posted
My operation for the past ten years has been my wife and myself. At times, when run off my feet I considered extra employees but thankfully held off. Now, with so many companies closing or downsizing, their main complaint here in Ireland the redundancy costs can be huge. Having to find 15 or 20k for employees that have been years with a business. Does that situation apply in the states or elsewhere and is it a deterrent towards employing in the first place. Was for me and glad I didnt
-------------------- Kevin Gaffney Artistik Signs Kinnegad County Westmeath Ireland 044-75187 kevingaffney@eircom.net Posts: 628 | From: Ireland | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hiya Kevin, When I had them, I've always considered employees an asset because, if I did my job as a manager correctly, they made the company more money.
Now, however, with the economy being what it is and this impending insurance legislation (I can not call it a health care law), things don't look so rosy. And, I'm fairly sure I could no longer afford to attract and hire some quality employees.
Even though my business is small enough not to be burdened with this mandate, I sincerely doubt I would be able to attract quality employees without offering (now) expensive health insurance as part of an overall compensation package.
Because of this, the applicants will likely be lower caliber and, in the long run, end up costing more than they are worth.
Cheers,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am not expert on this because having more than a part time employee is fairly new to me, but if my employees aren't making me money then I need to evaluate why, and fix that problem. At my age I am focused on making a living out of this business and realize I cannot do it all myself efficiently. even in this economy my business seems to be growing. I feel totally blessed, the key I have found is not just having employees but the right employees. I have some that were liabilities, and I fixed that the ones I have now are assets for sure.
I was always hesitant because of liabilty and what we have here is workman's comp insurance, but once you jump in it's really not a big thing.
I hope any of that jargon made sense and helps
[ September 07, 2013, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
We've had up to twenty-two full time employees at one time although we are much smaller now with five currently on staff.
Employees are definitely an asset. Although there have been a few who simply didn't want to work, most of the people we hire are motivated to work hard, learn, and do what I ask of them. Those of us who started small and then grew our companies will know that keeping staff motivated is a challenging job. As the numbers of employees grows, your ability to actually work with your own hands diminishes.
The days of our company having full time, permanent employees is now gone. I quickly learned that if the work is thin employees can quickly deplete the cash on hand by using them only for make work projects. You have to also be a lot less picky about the kind of work you take on to keep everyone busy.
Instead we now hire young people, in university or just out of school. They work as much as they are able and I scale the crew up or down depending on how much work we have.
I say no to work that isn't exactly the kind of work I want to do. Currently we have a very large project that will take us into next summer with two more large projects after that which will take us into the following summer. I am actively (but very selectively) recruiting and training a new crew to help with these projects.
I hire young people with dreams, knowing I will lose them in a year or two, perhaps a little longer. The deal we make is simple. I help them with their dreams and they in turn help me with mine. It's a good deal for all.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Dan Sawatzky: We've had up to twenty-two full time employees at one time although we are much smaller now with five currently on staff.
Employees are definitely an asset. Although there have been a few who simply didn't want to work, most of the people we hire are motivated to work hard, learn, and do what I ask of them. Those of us who started small and then grew our companies will know that keeping staff motivated is a challenging job. As the numbers of employees grows, your ability to actually work with your own hands diminishes.
The days of our company having full time, permanent employees is now gone. I quickly learned that if the work is thin employees can quickly deplete the cash on hand by using them only for make work projects. You have to also be a lot less picky about the kind of work you take on to keep everyone busy.
Instead we now hire young people, in university or just out of school. They work as much as they are able and I scale the crew up or down depending on how much work we have.
I say no to work that isn't exactly the kind of work I want to do. Currently we have a very large project that will take us into next summer with two more large projects after that which will take us into the following summer. I am actively (but very selectively) recruiting and training a new crew to help with these projects.
I hire young people with dreams, knowing I will lose them in a year or two, perhaps a little longer. The deal we make is simple. I help them with their dreams and they in turn help me with mine. It's a good deal for all.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Bob Moroney The Sign Guy 310 Club Valley Drive Falmouth, MA 02536 508-259-6297 Posts: 216 | From: Falmouth, MA | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
the ones I have now are assets for sure.
Printer-friendly view of this topic