How to Manage Lawn Care Employees
- 1). Identify whether you have the necessary tools, equipment and vehicles for your employees to succeed. Employees need weed-whackers, lawnmowers, transportation with trailers and other miscellaneous equipment to perform their job to the best of their ability.
- 2). Set daily goals for your employees. Employees who have clearly defined goals are more likely to accomplish what you ask, since they know what end they are working toward. They can also glean more satisfaction from their job when they know that they have accomplished a goal.
- 3). Make promotions from within as often as possible. Employees who see new hires succeed them on the seniority ladder without having put any time and work into the organization can often become disillusioned. Disillusionment can surface as sabotage and poor performance, among other detrimental behaviors to your business.
- 4). Provide a viable insurance plan to your lawn care employees. Even though they may opt not to buy into the plan, you should at least offer it to them. There are a variety of dangers associated with the lawn care profession, such as heat stroke, severe lacerations and broken bones, that can sideline employees for months.
- 5). Provide frequent water breaks. Especially during the summer in places where the temperature can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, heat stroke or even death can occur from working outside. Employees should have easy access to water at all times. Keeping your employees hydrated can save you from lawsuits and keep them healthy so that they can be more productive.
- 6). Be fair to all of your employees. (See References 2) You should treat all of your employees equally, whether it's your assistant or the lowest employee on the totem pole. Striving for equality and justice for all of your employees will make your employees respect you more.
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