For your consideration: The TV Is Ruining Your Business.

We were talking with a buddy of ours (We’ll call him: “PlantKing.”) about his landscaping business. We’ll ad that this friend of ours also owns rental property as well. PlantKing loves his rentals. His landscape business . . . Well, let’s say that he doesn’t necessarily hate it, but he’s certainly tired of dealing with employees vs. tenants.

PlantKing has resorted to using a staffing service to find qualified personnel to aid him in his various jobs. He’s tried hiring on his own, but finds the whole mess of dealing with paperwork and attitudes simply not worth his precious time. PlantKing’s operations are small, and he’s still trying to get new jobs sold. He doesn’t want to worry too much about other issues outside of sales.

Here’s his latest employee scenario, and why the TV winds up ruining businesses:

PlantKing: “Hey, what are you doing?”
Employee Dude: “Just takin’ a quick break man.”
PlantKing: “What did I tell you about smoking on people’s property?”
Employee Dude: “I just wanted to get a quick couple of drags in . . .”
PlantKing: “What did I tell you about smoking around the fuel cans?”
Employee Dude: “Uhhhhhhhhh. Ummmmmm. Well . . .”
PlantKing: “You’re smoking a cigarette AND holding a gas can!”
Employee Dude: “Oh don’t worry, man. That one show: Myth Busters. They proved that you can’t blow up from smoking and holding an open gas can, so it’s cool.”

Employee Dude no longer works for PlantKing. Employee Dude was told numerous times that he wasn’t allowed to take smoke breaks in people’s yards. He was also told not to smoke around the fuel, etc., etc.

In this age of reality TV and instant information, however, Employee Dude knows better. He’s got an answer for everything—no matter how absurd.

MoneyKing’s tip for Small Business owners: The Employee Dude scenario isn’t a huge managerial conflict, but it will cost you time, sales and the efficient completion of a job. When you’re a small operation, you need the best help you can get at the cheapest cost. Maybe you should pre-screen prospective employees to find out if they really like watching TLC, and therefore know everything. They’re sure to be helpful at the worksite! Regardless, think about your interviewing strategies and your work plan to account for even the most basic nonsensical attitudes and behaviors of employees.

Good luck out there.

Keywords: money, time, employees, work, job, site, landscaping, fire, fuel, smoking, explosion