workers

[madscience]

Just curious how you guys have your doorman work. Do you schedule them to come in at a certain time and at that time they are "on" the clock. OR do you have them come in at a certain time and then put them on the clock as you need them?

Right now, when my guys come in they are "on the clock!" I'm trying to figure a way to cut some overhead while being fair.

And since my crowd is very speratic (sometimes they show at 10:30 other times they show at 12:00 -12:30) it makes it hard to schedule them and the doorman end up sitting around for an hour or 2 doing nothing.

thanks for the time and help...

[Joeoriginal]

Our guys have a scheduled time in that we consider them to be on the clock. We stagger their start times every night say 7, 2 at 9, 2 at 10, 2 at 11. But our solution has been a float/supervisor position early who can handle any spot.

[happybaboon]

No one would take a job where they have to turn up at a certain time and then wait around for whenever you want to start paying them. It's probably (or at least it should be...) illegal.

How about give your employees starting times, but tell them that if you want them there earlier you'll pay them $20 extra on top of their normal hourly wages if they can turn up early? - Few people have urgent matters to attend to in the hours preceeding work, so if you call them and ask if they come in, and then sweeten the deal with more money (everyone likes money), they'd turn up. You could also offer them perks like more free drinks after work...
:)

[madscience]

Joe - Thanks for the help. I'll probably end up doing something like that.

happybaboon - For most of the bars around the area I'm in, they hire student workers. And most of them end up with $5-$7 an hour with drinks (mind you these are bars and not major clubs)

With that being said, a lot of them are hired with the notion that they will be put on through the night as needed. (I worked in a enviroment like that and hated it which is why I'm trying to find a way that is fair to me and them) Right now I pay my workers $10 an hour with no free drinks and when they show up they are on the clock.

Also, how many of you guys pay your bartenders? And how much? Is it hourly or just straight shift pay?

thanks for the help

[Milk]

I always schedule my guys at the same times. There is some standing around time but I would consider cutting people early at the end of the night istead of att he beginning of the night. You never know in this biz how a night could turn out. And at $10 an hour it's cheap liability insurance (If you have a good staff that is!lol). Try pinching pennies at the end of the night. Or keep salaries private and get a couple of college kids in there for $7 and hour. I got a line of guys that would work at my place for $7, I don't what type of place you have but if it has any women in it...you can pay a little cheaper and still find good workers.

[madscience]

Originally posted by Milk
I always schedule my guys at the same times. There is some standing around time but I would consider cutting people early at the end of the night istead of att he beginning of the night. You never know in this biz how a night could turn out. And at $10 an hour it's cheap liability insurance (If you have a good staff that is!lol). Try pinching pennies at the end of the night. Or keep salaries private and get a couple of college kids in there for $7 and hour. I got a line of guys that would work at my place for $7, I don't what type of place you have but if it has any women in it...you can pay a little cheaper and still find good workers.


Thanks for the reply, Milk, I've been cutting guys early for the past 2 weeks but the problem I've encounted is the guys that have to stay and clean need more time to get the job done (sweeping and dumping trash). Which doesn't turn into money saving. This week I changed the start times and it seems to be working out OK, we'll see.

As for the private salaries, you know how that goes. People talk!

thanks for the time...

[David]

Dat Joe is a really smart guy. He uses the same schedule that we use.

Don't have them show up at a scheduled time and then wait to work. By definition of the Fair Labor Practice, if they are scheduled or required to show up at a certain time, the clock starts at that time. Not only will you get in trouble for this, don't forget that you are cheating the Government out of FICA, Workman's Comp and a few other things that they can fine you for. Do the right thing. If you find that you don't need them, ask for a volunteer or two to go home early.

[ministry]

if you have guys standing around doing nothing how about letting them clean something ? my guys sweep sidewalks, wash trash cans, clean coolers ( and they keep all $ they find in them). put them to work ! how about sending them out to flier other clubs or malls or parking lots ect... you can easily get your money's worth out of them. if they complain about the work then you don't need them around, right. just what i do. mike

[Milk]

I pay my guys even if they are standing around. My place is cleaned by a cleaning crew. I do make my guys work if there is work to be done. But my club doesn't get busy till 10:00pm or even later. They stay at their posts once 9pm comes around no mattter how busy we are.

[Milk]

I don't flyer other clubs. I find that unethical in our business. I am generally a victim of other clubs flyering my parking lot but I don't stoop to their level, That's part of the appeal of our club. I pass out my flyers at concerts, apartment homes, local businesses, the mall.