What is your company’s policy for “job site behavior and appearance?†<!—-><!—-> <!—->
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In Gerstel’s book, he lists the following categories under this heading: <!—-> <!—->
- Dress<!—-> <!—->
Usually this is more of a safety issue, such as work boots or hard course/steel toed shoes, a shirt and no shorts (so as to avoid scrapes and scratches), and no loose fitting clothes (so as not to catch on equipment). However, do you have any dress policies that do not involve safety? <!—-><!—->
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- Appearance of vehicles <!—-><!—->
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I never worked for a company that had a policy in this regard. Do any of you have such a policy? If so, what exactly do you specify?<!—-><!—->
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- Smoking, alcohol, and drugs <!—-><!—->
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Apparently, Gerstel has always run a non-smoking company. How many of you are non-smoking companies? Do you do drug testing? What is your policy alcohol?<!—-><!—->
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- Obscene language, sexual harassment, ethnic slurs<!—-><!—->
<!—-> <!—-> Sexual harassment and ethnic slurs are obviously illegal, but how far do you actually take this issue?<!—-><!—->
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Gerstel says he tolerates occasional cussing–so long as it does not demean anyone. Does your company have any policies on cussing?<!—-> <!—->
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I think one of the biggest problems in a union company is the way they demean one another, especially apprentices. Honestly, how do you deal with this behavior?<!—-> <!—->
- Playing radios and music loudly<!—-> <!—->
This is probably the most varied policy. In his book Gerstel says he doesn’t permit radios. I think it’s interesting, though, that his subheading includes “loudly.†What’s your policy in this regard, and why?<!—-><!—->
–T
Replies
If I were to hire employees again, I would not be flexible on any of these issues. no smoking, no loud radios, no inappropriate dress, in other words I want employees to presenyt themselves as if they were the owner. I tolerated smoking for a long time mainly because I smoked,(not anymore). Image is everything. These opinions are for customer occupied job sites. And clean the job up at the end of the day...every day!
Good points. You also reminded me of the final category that I accidentally excluded:<!----><!----> <!---->
Site care and cleanup<!----><!---->
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How many others set aside time daily to do cleanup?<!----><!---->-T
Quitting time is 330. Pick up tools at 310 and clean remainder of day. I tend to pick up through out the day so we keep a very clean job.
If it is getting messy we just stop earlier.
jeremy
The bad news is you've done exactly the right things to be exactly where you are today.
"IdahoDon 1/31/07"
Dress: Company provided tee shirt, pants or shorts, steel toe boots (sneakers allowed on finish out, safety glasses at all times, hard hats during demolition and framing.
Smoking-All our jobs are no smoking. Every time I have hired a smoker, I end up picking up the butts. Can't stand the smell or the idea that I have to clean up after some one else. It also keeps our insurance cost slightly lower. My apologies to the smokers-Dad smoked 4 packs of Chesterfield unfiltered everyday-don't like it never will.
Language-Minimize cussing, always act courteuos to others, everyone on the site is equal, no racist bastards need apply.
No Radios
Site Care-Nearly spotless every day. We spend 15 to 30 minutes at the end of the day picking everything up. Clean job has gotten me several jobs when client shows friends jobsite on weekend or evening. Makes for a safer workplace as well.
Bruce
I've hired and supervised a fair number, over two hundred, guys for my numerous small businesses and as a foreman. I've never had to institute any behavioral policies because I respectfully relate to each person as a brother or sister. If I want one person to change his attitude or his footwear, I help him make that adjustment, one way or another. If my methods don't work after a reasonable time, he gets fired.
Policies are meaningless and mindless, for small businesses. The best way to remove morale from a good crew is to start making rules. How freekin' chicken shot can you get?
Only one thing do I ask: Don't take the sacred names in vain. And use common sense about vulgarities when we're working in someone's home or back yard.
I have policies for home owners, which I present diplomatically: Keep out of the way during working hours and save your questions for after the day's work is over.
“I have policies for home ownersâ€<!----><!----><!---->
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I find that quite interesting. Do you have any other policies for home owners?<!----><!---->
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PS:<!----><!---->
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Why don’t you think homeowner policies make you a chicken?-)-T
<< I find that quite interesting. Do you have any other policies for home owners?>>
No. The point of that policy is to make it clear to the homeowners that their territorial and social inclinations have limitations during working hours.
<<PS:<!----><!---->
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Why don’t you think homeowner policies make you a chicken?-)>>
Your confusing the slang term "chicken" with "chicken sh_t". The first has to do with fear and the second indicates something of little or no significance. In other words: How petty or small time can you get?
Edited 5/17/2007 6:17 pm ET by Hudson Valley Carpenter
What's the point of making rules? If your knowledge, experience and skill don't make you a leader among your crew then your authority as the paymaster should cover for you OK.
Lead by example. If that doesn't make enough of an impression, have a heart to heart and find out what you can do to solve the underlying problem. If that doesn't work, hand him his check at the end of the day.
Edited 5/17/2007 6:58 pm ET by Hudson Valley Carpenter
important and excellent points. good for you..." I'm working on it"
Hudson
Policies are meaningless and mindless, for small businesses. The best way to remove morale from a good crew is to start making rules. How freekin' chicken shot can you get?
Your whole post was right on, particularly this paragraph.
I'm pretty independent in my thinking/ways but when it comes to work and the betterment of a company that gives two shids about me I can be the best team player they ever had.
There are a lot of guys on here that I doubt that I could work for, a lot of guys that wouldnt have me around for a day but its the "its my way or the highway" ones that drive me nuts.
That has nothing to do with what I think of many of these guys as professionals either.
Doug
No offense intended, but your post talks about who you would/could work for. Wait until you are on the other side and have to deal with the workers. Then some of these rules make lots more sense.
There's lots of folks out there that can't deal with the bs on either end, as an employee or as a boss. Many find working alone much easier..
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Don
I have been on the other end.
I like to think that I was capable of hiring mature professional people that didnt need a manual to do the common sense things!
I'm not suggesting that there be no rules.
Of course I was never big enough nor worked for anyone that was all that big that policies needed to be spelled out, goes back to the common sense thing.
I did work as a welder for a few years in factories that have 2000 employees and I understand the need for such things. I've just never seen it on home construction/renovation jobs.
Doug
Edited 5/17/2007 9:57 pm ET by DougU
Regarding the drug testing thing - I am thinking about instituting a drug testing policy before anyone hires on with us. I think if they don't have at least trace elements of mild halucinogens...or at least pot...in their system, they probably won't fit in very well.Remodeling contractor who once visited the Glass City.
are you hiring?
took ya too long to ask...he'll get back to ya after he wades thriug the slew of emails he has gotten since his posting...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
-are you hiring?-
And if I test negative could ya hook a brother up???I wish I knew how to insert an annoying Martha Stewart Banner in my tagline....
Put some fliers up on the evergreen campus. I don't think you'd need to test, then.
Course, it's hard to get those greeners to actually show up on time. . . . zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Interesting post. I think there is a big difference between rules and structure. Rules tend to be item by item and detail by detail often made up to simply deal with an immediate problem. Often rules are implemented with little thought as to the long term effect on work, morale, customer satisfaction etc.
Structure is a simple set of guidelines that keep the boat going in the direction in needs to go in order to remain profitable and a good work enviroment. We have those. Ours are as follows:
Don't smoke in the shop, trucks or customer home or immediate area. Take a smoke break at the truck but not in the truck.
Don't cuss in front of the customers and don't discuss the customers anywhere in there home. With todays electronics you never know who or where they are listening.
You can tease and joke among yourselves all you want. If I get a complaint I will deal with it then.
I don't care how you approach getting a job done as long as you have the same end result of quality and appearance in the end that I expect and it is done in the same basic time frame as we alotted. If the time allotment is not right say so and we will fix it.
No horseplay. Don't care what it is. If someone gets hurt it is my comp bill that goes up.
Wear a company tee shirt and clean clothes.
No radios played in an occupied house and if the customer arrives at a house where one is playing turn it down till they leave. Most of my guys have MP3 players with head sets.
Tarp from the front door to the work site. When the tarps come up you vacume around them. Clean the work area daily to the degree the customer can come in and look at the work in there socks and not worry about getting hurt.
Trucks are cleaned generally every 2 weeks or so. I pay for the truck, the time to clean it so I want it done.
Different personalities are attracted to different work styles and management styles. I don't make policies or rules without chatting with everyone to assure a need, reason and to make sure everyone understands why. But I also don't hire people who don't like to work in structured places. There are plenty places to work that aren't so they can go work there. DanT
Good post Dan. That should be the whole employee manual for most companies. No mare then you said right there. It covers it all and doesn't get so detailed that your eyes glaze over.
"Without education, we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously." G.K. Chesterton
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/
Yeah, I have to say, they DO seem to operate on their own time there. I loved going to school there, but punctuality is not very high on their priority list. Of course, there are tons of Greener grads who live around here and they tend to hire like minded folks to works on their homes, too.
I think it's like DanT says in that last post, there's a place for virtually every work style. Just be true to yourself and hopefully you'll find a place where you fit. Remodeling contractor who once visited the Glass City.
Hey TESC makes Berkley look conservative----- I used to live just down from the campus.
But you can't hire them, cause everytime you go to try & cut a board you have one of them chaining themselves to it.I fear no man & only one GOD. Me
It's true, TESC was way more radical/liberal than Berkeley is. I was a greener for a year (I graduated from somewhere else. Lots of bright folks there- really bright, but often directionless. I liked the people, but not the flakiness there.
UC Berkeley is not really a ultra liberal school anymore- it's too prestigous for that or something. Lots of overachievers here.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Haha, I was thinking the same thing. If you don't at least have a history of mild drug use, I probably can't work with you.
Parellel worlds here. You're one of the types that I breath a sigh of relief whenever I see pull up.
I am employee.
Company dress code is: work boots, sleeved shirts ( no sleeveless allowed), No stained up or holy pants or shirts, cleanly shaven or well kept ( don't come in with 5 oclock shadow). Hair cuts when needed not two weeks late.
Vehicles: I have company truck, I wash when dirty. I clean and organize when needed. All about appearance. If someone has vehicle we dont want on job, meet us at shop and ride with me.
Drugs are tested for often by company and union. No smoking except on break and lunch. No smoking in the building once drywall is stocked, if I find a butt in the building, all indoor smoking stops. I am a smoker.
Cursing is allowed but dont want to be able to hear it off the site, if we are ina public building you had better watch your mouth.
Radios are prohibited period. I talk with boss about this often, he knows there is always one on my job, and it's mine. It must be tuned in the morning and left alone and not be so loud that passers by hear it or we have to scream at each other.
All rules are up to site super to inforce. Hall guys get laid off if they don't comply. Company guys get wrote up if it is a bad enough offense. If it is once in a while and its a company guy, we watch each others back.
want more detail? We have more silly rules, but we are the place to work for union carps around here, just ask. We have on average 5 apps a da right now, and everyone knows how strict the bosses are.
When the old man dies some rules ( radio) will relax a bit. Son owns business and has tripled the money side in 15 years, but daddy has a hand in it.
Jeremy
The bad news is you've done exactly the right things to be exactly where you are today.
"IdahoDon 1/31/07"
No personal cell phones during working hours. Can't believe how many guys I see chatting with their wives or buddies when they're supposed to be working. A 30 second call to pick up some milk on the way home is one thing, but I've seen 10-15 minute calls before. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but that is stealing to me.
Mike
No personal cell phones during working hours.You wont believe how many they recieve at work here, every four minute, it rings, they talk while they drive, while they work. all day. It starts at 4am . They really believe that they are paying for the cell so you can't stop me.
Edited 5/19/2007 8:45 pm by brownbagg
I'm obviously from a different time and era but have worked at both sides of the fence. Some of you guys are owner operated and have the authority, right or otherwise to do what you think is right. What about when you are given authourity and not being the owner?
I get a laugh at the phrase "common sense". It can mean anything to anybody at any given time. I think that when a person is hired they agree to certain condition of employment which also includes conditions for the employer. A person is free to agree or not to agree with the conditions and seek employment elsewhere. If one of the conditions was low pay we wouldn't think twice to say "thanks, but no thanks" and walk away.
Life is full of rules. We drive by them. We build by them. We live all our life by them so are employee rules so bad considering they are the rare exception we can leave and stop working under those rules. Try that will any of those other rules.
I curse and swear and I think I use every name under the sun but I swear in Italian and German. I am neither and no one, including me, really knows what I am saying but they know I'm swearing...................................they think.
roger
No personal cell phones during working hours.
You wont believe how many they recieve at work here, every four minute, it rings, they talk while they drive, while they work. all day. It starts at 4am . They really believe that they are paying for the cell so you can stop me.
I used to walk around telling guys to take the damn bluetooth thing out of their ears all day. They drive to work with them and then forget to take them out. It drives me insane to see an 18y/o kid in uniform and talking away on the damn thing.
Then a little while ago I got sick of it so we collected each one we saw that day and threw it in a box. At the end of the day, after work hours, we let them figure out whose was whose.
and then each one has a stupid ring tone, something real stupid. So you be talking to them, giving instruction or discussing something. The stupid ring tone, "Hey , what you doing" and you standing there like you nobody. I have got in a habit of just walking away when the phone ring. You can be the President asking me how to win the war, if your phone ring. You done with me, I'm leaving.
Amen. Too bad that manners have become such an extinct species.
I apprenticed under a New Zealander ,Christian, Vegiatrian. Rules were No Drink, No smoke, no Cus, no spit, no music, no nothing. Work. I'm self employed now, journeyman carpenter, and doing really well on my own, but get called back for reduced rates to help out the guys who trained me. I acutally prefer to run my jobs as I was taught. The customer respects me and my crew. Referrals are huge! The only problem as an apprentice was the funny sense of degrading humor, might be a british type thing,, caused me to hit the bottle several nights in frustration, but job sites were and are always run like a machine. Start at 8. Tea break (yeah tea!!) at 10. 20 minutes. 1/2 hour lunch at 12:30. Afternoon Tea at 3.for 15-20. In the truck with jobsite clean as a whistle at 5. I've often thought that the first tool an apprentice should buy is a good shopvac. If the site isn't spotless, they aren't interested in the nice work done! What a great post! d
I am late to the party though I read many of the posts last week. I am/ was a list guy. If there is something my crew/ I can turn to and remind everyone what is proper I feel better.
But...
As Hudson Valley Carpenter wrote - "Policies are meaningless and mindless, for small businesses. The best way to remove morale from a good crew is to start making rules."
Lead by example is the best way. Agreed.
However...
I am on a cell all day - all work. They tell me they can't turn their cells off because their bosses need to stay in touch.
Some subs are on their phones all day too - but they are talking to friends and gf's. One guy, 3 weeks ago, wanted to borrow my charger because his battery had run out - it had a full charge in the morning!
I have spoken to the bosses about the all-day phone calls. The bosses spoke with the tradespeople, some who then came back to me saying I ratted them out. One guy even went as far as telling me everything that I did which slowed him down - therefore he had time to be on the phone. HA!.
I did send one sub home when he refused to get off his phone - 2 warnings, same day. His boss got pissed and said I should have called him first. I did, the week before. Lost the mechanic for the rest of the week. That sucked, but when he returned the following week, the Blue-Tooth was off his ear and phone in his pocket.
Frankie
Flay your Suffolk bought-this-morning sole with organic hand-cracked pepper and blasted salt.
Thrill each side for four minutes at torchmark haut. Interrogate a lemon.
Embarrass any tough roots from the samphire. Then bamboozle till it's al dente with that certain je ne sais quoi.
Arabella Weir as Minty Marchmont - Posh Nosh