About the Landscape Juice Network

Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.

LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry

LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.

For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

Replies

  • PRO

    Not unless it's gross negligence and yes... it would need to be part of their contract of employment to recover costs otherwise it could count towards constructive dismissal.

    We take the hit as it means we've failed in some way. You need to ensure you have suitable grade professional gear and that employee is trained/experienced enough to use it or is being supervised.

    If somewhere in between, I'd suggest you need to sit the employee down have a review, discuss issues, set a plan in place to resolve the issue and then monitor. Then you are following rules and can take disciplinary action, including dismissal.

    If you're not 100% about HR issues either look at ACAS, FSB or a HR consultant. Get it wrong and Employment law can bite. It's there as much for you as well as the employee.

  • PRO

    I think you have to take the knock.

    The son of a chap I used to work with was an apprentice at a local main car dealership and they told him that he would have to work saturdays unpaid to repay the cost of the mistakes he was making, so he still got his normal wage monday to friday.

    It was this or the sack for negligence after a series of stupid mistakes including misfueling the managing directors company car, breakages and losses.

    I'm not sure it was legal, but his dad thought it was a brilliant idea and just what he needed to make him grow up and learn to take responsibility, as he was just the same at home as he was at work.

    Andy

  • PRO
    I have taken the hit in the past but due to this and many other issues am looking to move away from having employees.
    • I saw your post about losing your employee - it is really hard to find good, reliable staff these days so fully understand where you're coming from.  Our good one stayed for 5 years but then had kids and wanted all the school holidays off - when you're a 2 man team that just doesn't work.  Since then it's just been problem after problem.  Unfortunately the job entails hard work and that doesn't bode well with most. 

      • PRO
        Yeah it would be ok if I was a bit hardier and could cope with the uncertainty /having customer complaints due to new staff teething problems but I can't so time to simplify.
  • PRO
    Also, have you ever sat down and actually shown staff how to use equipment or just assumed they know ?

    We do regular toolbox talks on either new gear or to refresh knowledge. We document this on a chart and each member of staff signs-off. This is kept on display in the Yard. Works wonders when they have to commit via a signature and satisfies our H&S Audit with SAFEContractor.
    • Gary he's a new guy who has experience so should know how to use the tools.  It's things like breaking simple tools - nothing big but will cost £40 to replace but if this happens regularly it all adds up.

    • The 'assume they know' bit can be relevant - we had a lad start at 18, first job on his own was to sweep up after we had wheeled some sand in. Five mins later........."sorry, I've snapped the broom handle in half".  My fault I suppose as I hadn't given him the necessary training!

      • PRO
        youngsters nowadays come into work from a 'sterile' environment. They've spent a lot time involved in a virtual reality world of games, they've not been allowed to play tough and tumble games at school, sports when done are of the everyone 'wins' mentality, they spend their spare time indoors, they've never been up a 6am doing a paper or milk round.

        We've wrapped a generation in cotton wool thanks to soft liberal attitudes.
  • PRO
    All depends if it's an accident or negligence? I myself recently brought a new garden fork, bulldog so pretty tuff, first outing and I snapped it in half on first dig out. Tools and machines are not built very well these days, negligence is a different story though..
This reply was deleted.

LJN Sponsor

Advertising

PRO

How Do You Qualify A Sales Lead?


I don't know about you, but our phones and emails are starting to get busy with enquiries. I've learned over the years that it's all too easy to answer the phone, arrange a consultation and then spend a couple of hours with a prospective client…

Read more…
Comments: 0