It is interesting to see how feelinngs and viewpoints change as we ourselves change and evolve in the business. As long as any job is completed safely, then the first goal was met. If the business owner did not make money on the job, however, then there eventually will not be any employees to pay, no matter what method is being used.
I am a firm believer in allowing people to make money. I love what I do, but if I didn't make enough to support my family then I don't know if I would like it as much. My answer to those that are not satisfied with their arrangements of compensation; you may be ready for the next step of management or ownership.
Other owners will probably agree; if there isn't enough money to made on any given job, then the job is better left undone. I do not keep striving to be better to only make less. No way. Keep striving to be your best, and if the compensation doesn't seem fair to you, like I sad above, then accepting more responsibility yourself and getting into ownership is the answer.
I do think that we need to be careful if there is compensation based on a percentage. In sales, this is the way to keep the sales personnel honest and the profit margin where it needs to be. There is a fine line in our business when we are looking at work based on a percentage as to how we are compensated. Obviously, thhe less time a job takes, the better the hourly rate received, the more time left over to finish another job. Very fine line between working more efficiently and working too fast.
Pay attention to where you are in your arboricultural careers; as early stage employees have said, hourly is the best. Try to put yourselves in the boss's shoes or the owner's shoes often enough to see that salary compensation can work too.
Have a safe day, all.
Gopher
