How much should a Foreman earn?

[beechwood]

I think the pay is on the money (no pun intended) , but if it were looking for a job there are a couple of things in your advert that would give me cause for thought.

 

 

 

A foremans job is a supervisor, what you seem to be looking for is a climber who can set up a job and supervise while doing the climbing. Now there are plenty of sole trader arbs out there who do that as a daily grind but its a big ask for a PAYE bloke, so if that is what you are looking for you might have to dig a bit deeper financially.

 

 

 

A couple of other points that stand out and seem at odds, climbing kit allowance? As an employer you have to buy that anyhow, same with PPE. Potential employees begin to assess the employer while reading the advert and those points will stand out. Just my thoughts

 

 

Thanks for your input

Your right I do see a foreman as someone who takes charge of a job and is generally the lead climber

 

The climbing kit thing is probably a debate for another thread but we looked at it a couple of years back as every LOLER inspection we seemed to be missing kit, every climber wanted a different harness/set up (sometimes only a couple of months after having been brought a new one). After much discussion we came to the conclusion that yes it's PPE hence we now pay an allowance and everyone can buy what they want, as long as they have a basic kit.

Each crew truck has an AR kit in it for grounds staff to use incase of emergency.

[Hodge]

Hodge where are you based?

 

Subbie climbers around here are charging £150-190 and some cases £250!!

I prefer to have regular guys on the books so I can plan my schedule and my customers get used to familiar faces.

 

Come on what's your opinion on the going rate in your area?

 

 

I'm in Cumbria, i couldn't tell you that hat an employed Forman of a tree gang get round here but I doubt it would be what your paying. Yours seem a hell of a good wage. £36k that's a bloody good wage. You have to ask yourself what the people are on that are looking at your job and turning it down.

[Tom_Arb]

Thats a good wage if i was in England i would apply

[chrisj]

Thanks for your input

Your right I do see a foreman as someone who takes charge of a job and is generally the lead climber

 

The climbing kit thing is probably a debate for another thread but we looked at it a couple of years back as every LOLER inspection we seemed to be missing kit, every climber wanted a different harness/set up (sometimes only a couple of months after having been brought a new one). After much discussion we came to the conclusion that yes it's PPE hence we now pay an allowance and everyone can buy what they want, as long as they have a basic kit.

Each crew truck has an AR kit in it for grounds staff to use incase of emergency.

 

Sounds sensible to me. Maybe word it slightly differently though so that it is clear that the allowance is high enough that it will cover the cost of climbing kit, so that there are no worries by prospective applicants that they will end up bearing the brunt of the cost. Maybe something along the lines of "We are aware that every climber has their prefered system and as such rather than providing a pre-selected kit, we give a generous allowance for climbing kit so that the successful applicant can select their own personal kit."

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Interesting ebb & flow of opinions and regional perspectives and even comparisons with totally unrelated industries.

 

Can't really see what it matters what a nuclear physicist might think their professional worth is, if there are too many, they'll come cheap, if there are too few, the price goes up! That's market forces.

 

Maybe a relocation package would get you the candidate you're after but who isn't currently in your area. I guess it's a bit of a gamble on the upfront cost?

 

Have you seen Silky Foxs' thread? There's a man that will get to where the work is and it sounds like just the job for him?

 

(Have you seen this thread Paul?? Got yr voicemail yesterday! Answer phone is slow to pick up on the mobile sometimes, great to meet you fella!)

[paulcumberland]

On the face of it nothing wrong with your offer, therefore can only be one of two things supply and demand as already stated, the other your potential employee is not seeing the advert, are you targeting the right publications or platforms to get to the right person?

[doobin]

That's the point,he can't find anyone with the package he's offering. And with all due respect I doubt he would want someone who has been qualified for just a month. Most of us have been doing it for many years and have good work and people skills. Don't derail this tread please. The guy ask a simple question about what to pay someone and nothing to do with training time.thanks:thumbdown:

 

He's not derailing the thread. No need for the thumbdown, his was a logical response and juxtaposition of a contrasting trade.

 

A junior doctor wouldn't make what you're suggesting. Sorry, is that off thread also?

 

I'm with Big J, sense of proportion required here.

[robertsonstreecare]

I don't think there's any comparison relevant between different industries, someone with all the qualifications listed in the job advert plus years of experience plus people skills required are actually few and far between so can demand that sort of money. It's really not a job that you could be ready for after a months it would be a position for a seasoned campaigner

[beechwood]

I think these are good points. A few thoughts, not based on arb, but I have made 6 recruitments this year and over 30 in the past 6yrs. Apologies if some of it is obvious.

 

In determining the salary, have you worked out what you expect them to earn you? If you work out expected number of days out earning x daily charge-out rate then this equals the maximum you -could- give as a renumeration package (salary + NI + pension contribution if you are in the threshold number of heads + any allowances). If you then work out the margin you want, it tells you the maximum you -want- to pay, which will inform the level at which you pitch the advert.

 

As a role with supervisory responsibility, ie pitching it as a step up, I would quote the annual salary first (maybe with a day rate in brackets afterwards, although you would hope anyone applying could work this out!). Similarly, I would quote it as a 40hr week, rather than daily, as it gives an impression of seniority.

 

You are quoting quite a wide range on the salary. Is this basically to try to attract someone, or because you can see different ways the job can be done, based on experience? Perhaps add a bullet-point list of expected responsibilities to make it clear what you are wanting them to do and the experience you are looking for, and make it clear what is essential and what is desired.

 

As this is career progression, you are looking for someone with ambition, so I would comment on the potential for further career progression. I wouldn't be specific in the advert, but would be ready to discuss this at interview. In my field, I find it is usually best to let the candidate describe their interests in this direction and be open minded about whether it could be useful. For example, if you have someone who expresses an interest in progressing into surveying, and this is something you don't currently offer, it could be mutually beneficial. This would make one candidate favourable over another who said they want to go straight off and set up in competition to you in 2yrs!

 

Alec

 

 

Thanks for your comments which I will defiant innately take on board.

 

Been running my tree company for 15years now and I'm pretty well versed in the financial side of things. Pitched the wages at the top end of what I can afford. Just beginning to feel wage expectation in my location is pretty high compared to charge out rates we as industry can achieve, add this to the high level of running costs and there's only 2 places to find the extra for wages.

My take at the end of year, which generally isn't as much as some are suggesting a Foreman's worth or the reinvestment money for replacement kit. Neither are appealing to be honest.

 

The wide salary range reflects the previous staff I've had over the years, who have arrived with massively different experience/ability and levels of qualifications. I find there are many jobs you can send a relatively inexperienced foreman to and job will get done on time and well, there are other jobs that require that extra talent and organisationally skills of a god. I have room for both but maybe should make that clearer.

[5 shires]

Thanks for your comments which I will defiant innately take on board.

 

Been running my tree company for 15years now and I'm pretty well versed in the financial side of things. Pitched the wages at the top end of what I can afford. Just beginning to feel wage expectation in my location is pretty high compared to charge out rates we as industry can achieve, add this to the high level of running costs and there's only 2 places to find the extra for wages.

My take at the end of year, which generally isn't as much as some are suggesting a Foreman's worth or the reinvestment money for replacement kit. Neither are appealing to be honest.

 

The wide salary range reflects the previous staff I've had over the years, who have arrived with massively different experience/ability and levels of qualifications. I find there are many jobs you can send a relatively inexperienced foreman to and job will get done on time and well, there are other jobs that require that extra talent and organisationally skills of a god. I have room for both but maybe should make that clearer.

 

Think you seem to know exactly the kind of person you want and the wage calling and package you want to stick to. The advice given was just a personal view and in now way was ment to undermindi the way you run your business. we all have a different line on what to pay and the kind of people we like as employees as am sure you do. Hope you get sorted and I think just posting this thread you will get a lot of takers.