Signs the Cleaning Company (boy) Won't be Coming Back

[FindersKeepers]

I just had to share this story. My husband keeps pushing me to get a cleaning person but I'm kind of picky and we've never tried one I thought did a good enough job.

Yesterday (Sunday) I agreed to give a new company a shot, and they sent a young man who just turned 18. The company is trying to expand into weekend cleaning and this young man showed up eager to clean.

He was very polite and I was actually impressed at how he moved the furniture when vacuuming, and even removed a window screen and took it outdoors to rinse bird poo off. He really did an incredible job. I'd hired him for three hours and when the time was up, I asked if he would stay and finish organizing the pantry (They offer organizing, too.) He said he would be happy to, but asked me not to bill the company because three hours put him at his maximum-allowed 20 hours for the week. He said he'd stay and the extra would be "on the house."

I had agreed to pay the cleaning company $47.50 per hour for a cleaning person. Nosy me asked him what his company paid him. His wage was $11.25, and he told me if he got good online reviews, he would be considered for a $.50 raise in two months. That's a pretty low wage for a job that has low overhead, and he was hired part-time so he didn't have any benefits.

We chatted and I discovered his grandfather is in the same nursing home as my mother. His grandfather had a stroke and it left him severely disabled. The grandfather raised the boy and now the boy lives in the home by himself. At least that's paid off. He told me how he used to help his grandfather in his woodshop.

On a whim, I took him out to our shop, where my husband raised his eyebrows but said nothing. I asked the boy which of the tools he was familiar with--I pointed to one and said, "Do you know what that is?"

"Yes, ma'am, it's a planer."

"Can you run it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Long story short -- after spending nearly an hour in the shop, during which time the kid convinced me he was not only motivated to learn and work, he also had some experience in woodworking, I offered him a job.

Today, he starts working for us - at more than double his cleaning wage--plus benefits.

So no, he won't be coming back to clean my house but he will be coming over next weekend when we have a company BBQ.

When I filled out his online review -- I wrote, "I took your worker. You should have paid him more." And, I didn't schedule any more cleaning spots.

I have really good feeling about this kid.

[stjames1_53]

Bravo!!!!!
Well played!!!!!!

[Peter1469]

Awesome!

[IMPress Polly]

If there were more employers of this kinda mindset, the world would be a better place!

[countryboy]

If there were more employers of this kinda mindset, the world would be a better place!

And workers.

[stjames1_53]

If there were more employers of this kinda mindset, the world would be a better place!

When I ran my business, I did my fair share of employee snagging. I paid well and on time

[carolina73]

If there were more employers of this kinda mindset, the world would be a better place!

????

Employers are begging for employees who are willing to show up every day.

What surprises me is what people do for a job for low money. Employers are begging for employees. Manufacturers give 40+ hours with full benefits. Life is actually easier since you do not have to deal with angry customers. With overtime that is available in almost every place with the shortage of people you become middle class in earnings immediately.

[Abby08]

Good on you, FK.

[The Booman]

I just had to share this story. My husband keeps pushing me to get a cleaning person but I'm kind of picky and we've never tried one I thought did a good enough job.

Yesterday (Sunday) I agreed to give a new company a shot, and they sent a young man who just turned 18. The company is trying to expand into weekend cleaning and this young man showed up eager to clean.

He was very polite and I was actually impressed at how he moved the furniture when vacuuming, and even removed a window screen and took it outdoors to rinse bird poo off. He really did an incredible job. I'd hired him for three hours and when the time was up, I asked if he would stay and finish organizing the pantry (They offer organizing, too.) He said he would be happy to, but asked me not to bill the company because three hours put him at his maximum-allowed 20 hours for the week. He said he'd stay and the extra would be "on the house."

I had agreed to pay the cleaning company $47.50 per hour for a cleaning person. Nosy me asked him what his company paid him. His wage was $11.25, and he told me if he got good online reviews, he would be considered for a $.50 raise in two months. That's a pretty low wage for a job that has low overhead, and he was hired part-time so he didn't have any benefits.

We chatted and I discovered his grandfather is in the same nursing home as my mother. His grandfather had a stroke and it left him severely disabled. The grandfather raised the boy and now the boy lives in the home by himself. At least that's paid off. He told me how he used to help his grandfather in his woodshop.

On a whim, I took him out to our shop, where my husband raised his eyebrows but said nothing. I asked the boy which of the tools he was familiar with--I pointed to one and said, "Do you know what that is?"

"Yes, ma'am, it's a planer."

"Can you run it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Long story short -- after spending nearly an hour in the shop, during which time the kid convinced me he was not only motivated to learn and work, he also had some experience in woodworking, I offered him a job.

Today, he starts working for us - at more than double his cleaning wage--plus benefits.

So no, he won't be coming back to clean my house but he will be coming over next weekend when we have a company BBQ.

When I filled out his online review -- I wrote, "I took your worker. You should have paid him more." And, I didn't schedule any more cleaning spots.

I have really good feeling about this kid.

You two are awesome.