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water boy jim

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Hi all, first time at this forum stuff!

I'm James, I'm 23 have been window cleaning 4 years now and running my own round 3 years.

Based in Eastleigh working in surrounding areas mainly Winchester.

I've come to the point where its just to much to handle and I cant keep up with the work and be on time for everyone! I don't want to be known as unreliable but its hard work to keep up.

I Have employed nippers but never really found anyone I can fully trust and they never hang around long. I think they find it boring. The works too much for myself but not quite enough for 2 full time.

I was thinking maybe selling bits of the round off, but don't really know where to start with how you do that?

Has anyone got to this point before and come up with a solution?

James

 
Part timer? You just got to advertise and sift through till you find a suitable worker.

Advertise on job centre, Gumtree, Facebook page etc, see what you get, meet up with them, explain the work, one week probation unpaid, that will help you find a good one.

 
Hi all, first time at this forum stuff!
I'm James, I'm 23 have been window cleaning 4 years now and running my own round 3 years.

Based in Eastleigh working in surrounding areas mainly Winchester.

I've come to the point where its just to much to handle and I cant keep up with the work and be on time for everyone! I don't want to be known as unreliable but its hard work to keep up.

I Have employed nippers but never really found anyone I can fully trust and they never hang around long. I think they find it boring. The works too much for myself but not quite enough for 2 full time.

I was thinking maybe selling bits of the round off, but don't really know where to start with how you do that?

Has anyone got to this point before and come up with a solution?

James
My round is completely full, so I sell off work including new customers to another windie that I've come quite friendly with.

This become a nice little earner. I might be losing my worker soon, and have decided I'm not going to replace him and instead am going to sell more of my round to this other guy.

 
I'm pretty much same as Steve. Finding a good employee is a PITA.

I have more than enough. I sell off all new work amd when I have a roof clean or some driveways to do I wait till the missus can help. That also keeps the cash in our pockets

 
That's not ethical at all to employ someone for a week unpaid @meridion

Can't see anyone giving a decent display of their attributes for a weeks unpaid work,know I wouldn't.

My round is near full for myself too,and worried about winter time already...will keep an eye on your thread for mutual advice.

 
Part timer? You just got to advertise and sift through till you find a suitable worker.
Advertise on job centre, Gumtree, Facebook page etc, see what you get, meet up with them, explain the work, one week probation unpaid, that will help you find a good one.
This is also ILLEGAL there is a thing called MINIMUM wage to battle such exploitation.

Only people you can hire for below minimum wage are immediate family members with a vested interest in the business.

 
This is also ILLEGAL there is a thing called MINIMUM wage to battle such exploitation.
Only people you can hire for below minimum wage are immediate family members with a vested interest in the business.
Untrue. What do you make of unpaid internships Green? I could be wrong of course.

 
That's not even similar,the reward is different and as stated it would be unlawful in the UK. Very true.

Worst advice I've heard on here, cos it does nothing but make us look like rouges. To get the best from someone we surely need to treat them well.

 
How? The reward is normally a position in the company.

I underwent an unpaid internship at a law firm with the promise of getting a job if they were happy with my performance five years ago. And they should know, they specialised in employment law.

But hey, I could be wrong.

 
Yes but we are not talking some position on similar grounds here,and yes if you are termed as a 'worker' (see gov site) then you should have been paid minimum wage at least,and if there was any promise of future work then again you have to be paid.

Only students or voluntary type roles are not required to be paid.

 
Come on Chris, you're splitting hairs.

A position is a position no matter the business or role.

I didn't say give them a contract with the first week unpaid. I said give them a try I.e. "Internship/voluntary" for a couple days before taking them on seriously.

There's nothing even remotely illegal about that if both parties agree to it.

I'm hardly cowboy with my background :rofl:

 
This ain't splitting hairs,its illegal and taking advantage.

Not going to clog up some else's post anymore but I simple think if you hire you hire,none of this unpaid work nonsense..

Its just not the done thing,if they ain't good should still have been paid for their time.

What has your background got to do with it,its the values I'm on about.

 
Well it's the done thing in many sectors and industries, so I don't think this is a matter of law, more like a matter of your personal view. Which is fine.

 
I no the felling there's me and my brother work nearly 6 full days a week and rounds gone from 4 to 6 weekly but still struggling to keep up were thinking along the lines of putting prices up of old customers to bring them in line with new work but I really finding it hard to do but why do houses that you've done for years at 8-10 pound when your picking new ones up for £12 +

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Forums mobile app

 
You use the term 'i could be wrong' a few times there and you are. I state that as a former employer and I used a law firm to draw up our contracts etc.

The law is black and white on it. You have to pay at least minimum wage of having someone work for you.

You can agree to have them come in for a couple of hours unpaid assessment / trial but anymore than that and they have the right to be paid.

As for a contract you are legally obliged to provide a written contract if employing someone for more than a month.

Two people 'agreeing' on something dees not make it legal. The laws are there for a reason and explained on the .gov site.

Take a read of it before exploiting those looking for work.

Is It Legal Not To Be Paid For A Trial Shift?

When I used to employ I would have them come by the house, ladder would be laid out tools etc and I would have them start on a downstairs window, then ask them to position the ladder upstairs and so on to assess them. It takes 20-30 mins to assess if worth taking someone further.

 
I had my worker (its my mates son) come round to my house. I spent a couple of hours with him teaching him how to use the pole and a squeegee.

He wasn't paid for this, but I sent him off home with an applicator and squeegee and told him as soon as he can squeegee a window with both hands, he could come out with me and start earning.

Now, I hardly ever do any trad, but I wanted to test his attitude and see how quick he'd pick it up and know his heart was in it. Fair play to him, because he's worked with me ever since, but will be leaving soon to do an electrical apprenticeship.

The point in making here, is I wouldn't take a risk of taking someone out who could be useless and having to pay them. There are other ways of shelling peas :thumbsup:

 
@Green Pro Clean Ltd that sounds a balanced and sensible way to test someone's skills. Personally have been getting some calls from guys here wanting work and didn't have a clue how to know if they'd be any good until now.

Raising prices on current work and dropping others soounds a good idea too.

 
Its only how you label it

Employment rights and pay for interns - GOV.UK

On there if they agree to the first week being voluntary, they're not classed as a worker, so no obligation to pay. bobs your uncle.

I'm pretty dam sure if I approached a window Cleaning company and said I want a job, I'll do a week for free, if you like me take me on, if not I'll be on my way; no court in the land would find an issue there.

 
Hi @water boy jim . Welcome to forum. I'm not far down the m27 at fareham. I am in similar position with trying to get rid of some houses at mo. Not because I'm totally full yet but cos when I first started I was taking on people here there and everywhere just happy to get another job but now I'm trying to make rounds much more compact. I'm just doing it by putting prices up. If they are happy great I am earning more even if it's a bit more time taken to get there or if they say no then it's sorted that way.

 
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