Alternative ways to structure a tree business?

[Joe Newton]

Same, I keep everything I need in my truck. Who I'm working for and what I'm doing dictates what I bring. I don't charge extra for my big saws, unless the company doesn't have their own. I just know mine will be sharp and well maintained. Terror saws get used for the last couple of metres though.

I take a full maintenance and sharpening kit everywhere. It's amazing how some places won't even have a combi spanner sometimes.

I Luke my rigging kit as I've got capabilities for stuff like speed lines, controlled zipline, our balancing limbs, which most firms don't have. It makes my life easier.

[Christopher Schroeter]

Bonus schemes need to be implemented fairly by the management. I worked for Balfour Beatty reinstating tarmac after gas works etc. Our bonus was based on square meterage. Our team used to get all the little piddly 1 square metre jobs at opposite ends of the county whereas the other team used to get hundreds in one place. And they used to laugh at us. Bastards. Not bitter though.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

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

I go nuts if someone stands on a rope - maybe a bit precious, but why can’t people just step OVER them instead of ON them??

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

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. 

You’ve been quiet for AGES! Or I’ve not seen where you’ve been posting? I had some tax questions that would have benefitted from your wisdom. Hope you’re back ‘with a vengeance!’

[AHPP]

Steve Bullman and Joe Newton, Do you work as labour only or bona fide subcontractors?

[Steve Bullman]

Labour only

 

[AHPP]

I'm not decided on whether the firm or the LOSC climber should provide rigging gear. Say a rigging rope breaks and a branch goes through a garden gnome. It could be that the rigging rope was bad. If it's the firm's rigging rope, it's their problem. If it's the LOSC climber's rigging rope, it's probably still the firm's problem but now there's scope for argument. For that reason, you'd think the firm should supply the rigging rope. But then you have everything else in play. The climber could install the rope through a bad crotch, the groundsman could run it badly or the two could just communicate badly and it's not clear whose fault the smashed gnome is. Then what if it's one party's rope and another party's bollard etc... It reads like a law exam problem question.

One solution would be climbing as a bona fide subcontractor and taking your own rigging gear and groundsman. That's a wholly different prospect though.

[Steve Bullman]

2 minutes ago, AHPP said:

One solution would be climbing as a bona fide subcontractor and taking your own rigging gear and groundsman. That's a wholly different prospect though.

I used to take my own groundsman, it is the best way to do it.  I rarely work with people who can run the ropes exceptionally, and certainly work with none at the moment I would trust to do BIG rigging with.  Just the other day I had to move my foot in a hurry as the groundsman didn't let the lump run as instructed.

[Joe Newton]

I'm Labour only too, you might have a point there but its nothing ill lose any sleep over. I don't tend to use my kit beyond its limitations and its generally well maintained apart from the light rigging pulley that I've been trying to kill for ages.

Also, I take no responsibility for gnomes.

[AHPP]

Steve, When you took a groundsman, were you a LOSC to the firm and "your" groundsman also a LOSC to the firm or were you a bona fide and you engaged and paid your groundsman?

 

Joe, Thanks. It's of course largely academic.