Not getting paid enough

[robin vos]

Hi all, just looking for some advice, I’m an employee, been working for this window cleaning company for a few years now, we do both water fed and trad, commercial work and our normal rounds. My question is what is the accepted wage for an employee ? At the moment I’m getting £1280, that’s before deductions and I’m battling as a husband with two kids. Does this wage sound about right or not ? We do around 10 to 14 houses a day and have commercial work thrown in as well. What as employers do you guys out there pay ?

 

[pieman]

Hi is that £1280 a week ?


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[RWCleaning]

I presume not, otherwise that’s excellent money for a employee. A month that’s hard going. 

 

[AGlassAct]

That’s pretty much minimum wage - if your not happy and you do a good job talk to your boss, if he’s reasonable and your an asset I’m sure he’d increase it.


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[Redditch windy]

hang on...if you've a couple of years experience you really ought to be out working for yourself!

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[Part Timer]

Personally think £8 an hour working outside in all weathers doing a physical job is pathetic. I know the employers on here will defend their pay rates but the fact is you're struggling to keep your head above water. 

Your options are tell your boss how much you want or find another job. If you were doing 14 houses a day for yourself what do you think you would be able to earn. Your turnover won't be your wages so rough rule of thumb is deduct £150 a week to cover costs etc. 

 

[Blocker]

I’m Leeds and the lads we hire at the bottom of the pay scale with no experience at all start on £325 after tax with full holiday pay pension and insurance. That wage is a joke. 

 

[paul alan]

My guy is on £8 training wage, he's going up to £12 soon.

Tell your boss that if he doesn't up your wages you'll start on your own. If you do decide to start alone come to the forum for all the advice you could possibly need and we'll all be here for you!

In fact I would love to see you do it mate, I have kids too! You owe it too them mate, you could earn more money and spend more time with them.

 

[BigFoot]

I’d look at self employment immediately. If you canvassed a round of only five jobs a day at £12.50 you’d be on more or less the same your on now. And to put that into perspective I’m not a full round yet so have days cold calling and regularly pick up and clean five jobs in a day. Many of us on the forum have for various reasons had tough decisions to make or been in similar situations as you. Take a deap breath and take the plunge. Could even start doing extra just on Saturdays, you’ll soon see your true earning potential. Good luck either way.

 

[paul alan]

As a new employer the last thing I would want is for my employee to look elsewhere. Which is why I give him a good enough reason to stay with me, good pay.

Your employer is not giving you what you deserve IMO. I dont know the ins and outs of his work, maybe he just doesn't charge enough?

I think if you are "struggling" as you said then you need to do something, window cleaning is providing me with a decent lifestyle and can for anyone else too. You needn't struggle mate.

 

[spruce]

The boss is expecting @robin vosto apply for family credits to make his wages up.

 

[spruce]

I’d look at self employment immediately. If you canvassed a round of only five jobs a day at £12.50 you’d be on more or less the same your on now. And to put that into perspective I’m not a full round yet so have days cold calling and regularly pick up and clean five jobs in a day. Many of us on the forum have for various reasons had tough decisions to make or been in similar situations as you. Take a deap breath and take the plunge. Could even start doing extra just on Saturdays, you’ll soon see your true earning potential. Good luck either way.

He might have a clause in his current employment that prevents him from doing the same work outside his employers time and he might even have a stipulation that, should he leave his current employment he is unable to clean windows within X radius of his boss' current working area in a stipulated period of time.

If he has then going self employed in his current sphere of experience could be near impossible if he continues to live in the same area.

 

[robin vos]

Thanks for all the advice guys,  been thinking about going it alone for a while, it’s just getting the start up funds. @spruce I’m gonna need to check my contract before doing anything drastic. They have another three guys working for them so will have a chat to them as well. Will approach the owners again and check about a raise before Xmas. Most of what I’ve read now seems we are getting under paid. Thanks guys

 

[Den]

Good to see you posting, I wouldn’t have a chat with the other guys just yet until you read your contract as Spruce as advised, make a decision whether your going to start up cleaning for your self and even if the other guys feel the same as you currently do I wouldn’t be tempted to go in partnership with anyone else, would just go at it alone.

 

[spruce]

Thanks for all the advice guys,  been thinking about going it alone for a while, it’s just getting the start up funds. @spruce I’m gonna need to check my contract before doing anything drastic. They have another three guys working for them so will have a chat to them as well. Will approach the owners again and check about a raise before Xmas. Most of what I’ve read now seems we are getting under paid. Thanks guys

Unfortunately if you live in an area of high unemployment chances are that it will be a take it or leave it situation. In the south where its more difficult for employers to find staff, employees have a better chance of 'encouraging/forcing' a pay rise as they can 'vote with their feet.'

Again, employers always seem to have the upper hand these days as is evident by 'zero hour' contacts employers are allowed to force their employees to sign. When one political party is in power it favours business owner's but when the other party is in power it favours the workers.  Its the swinging pendulum.

 

[Guest]

We pay £10/hr. + extra bits.

 

[robin vos]

@spruce yeah it’s pretty much like you say, the others I’ve spoken to are like hey at least you’ve got a job, which is true, just hate being in a no win situation. Will just have to carry on and hope they take pity on the humble worker eventually. No other options just now.

 

[Mcsandlaly]

I pay experienced lads who work with me 35 percent of what we do in a day, which is generous probably but rather keep them working for me then any other folk.  Good workers deserve good pay and loyalty and you need to ask for it. Your kids deserve it too.

 

[Skxawng]

I pay experienced lads who work with me 35 percent of what we do in a day, which is generous probably but rather keep them working for me then any other folk.  Good workers deserve good pay and loyalty and you need to ask for it. Your kids deserve it too.

That's a good idea as if they work harder they earn more so it's an incentive.

I'm usually on my own or with my wife mostly now but I few times last year I've had to get extra help I've paid £10 per hour.

 

[paul alan]

He might have a clause in his current employment that prevents him from doing the same work outside his employers time and he might even have a stipulation that, should he leave his current employment he is unable to clean windows within X radius of his boss' current working area in a stipulated period of time.

If he has then going self employed in his current sphere of experience could be near impossible if he continues to live in the same area.

From what I have heard there was a European law passed a few years ago that says its illegal to  stop someone from earning a living doing what they are trained to do in their own area. 

I believe you can get someone to sign to say they wont, but if they do its going to be very hard to enforce.

 

[Part Timer]

I believe it's called a restrictive covenant and nigh on impossible to enforce. Only chance his boss would have is prevent him going to his current customers, for a period of time. I, personally, doubt they could prevent him setting up and getting his own customers. Again, as in financial advice, if you are considering doing this seek professional legal advice.