When employees break things

MTCInc, I was also mislead on your opinion of this emp by your opening post. If he is a fantastic employee and it's his first year he's probably just going as quick as he can to impress you. Probably just talking to him about safety/productivity balances mentioned would do the trick.

Your docking the bonus idea might not be so effective because you are leaving too great a time period between crime and punishment. Also some guys might take it as a challenge to get through their bonus and vacation pay
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Could work well as a small cash bonus or something at the end of the week. $10 for the first drink unless you made a mistake that cost $.
 
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I have to take the position of zero damage. If they wanted stuff broken, they'd have called my competition.

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+1

Owners need to set the bar for their employees, and back them up. They need to give the time for "nothing smashed/ broken" and the tools, or do it themselves if the climber is maybe not up to a complex one. Owners/ foreman needs to take the time to walk climbers through the next step up in technique so that the climber continues to progress from others' experience, as well as build their judgment when the task is at the climber's limit.

Nobody feels good about breaking things, nor letting down a HO's, or employers', or their own expectations.
 
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MTCInc, I was also mislead on your opinion of this emp by your opening post. If he is a fantastic employee and it's his first year he's probably just going as quick as he can to impress you. Probably just talking to him about safety/productivity balances mentioned would do the trick.

Your docking the bonus idea might not be so effective because you are leaving too great a time period between crime and punishment. Also some guys might take it as a challenge to get through their bonus and vacation pay
smirk.gif


Could work well as a small cash bonus or something at the end of the week. $10 for the first drink unless you made a mistake that cost $.

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This was not a speed related issue with means of trying to impress me... I can verify that for sure, but I do understand what you are saying.

I guess I was pissed when I first wrote the post, giving a bad view of this guy. I am a small business, and I like to think I have a very good judgment of character, so I would never tolerate working with someone whom did not fit in with us or our style.

But, I think something has to be done, otherwise there is going to be this thought that if things get broken, there is no consequence other then, "oh, the boss will just deal with it". Ive got a lot to learn as an employer, that is for sure! Every time I take an action, I always like to put myself in the position of the employee and reflect on it a bit that way. In this case, I feel like it is a good compromise with the bonus deduction. Seems fair to me at least. Any of you guys that are employed following this thread, does this seem fair to you, or am I being cheap?
 
i had an employer who every couple of weeks would have a one on one with all the employees about how things were going. There was only five of us so it wasnt so bad. It took like ten minutes unless things were really crazy and there was a lot to hammer out. He kept notes of all the things that happened good and bad and let us know. Just the fact that we knew he was watching and keeping track of everything kept us on our toes. He was never nasty about it just factual and straightfoward with the intention that we all remained on the same page. I appreciated that.
 
I'd agree with treebeing. I dont like the idea of a form of punishment. If you like they guy (sounds like you do) just have a sit down one and one. Hell buy him a beer, and have a talk after work someday. Dont beat around the bush but also dont forget to mix it up with positive too. If he's halfway decent he will get it.
 
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i had an employer who every couple of weeks would have a one on one with all the employees about how things were going. There was only five of us so it wasnt so bad. It took like ten minutes unless things were really crazy and there was a lot to hammer out. He kept notes of all the things that happened good and bad and let us know. Just the fact that we knew he was watching and keeping track of everything kept us on our toes. He was never nasty about it just factual and straightfoward with the intention that we all remained on the same page. I appreciated that.

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I think that this is a great idea.

I'd suggest that people have a little advanced knowledge of the meeting so that they can be prepared to offer some feedback to you as well. This keeps the lines of communication open and can build good rapport. Sometimes the outside perspective can help an employer be a better employer, just as it can help an employee to be a better employee. End result a better team. A better work environment.

Let's say I'm getting stressed because its time to pay quarterly taxes, had an expensive repair, and business is slowing down all at once. An employee might be able to say that I seem too stressed, and is there anything that they can do to help by the way he does his work (maybe its taking charge of checking vehicle and equipment fluids to avoid problems, or other simple job-related tasks).

Sometimes just having someone make me more aware of my stress level and being willing to help in some way might be all that is needed. They might just say that the crew can use some extra props for good work because the stress seems to have distracted me from normal praise that they get and appreciate.
 
I've got a real story from today...

My chip truck has enough space for everything I need, but we don't have space for 1 MS200T, 1 MS361, Leaf blower, and the tote I use to hold 1ea. 2gal gas tank, 1ea 1gallon of mixed fuel, and the small bottles of 2 cycle oil.

So, for 2 years now, I have put it in the chipper hopper. Trust me, this is is the only place I could put it... (No we didn't chip it by accident)
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But, my groundie, who wraps up everything a vast majority of the time, and wrapped up everything today, forgot to close the chipper door.

Half way to our next job we were driving on a 60 mph section of high way. A man pulled next to me waiving his arms to get my attention. Well, he got our attention and we discovered that we lost it all. We back tracked, but we found nothing/nowhere.

So, I'm out $1,400 dollars today.

He sort of knows the sevarity of it, but I don't know if he knows how tight money is right now.

I didn't yell at him, I didn't point out what he did wrong, I didn't ask why he forgot to do it, I didn't demand payment, I didn't threaten to garnish wages, etc...

For some of you guys with larger companies, this may be a drop in the bucket, but not for me.

What would y'all do?
 
Well first off I'd say wtf you doin putting stuff into a shut door that could fall open anyways even if it was closed. We all know it's only matter of time before a shut opens and all is lost. I know of 5 guys that lost complete gear bags this way. Groundie aint to blame, baffune (baffoon){thanks Jamin} that taught him to put it there is.
 
I understand 100% how he feels right now. There is nothing you can do but only bring him down further than he already is. I would have a talk and come up with a plan as how this can be prevented in the future. Maybe run a small rope through everything or some type of cargo net?
 
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Well first off I'd say wtf you doin putting stuff into a shut door that could fall open anyways even if it was closed. We all know it's only matter of time before a shut opens and all is lost. I know of 5 guys that lost complete gear bags this way. Groundie aint to blame, baffune that taught him to put it there is.

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Ed. It is a 2007, Bandit Model 90. If the door is shut, it is literally impossible for it to fall open.

And believe me Ed. I have already called myself a buffoon (the correct way to spell it) today. I knew the first day I started to put stuff in the chipper hopper, that there was that sort of possibility. It was 2 errors today Ed.

BTW. Thanks for kicking me when I'm down Ed. It's totally awesome.
 
Well you got to kick me for spelling?? Jamin I'm sorry for your loss really. Just I've heard this in countless tailgates with this new company I'm with. It's hard to break an old habit, I have to tell guys day in and day out not shute puttin find a place int the truck or in the back of it. Guess I took my frustration out on your mistake.
 
Aww F**^!!!!!!

Sucks hard.

Count yourself as lucky that $1400 would be nothing if the mistake caused an accident from someone panicing and swerving at 60 MPH. I lost an extension ladder at 60 MPH in the dark. I'm sure that you've already realized this.

Try to make it out as a relatively cheap way to avoid something that could have been terrible.

I was first on the scene at a multiple car wreck when someone lost control, I just barely was able to avoid the chain reaction when the guy came across the median into our I-5 south traffic. That driver died on site, wife badly injured, other driver badly injured, maybe a few slightly injured.

A couple of years ago, in/near Seattle, some 2x4 piece of wood came off a truck on the highway, through a windshield, and the woman lost half of her face, including an eye.

My wife just found out that an estranged friend, now back in contact got hit by a falling piece of wood on a construction site that caved in his forehead, with resultant frontal lobe damage.

Your employee feels super horrible right now (I'd have to imagine you wouldn't be hiring anyone who would not feel that way right now.).



Before we leave, typically I drive, I get out and do a circle around the truck, checking every door is latched, double checking 4 items on the chipper/ trailer hitch, get back in and say, often aloud, "Always the driver's responsibility to check it all".

This goes along with (I don't always say this), "Always the passenger's job to get out and guide the driver into anything questionable.



Sorry to hear about it when times are tight and end of year/ end of 4th financial quarter payments are right after Christmas. I hear ya. I found out how Expensive a simple, custom neon tube costs from the lack of backing-up guide.
 
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Well you got to kick me for spelling?? Jamin I'm sorry for your loss really. Just I've heard this in countless tailgates with this new company I'm with. It's hard to break an old habit, I have to tell guys day in and day out not shute puttin find a place int the truck or in the back of it. Guess I took my frustration out on your mistake.

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Noted Ed. And ya'betcha. I'm not going to put junk in the chipper anymore. It's a tough one to swallow.
 
Aww man that sucks... you should fire your guy and hire me :) your employee already is hanging his head, if they were not and had a smug look on their face it would be a different story. Right before I got hired one of the guys I worked for had someone forget to latch the tailgate on the chip truck. It swung open in traffic (if you can call it that here). Another driver flagged them over, and when they were manuving the chipper to get the gate closed they smashed the chippers control panel, bent the gate, and this is with the passenger backing them up... Didn't loose the saws though. Ever since I hear that story I've never wanted to be that bonehead so I double check chipper, tailgate, and do a basic walk around. Some times borderline OCD...

It may be an idea to get more tool boxes, or a second gear rig? Of course more extreme solutions with their own drawbacks.
 
Jamin,

You should suspend him for 3 days, that'll learn him
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Seriously dude that sucks but it sounds like you're staying positive and that's all we can do sometimes to keep our sanity.
 
Hey Jamin, this one's for you, man. ;)


First two of this season; got many more since.
 

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Last week I almost lost my 361, 192t, gas, etc, as I was rushing (Haste makes waste) and didn't do the circle 'round the truck, and forgot that I had taken out a rake and not closed the tailgate of my P/U. It can happen to anyone, even those as Evo so appropriately called it--almost OCD people.

Oh, and in response to what to do about your employee--develop a specific plan as to who has to do the final check, and hold everyone to it. Take it as a Teachable Moment. I recently enclosed the box on my P/U, and it is so much more comfortable knowing I have an effective means to avoid this spill-out (or blow-up-and out), provided the final check is done.
 
Jamin,
Sorry to read about your disaster. Yep your emp won't be feeling too good either. As someone pointed out these things can always be worse. Worth while pointing out to the emp how much it cost you. You may find that he/she wants to help redress the balance. Don't accept cash. Most emps barely live from week to week anyway. If they want to help you out on a weekend job (worth say $1400) without pay let them do that. That way you are also fixing the mistake together which will make you a better team.
 
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