Small business staff - sick pay

irfb87

TheTracker wrote: »

Always lovely to see heartwarming compassion at this time of year, it warms the cockles it does, nice and toasty warm.

Had the bloke broken his foot kicking a failed suicide bomber in the 'cockles' like that taxi driver (?) up in Glasgow, then I'd happily try and throw him a few pennies...

...the fact he threw a fit at his gf and instead of kicking her cushioned !!!! decided kicking a wall would be better, it makes me less compassionate...and as someone kindly pointed out, we're digging upwards here.. last thing we need is to fork out cash for ziltch...

All cheques/cash donations welcome :xmassign:

TheTracker

irfb87 wrote: »

All cheques/cash donations welcome :xmassign:

Send me details by PM and I'll PayPal you the £87.55 that a week of SSP is/was.

TheTracker

"So I work in a small hotel that is run by a couple.

I've had a slight issue and I'm wondering what the future could hold as a result..

I went out on a Saturday night with my girlfriend... she wanted to continue to party with friends (despite me needing to start at 7:30am)... at 6am I lost the plot and told everyone to go home/get out, was so enraged I kicked a bin in the house to pieces.. unfortunately the bin was a tad close to the wall and I may have broken my foot as a result.

I've taken the day off today and as it's not better I'm heading to the hospital tomorrow for an x-ray...

So, as mentioned, I work in a small hotel, they've got a lot to do to bring this place up to scratch (from the previous owners) and the last thing they need is to be paying for a staff member who cannot work (I'm a handy man). Is it tough luck? Or is there something that can be done?

I'm the kind of guy that would ask to be paid for the week and 'work it off' over time, however I'd imagine that's not strictly legal... I'm just wondering what my options might be?

I looked at my contract - which I conclude was written by an 9 year old who has just learnt microsoft word.... I'm digging upwards here.. last thing I need is to forgo cash for ziltch...

Thanks"

OhReally_2

irfb87 wrote: »

So my fiancee and myself has a small hotel and we employ two staff members.

We've had a slight issue and are wondering what the future could hold as a result..

One of our staff members went out on a Saturday night with his girlfriend...The story as he told it: at 4am he wanted to pack it in and go to sleep, she wanted to continue to party with friends (despite him needing to start at 7:30am)... at 6am he lost the plot and told everyone to go home/get out, was so enraged he kicked a bin in their house to pieces.. unfortunately the bin was a tad close to the wall and he may have broken his foot as a result.

He's taken the day off today and as it's not better he's heading to the hospital tomorrow for an x-ray...

So, as mentioned, we're a small hotel, we've got a lot to do to bring this place up to scratch (from the previous owners) and the last thing we need is to be paying for a staff member who cannot work (he's a handy man). Is it tough luck? Or is there something that can be done?

He is actually probably the kind of guy that would ask to be paid for the week and 'work it off' over time, however I'd imagine that's not strictly legal... I'm just wondering what our options might be?

Thanks

As a small hotel with just two members of staff, do you really employ one of them only as a handyman? :huh:

Hotel falling apart is it?

Otherwise you'd be better off getting someone in as and when required.

irfb87

Not entirely sure what TheTracker is up to :?

Please bear in mind (I must also) that you do not know the member of staff. Attitudes, lifestyles etc play a key role.. Would you cry for me if I came to you hat in hand with no money? Especially if you found out that I do not make any efforts to save money?

@Oh Really, as mentioned it is a small hotel, 20 bedrooms. 2 members of staff, and myself and fiancee.. so in reality 4 members of staff, 5 rooms per person. One would think that means changing 5 beds every day, however when someone is staying for more than 1 night, the bed does not require changing each day, it's remade. Laundry is done out of house. 1 member of staff is a good handy man (broken foot man). My Fiancee is a dab hand at painting, and I myself am DIY capable and can hold a brush. Obviously anything that would require a stamp of approval from someone with a certificate is outsourced, however the bones and structure of the place is sound *touchwood* it is decor which is requiring a lot of input at the moment - hence the need for a two footed handyman...

Pennywise

OhReally wrote: »

As a small hotel with just two members of staff, do you really employ one of them only as a handyman? :huh:

Hotel falling apart is it?

Otherwise you'd be better off getting someone in as and when required.

Small hotels often need something doing every day. I have a few as clients, and they either have a handyman come in as and when needed (usually costing a few thousand per year in total), or they take on a part time employee to do it (as well as other jobs), or the owners do it themselves. You wouldn't believe how much maintenance needs doing. It's certainly not just changing the bed, vacuuming and wiping round the bathroom between stays! Then there's the garden/exterior which also needs weekly attention. A hotel doesn't need to be falling apart to need weekly maintenance. If you want to get repeat business, everything has to work, paint/decoration needs touching up all the time, squeaky and sticky doors need attention, the list just goes on and on!

TheTracker

Not up to anything. I just lament the level of erosion to workers rights, and the concomitant effect that has on loyalty to the business. Once was the day, in society as well as business, that the burden on of misfortune was shared rather than privately suffered by those who befell it, and not weighted against the imagined vices of the victim. Particularly in the case of a handyman, who's very job is often to alleviate the misfortunes of the customer through repair, it is sad to see unreciprocated care at the justification of a purely commercial transaction. I give my workers time off at their hour of need and they work all the harder for it when healthy and well. It seems if one can not afford to do that, either through financial imperative or personal respect, then the relationship of this worker and this business can't continue.

Back to your normal programming.

OhReally_2

irfb87 wrote: »

...
@Oh Really, as mentioned it is a small hotel, 20 bedrooms. 2 members of staff, and myself and fiancee.. so in reality 4 members of staff, 5 rooms per person. One would think that means changing 5 beds every day, however when someone is staying for more than 1 night, the bed does not require changing each day, it's remade. Laundry is done out of house. 1 member of staff is a good handy man (broken foot man). My Fiancee is a dab hand at painting, and I myself am DIY capable and can hold a brush. Obviously anything that would require a stamp of approval from someone with a certificate is outsourced, however the bones and structure of the place is sound *touchwood* it is decor which is requiring a lot of input at the moment - hence the need for a two footed handyman...

I suggest you get a few quotes for redecorating from recommended, local professionals.

Not only will they do a better job than any jack of all trades handyman, not only will you only pay for the work done, not only will it reduce your workforce/ongoing liabilities, but I suspect it'll be much quicker and cheaper in the long run.

Look for a gardener who will care for the garden as and when required, perhaps an hour or so a week/fornight just to keep the grass trimmed.
Or perhaps much more continuous work if you think itll attract more business (I doubt it)
Not only will they do a better job than any jack of all trades handyman, not only will you only pay for the work done, not only will it reduce your workforce/ongoing liabilities, but I suspect it'll be much quicker and cheaper in the long run.

But your [STRIKE]B&B[/STRIKE] hotel, your money, you spend it how you like.


How long have you been runing this place?
Has neither employee never been sick before?
What about holidays?

Have you ever had a job yourself?
What experience do you have in running a hotel?

You're not located in Torquay by any chance are you? :cool:

RuthnJasper

OhReally wrote: »

You're not located in Torquay by any chance are you? :cool:

"waTery Fowls" was my initial thought as well!

I understand your plight, OP, but OhReally's advice is very good.

You could also perhaps have a word with your employee about the wisdom of getting wasted at a party on a work-night. Particularly if he's going to be using any power-tools in the hotel and/or garden just a few short hours after his wild 'n' crazy revels.

cavework

If the OP has applied for the employment allowance ,this will save the business up to £2000 a year in NIC .
Instead of arguing the 'eroded rights of the working class' perhaps this piece of information could help both the OP and his employee.

The one that got bladdered on a work night and made himself unfit for work the next day or longer

The Tracker..
respect works both ways..