I need more help (employees 101)
- Thread starter AndyG
- Start date
Well the earth is bi-polar.
I actually was thinking about that and was he exhibiting that kind of behavior-
But actually I have came to this conclusion-
He is a young man with a lot of promise and he sees himself going down the same road that his parents and everyone in the same trailer park has gone down- And he wants so much more but he doesn’t know how to apply himself to get it because he’s never seen anyone do that. And he is so angry about that.
He has a pot problem. He got into a relationship with a girl and has a daughter that he didn’t want to be burdened with. He realizes he is his own enemy- He likes to think that all his problems are external but most people that are angry know who is to blame.
All he has seen is addiction and anger and strife within his family.
That's surely sad. However, at some point, you become another enabler by not firing him. The only way for him to break that cycle is to suffer consequences which will either allow him to see the error of his ways, or not. It's really that simple.
And if he's bipolar (I don't think he is from your description), that's a hard thing to deal with. I've met quite a few diagnosed bipolar people over the years, and very few are people I'd want working for me, especially if they interact with customers/clients. Eventually, they all have incidents where the bipolar behavior finds a way out, and then nothing good happens. I wouldn't want that potential threat in an organization I'm running. That is a terrible affliction.
All I know to do is channel my regret for not doing this sooner into resolve to not repeat it.
JEEPSTEVENANAIMO
TJ Enthusiast
sounds like a young man who needs a quality role model to pull him out of that mindset.
Issues like that are why I quit my Engineering Director job two months back. Seventeen years was a good run, but this generation is too incompatible with my way of thinking, and it's just too much a PITA to lead them. I start a new "no-direct-reports" job for almost the same pay next Tuesday, and I'm really looking forward to less drama to deal with...
I didn't read all this, but I remember it coming up a few months back. If he's still with you and he doesn't know how to get out of the trailer park pot life but wants to, then you are the guy to direct him to a trade school or college. Some edumacation would do him good. Maybe you've already encouraged this, but if you want higher paying jobs you usually have to do some kind of edumacation. Otherwise these types of jobs "top out" on a pay scale. I'm obviously very edumacated.
I really wanted to see him rise-
He has been here about 10 years.
But the other side of that was his temperament would not allow him to learn to do tedious work- he would fly into something with no forethought then fight it and blow up. He had it made. He got to ride around and clean up jobs and smoke pot in between jobs and just have a big ol’ time. I think the majority of people out there would be thrilled at the opportunity to do that for nearly $1000 a week. He could a lot of basic things well- insulate, duct work,demo,etc....if his attitude was good.
Skills aside, I would fire master carpenter Norm Abrams if he acted like that regularly.
We had a top level guy that was making killer money working a four-day week and he decided to chew me out one evening. I fired him on the spot. The next morning he showed up at a job waiting to talk to me and I told him to leave her I would call the police immediately, blocked him and was done. There was more to it than that he had demonstrated some competence limitations and I suspected an alcohol problem.
To be productive in construction there is a balance- you’ve got to do some planning and good set up work...then act and watch how it goes.
At the same time predetermination can be lethal if you think something is going to be terrible then you’ve already decided that it will.
Just like much of his generation he wants it either handed to him on a silver platter or basically done for him- He wants everything on his terms including the weather and government.
In my industry we working in only in the remodel sector of it and it takes years to master- why? Variation. Ultimately your problem-solving skills is what carries you.
I tried.
He has a mother telling him the people that own businesses are getting rich and he’s getting taken advantage of.
Sadly the people that have the most influence on him just don’t have the best character.
Materials have risen and we have a lot of fixed contract work...Everyone wants to make more money... Customers are unable to finance the entire Remodel because they’re trying to gold plate everything and they are being slow to pay when they have to dip into their personal funds and they are questioning every invoice....Mainly to buy time.
We are surviving and I’m working my rear end off to do the best that I can for everybody....But I’m just not in a good frame of mind to put up with a lot of disrespect.
A lot of it may be "Pot". I've been told that Pot arrests development at the age it is first used. From what I've seen, there seems to be some truth to that. I know a certain 50 year old teenager...
JEEPSTEVENANAIMO
TJ Enthusiast
DANG. sounds like this dude had it real good and just cant see past the people he doesnt want to be like (the trailer park people telling him that the owner makesall the money) those people only think short term/now. never long term. thats a real shame.
I will tell you something I heard someone say one time- When people become dependent on a drug.....They typically fail to develop the toughness it takes to handle the stress of life.
There is something to that.
Be careful with work that good ...we might come get you.
DuckNut
TJ Enthusiast
I wouldn't hire you either. Any cabinet maker worth his weight in screws never forgets to put in the faucet at the sink.
LOL! Fine, fine, fine! I didn’t want to show all the mess!
I built a cabinet to the side for laundry baskets and storage. I still need to add cabinet doors up top, but it’s made the tiny room more functional and aesthetically appealing.
I really just needed to know from Andy that I’ve got job security if my current gig plays out!
I built a cabinet to the side for laundry baskets and storage. I still need to add cabinet doors up top, but it’s made the tiny room more functional and aesthetically appealing.
I really just needed to know from Andy that I’ve got job security if my current gig plays out!
DuckNut
TJ Enthusiast
Andy,
I was out of town a couple weeks back and was having a discussion with a buddy sitting by a campfire. The conversation was, my buddy had employees asking for raises who did not do great work.
My boiled down response was so you are contemplating paying people more money to do the same crappy work. If they are doing great work, pay them. If they are doing sub par work, cut them and use the money on talent. Human capital is the biggest expense you have. It comes in the form of a weekly check and in the intangible form of customer satisfaction and word of mouth.
I applaud you for caring for this young man and wishing success to him. I abhor you for coddling this man and suffering the anguish you have endured. It has taken me years to surround myself with the right people. If I feel like "I am trying", they are not the right people.
I know you have a good name in the business and are well respected in your area, so I want to congratulate you you for doing the right thing. Giving the lad the rope to hang himself. And that he did.
I was out of town a couple weeks back and was having a discussion with a buddy sitting by a campfire. The conversation was, my buddy had employees asking for raises who did not do great work.
My boiled down response was so you are contemplating paying people more money to do the same crappy work. If they are doing great work, pay them. If they are doing sub par work, cut them and use the money on talent. Human capital is the biggest expense you have. It comes in the form of a weekly check and in the intangible form of customer satisfaction and word of mouth.
I applaud you for caring for this young man and wishing success to him. I abhor you for coddling this man and suffering the anguish you have endured. It has taken me years to surround myself with the right people. If I feel like "I am trying", they are not the right people.
I know you have a good name in the business and are well respected in your area, so I want to congratulate you you for doing the right thing. Giving the lad the rope to hang himself. And that he did.
DuckNut
TJ Enthusiast
So well stated.
Nepotism is real- his mother, step dad work here...and I foolishly also let that be an excuse or at least to influence me way too long.
We do not get what we pay for, what we want, or what we expect from others- we get what we tolerate.
You are so correct about human capital. People are so much more expensive than all the materials and services we use out here.
The trend today is “I am here, therefore I should be well paid.” Also these people are the exact same ones that talk to each other about these things so once one of them makes a little more money the rest of the piranhas swim in.
This kid is essentially out of control. Bad.
Talent? Yes. Ability? Yes. But I know homeless people that have that. This young man really did have the potential and the father in me wanted so bad to see him rise above his upbringing.
But let me tell you guys one thing he did-
He brought a guy into the company that had worked very hard for a concrete pumping company and had topped out at $15 an hour.
This kid is on the job at 7 AM every day and he brings it.
I sat down with him today and went over what he can be making immediately and listed the responsibilities that he would be given to do that, And how that would be monitored and when he could expect bonuses and raises. It is amazing the difference of somebody who has really got out here and paid the price and sees the reward they earn, vs. entitlement. He was all in. And what I really like about him is he was all in before that.
As contractors we are in a dangerous age- It’s really not that you can’t get people to work- It is the fact that many people are more than willing to work or show up for a paycheck but they don’t have close to the skills they need or that we need.
A lot of them don’t even know how far off base they are.
I’m going say another thing that really scares me- There are also young people that will come out and tell you they don’t want to bear the responsibility of being counted on to produce. Boy that is living small. No future in that.
And I address it quick-
I had one guy who mentioned to me that I seemed kind of concerned about his performance- “uh, You don’t know what you’re doing.”
The right people are near effortless to work. You can just point. They will do a good job whether you were looking or not. They solve problems. They notice things you don’t. And they have your back with a client. Those are the ones that the money needs to go to. And they can bring some in for you to share.
Thank you for your honest post Duck, this is not the first time you have impressed me with your broad viewpoint, approach and realism. I am convinced that you are an exceptional person well worth listening to.
Your story also brings to mind is something that I’ve done over the years that I really prefer to do and that is give performance bonuses-
I like that much more than a pay rate that is out of scale.
Don’t get me wrong I want people to make a livable wage- But I also really need performance. In construction people can turn that on and off like a switch.
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I wouldn't hire you either. Any cabinet maker worth his weight in screws never forgets to put in the faucet at the sink.
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