Discuss Foreigners? I mean jobs. in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net
I trust you have all you pli etc and pay taxes? I winds me up not only am I competing against other self employed tradesmen I have to compete with employed people doing cash in hand jobs at the weekend and undercutting massively as they don't have to charge as much because they have a wage coming in!
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The best part about doing 'foreigners' on the side while you are employed, is that when you eventually take the plunge and start your own operation, you will realise how cheap you were.
And guess who else realises how cheap you were - your existing customer base.
When you start charging them a rate that you can survive on - you will no longer be getting their work.
Don't be upset - just about every plumber who has gone from being an employee to self employed has been through this.
A word of warning - don't start cutting your bosses lunch.
Bosses have an uncanny way of finding things like that out - most of us have been there and done that.
And guess who else realises how cheap you were - your existing customer base.
When you start charging them a rate that you can survive on - you will no longer be getting their work.
Don't be upset - just about every plumber who has gone from being an employee to self employed has been through this.
A word of warning - don't start cutting your bosses lunch.
Bosses have an uncanny way of finding things like that out - most of us have been there and done that.
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If I found out any of my staff was doing foreigners using my vans and/or tools they would be out the door faster than you could ever imagine. It would be pretty obvious though as both our vans have GPS tracking on them.
If they did it using their own van and tools I'd have no problem with it, their weekend is their own.
If they did it using their own van and tools I'd have no problem with it, their weekend is their own.
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Its even worse when you get on site and see guys talking about doing boiler changes on weekends when they are not gsr .
So many round here doing quick cash jobs that you just get under priced and yes none are insured but custs don't care from my experience.
R
Ray Stafford
Thats very open minded of you Keiran. If one of my staff set up in competition with me, weekend or not, that would be the end of that.
In fact, exactly that has just happened. Its a "breach of trust and confidence" and a clear conflict of interest, and the end of someone's career with us.
I would be the exact same. If they were employed by me and potentially taking work off me I couldn't trust them in my customers homes knowing they could be trying to steal them off me in the future.
I would make exception if it was family.
I have only ever done foreigners for close friends and family but anything longer than an hour or 2 got passed to whoever I was working for and they usually got a bit of a deal and I'd get a few beers for it.
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Never really thought of it like that to be honest but certainly it makes sense. As far as I know none of my staff do but it's only a matter of time before it happens I'm sure. I certainly would reward the guys if they generate work for us through referrals etc.
As long as employers look after their staff (and I know you certainly do Ray, they're a cracking bunch) then staff members should be very grateful for a good opportunity in the current environment.
When I started up I did jobs for friends and family whilst I was off duty in the RN. The RN always came first though and if I had to stay late or do an extra duty the jobs got put back. I suppose it's very different if you are effectively taking jobs away from the boss that pays your wages.
As long as employers look after their staff (and I know you certainly do Ray, they're a cracking bunch) then staff members should be very grateful for a good opportunity in the current environment.
When I started up I did jobs for friends and family whilst I was off duty in the RN. The RN always came first though and if I had to stay late or do an extra duty the jobs got put back. I suppose it's very different if you are effectively taking jobs away from the boss that pays your wages.
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everyone starts with weekend and evening jobs for friends and family its the natural way towards being self employed unless they are stealing customers there isnt much you can do about it unless it specifically in there contract even then hard to prove if theres no paper trail
i was offered a job once they didnt want to put us on cards so we had to be subbing and then they said we wasnt allowed to work for anyone else told them to stick it some firms want their cake and eat it
i was offered a job once they didnt want to put us on cards so we had to be subbing and then they said we wasnt allowed to work for anyone else told them to stick it some firms want their cake and eat it
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I built up my experience whilst in the RN, sourcing jobs myself. I wouldn't dream of doing weekend jobs, i.e. being in direct competition with my employer. It's morally wrong imo. Whilst I didn't think it initially, what people have said is right. It's disloyal.
The circumstances you state are different, you're not being employed. They are trying to have their cake and eat it. I would certainly sack someone using my van/tools/stocks to do foreigners and in light of what others have said would certainly consider the same if they aren't passing the work to the business that pays their wage. I look after the guys money wise and (I think) they look after me, that's how my company works.
With GPS tracking use of our vans for foreigners would be very easy to prove. I don't look into it as I trust the lads, it's there in case of RTAs and if the vehicles are stolen.
Each company is of course different though and I do appreciate everyone has their own opinions!
The circumstances you state are different, you're not being employed. They are trying to have their cake and eat it. I would certainly sack someone using my van/tools/stocks to do foreigners and in light of what others have said would certainly consider the same if they aren't passing the work to the business that pays their wage. I look after the guys money wise and (I think) they look after me, that's how my company works.
With GPS tracking use of our vans for foreigners would be very easy to prove. I don't look into it as I trust the lads, it's there in case of RTAs and if the vehicles are stolen.
Each company is of course different though and I do appreciate everyone has their own opinions!
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