For reference, we have a team of 20 technicians and our average employee lifecycle is just over 1 year. We offer PTO, ETO, and 401k with flexible hours for scheduling. We pay competitive wages and they’re solely through commission. Our culture is protected by the senior techs and leadership team and the feedback we receive is that former employees feel like it’s a big family. Thoughts?
I've got to say, it sounds like you are already doing really well! The unfortunate part of cleaning is that some people have the skill, and some really don't. It's blue-collar work, even if it doesn't look like it. During our interview process, we really talk about the work expectations, and we also give them a day or two to think about it. We focus a lot more on the prep work than when someone is hired. We also do what we call "team communication week" in the middle of each quarter. This is where we pull each cleaner in individually or allow them to plan a time to sit with us when there's something they didn't feel like addressing in the morning meetings. A LOT of the cleaners we lost in the very beginning were due to plain miscommunication.
I do love that you give them a few days to think about it! Honesty is the best policy!
I’ve been very blessed with a great team. I’ve been in business for 10 years and currently have 9 ladies. We’ve definitely had people come and go over the years, but of the 9 I have now, 7 have been with me between 3-8 years.
I pay hourly, plus mileage, holiday pay, sick pay, and vacation. We celebrate birthdays with cake, anniversaries with flowers, and Employee of the Month with a certificate and gift card. They also know they can come to me if they’re struggling or in a bind. I will loan them money and let them make payments through payroll. There aren’t many other companies that do this, but like you, we are like a big family.
This may sound blunt, but in this industry I feel like you usually get one of two types of people: those who are struggling and truly need the income, and those who mostly want something to do and to stay active. There often isn’t much in between. It’s hard work, and it takes the right person to handle the physical side of it, the flexibility, and the fact that pay can fluctuate.
Fully agreed your team is lucky to have you!
Same to you! I’d love to hear about your point-based interview and promotion system!
roselvaggio such a great question. While I am in the same "bucket" as you are I do not have the answers. I see you are in the US and we are in Canada. Still our struggles are very similiar. Some things we have implemented is we became a Fair Wage Provider. We did an employee survey and this seems to move the needle. We use Slack and along with this platform we use Tacos. In short terms we have built our own reward system. Each employee can collect tacos for gas cards, grocery cards, day off or they can work towards their dream (buy a car, house, study, travel - etc). Otherwise we do have all the flexibility and time off you have described about.
As a business owner I also think we have to be kind to ourselves. Our industry is high turnover - it is an inbetween job. "I will do this until....". People now days have so many opportunities for work and we are way past of employees sticking with the same company for their entire lives.
It sounds like you have build a beautiful community!!
well done!
I do not have an advice for you as this is my question too!
im wondering of people simply don’t enjoy cleaning longterm??
