Heres an idea up for debate. Think it should motivate employees? They get their pay. Every week. At the end of quarter they get percentage of gross bonus. Be like half a percent, ya know figure that out later. be like an extra 200- 500 extra pay that week?
A slightly higher percentage the longer you stay with company?
Yea like a safety bonus Art! Besides keeping his job he is motivated in the companys growth. Not be a slacker? I paid an extra $20 to helper for 4th of July weekend, and he has a birthday coming up $20 extra for that too. It's just 20 bucks, here and there. Plus a quarterly bonus. From half a weeks pay to a weeks pay added. Still in the beginning stages of this thought.
I too want to bonus my guys just for showing up. I'm grateful when things go right. But dammit that's what I pay them for to do it and do it right. I'm thinking to bonus them out after the season ends (winter) then bonus them back in when they return. I don't want to start from ground zero w/ brand new guys and training, then depend on newly trained guys to keep my business going. I will try to give a little suttin to get thru the winter plus incentive to hang on and return in March.
Yea get them to take a deeper interest in the success of the company. Pride in their work. SHOW UP! lol!!! Not take a day off without telling me first! I'd pay a lil extra for that!!!!
Incentive programs are an excellent way to motivate employee's.
Base pay (either hourly or daily) combined with a percentage of each jobs profit IF they finish within the timeframe you determine per job.
For example if you contract a job that estimate at 1-1.5hrs and they get it done in 1.5hrs, they get lets say an additional $10. Done and on to next job under or only up to 1hr, $15.
If you have 3 jobs lined up and possibly a 4th time permitting, at 3 houses/day they make an additional $30/day, if they hustle and get the 4th house done, thats an additional $60/day. For an avg house lets say @$600, you make up for the incentives.
Of course you adjust base pay down to compensate.
$12-$15hr straight pay you scale down to say $10-$12.50hr.
The problem with straight pay is workers tend to milk the day. No incentive to work harder, 40hrs on payday is the same for the hustler as for the slacker.
If you have say 2 crews, do monthly bonus competitions.
Which ever team has the most completed jobs, gets an additional bonus, say $200 each if 2 man teams. thats only a $100 per week from you but you make that up tenfold in production.
Or you can just take the winning team out for ice cream.
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Monday 4th of July 2011 08:23:11 PM
No 2 jobs are the same??? How would you justify the differences?? Say team1 gets 5 done.Team 2 gets 6 but they were a little easier but price was the same for all. I'm just sayin.
Theres always going to b variables. Its your job to quote job times reasonably. If you bustin your azz (pushin your helper) and get it done under an hr (lets say) as the day goes on your gonna lose steam, if your guys normally can do the job in 2hrs at an easy pace, its reasonable to expect 1.5hrs. If they decide to challenge themselves and get more done faster, that equates to more money in THEIR pockets. As for amount of work each team has on a given day not being the same, load balance, thats to say the next day you give the other team the easier or harder route and keep track the # of jobs each crew do per month.
It still comes down to you being thorough in your estimating and reasonable with your times. YOU are the one responsible for giving them the information they need to getting the job done efficiently. On a two hr job they need to know by the 1st 1/2hr they need to be up to 1/4 of the way done. Or lets say
1/2hr setup and water veg., prep equipment, get your mix going, ladders set, etc. 1/2hr actually spraying roof 1/2hr cleanup holding off on rinsing pump/rollin up hoses in case touch ups necc. 1/2hr final cleanup, flushing equip. reviewing w/H.O. GETTIN CHECK, etc
if crew isn't done in the first 1/2hr, nee to speed up pace, also need tolook for unforseen issues and CALL IT IN ASAP. This is called setting milestones. They need to manage themselves or else you have to hire a lead/foreman to babysit at your expense. Your time needs to be running the bus., getting out and marketing & networking.
You have to design a production plan that works for your business and around individual personalities. Business is warfare, your employees may be your best friends but if they're holding you back, you gotta your interests first.
The straightest path between 2 points is always the most efficient. Yes that is the most simplistic way of instituting production, but sometimes that becomes boring. Mixing it up, makes it more challenging and keeps their heads up. Try different approaches, ask for their feed back, positive feedback on how to improve the business benefits everyone.
The more your employees feel the're empowered and have "skin in the game", the more productive they will be.
I'm currently trying to "simplify" a business model which is why I'm focusing on roof cleaning as a subsidary business.
This is good stuff. In Tampa My head hurt too, last year. Sure I'll have another headache this year! For Gutterdogs I need to put something in place. That motivates the employee. That they have a future with a growing company.
The driver is the technicians helper. The driver wants to make the tech pay.
So he watches and learns.
A way to reward for good work, showing up on time, No missing days.
I too want to bonus my guys just for showing up. I'm grateful when things go right. But dammit that's what I pay them for to do it and do it right. I'm thinking to bonus them out after the season ends (winter) then bonus them back in when they return. I don't want to start from ground zero w/ brand new guys and training, then depend on newly trained guys to keep my business going. I will try to give a little suttin to get thru the winter plus incentive to hang on and return in March.
Clyde alls I ever wanted was for you to be proud of me. I was rushed to the ER. iPad in the waiting room. Anyone ever have appendicitis? That's what they're thinking. I'm hurtin right now. How duz it work?
Theres an on/off switch in the upper right side I believe.
Simplistic e'nuff?
just kiddin
BTW I had a gallstone scare this past march, Really thought I'd have to have surgery bad cough/cold squeezed out some stones! got some inside what childbirth might be like.
Ooooooooooch! best of luck.
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Monday 4th of July 2011 02:23:58 PM
Clyde alls I ever wanted was for you to be proud of me. I was rushed to the ER. iPad in the waiting room. Anyone ever have appendicitis? That's what they're thinking. I'm hurtin right now. How duz it work?
Ed I have always been proud of you, your a brilliant business man, your a straight talker, I have never once caught you Bullshitting.
I hope the docs get you running quick, If I can help you in anyway let me know!