[Dragonfly]

What is your policy on employees doing side jobs?

[Bill Schwab]

I actually turn the guys on to the work that does not make economic sense for us to do.

[Dragonfly]

Okay what if they are using your trucks ,your equipment ,your discount at the local supplier, etc. Eventually many will get the itch to go out on their own. However you will be taking it up the tail pipe as materials begin to disappear from jobs. A steady pay check in construction is not an easy thing to come by. I am now tracking a problem like this. I believe its called theft and boy am I pissed.

[Pelican]

I've told my guys I don't mind as long as it's not for my clients or doesn't interfere with their work for me.

[Stonehenge]

Using your trucks and your equipment? I think that's called fired. Unless you gave them permission, to which I would ask why you'd accept liability for your trucks/equipment and not get any return on them.

[HardDaysKnight]

Originally posted by Bill Schwab
I actually turn the guys on to the work that does not make economic sense for us to do.

That's what we do and they can use whatever tools they
need and take care of them or replace them.
I offer them the work any time it shows up and like Pelican said,
as long as it doesn't interfere.

[bcx400]

I'm alright with side jobs. I have an employee who picked up a walk/patio job this summer- he planned on doing the installation during our vacation time (we actually shut down for a week in August).

He asked to borrow the paver saw, the cut-off saw, and the laser level. I told him no- if he is going to be doing side work, I don't want the wear-and-tear on my equipment for work which we are not getting paid. He also wanted to know if he could use a truck to deliver a load of gravel (NO). How about wheel barrows and shovels? (NO). His reply- Do you know how much it costs to rent all of the stuff!?.

You gotta love employees!

[Pelican]

I missed the tools and equipment part!

A little clarification to my answer, my tools don't leave the yard except for company jobs or perhaps personal use by an employee, but not to do side work. Investing in tools is all part of doing business.

[jwholden]

BCX 400,

I let the guys borrow a grease gun or some small tool occasionally. After the first few times it takes about a week to get the tool back or I get a 'tude for asking when it is coming back. I always end up looking like a bad guy when I let a crew member borrow something.

[scott C]

Side work is frowned upon. The last thing I want is an employee tired / burnt out from working nights / weekends. Never let employees borrow, use or rent equipment from me unless it is for use at there home. I will occasionally offer a finders fee for work brought in by them depending on size and scope

[Mac]

How do you all feal about selling off old assets to current employees? Im currently watching it happen now. A supervisor at a local company purchased a mower from his employer when it was done with its tour of duty there. He now comes home from work and goes out to mow for his clients.

Personally, I see this as inviting them to get their own work unless they have an exceedingly large personall property (which isnt likely).

[GLAN]

One of my key guys is doing side work. I actualy encouraged him to go get a couple lawns on his own that he can cut on Sundays or after work....

Well this past spring he told he can't work for me on Saturdays anymore due to his own work has to be done.

Well that surprised me and twisted me the wrong way, but it hasn't been that bad so far.......Spring we can actualy work 7 days a week......Then we transition into the shrub trimming and once we hit around mid July we don't work Saturdays unless something comes up or to make up time lost.

This guy a couple years back was talking to me about making more money.......OK. I rely on him a great deal to make sure things get done on the maintenance route. His English is fine and the customers like him. He is a hard worker and does excellent work.......Just a couple things...........He won't trim bushes anymore and he won't learn to drive a truck and trailer.......

So I am left with a driver for maintenance that is clearly not foreman material......and a guy who is foreman material that won't drive..LOL

So I basicaly told him flat out..........that the things you won't do is what holds you back..............Told him I had no problem paying him $200 or + more a week. If you were to learn to drive with a trailer and return to trimming some bushes time to time.

Well so now he is off doing his own work.......probably making a full days pay more than half a day. Another 2 - 3 years he will be out on his own.

[Stonehenge]

$200 per week? How much is that hourly? My guys get pretty grumpy if all they're getting is enough work to get $200/wk.

[Pelican]

I read that as being $200 additional to his existing salary......

[Stonehenge]

Ahh - my bad.