Tree Climber Expectations?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Perhaps, I'll let him know that the first couple of weeks will be like a "probation" period.

[/ QUOTE ]

No such thing. Once you hire him he's yours. WC, unemployment, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is that? Can't I "let him go" if he doesn't fit the position well?
thinking.gif


I'm not a large corporation which has a union. I don't need to give him 3 documented warnings and then fire him.
 
This may be irrelavant but since we are on the topic of hiring.... One thing I firmly believe in doing is meeting at a neutral location. I do not and will not bring guys to my house or my yard for an interview. I have known of instances where total dirtballs have some for an interview at the company yard, not gotten the job, and saws are missing a few days later. I like to go and meet the person and buy em a coffee (or whatever suits them), and feel them out. JMO, maybe I am wrong.
 
Yep! We're meeting at Starbucks at 6pm.

I've got good ideas from you guys. Thanks.

I also tied a bowline on a bight (mid line). I didn't pull out the 300' of static line though. I just grabbed the 30' of poison ivy.
pbj.gif


The topic is a good one to continue to elaborate on... BTW.
 
I like the passive idea of a neutral meetting place... have honestly never heard of that before, though if your shop is at your home residence it makes sence to me.
I do feel that pressure is a very bad thing in an interview and a climb pre-interview might feed the nervous fire as an interview climb is not a work situation: so what could be gained by it.

Demonstrated gear knowledge in relation to a specific task will tell you a great deal. And I love the trick questions!!! ;)

Try asking them about time-saving "tricks of the trade" and see where there progressive foresight is sitting, especially if they claim to have experience. Perhaps having a block & tackle set for them to set up would be good, then ask them set up a 5:1 using the same gear and see what happens.
 
[ QUOTE ]


Why is that? Can't I "let him go" if he doesn't fit the position well?
thinking.gif




[/ QUOTE ]

In most states the coverage of workers compensation goes much further than employers understand. The definition of employee is what is misunderstood.

If you hire them even for a minute all of the required aspects of worker's comp, unemployment etc etc is on the table.

You can terminate them for a justifiable reason of course. Taht doesn't mean that they can't file an unemployment claim against you.
 
There is potential for the suggestions on this topic to become an article. The groundworker article is a compilation of suggestions from a thread started on another forum. Lots of people contributed to that article.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Very true. However, it was originally MY thread and most of the points were mine. Give credit where credits due, which is ME, holmes. ;)




*****************************************************

[/ QUOTE ]

Give credit where credit is due?
grin.gif


Dozens contributed to the Ground Man booklet!
 
Jamin, Colorado is an "at-will" state. That means an employer or an employer can terminate employment "at-will" without prior notification or cause unless there is an agreement in place that outlines the length or limits reasons for termination.

Here's a link to some more info on the laws of Co.
Colorado wage laws

That means you can "hire" him for the day to do a demo climb. I have done this with a few companies. I felt it was fair to ask me to do the climbing as long as I was paid for generating revenue for them.
 
A good idea after you've hired the new climber is to dock a small amount of pay for the first two weeks. Maybe a buck or two an hour. There is nothing worse than finding out that your new hire isn't worth as much money as you thought. Two weeks worth of work should shine a lot of light on there potential. Make sure to tell the new hire of your plan, and if everything works out and your happy with how he is working out, retro pay him the money you docked him.

I know there might be some belly acheing, but it's well worth protecting your hard earned money. To put there mind at ease, write out what you hope to/expect to see, a guideline if you will. This will be a great list to show at the interview as well.

Good luck jamin, hope you have better luck then we first did.
 
The interview process for the local municipality is as follows:

1. Written exam
2. Practical field exam and tree ID test
The field test essentially insures the municipality that you aren't going to blow anything up or kill youself or anybody else.

Based on how you score on the tests, you get an interview. I like the idea of the tests to weed out the riff-raff. It would, however, only make sense to me to do such an involved interview process if there were a number of qualified applicants for the same postion/positions.

A test climb could be a good idea just to get to know someone better than the average interview. They could answer a lot of questions without you asking them.


next article: Treebuzz presents: "How to hire new employees"
 
Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner.
pbj.gif


He did well with the interview. I think we clicked well. He's got a good personality. Sharpe, clean, and looked me in the eyes when we talked (that is important to me). He is from the mid-west and it sounds like he has that good ol' mid-west work ethic.

I didn't do a rec climb. I think over the next couple of weeks I'll find his strengths and weaknesses for the business.

He's not a C.A., but that is fine. He wants to be one and wants to put in the effort to be one. I told him, I'd pay for his book and exam. And once he is a C.A. I'd give him a automatic $3/hr. raise. We agreed that would be fair.

It sounds like the other companies he worked for never really focused on training him with new climbing techniques or introduced him to new gear. So, I'm gonna have fun introducing him to new stuff.
brows.gif
He said, "I'm always ready to learn new stuff, if it makes me work smarter."--Perfect attitude, IMO.

BTW. I did bring the rope with the bowline on a bite tied mid-line. He didn't have a problem identifying the knot, or getting it out.--I was hoping (in a way) to stump him. But, the better news, is I couldn't.
icon10.gif
icon14.gif
 
For the sake of the topic (thread). Is there someone who is more computer savvy who could start to make a PDF of some of the stuff communicated in this thread? I think it would be a great tool for all of us to know "Tree Climber Expectations."
 
[ QUOTE ]
For the sake of the topic (thread). Is there someone who is more computer savvy who could start to make a PDF of some of the stuff communicated in this thread? I think it would be a great tool for all of us to know "Tree Climber Expectations."

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, Jamin. I took some of the stuff communicated in this thread and started a PDF. I hope this will be a good start to the "Tree Climber Expectations".
 

Attachments

[ QUOTE ]
A good idea after you've hired the new climber is to dock a small amount of pay for the first two weeks. Maybe a buck or two an hour. There is nothing worse than finding out that your new hire isn't worth as much money as you thought. Two weeks worth of work should shine a lot of light on there potential. Make sure to tell the new hire of your plan, and if everything works out and your happy with how he is working out, retro pay him the money you docked him.

I know there might be some belly acheing, but it's well worth protecting your hard earned money. To put there mind at ease, write out what you hope to/expect to see, a guideline if you will. This will be a great list to show at the interview as well.

Good luck jamin, hope you have better luck then we first did.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't dock pay but i would explain that your going to start him at X amount and after 2 weeks will be re evaluated for potential of Y amount of a raise. If someone told me he was paying me X amount and i got my first check and it was 2/yr less i would walk off the job. Thats a shady boss and i wouldn't be working for someone i can't trust. Specially in this business were trust is so important.

for Example, start at 15 an hour with potential after two weeks of going up to 18 an hour, and if you want be really nice back pay him the extra 3 an hour from the previous two weeks. I would be impressed with an interview that would uncover everything you need to know about a climber

Good topic (thread)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom