Independent LawnMowing Contractors Of Australia Forum
Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Employing Staff

  1. #1
    All seasons's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Vic
    Posts
    11

    Aussie Employing Staff

    Gday All,

    Well I have been in this game for around 5 years now and feel the time has come to expand and employ somebody to help me out.

    I am thinking of trying some of the Apprentaship training schemes or a traineeship.

    If anyone has had experience with these type of agencies your tips would be great. Or any other ideas would be helpful.

    Cheers

    Cummo

  2. #2
    Member Vic joeymoey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Caroline Springs Victoria
    Posts
    299

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    All I can say is understand your costs.

    Realistically the labour component is:

    $16 an hour - paid to them
    $1.60 an hour - paid in super
    $1 an hour paid in leave etc
    $1 an hour paid in safety equipment
    $1 an hour paid to Worksafe
    $2-3 an hour paid in Fuel
    $3 an hour in additional paperwork
    So there's the best part of $27 an hour - this is something you pay regardless of whether you're on a job.

    I've got a 4 man crew and the key is to book jobs in close together or get them on one big job all day.

    Cheers

  3. #3
    Senior Member 4 Gardens's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Calwell ACT
    Posts
    662

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Not sure but you may need to a horticulturalist to employ trainees and apprentices

  4. #4
    Senior Member SunM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    130

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Yea, you sorta need someone qualified to train apprentices, that's the whole point of the program. You day your 1 day a week at TAFE then the rest is training on the job. When I started my C3 in Arb the company I was with didn't have anyone qualified so I was learning myself for the most part as the boss only had his basic dangerous habits that had built up over 20 odd years. New company I went to, boss was qualified and I was working with someone who was in my class, that made such a massive difference.
    Cert III Arborist

  5. #5
    Member Victoria PhilG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Melbourne South East
    Posts
    614

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    We have had two apprentices over the years. One went on to complete, the other only lasted six months. School was the killer especially paying above award wages in third year and losing him for a day a week. There are training organisations that will now do on the job training so you don't lose them for a whole day per week.

  6. #6
    Member Victoria PhilG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Melbourne South East
    Posts
    614

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by 4 Gardens View Post
    Not sure but you may need to a horticulturalist to employ trainees and apprentices
    You just have to be suitably experienced. I wasn't qualified back then.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    5,863

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    After the budget tonight you will get $10K to employ an mature aged worker over the age of 50 for a period of 2 yrs. And probably be a better worker
    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  8. #8
    Senior Member HPM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Newcastle NSW
    Posts
    689

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluey View Post
    After the budget tonight you will get $10K to employ an mature aged worker over the age of 50 for a period of 2 yrs. And probably be a better worker
    ..........like..........
    Hunterpropertymaintenance@gmail.com
    Work to live, life's too short..
    Specialising in small and Large area collection mowing with Walker Mowers.

  9. #9
    Senior Member 4 Gardens's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Calwell ACT
    Posts
    662

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluey View Post
    After the budget tonight you will get $10K to employ an mature aged worker over the age of 50 for a period of 2 yrs. And probably be a better worker
    I am nearly 50, maybe I could employ myself

  10. #10
    Member brodie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Picton NSW
    Posts
    189

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by 4 Gardens View Post
    I am nearly 50, maybe I could employ myself
    Only if you have been out of work and receiving a payment is my understanding of that. From what I heard on the radio you can't just get $10 k for employing an older worker they need to have been receiving a government pension to qualify. I would take that to mean an older worker living off super wouldn't meet that criteria. I could be wrong in my interpretation though

  11. #11
    Member brodie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Picton NSW
    Posts
    189

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    In answer to the original question, if you are going to have an apprentice or trainee don't expect great results. I've tried it before and all we did was babysit. We were no more productive because I had to be onsite and be constantly watching one my shoulder. It didn't last long as they weren't interested in the trade but it can be more detrimental to work flow and production

  12. #12
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    4,991

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluey View Post
    After the budget tonight you will get $10K to employ an mature aged worker over the age of 50 for a period of 2 yrs. And probably be a better worker
    I know a couple of guys here who would fit the bill but does it have to be full time as I wouldn't have enough work to cover that?

  13. #13
    Senior Member AJD Mowing's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Southerland Shire NSW
    Posts
    2,877

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluey View Post
    After the budget tonight you will get $10K to employ an mature aged worker over the age of 50 for a period of 2 yrs. And probably be a better worker
    Go you harvzees, you employ me for 6 months then I employ you for 6 months
    When can I start?
    AJD Mowing Giving Back Your Life

    http://www.ajdmowing.com.au/

  14. #14
    Senior Member BSD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sth West Sydney.
    Posts
    1,361

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Wonder if you set up a PTY LTD company in your partners/wife's name and then employed yourself?
    Quote Originally Posted by AJD Mowing View Post
    Go you harvzees, you employ me for 6 months then I employ you for 6 months
    When can I start?

  15. #15
    Senior Member AJD Mowing's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Southerland Shire NSW
    Posts
    2,877

    Default Re: Employing Staff

    Quote Originally Posted by BSD View Post
    Wonder if you set up a PTY LTD company in your partners/wife's name and then employed yourself?
    Nah thats to hard and not shonky enough for us
    AJD Mowing Giving Back Your Life

    http://www.ajdmowing.com.au/

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •