[justgardens]

What is your average pay scale for:

1. Entry level labor

2. Skilled labor

[jwholden]

Julie,

A laborer in my parts starts around 10 an hour and goes up a dollar or two more an hour if they are worth it, IE show up for work, keep working without the boss standing over them, know 'how' to perfrom physical labor.

Skilled labor; knowing how to use a lawn mower, mulch, or plant a tree would start around 12 dollars an hour. However, I have yet to hire skilled labor but train entry level to perform skilled labor. I prefer to train because I don't want to inherit some other contractors bad habits. Hire on attitude and train skills, this statement is so true.

I have never hired a skilled labor or foreman, but this is my take on the matter.

A guy with a drivers license should get around 14 or 15 an hour.

A foreman who can keep the crew motivated and make correct decisions without calling the boss every 10 minutes should get around 16 to 19 an hour.

Final disclaimer, it depends who you talk to about wages. A bigger company can get laborers cheaper and in volume by using the local unemployment office or hiring H2B laborers. A smaller more efficient company may pay a laborer more and get more production, with less headaches.

If I have guys who come to work, do their job without complaining, and have a positive attidute I will do everything I can to keep them around. This includes rounding up hours on early days and spontaneous bonuses of 50 or 100 dollars in addition to Gatorade and an occasional pizza.

This year I am considering a bonus equal to two to three weeks pay with a penalty involved for the guy who has missed way to many days this year. I'm hoping this will ensure I have 'Skilled' labor next year as well.

[justgardens]

I'm trying to see how in line I am with my peers. All the input helps put things in to perspective for me. I have 3 coming back next year, all quality workers. One crew foreman who is also very skilled in many ways. The other three I'm not sure about. One is moving (the best unfortunately)

[Bill Schwab]

Entry level labor, $15.00 an hour. Skilled labor $20.00 per hour, and foreman material sitting around the $25.00 an hour mark.

This is an obnoxiouisly expensive state to live in.

[cutntrim]

Entry $10
Skilled $12-$13
Foreman $14-15

That's for a maintenance crew.

[justgardens]

JW- I've read about bonus plans like that . Giving a set monthly amount and everytime they are late some of the bonus is subtracted. I'm afraid that might have an adverse affect on my crew. They do like the spontanious bonuses though. They get a lot of free meals during the season too. I am going to make a tighter policy for Spring that focuses on cleanliness and appearance. It is amazing that I even have to say it but sometimes I do have to tell people that have to come in CLEAN dressed to start. How many company shirts do aal you issue at the beginning of every season? I issue 5 shirtsand they have buy more at cost if they want more. I bought jackets one year. One of the guys worked in his car in it. Last time I did that. This year I bought them all nice pocket knives so they weren't always searching though the tool box....they all left them at home because they were too nice to use! Maybe I need to grow some of those little brass things!

[jwholden]

Julie,

I buy my guys too many shirts, pants, hats, sweatshirts, etc. Dickies makes some real nice insulated pants that make the day more bearable this time of the year. And they come in khacki!!! I have started putting employees names on uniforms as well to give the guys a sense of responsibility for thier work/actions. I don't mind spending the coin if I feel the employee is going to be around for a while. If I had a revolving door policy I wouldn't even buy a T-shirt for a guy until a 2 week trial period was over. You have to EARN a shirt!

Funny story, I got my crew Buck knives a few years ago and they 'lost' them within two weeks. I hope they are putting them to good use at home. A simple solution for that problem is to go to the tool corral at Home Depot and pick up some Husky folding utility knives for around 10 bucks each. You can change the blade like a regular utility knife and there are several nice bright colored handles that make it 'more difficult' to lose. The knives stay in the truck and never go home.

If I decide to go with some form of 'pre-arranged' bonus I will put a clause in that all lost knives, pruners, or broken tools will come right out of that fund. If no one wants to fess up to it the money will be split evenly between the crew.

There should be some incentive in my bonus program for getting work done in a timely and quality manner as well. I'll have to talk to Bill S. about setting something like that up.

[justgardens]

I have all my shirts returned in order to get their last paycheck. Some of the knuckleheads I don't want wearing my shirts around. I used to buy khacki pants too. No more! I like the idea of adding lost or broken tools being tied into a bonus. The broken tools this year have been far too many. Next year I will have one person in charge of loading and unloading the trailers. They are responsible for making sure equipment is on the trailer for each job and making sure it gets back on at the end of the day. I love the "I don't know who left that tool laying there for the frontend loader to run over." I am going to work on doing my own video this winter on saftey, safe and correct tool use, correct handling and planting techniques, ect. It won't be professional but it will work for what I want. It be shown to all new and existing employees. It will also serve as my OSHA training film.

[Paul]

I'll post my last wages we paid for this year, but you do have to remember we only did government funded projects.

Labor $26.00 per hour plus $6 per hour benefits
Operator $36.00 per hour plus $10 per hour benefits

[justgardens]

Wow! Our union or state job scale is only $21.00. I'll bet you don't have ANY trouble finding employees. Some great ideas from this thread already.mybe a GTX employee manuel being written here!

[jwholden]

Loving the video idea.

[GLAN]

We can get starting laborers $7 - $8 an hour.
Skilled $9 - $12 an hour
Drivers $12 - $15
Formen $12 and on up.

There are guys around me that start out a bit higher......but for some reason they have a high turn over rate of employees.

The video thing is a nice Idea.........had thought of doing that years ago...

Guys get 6 company tshirts - 3 tan - 3 pale green. Fall they get 3 - 5 company hooded sweatshirts. New guys that I want back get 5, guys returning get 3............They can wear sweatshirts more than a season.

Once in a while I have had golf type shirts make with company logo stitched given 2 to the guys. Had jackets made for the 3 main guys 2 years ago. Next year going to have to give to 2 other guys.

All the safety glasses and ear plugs they need. And all the Wonder Gloves they need as well.

They aslo get company logo'd caps. And I have been giving them lately wide brimed sun hats. In addition those bandanas with the gell for around the neck......soak them in water for 10 - 20 minutes and it works wonders keeping their heads cool in the worst of the summer.

They are required to wear for pants. Jeans or any other type work pants and boots.


I do as much as I can for my guys.

LOL......I just ordered a case of grit bar soap. When I get them I am going to give the guys a couple......so they can use to clean hands better when they get home. And this was cheap to.....

http://store.markoinc.com/barsoaps.html

[justgardens]

Glan your wage scale is much more in line with mine here in N.E Ohio. I found a great place to order t-shirts and sweatshirts with very good prices. They carry Dickie brands too. www.gigmarketing.com. I had them send me some samples and I liked them. I have always bought from a local guy but these are about half of what I pay now. I'm not sure I want to give up my local guy though. I really like dealing with the smaller business person. But then $200.00 is $200.00. What does everyone think about that? I have mixed feelings.

[GLAN]

Hmmm yeah

I like to keep things as local as I can....but hey $200 is like you said......$200.

I have a good screen printer for the T's.....
And great place for the stitch work.....

Just can't remember the prices off hand.......but what I did find that with some of the mail order places my local places were pretty much in line price wise. I think the screen printer was like $1 or $2 more.

Gonna check out your place....


LOL....another set up charge

[GLAN]

justgardens


did you give the wrong web addy?