[Stonehenge]

Yeah. Weee - can my employee issues be any more fun?

Just listened to my voicemail from the weekend - employee picked up by police - house where he's living, they found things they don't like to find. According to the message I received, no charges are pending against my employee, by being anywhere near this stuff is a violation of parole. So father was leaving message to let me know he probably wouldn't be in to work for the first half of the week.

So, uh, is this unexcused absence?

Does he become a statistic to me?

I'm in unfamiliar territory - if he comes out clean, I'm thinking he should be able to keep his job. If he's not clean, I think the state prison system has a job for him already, so that part of the equation is moot.

Would you agree?

And @#$%^&*^&%^$%$!!!!! Could I please have more employee problems?!?!? I don't think my plate is full enough with those.

[diginahole]

Oh man... I feel for ya.

Some good points to consider. He has shown you respect by informing you that he will be absent, even admitting the embarrassing reason why. I would consider this an excused absence. Give him the benefit of the doubt until you have reason not to. The cops make mistakes too.

I agree if he should come out clean that he should keep his job, nothing has changed. You decided to give him a chance already, stand by that decision. Otherwise, the decision is out of your hands, time to look for a replacement.

Good luck.

[Bexter]

Geez ... Just after I told you to give an ex con a chance...that's tough. I hope he comes out clean.
Coincidentally I had a situation this am ... I hired one of the gals daughter to clean the office, wash trucks and machines every Sunday ... I dropped in this am to show the kid a few things and notice that a cab is dropping them off? "Where is your car"? After a short while she broke down crying and told me she was arrested last night for impaired driving.
Just last week when she had come in with a hangover I asked her if she had driven home. She admitted she had ... I then told her she better smarten up. This gal is a forewoman on one of the maintenance crews and an excellent worker. We will have to make other crew arrangements now, as she is also a driver.

[Stonehenge]

Geez is right - do you feel like your employee situation is like a sieve? It's feeling like my grasp on the employees is like sand through my hands - I think I have a big scoop, but I turn away for a second, and most of it is gone.

Sounds like she'll have some humble pie to eat, running a crew yet not being able to drive the trucks.

And yeah, I hope my guy comes out clean, too. If for no other reason than he's a good kid, and he appeared to be turning things around. This would seal his fate, I'm afraid, if he turned out to be involved.

I'm hoping my guy starting tomorrow will help things - in his 40's, forklift operator for a long while - no driving record, no run-ins with the law, was at his last job 10 years. (fingers are crossed!!)


Typo corrected

[Rex Mann]

I had a foreman not show up for 4 days straight. No phone calls, nothing!

Then we read in the paper that he was busted by an undercover cop selling "H". Newspaper article happened to mention where he worked.

Suddenly all the pieces began falling into place. Why he was always tired and always a few minutes late and so on and so forth.

He calls and tells me his version. The title of that fairytale was "I was setup"

Then asks me to bail him out-----5K

I said no can do gave him advice on what to do. Just common sense things.....like ask your parents and not your boss!

Finally makes bail and expects to come back to work until his name is cleared.

I said no way. My company has a reputation to uphold and an obligation to our clients as well.

O yeah, he had been using his company mobile phone for his "side business" Therefore, the police had to keep it for evidence. I am still paying on that contract.

I would protect what you have built over the years! Forget about trying to be the nice guy and help this guy out of a jam.

Peace,

Rex

[Stonehenge]

This should be an interesting few days....

Rex, I hadn't thought of that perspective - thanks for that.

[dan deutekom]

Sometimes when it comes to employee's "Nice guys come out last" The main thing to remember is that you and your business comes first. I am not saying that you don't help a deserving employee or overlook a few indiscretions that youth can bring. But if you feel that you are being taken for a ride then you are, and should act accordingly to protect YOUR interests.

[Stonehenge]

It appears that the State of Wisconsin is behind in license plate manufacturing; they've decided to keep my employee for roughly 10 years, that they might catch up a bit.

Good thing I'm still interviewing people....

[diginahole]

Good luck to you.

[Stonehenge]

Thanks.

We'll survive.

We always do.

[Stonehenge]

Ok, now it's just getting funny....

New guy after the guy above started Monday. Today I had him head back to the shop 5 mins before me, to punch out for the weekend. Either he is extremely forgetful, or the Stonehenge T-shirt off his back and Stonehenge hat left with his timecard means he quit.

This guy isn't a major loss if he did, but of the 3 guys I've hired so far this year, none has even met the one before him; they each were fired/arrested/quit before the next guy started. Guy #4 starts Monday, and an ad goes in the paper again this Sunday (though this one has an additional message: Hablamos Español).

As a side note I've decided to create a 3 week probationary period, where we won't provide uniforms until they've passed the 3 week mark. I'm getting killed on uniforms lately.

[Nebraska]

If you have not used Hispanic Employees before I think you will be pleasantly suprised....
Ever thought about H2B?

[jwholden]

Tienes usted alguno suerte con su 'hablemos espanol' noticia?

Tengo curiosidad amigo?

[Stonehenge]

No - haven't really even tried. Got caught up in other stuff. Got as far as getting some calls, tried to return them to do some interviews, and that's where it seemed to stop. Never got ahold of them, or couldn't communicate well enough to do any kind of phone screening.

Will likely give it a shot next season (I know, that's what I always say).

[Rex Mann]

My new employees are immigrants from Mexico. They are awesome.

I only speak "job-site" Spanish, which is enough most of the time.

If I am trying to communicate a complex idea or theory or they just do not understand, I call one of my bilingual friends who are in the paver business. They translate the messages via our cell phones. Also, one of my vendors does it as well.

Peace,

Rex