Alternative ways to structure a tree business?

[Joe Newton]

Likewise.  If someone damages or breaks my stuff they get billed the full price of a brand new replacement

that's more you do with your on site kitchen though, right?

[Steve Bullman]

Well yeah 

[Joe Newton]

Well yeah 

When I grow up I want to be just like you

[eggsarascal]

23 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

When I grow up I want to be just like you

Worn out with a small todger?

[Joe Newton]

Well Christ, I was born halfway there!

[Inoff the Red]

There is no single or simple answer to retaining staff. Bonuses and share schemes can work but I have also seen schemes that far from incentivising staff have caused division and animosity. Schemes that reward individual achievement can cause friction if someone tends to bag the easy jobs just to boost their bonus. Schemes that treat staff equally can cause issues if one team member is perceived to be skiving but still gets the same bonus.

 

Although cash is important, some of the softer issues can help to retain staff. If the working environment is pleasant, management communicate with staff, flexibility when dealing with personal issues, opportunities for personal development and attention to the usual team building stuff can contribute to staff retention. It is difficult to retain staff if someone offers them a big salary increase.  If the working environment is not pleasant then it probably wouldn't take much to persuade someone to leave. 

[wjotner]

On 09/11/2017 at 19:43, Steve Bullman said:

Likewise.  If someone damages or breaks my stuff they get billed the full price of a brand new replacement

That sounds fair enough to me. It's interesting hearing different people's perspective on this kind of thing as what I suggested about paying for damaged or lost kit is just what I've been used to. 

 

I would ask though, should a small firm (as most tree surgery companies are) be expected to foot the bill when some idiot loses a saw on a job or drops one out of a tree? I think that would be a tough cost to bear when profit margins are so tight as it is.

 

Also, I'm not sure a subbie should have to bring his own lowering gear. That should be provided by the employer. But I know it doesn't always work that way. When i work as a subbie, some companies provide all equipment except climbing gear and PPE. Others expect me to bring my own top handle saw and, because their kit isn't great, I'll end up using some of my own rigging gear. I probably would bill them if they damaged that gear. But it hasn't happened yet, so not sure how I'd handle it.

[Steve Bullman]

I’m of the opinion that you should turn up with your own rigging gear as a subbies.  I would rather than anyway as I want to use what I want to use 

[billpierce]

I've often wished I had my own saws on jobs where they said I didn't need to bring saws....saws that nobody owns always seem to in Shan condition

[Steve Bullman]

10 minutes ago, billpierce said:

I've often wished I had my own saws on jobs where they said I didn't need to bring saws....saws that nobody owns always seem to in Shan condition

Absolutely, self contained is the only way to be.  I even take my own rake