I received an anonymous google review the other day. I am certain that folks must have an opinion. I would love to hear it in the comments down below.
Here is what was said in the review:
The owner of this business told me that he knows how to run my construction business better than I do. He insisted that if I did not pay all of my guys $15 an hour I was “not doing right by these guys who have families and mouths to feed”. This is something he says to lot clients, which is why he doesn’t do much business. I also think he is full of cow dung because some of my guys have done work for him and he didn’t pay them 15 an hour. I guess it is only doing right by the guys when it is part of his billable rate.
To which I replied:
I take phone calls all of the time from anonymous folks like yourself who cry to me that, “all of their guys are crackheads, or lazy, or thieves, and they don’t want to work for you.” Often you’ll whine, “why can’t they just work hard and do what their told?” And then you’ll challenge me by saying, “You say that you know people who can finish concrete (or shingle a roof, or frame a house)? I’ll pay them $10/hr.—send me six of them!” You know what Mr. Anonymous, I don’t disagree with you. It’s true. I’ve said many times to business owners like you. I don’t need your business and you don’t need me. Rather than paying my premium, put that money toward treating your people right. It will likely go a long way. This is a great topic. Thank you for bringing it up. I think I will talk about it on my blog -> https://cpgbuffalo.net/blog/ If you use your real name, you can join the conversation.
To which Mr. Annon replied:
A conversation is between two people. Your “blog” is just a way to justify yourself and get some sleep at night. There is no one conversing or commenting. As I said above, practice what you preach and pay the folks that do work for you fifteen an hour and then I will give your words some credibility. Write a “blog” about that.
Look just to be clear, my reply was harsh because nobody enjoys being called out in public (google review). I would never try to tell anyone how to run their business. Occasionally people will ask my opinion of market conditions from my perspective. I have the advantage of knowing what a lot of companies are paying their folks.
Do you have to pay an entry level guy at least $12? No of course not. But if you don’t then you would benefit from having the right expectations. A $10 guy is pure entry level. You wouldn’t ever leave him alone or ask him to make decisions.
The thing is, an entry level guy doesn’t stay that way for very long! Give him 30 days and if he’s been doing his job all along, then he is likely worth a lot more. My advice? Pay him $12 or lose him to the competition. The minute we know that a man can hack it on a job site (and he has a car) he is worth at least $12