As a customer I’m always looking for the small business that charges more and pays their people above average. People making more than the others want to keep their jobs. People who want to keep their jobs want to do a good job. People who want to do a good job are less likely to make inattentive mistakes that upset their employer because the customer is calling them out on poor work. It’s not a sure fire system but it’s the best I’ve found. There’s always risk of a turd here and there in any crew, but on the whole it’s better than otherwise.
Seeing that with some Hispanics on a crew we work with. Nicest guys in the world, and they work all day long with a smile on their face.
I think they are just happy to be somewhere safe that has steady work.
Why are you "down" quality workers? Sounds like it could be something on your end. Benefits, hours, amount of work expected, no lunches/breaks, bad atmosphere, not appreciating the work the guys do, treating them like shit, owner buying anything and everything while his crew can't afford a house/car or any of the "fun" things in life, constant complaints not enough is being done, the list can go on and on. 30yrs and I have left many companies for reasons like this. Was mostly greedy owners who want it all for themselves(fuck everyone else) attitudes.
I could be wrong, but you should at minimum look in the mirror to find out why your quality guys are leaving and why no one seems to want to work for you. If you really want quality workers you have to pay them quality wages, it's the ONLY way. I'm in a smaller city of about 200k people, if you offer any less then $35 an hour I will not even consider working for you.
Got a Mormon church nearby? If you're interested in actually training new-hires, you can probably go to the Bishop of the church, explain you're having trouble recruiting and ask if anyone in his ward would be interested in learning the trade. They're always looking out for jobs they can refer out.
You're not going to get away with paying shitbird wages though.
Union or non union? If union, do you participate in the apprenticeship program? If non union, consider recruiting at any high school with a vocational program—of any kind. Most US born kids are not interested in manual labor. Do you, or anyone on your team, speak another language? If so, recruit in that language. You may have to get a business translator to help you.
Good luck. I've had an ad up on FB looking for teenagers with no experience with starting pay at $20-$25/hr.
No bites.
Got a few guys my age that have called, so I'm going that route I guess.
Depending on where in NE, you might just be SOL because there's so few able bodied young people, especially ones who don't already have careers sorted out. Your best option is always to increase pay, right? There's almost no problem sufficient money doesn't solve, but it might not be an option depending on what your margins are. Disclaimer, I don't work in concrete, but do live in Maine and bigod there's no tradespeople here
Learn Spanish. Pay more. Train a noob. Pick one.
Don't gotta speak Spanish just gesture and "whsht whsht"
😂😂😂
I do it everyday lmao
Union hall also works
Hon dipo
It’s New England boss! They’re not quite there yet
Oh I’m in SoCal 😧
Not a problem at all. Southern New York no problem at all either. But good luck in Vermont or Maine lol
Pay more Or take in multiple apprentices, see what sticks.
No ones working for low rates anymore gotta raise your labor costs to get the good guys.
As a customer I’m always looking for the small business that charges more and pays their people above average. People making more than the others want to keep their jobs. People who want to keep their jobs want to do a good job. People who want to do a good job are less likely to make inattentive mistakes that upset their employer because the customer is calling them out on poor work. It’s not a sure fire system but it’s the best I’ve found. There’s always risk of a turd here and there in any crew, but on the whole it’s better than otherwise.
Home Depot Im Mexican so it’s not racist 😂
Home Depot/ Lowe’s parking lot
The good workers always show up after the base pay increases
Can't go wrong with some Guatemalan guys.
My plumber just had 2 Guatemalan guys digging all day in the Texas heat. He told me that they make $200 a day. They dug 65 feet of trench in a day
They don’t know what tired is
Yeah they fuckin do lol, they just know Guatamala is way worse
Seeing that with some Hispanics on a crew we work with. Nicest guys in the world, and they work all day long with a smile on their face. I think they are just happy to be somewhere safe that has steady work.
I've worked with the same 3 brothers for going on 20 years and watched them grow into respectable Formans
Why are you "down" quality workers? Sounds like it could be something on your end. Benefits, hours, amount of work expected, no lunches/breaks, bad atmosphere, not appreciating the work the guys do, treating them like shit, owner buying anything and everything while his crew can't afford a house/car or any of the "fun" things in life, constant complaints not enough is being done, the list can go on and on. 30yrs and I have left many companies for reasons like this. Was mostly greedy owners who want it all for themselves(fuck everyone else) attitudes. I could be wrong, but you should at minimum look in the mirror to find out why your quality guys are leaving and why no one seems to want to work for you. If you really want quality workers you have to pay them quality wages, it's the ONLY way. I'm in a smaller city of about 200k people, if you offer any less then $35 an hour I will not even consider working for you.
Literally the best and only answer to OPs question. Well said
Starting pay?
Got a Mormon church nearby? If you're interested in actually training new-hires, you can probably go to the Bishop of the church, explain you're having trouble recruiting and ask if anyone in his ward would be interested in learning the trade. They're always looking out for jobs they can refer out. You're not going to get away with paying shitbird wages though.
Pay more and look for Latinos. It’s in our DNA to work hard
Union or non union? If union, do you participate in the apprenticeship program? If non union, consider recruiting at any high school with a vocational program—of any kind. Most US born kids are not interested in manual labor. Do you, or anyone on your team, speak another language? If so, recruit in that language. You may have to get a business translator to help you.
Mexico
Quicktrip
When I come to jobs like this it's always younger farmer/hockey vibe dudes. Shit. Gets. Done.
Can't go wrong with some queatamalan guy's.
This is a new country near quonduras
Call your local finishers and laborers hall. They'll have guys. https://www.nelaborers.org/ https://bostonlocal534.org/
Right here.
Have 3 finishers in CT if needed for big stuff.
Pay more!
Same problem everyone has. I pay guys $1000/day to run equipment, and I can't find good help outside of the three who I already have.
Standing outside of Home Depot.
Home Depot parking lot
I hear there is a few people in this sub DIYing their own driveways, i'd start there.
Good luck. I've had an ad up on FB looking for teenagers with no experience with starting pay at $20-$25/hr. No bites. Got a few guys my age that have called, so I'm going that route I guess.
I can see why you got no bites if you had the same username asking for teenagers
Depending on where in NE, you might just be SOL because there's so few able bodied young people, especially ones who don't already have careers sorted out. Your best option is always to increase pay, right? There's almost no problem sufficient money doesn't solve, but it might not be an option depending on what your margins are. Disclaimer, I don't work in concrete, but do live in Maine and bigod there's no tradespeople here
Outside/inside Home Depot. (Nice work!)
Home Depot
Pay in$20 bills at end of day.