Labor Situation..

[Mbella]

How's everybody doing this spring in the labor department? Do you have more than you need, not enough, not enough good help, etc?

I'm seeing more than enough guys looking for work. I'm also finding that there are more than I typically see with no experience in the landscape industry......probably because of the slow down in construction.

[Colonial]

About 1/2 the guys we had apply for jobs are from the Construction industry, no landscape/hardscape and want $18-20 per hour and they have never laid a patio. On the general labor end we are in good shape, which is a nice change.

[MuirView Design]

I lucked out. I hired a foreman who is working out well. He's young, but has worked as a stone mason for a big reputable company for five years and worked for another company hardscaping for a few years before he responded to my ad. He shows up 20 minutes early every single day and he's always thinking two or three steps ahead. He's definitely a rare gem in this industry. My new laborer is also pretty good. Has hardscaping experience, can run the skiddy with the best of them and grew up in a family where his dad had a maintenance company........however he shows up a few minutes late everyday and always wants to put his two sense in every time the foreman and I stop to talk about something. This gets annoying and I'm constantly on his ass about it. Other than that, I'm happy in the labor department......but I'm still just a tiny outfit. Can't imagine the headaches all you bigger guys go through.

[JZap]

We have all of our same workers back yet again... We've added one "cousin" to our team, he took almost 45 minutes to load 8 yards of mulch on the truck and had about 2.5 yards on the ground beside the truck. Needless to say his skills all around are avid at best.

[paponte]

We have all our regular guys back with the exception of one who felt the grass was greener. Besides that, we have been getting bombarded with calls form construction workers that have no work. Again, also looking for $20hr with zero hardscape skills, but complaining about no work.

[zedosix]

Looks very good for the year, I have 5 full time (two of them are new guys with alot of talent) and 2 part time and will likely be hiring at least one more full time in the next couple of weeks.

[mrusk]

Labor situation is bad. My biggest proablem by far is execution. I hired 2 new guys 3 weeks ago. They quit after two weeks because "I was to hard on them, and push them to hard, and yelled to much". They called my foreman and told him that they were quitted. They have yet to return my phone calls or contact me about collecting the $ i owe them.

[custom patios]

Labor situation is bad. My biggest proablem by far is execution. I hired 2 new guys 3 weeks ago. They quit after two weeks because "I was to hard on them, and push them to hard, and yelled to much". They called my foreman and told him that they were quitted. They have yet to return my phone calls or contact me about collecting the $ i owe them.

adda boy! thats the way to root em out! just not the yelling part. lol. nobody likes to work hard and get yelled at.

[mrusk]

adda boy! thats the way to root em out! just not the yelling part. lol. nobody likes to work hard and get yelled at.

LOL I am not that big of a yeller! I am a very demanding person to work for. If you want to get paid top dollar you better deliver!

[zedosix]

LOL I am not that big of a yeller! I am a very demanding person to work for. If you want to get paid top dollar you better deliver!

Your just hiring the wrong people Matt. You make me laugh, because if I yelled even once to any of my employees, I would lose them in an instant. Show respect and get respect.

[mrusk]

The only thing I really scream about is how I can never seem to find my guys when we are working on a 1/2 acer lot!!!


Back in the day when I worked for other contractors, I always worked for yellers. When I was 13 I started working with this framer who would yell at me for the full 12 hour day and call me every name under the sun. I taught that if I was told to get a tool I had to run to get it.

But in all honestly, I do not think yelling is the real reason the guys quit. The guy supposively was a good paver/wall/masonry guy. But for the two weeks he worked for me I had him mulching and sodding becuase thats what needed to be done. I think he got upset because my other foreman would get to do whatever he wanted since he has been on the job for months.

[mrusk]

Also some guys have proablem taking orders from a cocky 21 year old half their age.

[Colonial]

We got our H2-B works and after the week or them getting used to me and me them I have seen a tremednous improvement. They are a realy good bunch of guys, 5 are related so it makes it easier on them. As for our other workers we hired 2 new guys for Hardscaping/landscaping. the one guy has 16 years exp, doing all sorts of masonry, pavers, flagstone, etc, the other was a guy who had 16 yrs exp. doing Contruction and wanted a change. The expereinced guy after 2 jobs now is probably going to go. he does not think he should have to lug wheelbarrows, pick up block, shovel etc and that does not fly. the other guy has been really good, he is eager to learn, has commons sense, etc. So overall we are in pretty good shape, just aggravated about the guy with Expereience. So much potential but stuck on himself.

[cgland]

We have the same crews as last year. I feel that I have a great mix on my install crew. they all know what to do as well as each others strengths and weaknesses. They compliment each other very well. For once, I'm not stressed about the labor situation.

[Mbella]

We have the same crews as last year. I feel that I have a great mix on my install crew. they all know what to do as well as each others strengths and weaknesses. They compliment each other very well. For once, I'm not stressed about the labor situation.

Enjoy it while you are able because it probably won't last long.:)

[mrusk]

Enjoy it while you are able because it probably won't last long.:)

yea because Rusk is coming to Reading to recruit workers!

[custom patios]

yeah, i dont have any labor problems either. when i screw up, i just yell at myself.LOL. must look pretty funny to the neighbors seeing me argue with myself.jk

[mrusk]

Guys I am shocked! I put a add on craigslist last nite and someone emailed me a resume!!! A RESUME!!!! A RESUME!!!!!!!!! A worker who knows how to type and use a computer!!!!


Things are looking up.

[cgland]

I know several guys who have had good luck w/ Craig's list.

[-EGLC-]

Matt, actually isn't as bad as a boss as he makes himself to be. lol Doesn't yell alot at me anyway...........

[HRLand]

I have a feeling that any guy with a resume, knows how to type and use a computer isn't going to be much of a worker. Let us know when he starts and when he's fired.

[mrusk]

Got another guy with a resume. Turns out both of them couldnt make it in their own biz.

[Mbella]

Guys I am shocked! I put a add on craigslist last nite and someone emailed me a resume!!! A RESUME!!!! A RESUME!!!!!!!!! A worker who knows how to type and use a computer!!!!

Things are looking up.

Cripes, if he knows how to spell you might have to put him in charge.LOL