The "Do Your Job" Bonus - Get your techs to use Jobber and Show Up on Time
If you're running a service business and struggling to get your technicians to document their work or show up on time, this might be the most useful thing you read this week.
I was dealing with two problems that a lot of you probably recognize. First, my guys were clocking in and out — no surprise there, because that's their money — but they weren't uploading pictures and they weren't leaving notes. Second, punctuality was starting to slip. Fifteen minutes late here, thirty minutes late there. Now, I get it, fifteen minutes feels like "whatever" in a lot of work environments. But when you're building a premium brand charging premium prices, ten minutes late is too late. And when one tech shows up a half hour after his partner, that partner is stewing all day thinking about how someone is making the same money for less work. That kills team culture fast.
So I created what I call the DYJ Bonus — Do Your Job — and it shows up on their paychecks exactly like that.
The concept is simple: there's a bonus built into their compensation, and they earn it every pay period by doing three basic things. Not hard things. Just the things they should already be doing.
Show up within six minutes of their scheduled start time.
Not fifteen. Not ten. Six. I use Jobber's GPS tagging to verify this, or more accurately, my wife does since she handles payroll. Having a hard number removes all the gray area and the excuses.
Upload before pictures and notes when they arrive at the job site.
This means at least five photos and a note documenting the condition of the property, any communication with the client, and anything relevant about the job. We have a full SOP that spells out exactly what kinds of pictures to take so there's no guesswork.
Upload after pictures and notes when the job is complete.
Again, at least five photos, plus notes explaining what was done that day. This protects the company, protects the client, and builds a paper trail that's saved us more than once.
That's it. Three things. Show up on time, document before, document after.
What I found is that a simple financial incentive built directly into their paycheck changes behavior faster than any conversation or write-up ever did. It's not punitive — it's not a fine or a disciplinary action. It's a bonus they keep by doing their job the right way. The framing matters. And because the standard is clear and the verification is objective, there's no argument about it on payday.
If you're running Jobber and not using it to hold your team accountable this way, you're leaving one of its best features on the table. The GPS check-ins and photo uploads are already there — you just have to tie something meaningful to them.