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Post by proshine on Jan 28, 2006 17:34:07 GMT -5
I have a employee who has been cleaning a house for me. It has been taking her 3 1/2 to 4 hours and each time she calls and says it is totally wrecked and she needs help. She had the best references and seemed perfect so I believed her. I have made nothing off this house. I told her I was going to have to go up on the price and have been working a way to do that. We did a large construction clean this last two weeks, she was really slow. I thought maybe it was my lack of experience as a boss. But I found out she told another employee to slow down. So, this week another employee and myself did the residential cleaning and it took us 1 and 1/2 hours. Okay that ticked me off. All this time I have paid all that labor for nothing.
I am thinking I would be better off with less builders, and fewer employees.
I have to fire her and another employee who showed up with a hang over so bad she couldn't work.
Is it just me or is good help hard to find?
Janice
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Post by Pages Personal Cleaning on Jan 28, 2006 17:50:36 GMT -5
Janice
It's not just you. We all go through this stuff at one time or another. The hardest part of this business is finding good help. I had the same thing happen to me last year. I had a lady working for me and sent her to a home that only takes two hours to clean. She told me she was there 5 hours.
I think she must have been watching a movie while she was there. Some employees will try to stretch it out to get more hours. There are good employees out there so don't get discouraged. You just have to keep looking and weed the bad ones out.
Patti
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Post by logan5127 on Jan 28, 2006 17:53:36 GMT -5
I always try to do new jobs a couple of time to get idea of how long it takes , I always add a little more to it. If it takes me three hours I would probably pay an employee 3 1/2. When you went with another employee they where sure to be at their best and worked hard because you where there. You also , slightly aggravated probably worked very hard as well. if it took the two of you 1 1/2 , that is 3 total hours. If adding 1/2 hour it would make this a 3 1/2 hour job to an individual who is working by the hour with out supervision.Doesn't mean that its a 4 or 5 hour job. Good Employees are hard to find but even with the good ones you have to be a little bit flexible. Be sure to bid high enough to cover the hours so that you make a profit even if it takes a little longer than anticipated.
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Post by proshine on Jan 29, 2006 18:35:20 GMT -5
I could give her 4 hours and then work with her on ways to speed up a little, the problem is each time whe is there she would call me and tell me the house was a totl wreck. That there was clothes ,books,dishes and trash everywhere. She would ask me to send her help. So I would send someone to help her. The house was not even near that condition when I went. Also this worker always calls me to ask about jobs and when she can work next, since I did this house myself I have not heard from her. It is disapointing, I try to give extra time. I paid her 4 hours and sent her help for a house I was being paid $75.00 for. I keep records on EVERYTHING, so each time I have all the compliants she made in detail and none of them fit.
I have talked to alot of business owners who have told me it is better to have 2 or 3 good workers and be able to produce QUALITY work not quanity. THey say youc an make the same amount of $ if you think smart, I am starting to see what they are talking about.
I think a wise man once told me (was it you Dan?) don't try to grow too fast.
Well, I learn things the hard way LOL
Thanks to everyone for all the great advice this site has been a life saver!!!!!!!!!
Janice
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