New staff issues

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Hi all, was just wondering how everyone gets on hiring new staff and what interview processes you all use. Last week we had a new lad start on Tuesday was fine getting on with the work he was given and then Thursday didn't turn up, then this morning we had a bother new lad start was really keen on the phone and in the interview. Was helping us to load the van to go and put some fence posts in 10 minutes after we started in the mining had disappeared without saying a word. Could really use some advice on finding staff that aren't going to mess us around. Any help is much appreciated
Reply:Our sheriffs here operate halfway houses and even deliver inmates to the job site.....you pay the sheriff about 2/3 minimum wage where he splits it 50/50 with the inmate once released minus the inmate's canteen account balance.If the inmate screws up, he goes back to jail for the duration of his sentence plus usually added time for the screw up. I used to bring home two of them on weekends to mow and trim all my property and mom's next door, plus wash and wax the vehicles while I grilled us all a decent lunch...even took one fishing one Saturday as reward for his upcoming release...Often those same inmates obtain a perm job where they worked while incarcerated and proved themselves.Sad fact of life today we must sometimes hold a gun to a man's head to get him to work, but they get used to it eventually.
Reply:Andy2703, sounds like you're experiencing typical behavior these days. For reasons I'll never understand, a lot of people aren't hungry for work. The guy who painted my boat works at a custom sportfisherman boat shop, where they make the hulls from cold molded fiberglass. Imagine using 6', 2-man longboards to fair a 90' boat hull...it's hard work and the pay isn't great. My painter said whenever a non-Latino guy shows up at the place, the Latino fiberglass and fairing crew start making bets on how long he'll hang around. Sometimes they make it a few days, but most don't come back after Day One. One guy didn't even make it to lunch. But the Latino guys, a lot of them grew up in places where if you don't work you don't eat...they keep working and they work hard.1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 RefitMiller TB280 w/Spoolmatic 30a2016 AHP AlphaTIG 200XAncient Millermatic 35Zeny Cut50 plasma cutter
Reply:You never want to use the word (WORK)www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:I agree, hire a Mexican. I have said that to several different employers over the years.
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikI agree, hire a Mexican. I have said that to several different employers over the years.
Reply:Not many Mexicans here.Anybody have any advice on sorting the seat from the chaff at interview
Reply:Originally Posted by q240zAndy2703, sounds like you're experiencing typical behavior these days. For reasons I'll never understand, a lot of people aren't hungry for work. The guy who painted my boat works at a custom sportfisherman boat shop, where they make the hulls from cold molded fiberglass. Imagine using 6', 2-man longboards to fair a 90' boat hull...it's hard work and the pay isn't great. My painter said whenever a non-Latino guy shows up at the place, the Latino fiberglass and fairing crew start making bets on how long he'll hang around. Sometimes they make it a few days, but most don't come back after Day One. One guy didn't even make it to lunch. But the Latino guys, a lot of them grew up in places where if you don't work you don't eat...they keep working and they work hard.
Reply:Originally Posted by Andy2703Not many Mexicans here.Anybody have any advice on sorting the seat from the chaff at interview
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawAnd try for an older one at that.   I found that the guy in his 40-50's does twice the work of the ones that are less than half their age
Reply:Originally Posted by Andy2703Hi all, was just wondering how everyone gets on hiring new staff and what interview processes you all use. Last week we had a new lad start on Tuesday was fine getting on with the work he was given and then Thursday didn't turn up, then this morning we had a bother new lad start was really keen on the phone and in the interview. Was helping us to load the van to go and put some fence posts in 10 minutes after we started in the mining had disappeared without saying a word. Could really use some advice on finding staff that aren't going to mess us around. Any help is much appreciated
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyI'd say those two at least were fairly close to the ideal situation. They failed/quit right off the get-go. That's better than getting six months or more invested into a guy then deciding that no matter how hard everyone tries, it just isn't going to work out. To be fair and look at it from their prospective they may not know whether they are going to like it or not until they give it a shot. Can go either way.
Reply:Andy,  I don't know the whole situation you're in, but I"m willing to guess that at least part of the problem is incentives(pay), coupled with a lack of clear explanation of how the job is going to go.I've seen my fair share of teen and twenty something slackers; they're out there no doubt.  But employer-employee loyalty is at a rock bottom level these days.  Clearly you've been with your current job long enough to realize the soft benefits that come on top of a paycheck.  But none of your recent new-hires have been around long enough to see the benefits of working for your company.Maybe you need some kind of structured incentive to encourage a new hire with good potential to hang around long enough to see the fringe benefits of working there? Maybe your boss needs some kind of plan that includes small, scheduled raises at 30, 60, 90 days that are contingent on perfect attendance and good reports on performance?  He needs to come up with something that works for new hires without making you and the other experiences hands feel shortchanged.  This is not easy...Let's face it, in a world where a guy can go to the shop across the street for 10% more per hour, you've got to find some way to create some loyalty that doesn't break the bank.Might be worth it to double check your own sanity too.  Is your boss taking advantage of your willingness to work 60-70 hours a week so he doesn't have to offer enough pay to hire someone with strong work ethics?  Are the new hires catching all the crap work that you and the others don't want to do?  If so, it's easy to understand why they might bail out even if the pay is good.Would you be willing to be paid for 35 hours a week, when it's slow; to keep another warm body on the payroll to share the load when the work is coming in hot and heavy?  This is a crappy option, but I put it out there as an example of how a company could offer enough pay to find good helpI'm just tossing out some ideas to maybe shed some light on your situation from another angle.  Obviously I don't have all the facts.  And you may be powerless to make suggestions or changes.  But just some food for thought...Best of luck, and don't spend all that overtime pay in one place....Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:A-Dab has hit the nail on the head.   Clear work description and clear expectations combined with incentives to stay will work the best to keep the good ones.Unfortunately, it's really hard to weed out the flakes.  Even big companies with professional HR departments end up hiring a fair number of flakes.  Flakes are often good talkers.Dan----------------------------Measure twice.  Weld once.  Grind to size.MIG:  Lincoln SP100 TIG/STICK:  AHP Alphatig 200X
Reply:Originally Posted by Teggy1Your last sentence hit the nail on the head.   Social safety nets have made non productive people a comfortable lifestyle.  Maybe not a lavish lifestyle, but far too comfortable.
Reply:The company I work for hired 12 drivers before we found one that will work, is not a pig, will come in on time, can tell what material goes to what customer, etc. This happened over a 18 month period. They don't pay very well to start but the raises are good if you have a brain and will work. The last raise I received was $2.00 per hour. They bought all the outdoor staff Carhartt hooded jackets with the company logo on them last winter, this year they bought all of us bibs, your choice of insulated or not. The perks are good and the money is coming, family owned good people to work for. I am very happy there. Was hired off c'list, interviewed at 2 pm, by 3 pm was pee tested, road tested and hired. Really grateful to have a decent job where I am appreciated, do whatever is needed, weld gates, build gates, pull orders, service the moffett lifts, just about anything needed. All it takes is to be grateful. In other words find people that need and want a good job.RegardsDave
Reply:One thing that can sometimes help is requiring at least 2 good work references.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Some of the farmers around here have started to import people from Mexico and Columbia, to work the fields. They are some of the hardest working people I have every seen!  Most locals  won't work for farmers, don't like the long hours and not so great pay.
Reply:I just left a place after almost 9 years. Management had become heavily bloated and there was tremendous pressure on the shop workers to do the jobs in about 70-75% estimated shop time. Six day workweeks were the new standard. Twice in my last month there a friday afternoon announcement would be made that we would be working all weekend.  Management had become heartless.Every time an experienced welder or powder coater left he was just replaced by a $10-$11 an hour temp. worker. Many didn't last a day. None of the welders that have started this year have stayed.Both short-sighted management and workers that have gotten used to a safety net are to blame for high turnover.Last edited by deafman; 10-19-2015 at 07:36 PM.
Reply:it's a little difficult to get a job where i work. if one gets past the application and testing process/cbi and drug screen then maybe waiting a year or so to be called off a list. after all that 90% of the time nobody ever leaves till retirement or death whichever comes first. could be the op needs to be more specific in what the job entails so the new hire isn't shocked into heading for the hills when he has to bust a sweat.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by BrianCSome of the farmers around here have started to import people from Mexico and Columbia, to work the fields. They are some of the hardest working people I have every seen!  Most locals  won't work for farmers, don't like the long hours and not so great pay.
Reply:Today our jails are full of very skilled craftsmen......they eventually get released and usually can't get a decent job due to their record, even tho they often are sincerely reformed.Many times they have a record from minor stuff like child support/contempt of court, or unpaid fines....Those guys usually will lick yer face for a job and show up early and work late if they can only get past the company background check.So check if that is a factor that limits applicants...Often it is.I know it seems 'The good guys' have to fill in the overtime because the bad guys don't qualify for the job, but you will change your tune once you end up in cuffs yourself over the same petty crap they are in for.The average american today can be arrested and confined 5 times a day for breaking laws he never knew existed.
Reply:Originally Posted by q240zAndy2703, sounds like you're experiencing typical behavior these days. For reasons I'll never understand, a lot of people aren't hungry for work.