Model employees

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El Framo

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I'm trying to figure out how many folks out there have what they feel are model employees. It seems we have run into a string of mediocre help as of late, and I wonder if it's just me. I can't help but think what my shop would be like if I could find that perfect (not literally) someone. I grow weary of redoing pieces, and repeating the answers to questions for the tenth time. Case in point: In Atlanta, I bought Chris Pasche's guide to mounting, gave it to our mat cutter, and asked her to read it and tell me how to do a few things (I had already read it, but just wanted her to know the information herself). After a few months, still I am being asked simple mounting questions and the platen has yet to be cleaned. The worse part is I don't think she even thinks about the platen at all.

When you said grumble, I bet you didn't think some poor shmuck would take you seriously.
 
I have 1 full time and 1 part-time employee, both for the restoration side of our business. The full timer is excellent. Works hard, works steady, seldom asks me anything. In fact, does a better job on some things than I do.

Drawback? She's always 5-10 minutes late (according to the clock) but she always stays over 5 minutes. (or however much she's actually late.) Just handles things.

The part-timer is very good too. She does work flexible time due to a small child and babysitter situations. We both agreed to this coming in.

She seldom asks questions - just matters of "this is how I'd do it, but what do you think, or what do you prefer?"

When they're both here they giggle a lot. That doesn't bother me because they get the work done.

Fulltimer has been with me 3+ years. Part-timer only a month, but she worked for me a while 3 years ago before her baby was born.

Now, if I could just find someone for the framing side...

Betty
 
That's it, I'm loading up the truck and moving to Kodak in order to steal me some employees. Seriously though Betty, it sounds like you've got great reason to feel lucky. I could always send you one of my framers if you wanted.
 
Well, that'd be a "fur piece" to drive from King (got relatives in King matter of fact!) But if they're movin to TN anyway, let me know!

Betty
 
I have a wonderful model employee, and so I know that they exist. (Wish I could clone her) I've had some really good ones along the way, but far more mediocre ones--sad to say. I also have a part timer that is wonderful. WISH she could be full time!

I've also became discouraged lately with the most recent letting go of someone who had great possibilities, but called in sick at least once a week....

Now, I'm determined to become a better manager myself, because I've noticed some employers SEEM to be able to find the good ones...hmm. I'm determined to learn their secrets!! ha.
 
I am not sure there is such a thing as a "model" employee. There is no perfection in this world. That being said we have had most of our employees for many years (10-15 years)and we wouldn't keep them if we weren satisfied.

The trick is to realize that no one is good at everything and to try to use each employee in the areas that they are best in. For example, one of our framers really produces and puts out a huge amount of work. She is excellent on production and routine jobs while still maintaining a high level of quality. She would be miserable and ultimately fail at very detailed work. The other framer loves detailed, custom and creative work and is very talented in this way. If I were to put her on production she would absolutely fail as she could not keep up and also she would be bored stiff. Having them in the right jobs is definitely a key to success.

Of course this is easier when you have a few employees. It is definitely harder when you only have one and need them to be good at everything.

So, are they model employees? Well, they drive me crazy by not maintaining the machinery no matter what I say. OUr machinery is actually maintained by an employee who does administrative work and is not a framer at all. We just try to work around everyone's weaknesses and idiosyncrasies if we can. Of course at times I have to put my foot down!

We did go through many, many people until we found someone with the right skills and temperament. It took us a while to figure out that men just don't work in our shop (we are all women except for one person who does maintenance, packing errands etc.)

Best of luck in finding your "model" employees!
 
I have 3 part time employees. I should say right off if I could run the business without employees I would. I use to manage 20 people in my last career. Didn't like that at all.
Long and short is I couldn't run it without them and they all have something possitive to add. I think it is our job to figure out what that is and let them excel in that area.
I don't think you will ever find that "model" employee, but you may find someone that you can be happy with. Remember that you only get what you pay for. Nothing is for free.
 
I tried using cornerweld to put a model employee together last year. It fell apart in a few weeks and I had to throw it out. I bought another model employee kit and this time read the instructions. I needed a plastic cement to put the pieces together. Maybe this time my model employee will work right. My wife says I need to buy one already put together it's cheaper.

Anyone else try one in kit form...

framer
 
I've had a few good employees over the years, but they have been few and far between. I don't claim to be the perfect boss, but I don't ask any more of those working for me than I expect of myself. In other words, I try to set an example for the qualities I expect to see in an employee.

My last bad hire left in a huff on Saturday. She did me a favor, because I wanted to get rid of her, anyway. I had my sixteen year old daughter come in today after school to help me today for the first time ever. She was great. If I had only known I had a good worker right under my own roof, I would have had her come in earlier.

My only other employee is part time and has been with me five years or so. He is turning 75 this year and is one of the best employees I've ever had. He is there early, does everything he needs to do (and more) without me asking, cleans up after himself (and me), and tries to help in any way he can. He assembles all my frames, and helps with simple framing jobs. He has been a blessing.

I would rather work alone than work with unproductive people.
 
Originally posted by framer tg::

Anyone else try one in kit form...
Sometimes, either there are pieces missing, or they just don't fit together correctly without a lot of re-work. And sometimes, the instructions are wrong.
icon45.gif



-Mike.
 
i think many of you make good points, if you put them in the right spots it works. the other way you could look at it is from the employee. i am an employee and i like to feel as though i am doing good for the person i work for, therfor if i am set up for good it will work. on the other hand if someone is set up for failure....well no need to say. yes it will take time for both sides to see where that spot is, for both to be happy. and sometimes it just won't click between two people, we have all had a bad relationship or two. work is the same.
d
 
A good stating point is to ask the question ……..”Would you employ yourself?”

I will start by saying….I would have to think long and hard about myself as an employee…..and this is despite the fact that when I get involved in something I give it my all……..I’m meeting an old boss (from many years ago) today for lunch…not I will add about a job….just for lunch and a bit of catch up….I have not sat down with this guy for any length of time for many years…..it should be interesting.
 
Pamela said:
I had my sixteen year old daughter come in today after school to help me today for the first time ever. She was great.
We bought our shop when my youngest daughter was 15 and she is great in the shop. She has no price resistance while designing, designs to the nines and looks the customer straight in the eye and says "that will be $450". What a princess. :D
 
Originally posted by Pamela DeSimone, CPF:

He is turning 75 this year and is one of the best employees I've ever had.
I've read a lot of studies about older workers and how much better they are. They came up in a time when jobs were harder to come by and were thankful to even have them.

Jobs may be sorta hard to come by today, but the attitude of those searching doesn't help any either. I hope that doesn't reflect on us as parents and how we've taught our children, but in some cases I think it does.

On the other hand, Dennis is correct, how one is treated as an employee counts for a whole lot, too. Perhaps "our" (this generation) has taught their children by example, in how they were treated, that many employers aren't loyal to the employee, therefore, why should the employee do any more than is required either?

My husband is about as "model" an employee as you'd ever want. Goes in early, stays late, does any and everything above and beyond the call of duty. And many times, he has been crapped on royally. Our older son has seen this and only gives what is required. He has been taught to give 110%, but he has seen where it has gotten Dad.

All I can do is treat my employees the way I would want to be treated, and hope they respond in kind.

Betty
 
I came across this today among all those notes I have saved that may be of use some day :rolleyes: ………….some interesting comments on employees.

________________________

b y J a y Go l t z
136 PFM September 1997

The Grass Is Always Greener

I was sitting down the other day reading
my column fan mail (it doesn’t
take long, to date I’ve gotten three
letters), and two things struck me. My
initial response was, “What a nice thing
to do. Someone took the time to sit
down and write me a letter.” I’ve been
writing this column for over a year and a
half, and have often wondered if there’s
anyone out there. It’s encouraging to hear
from people because I like to know what
sort of impact I’m making—if any! It also
reminds me that I should send more letters
than I do.
The second thing that struck me was
the content of one of the letters. In it, the
writer states, “Staying focused is a discipline
that you seem to have gotten down
pat.”
I’m not that focused. The reason that
I’ve been able to write on all of these subjects
is because I have had to struggle
with these issues myself. As I’m talking to
you, I’m also talking to myself. I remind
myself of what I should be doing.
I’ve found that if insecurity was
money, most people would be millionaires.
Most people who go into business
have no formal training and are trying to
figure things out on their own. While
they’re doing this, it’s easy to look around
at all those “successful” businesses and
think, “They seem to know what they’re
doing.” When I started my business at
age 22, I assumed that everyone in the
picture frame industry know a lot more
than I did. Some did. Some didn’t.
As I’ve gotten out there and have
talked to other business owners and
joined business groups, I’ve found that
all businesses have problems in one way
or the other, just to different degrees .
The differences between the successful
ones and the mediocre ones is that successful
business owners don’t accept their
problems. They try to fix and improve ,
however long that takes.
I used to think that success was a function
of how smart someone was and how
h a rd they worked. Now I realize that there
a re other factors—like being stubborn, for
instance. I’m very good at this—my wife
and mother say I’m an expert. (I think I
inherited it; my mother says it’s from my
f a t h e r.) I think to succeed in business you
have to have some level of stubbornness.
Some might call it persistence. Some might
call it “stick-to-it-ivness.” Some might call
it fool-heartednes .
Business is not easy. There are constant
challenges. The difference between
the successful and unsuccessful is getting
back up on the horse after being thrown.
You made a bad hire; you fire them.
You hire someone else; they don’t work
out. You do it again until you find the
right person, or until you find out how to
find the right person. The same holds
true for doing the right advertising, estimating
how long a job will take, or finding
a supplier that will ship good product .
The only person who makes money
whining is Rodney Dangerfield—and he’s
not a picture framer.
Go get ‘em. You know more than you
think.
P.S. Here’s my address. I’m running
out of material. 1915 N. Clybourn,
Chicago, IL 60614.
 
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