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  David Channon April 2, 2010 at 8:02pm

  Welcome to the nightmare of being an employer!
  There aren't any easy answers, there's little in the way of gratitude or loyalty and they'll sleep well at night whilst you worry about paying the bills and their wages.
  Get someone over 45 who will put in a decent days graft for the money and be gratefull for the opportunity. Be wary of training up your competition!
  Pay by the hour worked or job done. Make any appointment temporary untill you get a feel for what they are really like.
  They all want to sit at your table and eat with your silverware long before they've earned the right....so don't employ friends or family that you may be forced to fire someday
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  Ian Parkes April 2, 2010 at 8:18pm

  would customers be happy paying for 2 people do u think?
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  Ian Parkes April 2, 2010 at 9:19pm

  ok yea gd idea think its holding me back slightly! supose i see at guaranteed 90 a day so was unsure.
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  Ian Parkes April 2, 2010 at 9:31pm

  well its for aprox 6/7 hrs work
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  Ian Parkes April 2, 2010 at 9:54pm

  ok yea true.
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  Karen Holley April 3, 2010 at 9:57am

  I have someone helping me, but they are self employed, I charge us both out at the same rate, and pay her less, so I make a profit. I don't charge the customer more, they get the same amount of man hours. 1 person for 2 hours or 2 people for 1 hour.
  I think stay away from the employer route as long as possible, the paper work is dreadful, even if they are doing minimum hours you still have to send stuff to the tax man every month.
  I agree with others, your earning way to little on the 2 days you sub for someone else, I hope you are charging more when you bill your own customers.
• PRO

  Brian www.mibservices.co.uk April 3, 2010 at 10:24am

  I agree with David on this, I have lots of bad experience with staff, especially young staff, they may be cheaper to employ, but the hassle they bring is NOT worth it. Pack your diary to bursting point, then look at staff additions. Definateley go for someone around 40-45, and with family resposibilities, they will be much more likeley to turn up for work and give you a good return for their pay. If you intend to send them on any training courses PA1 / PA6, Brushcutter & Strimmers etc etc, get them to sign a contract stating that they will stay with you for a minimum of 2 years after the course or you will deduct the cost of the course / training from their leaving salary. Training staff cost's a fortune, cover your back. If you start to venture into the commercial side, you will have to have "ticketed" staff. Start them on 2-3 days per week, and they will be able to claim tax credits to make their money up. And always give them a contract in writing with your expectations and their resposibilities, makes it clear cut from the off. Employing a distant related family member has worked for me, my wifes uncle, he was made redundent from an other grounds maintenance firm and I took him on, he is loyal and hard working, doesn't always work though, but there are NO guareentees with anyone you decide to employ, make sure your contract of employment is legal and water tight. Dont send them to your jobs alone, always work as a 2 man team till they have earned your trust and the trust of your customers, as far charging the customer, thats simple, if you would normaly work 4 hours at the site, then you work for 2 hours x 2 men, still equates to 4 man hours worked, but make sure you still acheive the same amount of work as you did when you worked alone, if you have to work on that little bit more then do it, it helps build trust in your customer that they are still getting value for money, remember, your new employee will take time to learn your sites, thus the sites will take longer to do, till he is up to speed. Good luck
  Brian
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  Ian Parkes April 3, 2010 at 11:53am

  sometimes i find it difficult to do say 4/5 gardens in a day. i either work too fast and get done quicker which means less money, or run out of steam on my own....
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  Karen Holley April 3, 2010 at 12:51pm

  Thanks Rob, will bear that in mind, currently she gives me her availability in advance and we work out the rota accordingly.
  
  Rob Glassborow said:

  This is a common mis-conception about having someone who is themselves self employed. If they work for you for 13 weeks or more of the year, they are classed as employees. Also, self employment is defined as setting your own hours, place, and rates of work. If they are being allocated work times, places, and rates, and they have 13 weeks or more of work from you per year, then they are entitled to employment rights. These include Holiday pay, sick pay, training and development, etc etc.
  
  Karen Holley said:

  I have someone helping me, but they are self employed, I charge us both out at the same rate, and pay her less, so I make a profit. I don't charge the customer more, they get the same amount of man hours. 1 person for 2 hours or 2 people for 1 hour.
  I think stay away from the employer route as long as possible, the paper work is dreadful, even if they are doing minimum hours you still have to send stuff to the tax man every month.
  I agree with others, your earning way to little on the 2 days you sub for someone else, I hope you are charging more when you bill your own customers.
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  James April 3, 2010 at 1:09pm

  Coming from an employees perspective I would say that the most attractive employees would be students or people on their travels such as Australians Kiwis Poles ect, I found work easy just like this in Australia - advertise on gumtree.com for example