Loss of an employee!

Submitted by Sparkatrician on Tue, 02/09/2008 - 00:14.

Today I sacked my last employee!

So now i'm back to being on my own and have a spare van.

For the record and my own notes i'll detail it here, I made a mistake.

I was too nice
Constant lateness was the main problem along with some other things that were not good.

The mistake was that during the early stages of him being late i just let it slide, by time it started becoming a real problem I think it had gone too far and it wasn't taken seriously enough by the employee.

I was going to give him everything (and i'd like to know what went through his mind) that he could have after showing the right qualities been running the company as I've been and now am looking for a right hand man!

So if i can pass on anthing to you from my experience it is that get your contract, policies and systems in place so everyone knows where they stand and then if a problem arises step on it and address that problem ASAP

Well they say we learn from our mistakes and I've definatley learned 1 or 2 things fro this and now have become a better Employer/ Manager/ Leader (I hope)

Paul

PS this log also marks my catch up with Emily on pilots logs at 67 :-)

ELECTRICAL CONCEPTS
Design, Install, Maintenance.
Domestic & Commercial

www.electrical-concepts.co.uk

call 0800 458 9118

problem with contractors

Submitted by cassandra77 on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 10:42.

Paul,

I feel your pain. I have worked with a total of 9 different ladies and not all of them have been as brilliant as I had initially hoped. I have my main seamstress down in the South and she has been a total star. Without her I would not be where I am now as she has been great at her work, she's timely and she is just a very generally lovely person.

Unfortunately, not everyone I have used as constrators has been as wonderful. One order I didn't even pay for because it was so badly done. I even ripped off the labels and posted them back to the girl....not in a mean way...I just didn't want those things to have my labels on them because they were that badly done. The fabric was ruined beyond repair and I just thought 'are you kidding me? I wouldn't even give these away.'

I have also witnessed something weird in that with some seamstresses, the first two or three orders are fabulous and then the ones after that are a bit crap. I very kindly explain that the seams need to be straight and line up nicely and I do give them a couple more chances to follow up with the feedback. More often then not, I get an order that has obviously been rushed through. Again...I can't sell those bags...so that's time wasted, money wasted, resources wasted.

So, I feel for you. It isn't easy but once you get that hard work person on your side who shares your vision, then things are rather nice.

Cassandra

Have you thought about the method you used to recruit?

Submitted by Claire413 on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 21:46.

Hi all

Just thought Id pass along some tips Ive learnt whilst working in recruitment - many people can come across very well almost perfect in an interview situation now I have found there are two ways to really test a persons suitability is through a competancy based interview so you need to identify the skill you require e.g a common skill is team work so most people will ask " how do you work well within a team" to "give me an example of when you had to work within a team describe the situation, tell me what you did and what was the result" putting it in a past tense situation means it is alot harder (but not impossible) to lie or blag your way through you can also use that technique for any skill your company needs.

the other solution is your not 100% sure you could always arrange a working interview so maybe a morning or a day for the canidate to work for you as if he or she had the actual position (obv you need to make sure the candidate is aware this is a working interview) after a morning or a day you can really assess this person skills and make a more informed decision.

C.Davis

Employees

Submitted by Sparkatrician on Fri, 26/09/2008 - 00:27.

Hi
Cassandra, the first weeks they are in or have a new job and are trying to impress then once they think they are secure in a job the standards start to slip and thats where you (I) need to put your foot down and make sure the standard remains!

Claire
I've thought about putting together electrical circuits on a wall with faults on them and then at interview asking them to show me how to test and find any faults!

problem is i need an office/ venue for this.

Thanks for your comments.

ELECTRICAL CONCEPTS
Design, Install, Maintenance.
Domestic & Commercial

www.electrical-concepts.co.uk

call 0800 458 9118