Gardener Dilemma

[user1466518624]

What do I do? I have 2 local guys who have done my gardening for 15 years and considered them and their families friends. I have given them work year round, paid them sick pay, holiday, bank holidays which they take off as they come on Mondays and they were both off for the best part of 2 months in December and was shocked when I got a text asking for their wages in January. I also agreed when they put their rates up.

We pay them for 4 hours but dh sometimes works ftom home and had mentioned that they are not here an hour each on Monday which they are mesnt to do. Today this has been confirmed as they did not realise I was home as my ds is poorly and I was cuddling him in his bed, they buggered off after 20 mins.

I know what I should do as I am being taken for a ride but I am also upset as I thought we were friends. I see their families all the time and one of their kids is comes to birthday parties. What the hell do I do?

They are taking advantage of you aren't they. What does your dh want to do? You definitely need to confront them at the very least. But seriously, you don't pay gardeners sick pay, holiday or any other benefits of a salaried staff, because they are self employed. You have been overly generous and they have taken the piss.

Well they are clearly not as nice in their consideration of you! They are completely taking the piss.
Why are you paying them bank holidays?
Did you pay them when they didn't work in December and January?
You just pay a gardener for the work they do, unless you employ them full time.
You already knew they have not been doing the 4 hours. You need to tell them, now, phone them, and say you know they do not work the hours you have contracted them and paid them for, therefore you no longer require their services.

I know I am being taken for a mug but I paid them bank holidays when tbey were being good eggs and did not put their rates up for many years so thought it was a nice goodwill gesture.

Yes I did pay them for Nov and Dec plus a bonus. For one of them a couple of the weeks could be excused as his wife had a baby but his partner didnt come and had no excuse.

My dh is harder than me and days just get rid as we cant afford to chuck money like this.

Its so hard as I see the families all the time around the village and consider them friends but I have to put my big girl pants on don’t I? Xx

Yes.

I think you need to decide what you want. Do you want to keep them and have them act properly or get rid?

The latter is actually the easier option as you can just say 'Thanks for all you've done in the past. I'm afraid the arrangement isn't working for us any more so we will need to stop after X date.'

If you want them to still come but pull their socks up you need to start challenging them. Eg. 'I noticed you only stayed 20 mins yesterday, can you let me know when you'll be coming back to finish off'. Or 'as it's bank holiday this week, what day will you be coming instead?' And 'I know Bob can't make it this week as he is on paternity leave but Dave, I assume you're still coming'

You also need to stop paying holiday pay (this is very important as it can suggest employment status) and stop paying when they don't come. I know some gardners do require year-round payment but they do actually come in! So give them a list of winter garden jobs or ask what they will be doing in the winter.

Personally that all sounds like too much agro and I would just stop them coming.

I can only just tell a dandelion from a rose but for them kind of benefits I will be your gardener !

Get rid of them. They aren’t doing their job properly, getting paid a fortune for not being there, and taking you for a mug. If it will cause friction with their families and mutual friends take the easiest way out and say you just can’t afford the luxury of a gardener anymore.

But really you owe it to their other clients who they are also probably taking for a ride, to tell them why.

I used to be a gardener ....I charged a monthly payment but did more hours in Spring and Summer than Winter , but it was same direct debit payment each month , I kept a record of hours actually done (sometimes weather scuppers things and I'd carry those hours over , otherwise you're just looking busy with a hoe , which doesn't work for anyone !)...maybe if you want to keep them suggest this as an option as a better way to budget etc etc ? Agree the High Season hours and the Winter Hours and what it includes (hedge cutting etc)and payment , get it written down ...a verbal arrangement often gets forgotten

Get rid.