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Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Finding good help Question
How do you attract good employees and retain them? Are you able to find experienced help or do you have to train them from the ground up? I rarely find help that has any experience milling, so I wind up training them, which takes at least 2-3 months. Forum Responses
My first and favorite experience with hired help was with high school and community college students who wanted to earn money on their schedule rather than on a punch clock. To control the situation, I had them work for themselves rather than for me. I told them when I had a job that required outside help and suggested the amount to be charged, usually by the board foot at 3 to 5 cents per. This was for off-bearing and flat stacking on a trailer or behind the mill. If the customer wanted wood moved or stickered, they were to offer their help at an increased footage charge and that work was to be done after the milling hours. It was a pleasure to see the light come on in my workers' eyes when they realized that the more productive the operation, the more they made in a day. I had a few who would work me to death and not want to break. When this old man stopped for a breather they were cleaning and aligning logs, greasing the mill and learning about trees, sawing and customer relations. These kids showed up on the job between classes to relieve one another and worked into the night to help the customer with stacking and cleanup. I've lost those contacts since the kids in the neighborhood have grown and gone, but could develop them again by doing volunteer work at the local high school or by developing relationships at clubs, church or other family-oriented organizations. The other good help I had was retired military. They worked under the same rules as the kids and it fit their lifestyle because they were mostly looking to get out of the house. This gave them the freedom to work when they pleased. I have never had either leave me high and dry on a job. Below is a picture of one of my favorites.
When this girl moved on to the railroad, she was running that mill she is sitting on. She had learned to saw, sell, market, mechanic and budget. She was developing a customer base of her own. The salary and benefits with the railroad were much more than she could make sawing wood and she has a little girl to raise. She will still return to sawing one day and I am glad that I had a hand in developing the interest. My problems of acquiring help were solved by tapping a large pool of available labor and providing an interesting and happy work place. These youngsters spoke so highly of the industry that others were waiting in line to replace them when they moved on.
When I'm struggling with a log or stupid machinery or bad weather, the money doesn't seem worth the effort no matter what I'm getting paid. For many, money is not a very reliable motivator once basic needs are met. Satisfaction comes from other things. Maybe you can creatively work with your next conscientious employee to come up with a way to make the work have a future. Maybe you can help her get equipment to start a complimentary business like a scragg saw, edger, pole peeler, heavy equipment, kiln, moulder, etc. Or a profit-sharing program. The possibilities (and theory of organizational motivation) are beyond the scope of this medium; you should research it more at the library or talk to someone at an entrepreneurship or employment or economic development thing. The high school in my town had mechanics students build a bandmill and they are starting a program in bandmilling.
I went on the local radio station "trading post" to seek help. I got several calls and only one showed up to try out for the job. I started him the next day out of need. He was not sure about working on commission but was hungry and willing to try. He worked three days and made $214 and has learned that if the head is not sawing, he is not making money. That was three weeks ago and he is getting better and quicker. I think labor is a common problem in any industry today. My father still raises tobacco, a very labor-intensive crop, in south-central Virginia. Growing up, I spent many hours chasing day laborers. Today, he uses migrant labor and says that it is actually pleasant to farm once more. Many green card or resident aliens now work in the local mills or logging industry. I have two crews working for me. These guys are very dependable and hard working. Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
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