Employing

[TolishAPurd]

Alright lads. I really want to make this the year I employ someone. I only have a modest round at the moment, just six days, that I run alongside my handyman business. So I want to employ someone part time to help me shrink my window round by halfing the time spent (in theory), and then build it back up to the so theres enough work to keep us both busy for 6 days again, and then maybe a bit more. Seems a bit silly employing someone for 3/4 days a month, but we'll also spend time flyering together, and maybe bring him along on some handyman jobs as well, so I should be able to keep him gainfully employed.

The question is, what's the best way to find a good employee? I havnt bumped into one capable looking lad around here that fits the bill so I will need to advertise. Where though?

Any other advice on insurances, employment law, and anything else also welcome.:thumbsup:

 

[boarcity]

i find the best way to get a helper is to put a postcard ad in a post office window "part time helper wanted " , no texting call 07blah blah . then i have a notepad ready to hand ,i get at least 10 calls . many are ne-er do wells of course but some college types usually call . i usually interview the 1st few who seem eager but i also want dozy -///eager+dozy is the best for long term in my experience -you dont want the head of NATO or the annoying boor

employ partime Only,first 1 , then 2 , juggle the days/ hours to suit their college days . 2 parttime is better than 1fulltimer cos u can let a lazy un go and still hav 1 left in the meantime

Employee liability insurance seems to be about £200 ish for 1 employee whether parttime or full,then 100 for every employee after that -i use Simply Business .

the main thing is you dont want to take on a deadbeat with medical problems no matter how minor -so ask plenty about their past. i sometimes pretend im ill when talking to a prospective worker ,deadbeats usually offer immediate insider info on doctors hours,cure-all remedies etc whereas eager-but-dozy will say nothing at all

After 3 months you have to have a contract of employment,thats way way down the road and easy to download a generic then add your fine tuning

 

[TolishAPurd]

i find the best way to get a helper is to put a postcard ad in a post office window "part time helper wanted " , no texting call 07blah blah . then i have a notepad ready to hand ,i get at least 10 calls . many are ne-er do wells of course but some college types usually call . i usually interview the 1st few who seem eager but i also want dozy -///eager+dozy is the best for long term in my experience -you dont want the head of NATO or the annoying boor
employ partime Only,first 1 , then 2 , juggle the days/ hours to suit their college days . 2 parttime is better than 1fulltimer cos u can let a lazy un go and still hav 1 left in the meantime

Employee liability insurance seems to be about £200 ish for 1 employee whether parttime or full,then 100 for every employee after that -i use Simply Business .

the main thing is you dont want to take on a deadbeat with medical problems no matter how minor -so ask plenty about their past. i sometimes pretend im ill when talking to a prospective worker ,deadbeats usually offer immediate insider info on doctors hours,cure-all remedies etc whereas eager-but-dozy will say nothing at all

After 3 months you have to have a contract of employment,thats way way down the road and easy to download a generic then add your fine tuning

Thanks so much for that boar, thats a real insight. And I totally get the dozy bit lol. I have one guy in mind around here but rumour has it that he has ambitions of doing the same stuff I do, so the last thing I want to do is train up someone that will go into competition with me in two years time. At the same time I don't want someone that'll embarrass me. I'd like to work up to two or three people one day, but my van at the moment can only carry one passenger.

 

[cheapncheerful]

er gav...tell tolish off for being sexist...

if he dont apologise I will set shazzy on him...:rofl:

 

[TolishAPurd]

er gav...tell tolish off for being sexist...
if he dont apologise I will set shazzy on him...:rofl:

Lol, had to re read my posts to see what you were on about there.:laugh:

I've never had a ladder accident, but if I had an employee that looked like shazzy I reckon I'd be falling on my **** most days. /emoticons/biggrin.png

So lets get this right, it needs to be a dozy bloke, or an 'plain Jane'. :thumbsup:

 

[cheapncheerful]

yeh having a fit looking work mate may be somewat distracting...as she bends down to wash her stuff in the bucket...and we have tonights dream..:rofl:

its okay I have just done the one with a statue in that I am in love with.../emoticons/biggrin.png

yeh not so sure about the missus allowing a female work mate...I know mine wouldnt..

 

[boarcity]

3 month trial period. you will know if uve a good un by week 4 . a bad un cant behave for long,they can fake the good guy but only for a short while .

 

[TolishAPurd]

3 month trial period. you will know if uve a good un by week 4 . a bad un cant behave for long,they can fake the good guy but only for a short while .

That sounds right, I'll keep an eye out for bad traits and hopefully stamp on it quickly.:thumbsup:

What do you do about interviewing? ...pub, cafe? And whats a reasonable starting wage?

 

[Alien Human]

I have been thinking about getting an apprentice to help but also have concerns about getting the right person.

I used to conduct interviews in my previous job and everyone banged on about how the candidate must have certain skills, experience and knowledge of the role which I always thought was bull. If they've got the right attitude & drive then you have a winner.....the rest can be learnt quickly. That's why an apprentice appeals to me if I find the right one.......plus the 3k per year of government funding towards wages is also a small bonus. Keep us all up to date with how it goes Tolish :thumbsup:

 

[boarcity]

That sounds right, I'll keep an eye out for bad traits and hopefully stamp on it quickly.:thumbsup:
What do you do about interviewing? ...pub, cafe? And whats a reasonable starting wage?

i usually just interview by the roadside . i pay hourly £7 from the off ,explain clearly perks such as round up the hours at days end ie- if finishing at 3.30 youre paid up till 4 , share of tips , cash on the day , anything else you can think of thatll make them like the job but still respect you .

the 1st week i dont expect too much apart from turning up properly and doing what i say . what i mean is they cant be expected to clean with no streaks for quite a while

 

[Dave B]

7 quid..slave labour boar lol

I would work for you tolish but i would want at least 20 squid an hour

Seriously mate good luck as it will earn you more money

 

[TolishAPurd]

i usually just interview by the roadside . i pay hourly £7 from the off ,explain clearly perks such as round up the hours at days end ie- if finishing at 3.30 youre paid up till 4 , share of tips , cash on the day , anything else you can think of thatll make them like the job but still respect you .the 1st week i dont expect too much apart from turning up properly and doing what i say . what i mean is they cant be expected to clean with no streaks for quite a while

Nice one mate. Is that £7 after tax NI etc,or before? Think I might give him a few hours training on a weekend or something to bring him up to speed, and then build from there. I'm quite looking forward to this now, thanks for shedding light on it all. /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Tuffers]

The only person I'd employ is my nipper. And to be fair I think he'd be pretty cr4p at window cleaning. He's 14, no drive, no strength, cheeky and hasn't discovered girls yet /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Alien Human]

The only person I'd employ is my nipper. And to be fair I think he'd be pretty cr4p at window cleaning. He's 14, no drive, no strength, cheeky and hasn't discovered girls yet /emoticons/biggrin.png

I sometimes think the same Tuffers but my eldest boy is errrrr : 2! My 8 yr old girl came out the other day though and loved it.

 

[Dave B]

My 14 year old boy is the other way tuffers

6'3" strong as an ox

Likes to get stuck in and likes money

I took him out this evening and he cleaned the bottoms of a couple of town houses for me while i did the high work

I don't like the thought of him and ladders though..not that he is stupid but it took me a fall to wise up years ago..

 

[boarcity]

Nice one mate. Is that £7 after tax NI etc,or before? Think I might give him a few hours training on a weekend or something to bring him up to speed, and then build from there. I'm quite looking forward to this now, thanks for shedding light on it all. /emoticons/smile.png

7 quid before tax. at first theyll be well under the tax limit and if theyre under 21 they dont pay NI ,this rule has only just come in ,in April. before that i paid their NI .

Its good that you are lookin forward to it, iv never regretted employing. gettin the worker to run errands such as goin to van to get a broom instead of you having to go, are real energy savers

 

[boarcity]

you will need to register with HMRC as an employer , id do this after the 1st month once you know its going to pan out. HMRC send you a computer disc that explains all, its easy to follow to, and theyv a helpline,iv used that too

 

[Dave B]

If you want a decent reliable worker surely you need to pay well

Someone would want to stay and be loyal then

Not many younguns earning tenner an hour

 

[TolishAPurd]

7 quid..slave labour boar lol
I would work for you tolish but i would want at least 20 squid an hour

Seriously mate good luck as it will earn you more money

Cheers Dave. :thumbsup: How does £18 sound along with free use of the company gym, and Pupa health care (like Bupa, but just a bit sh*tter)?

The only person I'd employ is my nipper. And to be fair I think he'd be pretty cr4p at window cleaning. He's 14, no drive, no strength, cheeky and hasn't discovered girls yet /emoticons/biggrin.png

I've been on the lookout for a helper for around 8 months now, but all the kids around here are computor geeks and the like. I reckon its the chemicals in the water and the skinny jeans these days, but I discovered girls by the time I was 10, aand by the time I was 11 I realised I was a pervert. :thumbsup:/emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[TolishAPurd]

If you want a decent reliable worker surely you need to pay wellSomeone would want to stay and be loyal then

Not many younguns earning tenner an hour

I think 7s an ok starting wage considering he'll be slow and making mistakes in the early days, but It'll probably go up to around a tenner once he/she ( /emoticons/wink.png cnc) has shown thier worth. :thumbsup:

you will need to register with HMRC as an employer , id do this after the 1st month once you know its going to pan out. HMRC send you a computer disc that explains all, its easy to follow to, and theyv a helpline,iv used that too

Cheers Boar, I'll do that. I can see the costs mounting up already,but at least I have enough tools to give him. Just need a belt, pouch, BOAB setup and he'll be away.

 

[boarcity]

40+ quid a day regularly is very good money when youre a youngster . regularly being the word. oh they can get 50 or 60 a day doing handballing out truck containers or on a removals van for an agency but thats irregular work, some weeks no work at all in those type of jobs .