Should He Stay Or Should He Go ????
Full Name:
Tim
Forums:
As a lot of you know I own a a/c service company in south Florida and I always have a hard time finding capable working employees. I am not alone with this it is a problem around most of the country who needs hard working English speaking service technicians. It is all the trades and I am not being racist by saying English speaking but it is a customer driven reason for this.
I have one employee that I have worked with and known for almost 25 years. He was a honest hard working go getter. Over a few year period he worked at a union shop and that slowed him down to a snails pace but he still did quality work and brought in his fair share of money. Over the last 2 years or so he has slowed down, taking advantage of coming in a lil late, leaving a lil early and taking longer lunches. Things I have discussed with him and they get better for a few months and slip back to ols ways.
I pay him very well and treat him to a lunch at least once a week and the frig in the shop is always stocked with Iced tea, water, ice, energy drinks and the most popular with all employees ...Yoo Hoo.
For whatever reason we have been using a lot of paper towels and toilet paper. it is not anything I ever gave a fuck about but I just noticed I have to go to Walmart every month for paper products compared to every other month and I only hired one extra person in this time. So about 2 weeks ago I used a blue marker and wrote GAC in the tubes of all of the paper products.
On Friday I had to go to this employees house to pick up his work van as he was going on the first of 3 paid week vacations for the year. (I told you I pay them well, 3 weeks paid vacation a year) and I asked if I could take a piss without too much thought. On top of his toilet is 6 rolls of toilet paper and all 6 had the blue GAC inside the roll. I went into his kitchen to wash up and there was 2 rolls of paper towel with the same markings inside.
I said goodbye and wished him a well vacation and said nothing of my discoveries.
I need the employee very badly due to summer is starting to settle in but I am sickened of a thought of a fuckin sneak thief working for me.
What is your thoughts. Yea you can rip me too I'm a big boy.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
You have to fire him. He's a
You have to fire him. He's a thief - you can't trust him and he doesn't respect you.
Your company runs on reputation and this guy is lying to your face. Think about how he'd treat a customer''s property if he's stealing from you.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Pretty simple: Ask what he
Pretty simple: Ask what he values more, his job or the free paper products (and whatever else he's stealing).
He obviously has no respect for you and what you provide.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jonaspond
There's no justification for
There's no justification for stealing but I think Ned and Ender need to start a contracting biz in FL and see what the employee pool is like.
Shit, in the contracting world in general you learn to let go of a lot of petty stuff.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: ogkb
damn, three weeks paid.
damn, three weeks paid. awesome man.
and wow, known him for 25 years and dude still steals from you...not right.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
I'd sit him down and let him
I'd sit him down and let him know the situation, let him explain his actions and then you can make a decision about keeping him. If he continues it should be easy to spot and then you can let him go. Basically I'd give the guy a chance.
BTW Tim, was it you that sent me the AC stickers, t-shirt, etc. after I sent out some freebie discs? If so , I LOVE the t-shirt, wear it all the time. Nothing like a good comfy long sleeve T.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Could you let him know that
Could you let him know that you know that he's stealing from you, it has to stop, then put him on probation?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
There's a reason I don't live
There's a reason I don't live in FL, Jonas. (Actually, there's a few.)
Hey, I'm saying give the guy a chance to 'fess up. If he doesn't, then fuck him.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
I would keep him for now only
I would keep him for now only because you need him badly but hire a new person, have the thief train the new guy. Then, as soon as the business can afford it, let him go and give the new guy a raise.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aiq
Don't fire...this time. Out
Don't fire...this time. Out him privately on the paper thefts, slam dunk if it happens again.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
Twenty five years is a long
Twenty five years is a long time. Would definitely ask him if has any ideas if he knows where the paper products have been going and gage his reaction.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Can't trust him - fire his
Can't trust him - fire his thieving ass pronto.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace
It's simple Yoo hoo or TP let
It's simple Yoo hoo or TP let them decide.
Good luck
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Photoshop a pic of the
Photoshop a pic of the employee with Nixon and Reagan, print up a few and then stash the prints a few linear feet down inside the rolls of tp & pt. That ought to freak him out of his paper-thievery.
The Oregon logger & millworker types used to call the tp "White Gold" as they could sell even scrap logs and chips to pulp mills.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: O'Toole
Don't fire at all man, you
Don't fire at all man, you need him.
As Les said, tell him you saw your paper towels at his house and say next time any are missing you will charge him.
What is it, ten bucks a week?
>>So about 2 weeks ago I used a blue marker and wrote GAC in the tubes of all of the paper products.
This is quality detective work here. Nice job.
>>Shit, in the contracting world in general you learn to let go of a lot of petty stuff.
Totally agree Jonas, especially if the guy does good work.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Fog, do you take Post-Its
Fog, do you take Post-Its from work and think it's OK?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
He can afford a house but he
He can afford a house but he has to steal TP and paper towels.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
Get toilet paper dispensers
Get toilet paper dispensers with biometric readers installed.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GoneGoodbye
Put a line on his paycheck
Put a line on his paycheck that says "misc deductions" (but do not specify what the deductions are for) and fill it in with $ amounts to reimburse for the paper products then wait for him to come to you.
Then rip him for stealing the stupidest cheapest thing. Is the guy smart at all? Really, tp and paper towels?
Wonder what else he might be taking?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lord Kalvert
I always steal my TP at Vegas
I always steal my TP at Vegas 5 star hotels.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: O'Toole
Ned, stick it in your ear,
Ned, stick it in your ear, thank you.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: free to come, free to go
T, your a righteous dude and
T, your a righteous dude and have always told it like it is. Why stop now. You bless this guy and he is ripping you. Find a replacement.... and then let him go. Have him train the new guy just for spite.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
>> stick it in your ear,
>> stick it in your ear, thank you.
Wow. Uncalled for.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
I really dislike the entitled
I really dislike the entitled.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: hooper
Let him go
Let him go
He disrespected you
Not much more to it
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: O'Toole
Don't misunderstand me here,
Don't misunderstand me here, taking tp and pt is lame. The bottom line is Tim is running a business and the guy is a valuable employee that will be hard to replace.
Might want to check his fridge for Yoo Hoo.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Yea, he's showing up late,
Yea, he's showing up late, leaving early, taking longer lunches, stealing shit. Sounds like a Slacker.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: |-|/-\|_|_
How accurately do you keep
How accurately do you keep your service parts and tool inventories?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Does he ever work from home?
Does he ever work from home?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Tim
I know every part on my
I know every part on my trucks and in the shop. I have a fucked up memory for shit like that. I know when we are down 1 thermostat and what truck it goes to. A few parts turn up missing each year and I know who and why they are gone. He does not do any side work. He only wants to work, or should I say put in 40 hours a week not 1 hour less or 1 hour more. Fuckin union job messed him up a bit in that aspect.
I did hire a new tech who is a bit green and a lil shy on bringing in the money but he is workable. I do have another experienced guy coming in next week. I do like the idea of putting a note in the tp with a call out to him. Sitting on the crapper and a note pops out with his name on it and telling him he is fired will make him shit a second time.
This is a smaller county and every a/c company in a 3 county area knows who I am and who works for me, everyone knows I don't sugar coat anything. They will call me for a reference of why he is gone and it will be tough not to tell them he is a fuckin toilet paper thief.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Tim
We all work from home, shop,
We all work from home, shop, van. We are constantly on the move. I think I know what your getting at. The toilet paper and paper towels are for the shop not for your fuckin house. When I worked on the road I did carry a roll of TP and PT in my van for emergencies. It was 1 roll and it was 2 times a year not 6 stacked on my home commode.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace
Charmin-Gate...
Charmin-Gate...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
If he is stealing from you he
If he is stealing from you he is stealing from your clients too.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: |-|/-\|_|_
that's good (about the
that's good (about the inventory/side jobs).
sounds like this isn't the last straw for you though... maybe think about what that might be?
on a side not, our company stopped giving out information to those seeking references years ago other than date of hire, when the employee left, and whether we would hire that person again (to avoid potential lawsuits).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
I get that it's tough to find
I get that it's tough to find good workers who know what they are doing, and can go out independently to complete a Job. Personally, I don't think I could handle messing with A/C compressors & condensers in the FLA summer heat. However, I'd probably go for a minimum-wage internship in February just to learn how the stuff works. Might be a break-even proposition after rent at the local trailer park & Dog-sitting.
Anyway, here's another thought: next pay-envelope, throw in a few coupons for tp, pt & Napkins.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Tim
Stu my shop is pet friendly.
Stu my shop is pet friendly. I have a dog bed and a food and water bowl for any four legged friends who may want to stop by or to spend the day. Also all of our vans are stocked with dog goodies for all the pooches we meet throughout the day. It is well known we love our pets.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
that's fucking annoying.
that's fucking annoying.
if he's already slipping, fuck it.
mo fo is so cheap he steals your tp???
i don't get it.either fire him or don't supply tp....i guess.
lame.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
I'm a firm believer in second
I'm a firm believer in second chances.
Fool me once...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: O'Toole
>>>I own a a/c service
>>>I own a a/c service company in south Florida and I always have a hard time finding capable working employees
in case anyone missed this part
>>He does not do any side work
big plus.
how about sick days?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Tim
I pay 6 a year
I pay 6 a year
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fly
Sit him down serious-like.
Sit him down serious-like. Ask him if he has anything to say to you. See if the paper products come up. If he does not fess, tell him how you know he is taking paper products. Tell him any one else and they would be fired but that you have a long history together and that gets him a chance. Tell him you will be taking the cost of a months worth of paper towels out of his next check. Or ask if he'd rather you take a weeks vacation from him next year. Remind him how well he is treated.
Then wrap up by stating politely this is his warning, and anything similar in the future will result in termination.
How did he lose his Union job? That's sometimes hard. Also what do you mean by bringing in the money? like finding extra stuff on the job calls or finding new customers?
I guess in Florida AC work is not seasonal? That makes it hard to let him go in the winter like they would in the northern climes. You probably need him all year and thats why good techs are hard to find too. Im just guessing. None of us know all the details but from your question thats how I'd handle it.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>Tell him you will be
>>>>Tell him you will be taking the cost of a months worth of paper towels out of his next check.
Talk with a lawyer before doing that. I don't handle wage claims, but know that docking pay has to be done very carefully, if at all, and could expose you to hefty liability if not done right.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Every consider paying piece
Every consider paying piece rate? It speeds our guys up but if not managed well can lead to sloppy work. Piece rate and commision on upsells of product and service contracts.
I think if you fire him and he may come back with his tail between his legs, maybe with more respect for what you provide.
If you keep him I would take a week of that paid vacation away until he earns it back
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
Tough situation. If you axe
Tough situation. If you axe him right away you're hurting your business because you need his labor. If you don't axe him you're hurting your business.
I guess I'd sit him down and get his story. See if he really wants to work for you anymore. If you want him and he wants you, give him a chance. If one or the other is no longer in it, get a divorce.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
By the way, heed Ken's
By the way, heed Ken's advice on docking pay or vacation. It's highly illegal in many states, and you can fuck yourself way harder than he fucked you.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: O'Toole
How many of those sick days
How many of those sick days does he end up using on average year to year? Weighing all aspects of him being loyal and reliable.
How long has this been going on?
You could send out a company wide memo stating the TP and PT are for use at the shop only and not to be taken home for personal use, explaining you have noticed diminishing supplies.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sideshow Bob
Install those commercial
Install those commercial locking toilet paper & paper towel dispensers & buy the industrial sized giant rolls for them. That's what my State job did back in the '90's after they got sick of everyone stealing the tp & pt's.
Also love the irony of everyone dishing out advice on a thieving employee while presumably thieving time from their employers (presumably) during work hours posting on social media. Especially Thom, at his Comfy Academia job, whose Republican philosophy calls for downright Slave Labor terms for employees.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Sad to say....he should go
Sad to say....he should go
Wash your hands of this matter, so to speak
It sends a message to rest of staff as well, if you or he decide to make it public...and, you take good care of your staff, you should be able to expect some respect in return.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: |-|/-\|_|_
Sideshow, did it ever occur
Sideshow, I've seen you beat that old tired drum for years, but did it ever occur to you that not "everyone" here is an employee or even at work/employed?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Yea, SS, I'm self-employed.
Yea, SS, I'm self-employed, ya poser.