we could all do with one of those
exactly - sure he is convinced I have a magic money tree in the garden, the amount I am paying I try to make as fair as possible in view of his current standard of work.
Its really hard employing people -it is all about trust.
Agreed - when there is trust everything mostly works, but try and opportune me, and I then doubt a lot of things, which adds a whole other layer of stress to employing that person.
He is an EU citizen from one of the poorer members - who arrived 4 years ago off the boat, I took him in, he couldn't speak hardly a word of the Queens, however he has been an 'improver' ever since, he is miles better than when he arrived, and can now at least speak some degree of spoken English, but when he first started his working practices were bizarre to say at best, terrible at worst, but I liked the chap, he wanted to learn was keen and we got on.
The language thing has been barrier, he cannot read any English, so I have had to guide him on all matters of Building Regs, or any other matters that require an understanding of instruction.
All through our relationship he has kept trying to screw me at various points ... I have dealt with other cultures when I have run other types of business, who have also tried to do the same, it seemed it was in their blood, they had no shame - I would have been embarrassed, but they felt non of it, I get the same impression of this nonsense here ... difference is its a closer longer working relationship, rather than the provision of an ad hoc service, I understand he needs the most he can get for his labours, but feel his wage is reasonable in view of the lower standard of work I receive, as well as a load of other random rubbish that he seems to throw my way.
He may have been a bit cheaper, but I accepted less, so the arrangement probably suited us both, but its probably time for a change.
Next job I have decided to bite the buillet and pay more money, but use a person with specific skills for just those specific tasks, rather than pay less (ie £150 per day) but then have that person doing a broader range of jobs that could be done by a lesser 'skilled' person, as you say there are plenty of labourers available, and for less than £150.
To rub salt in the wounds he has taken all the years of my putting up with bizarre rubbish work, whilst being paid, learning and improving, I know he has catalogued everything carefully I have shown him saving pictures on his camera phone - and now tells me he is joining forces with 3 other EU workers to start there own business when he is finished here.
I have learnt this type of character will forever jockey unfairly for position with whomever he is working for, they have no shame.