[TerraVerde]

Hello All, we took a guy on in the understanding that he could do all sorts of landscaping work and it turns out that 6 months down the line all he can do is cement mixes. We are paying him £8 per hour for this, and we feel it cant go on. Has anyone reduced someones wages before? I am about to, cant see any alternative...he should be on about £6....
Cheers
Susan

[TrickyDick]

I have not done that but if someone lied about thier experience and couldn't do what they said they could I would definately consider it. Offer him what he's really worth...take it or leave it.

[Fine Edge]

Ditto.

[Greensmith]

That is a tricky one, and unless you think they can improve to the skills they said they were had I would be very suspicious of future productivity with a reduction in wages.

[Stonehenge]

If they couldn't deliver as promised, I would probably reduce their wages to zero. Like Greensmith, I think the possibility of keeping someone motivated and performing well will be will be very slim when you dock his pay 25%.

I say cut him loose.

[TerraVerde]

Thanks folks very helpful. This is a situation we wont allow to arise again...its our own inexperience to blame. Now we have 1 week, 1 month and six month trial...we are over paying our guys and there's not much we can do now short of shutting the business down and restarting with new people...hmmm

[Dollar Spot]

I tried this two years ago and it turned out to be a disaster for me. The fellow stayed on for half a season and then left. He poisoned the crew with his negativity and performed less and less. It was a downhill spiral. Cut him loose.

[Mblack]

I'd also say, "let him go". Another thing to consider is that obviously the person's integrity is in question, to put it plainly he lied. Do you want that in your company?

[TerraVerde]

We have decided on an interim option of offering him a reduced wage while he looks for another job...andwith the understanding that any negativity will not be tolerated. So lets see...I will keep you posted on the results.

[Dollar Spot]

Terra,

Good luck, I hope it works out better for you than it did for me.

Bill

[GLAN]

I have done it....some years ago and more than once.

One time we had to do it. I was told he could do everything. Worked for such and such, and this and that before such and such.

LOL.

I hired the guy on the premise of what he was telling me. First couple days I had him start with doing beds......easy enough work....second day I had to teach him weeds.......Third day I told him this was your big day. Put him behind a walkbehind....He didn't know how to start it......certainly didn't know how to operate it..

I went up to him......through one of my other guys translating. He has 2 choices....1 would be that he was going to be paid much less than what we agreed 3 days ago........because he lied to me and that he can stay on at that lower pay and be trained.....2. He was going to be paid less than agreed cause he lied and knew nothing and this would be his last day.


Another time we had to do it.....was a very similar story.

Turns out both stayed at the lower wage and were gratefull actualy to have a job and be taught. They worked out OK, we didn't teach them everything, enough that where ever else they went, they were at least useable.

And ofcourse there are those we just let go on the spot. If we could see a glimpse of potential or caring and an earnest try.....I would offer to keep them at my terms.

Now......You tell me you know how to do everything.....You are going to do everything in the first couple hours.