is the bennies of the island’s rain shadow. We only get 1-2” from late June/julyish till mid September.
 
Get several helpers, or a part-time employee, who gets training and gear.

Under prepared employees are too expensive...I try to keep extra water, non-perishable and a little fresh food in the truck, extra work pants, shirt, rain gear, ppe, etc.

A loaf of bread and PB and J, is way cheaper than a hungry employee.

A mini is way cheaper than employees.

Self-lowering skills, pay bills.
 
Sounds like hes not your employee, just someone who helps you. There is a huge distinction between the two. Might be time you hire and employee instead of a helper and on jobs that are large enough, with good weather, you can bring on your helper to help your employee. Other option is to have a second helper to spread the work. Maybe your helper wants more incentive to work in crappy weather or he might have old injuries that doesnt make it worth it for him. If you figure that out you might have a better outcome.
 
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