[jwholden]

I can't tell you that I've got the answer, but I can say I have the same problem. My crew is myself and two laborers. One of the fellas has worked with me for five years and has yet to have a problem with tardiness or absenteeism. Almost all other employees in my history as an employer have.

The problem with being small is that if you fire someone to set an example there is no one left to see the example. As much as I'm pissed with someone not coming to work, it sucks being short handed and having to find a replacement.

I give employees with over a year on the job five personal/sick days and we take a week off midsummer. I recently had a talk with one of my employees because he missed his 12th day of work this year. I asked why he didn't call to tell me he was going to miss the day and he said, "Because I knew you were going to get pissed if I called or didn't come to work. So I just took the day off." We had a talk and I gave him two more strikes after that day.

Performance on the job is rarely a problem. Once a guy gets to work he has to try pretty hard or be pretty lazy to get under my skin. Absenteeism or tardiness are what does me, and them, in.

I like the idea of a policy for missing days (I'll be writing one this winter). Make sure you have a backup plan for getting more help as well. I have tried hiring anyone with a pulse and vow to never go that route again.