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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: alan802 on June 05, 2014, 10:12:04 AM
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Got here about 5:30 and asked that the production crew get here as early as they could and each one told me different times but none were past 7:15. Well, one guy showed up at 7:20 and so by myself I set up a 7 color job, 140 pieces and start to finish got it done in about 40 minutes with much of that picking the shirts out of the box and boxing them up. Tore that job down in about 5 minutes but made a mess doing it unfortunately. Then had a 4 color on heather gray and that was 96 pieces, front only and that was done by about 7:30. I then set up another 7 color job when my best guy showed up and both of us working the press together got it registered, sq, fb's, ink, test printed and regi's taped up in 10 minutes and they are done printing that 400 piece run. With me and him on the auto we can knock out some work because he knows what to do without me saying a word. He follows me around the press and as soon as I lock the screen down he's putting sq & fb's and ink in so when I'm done with the triloc pallet I'm putting on a test tube and test printing. It's a beautiful thing when done right.
With 18 screens set up this morning I had to micro 3 of them. 2 were a hairline low on the same print head (something going on there to look into) and the 3rd I think was done poorly at the FPU.
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nice Al!, still using your custom made FPU system? Ours is kicking ass too..we only move the micros if someone got lazy lining up the films... ::)
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nice Al!, still using your custom made FPU system? Ours is kicking ass too..we only move the micros if someone got lazy lining up the films... ::)
I call it the modified Triloc so too much credit would be given to me to call it a custom made unit. I'd really love it if M&R would fabricate this system and call it the Triloc Duece because after using it for several years now there is no doubt in my mind that it is a great design and it's tested. I know the original Triloc is loved by many and M&R is damn proud of it, but I've used this version and the original and you couldn't pay me to go back to carrier sheets and putting the master frame on the expo unit. I also feel that it is significantly more accurate because although we didn't become experts in using the triloc as intended we don't have to do near as much work with the micros using this version. With M&R's ability to manufacture anything to a high level they could make a prototype of this system in half of a day with the team they have and be shipping them out to customers by next week. And I mean getting it done from a sketch drawing by their design team, to the prototype, to the final product approved by the suits by tomorrow afternoon. It's just the master frame flipped upside down and raised up a few inches with a grid in the middle. A few minor tweaks to the master frame to allow the frame to fit in easier. Mine looks like a child built it because I was trying to build a prototype and then go back and make look all pretty but it just worked great the way it was and I never bothered making it look better.
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nice Al!, still using your custom made FPU system? Ours is kicking ass too..we only move the micros if someone got lazy lining up the films... ::)
I call it the modified Triloc so too much credit would be given to me to call it a custom made unit. I'd really love it if M&R would fabricate this system and call it the Triloc Duece because after using it for several years now there is no doubt in my mind that it is a great design and it's tested. I know the original Triloc is loved by many and M&R is damn proud of it, but I've used this version and the original and you couldn't pay me to go back to carrier sheets and putting the master frame on the expo unit. I also feel that it is significantly more accurate because although we didn't become experts in using the triloc as intended we don't have to do near as much work with the micros using this version. With M&R's ability to manufacture anything to a high level they could make a prototype of this system in half of a day with the team they have and be shipping them out to customers by next week. And I mean getting it done from a sketch drawing by their design team, to the prototype, to the final product approved by the suits by tomorrow afternoon. It's just the master frame flipped upside down and raised up a few inches with a grid in the middle. A few minor tweaks to the master frame to allow the frame to fit in easier. Mine looks like a child built it because I was trying to build a prototype and then go back and make look all pretty but it just worked great the way it was and I never bothered making it look better.
Didn't you have a thread on how you built yours?
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I think I did at one time but I seem to remember it wasn't the final version as it sits now. I'm embarrassed to show it since it looks so shoddy but I can do something to show how I modified it if people are interested. I believe there are several guys doing the same thing or something very close to what I did and I gathered ideas from all over the place and copied a lot of things to make ours.
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I think I did at one time but I seem to remember it wasn't the final version as it sits now. I'm embarrassed to show it since it looks so shoddy but I can do something to show how I modified it if people are interested. I believe there are several guys doing the same thing or something very close to what I did and I gathered ideas from all over the place and copied a lot of things to make ours.
If you had the time, im sure it would be appreciated. I certainly would.
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I would appreciate it too... I built my own prototype that we use here, but more ideas always help make things better...
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Absotootly!
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I'd like to see it.
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Would M&R consider doing this? There is one out by someone else but I did not feel comfortable purchasing from him, and he does not have the precise manufacturing capabilities that M&R has. We desperately need some sort of pre registration, past week 3-5 set-ups a day with 6-7 colors on an 8 color machine. It sucks.
Chris
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I have access to the machines need to produce something like this if nobody else would step up I could look into it. A good buddy of mine has 23 CNC machines, lasers and water jets among other things like 3d printers and so on.
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"I have access to the machines need to produce something like this if nobody else would step up I could look into it. A good buddy of mine has 23 CNC machines, lasers and water jets among other things like 3d printers and so on."
They sound like a good friend to have.
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I wish it wasn't so difficult to remove platens from my javelin... if that was the case, I could easily swap platens out for a triloc... oh well.. next press will be much more advanced and 'newer'...
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I haven't a clue if M&R would even want to think about changing the system they've perfected for many years now and also if there would be patent hurdles to jump. I wouldn't blame them if they didn't want to mess with it if there were patent issues and I know I'm just a screen printer but the system we use could be fabricated by them so easily and I don't want to come off sounding like the triloc isn't great but M&R could knock this out of the park if they wanted. I can only imagine what they could make there at their facility and everything would be very precise and perfect from FPU to pallet jig so much more so than people making their own version. The DIY system I made before I bought the triloc worked ok, but when I got the master frame and pallet jig that were made by M&R to work with each other the system really started to work like I had dreamed it would. The MHM guys know how easy it is to tape the film to the screen by looking through a grid on the inside of the screen and this is the exact same film placement method. Ours is backlit but it's not 100% necessary to do that if your shop has decent lighting.
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My only concern on something like this for our shop is we have no screen room so screens are in cabinets until they are burnt, looks like id need actual screens near a FPU to do this for ever screen?
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I don't have a sweet of a pre reg system as Allen but ours works. Hoping to build another over the summer that's a little tighter.
We do not have a screen room, actually a 16' long closet with sliding doors and set up our screens on the reg board out in the open shop. I have not seen any difference in exposure or quality of screens doing it this way comparing the ones done early morning or night with just a small light on across the shop or during the day.
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Ours would have to walk from out in the warehouse in LED light, inside to Florescent light, to a FPU, do your thing, then march it back out to the warehouse to burn.
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I have a grid drawn on my # one pallet and if I use my junky FPU I made it lines up almost dead on with just a touch of micro, but still not perfect. Set up is a time killer if you got to fool around with it a lot.
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that's cool. we've been working on the same 4 color discharge job, 400pcs since 9am this morning. feeling great about that.
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Our FPU is right next to the exposure unit which is out in the main shop area. We bring the screen out of the dark room and put film on it then place it on the expo unit and burn.
And final tally to the day, 13 jobs done, 45 screens, about 1800 imprints and around 1100 garments. I know for many shops that's done by lunch time or even first break, but we're not set up to do this every day. I'm wore out.
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Got here about 5:30 and asked that the production crew get here as early as they could
5:30 eh..
imagine how much work you could have done ON your business in that time vs working IN it..
next time tell them, don't ask them to come in early.
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Ouch......classic Bill Hoodism. In reality this is just not always possible. People have families with kids. Transportation issues, etc. A good work around is staggering hours. Those who can get in early can leave early, etc. You can often find that more can be accomplished with the same amount of people in the same amount of total hours this way. Also you may find less stress to the facility with regards to issues such as pre-press. It is 6:30 here with one crew already printing. Pre-press in at 7:00. Rest of crew at 7:30.
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Alan, my hat's of to you, for all you do to keep that company going. I have a good idea what you put into it. You've done a great job and I know you will continue to. It's a fortunate company to have you in charge of production. Just make sure you take time for you family and friends this weekend.
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Ditto. BTW anyone want to guess who played Barth Gimble's co-host. Dave you can't play.
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Got here about 5:30 and asked that the production crew get here as early as they could
5:30 eh..
imagine how much work you could have done ON your business in that time vs working IN it..
next time tell them, don't ask them to come in early.
I work in it and on it and over the years I've gone from doing nothing but working in it to now splitting the time about 50/50. Tony, I wasn't thinking a Billism but a Samism. I understand the concept and by doing both I've been able to impact sales growth by making sure quality is high and we get things done on time so customers come back. I agree working on the business will bring in more work but getting my hands dirty does affect the bottom line and that is keeping customers happy and coming back, and then telling others. Both can work well together.
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I honestly don't HAVE to lift a finger to keep production going. But I feel like if I don't jump in (by choice or demand) I might be missing something. Are the processes we have in place being followed. Is there a better way to do something? Just 'cuz "that's the way we've always done it" doesn't make it the best way. Times change, equipment changes, people change. Do I need to tweak a procedure to make sure we're at peak performance? Hard to tell if I don't jump in every once in a while. I have spent time in the last week, off and on, in reclaim with a newer guy, working on refining both his and my techniques. I guess maybe I'll be scolded for saying it, but I think there are plenty of time you do have to work IN your business.
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Agreed both Alan and Dave. A healthy mix is best. I could go on but you guys nailed it.
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Got here about 5:30 and asked that the production crew get here as early as they could
5:30 eh..
imagine how much work you could have done ON your business in that time vs working IN it..
next time tell them, don't ask them to come in early.
I work in it and on it and over the years I've gone from doing nothing but working in it to now splitting the time about 50/50. Tony, I wasn't thinking a Billism but a Samism. I understand the concept and by doing both I've been able to impact sales growth by making sure quality is high and we get things done on time so customers come back. I agree working on the business will bring in more work but getting my hands dirty does affect the bottom line and that is keeping customers happy and coming back, and then telling others. Both can work well together.
See Alan it is folks like me you and Tony that prove the theory "Owners only care about the business" Wrong. Not saying its not the case of course but owners need to invest in who is operating their business and take the time and find the right person. I know I invest myself fully in to this business and strive to make our business better, its not just for prides sake but also for the owner and other employees.
I bet their is some managers that put more into the business than actual owners, I know of a few shops here in my state like that. Their places would crumble with out the person they have at the helm.
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One of the larger screen print shops here who are friends of ours owner works 50/50 in his shop and they have plenty of workers, he just like being on the floor and in the mix. Only time he stays in the office is talking with me or with customers and most times our talk is out on the floor, by the we came in early this morning and knock out a few jobs.
Darryl
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I am here by 6-6:30 almost every day, some days I will roll in more like 5:30. I am always here till at least 5, often 6-7...at times 10pm. I almost always work at least 1 full day on the weekends doing stuff that has to be done by a owner like payroll, balancing the books, taxes, paying the bills, and so on. Daily I find myself all over this shop, sales, embroidery, artwork, stickers, pull shirts, help set up and break down press, etc. It's all things really. Where ever the hand is needed. Lately I am rebuilding our website and working on getting our sticker business going with our new machine.
I have never said there aren't great employees out there like Alan, Mike, etc. I have only said that it must be nice as a employee to not have to do some of the things I have to do so you can spend more time in other areas. I know those parts of my shop would improve if I had a bit more time.
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I wish it wasn't so difficult to remove platens from my javelin... if that was the case, I could easily swap platens out for a triloc... oh well.. next press will be much more advanced and 'newer'...
Don't mean to derail the thread, but couldn't you just retrofit pallet arm #1 with a quick release bracket and use the tri-loc on that? I was planning on doing that with my Javelin as soon as I have a reg system in house for my new press, but just assumed it would work so I haven't looked into it entirely. Definitely worth the $$ if you're planning on keeping the Javelin as your main press for a while, and beyond that as well.
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Hmm. The only problem with that is the retrofit kit is a 3 bolt mount, and what's on there now is 4 bolt. I'd have to break out the the welder to do that.. but... now you got me thinking. ..
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I wish it wasn't so difficult to remove platens from my javelin... if that was the case, I could easily swap platens out for a triloc... oh well.. next press will be much more advanced and 'newer'...
Don't mean to derail the thread, but couldn't you just retrofit pallet arm #1 with a quick release bracket and use the tri-loc on that? I was planning on doing that with my Javelin as soon as I have a reg system in house for my new press, but just assumed it would work so I haven't looked into it entirely. Definitely worth the $$ if you're planning on keeping the Javelin as your main press for a while, and beyond that as well.
I put the retro kit on my javi, Lol so glad I...we use it more for the knock out two colors sleeves, legs and youth shirts and let the M&R run all day on the more intense jobs. the tri-loc works well on the javi, but things that I've run into is screen holder deflection...when locking down the screen the clamp feet want to kick the screen towards the center of the machine kicking it away from the back stop on the tri-loc. I fixed most of that by shimming the clam downs...now when I lock in a screen it pushes the screen back tight against the tri-loc...I thought it was pretty good till my sporty came in...lol theres a huge difference there..no deflection at all with M&R...but the system works well on the javi Ill give it that....
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would really like to see pics of this FPU that you made alan....I've tried using the tri-loc master frame off of the exposure unit with the line up grid under that...that didn't work so well..so I'm back to using the carrier sheets with pretty good success.
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I should have time this week to get pics up. Last week was the busiest we've ever been and I'm doing a workshop this weekend but next week looks manageable with just my guys out back so I'll have a little time to play.
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Alan, I sent you a PM
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Alan, I sent you a PM
Once I get the two walking gonads squared away in the morning (dropping the hammer on the constant texting they do with their lady friends during work hours) I'll be giving you a call if you're available tomorrow.
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Alan, I sent you a PM
Once I get the two walking gonads squared away in the morning (dropping the hammer on the constant texting they do with their lady friends during work hours) I'll be giving you a call if you're available tomorrow.
I'm about at the end of my rope with the cell phones and texting. I'm just about to put a box on the wall with a label on it that says "DEPOSIT CELL PHONES HERE".
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I'm about at the end of my rope with the cell phones and texting.
What does your policy regarding phone usage on company time state?
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Our thing on phones is if your at the back of the dryer working and you can text and keep up with shirts coming off, go for it. If you walk past the dryer to the press side of the room and I see you with your phone, 1 warning, then termination after that. Ive been real clear about it so far it's worked.
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I'm about at the end of my rope with the cell phones and texting.
What does your policy regarding phone usage on company time state?
Key point, I need to get to creating a policy. So far it's just been verbal. I've told them that I don't mind using the phone for emergencies but come on it seems like they would be disabled without staring at a phone screen. I guess I'm from the old school when pay phones were still popular and only the elite had the bag phones.
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I'm about at the end of my rope with the cell phones and texting.
What does your policy regarding phone usage on company time state?
It's never been a problem until recently. It's been building steadily for a few months now and on Friday every time I caught one of them standing there looking at their phone I stared at them until they noticed I was looking at them. I doubt that anything less than me getting rid of them completely will stop it. I'm going to have a 66% turnover in my crew by the end of this month. One more violation of a few different policies from either of the two and they gone.
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Our thing on phones is if your at the back of the dryer working and you can text and keep up with shirts coming off, go for it. If you walk past the dryer to the press side of the room and I see you with your phone, 1 warning, then termination after that. Ive been real clear about it so far it's worked.
That's priceless!
It weeds out the ones that won't put in the effort in the long run anyways.
Best to not have any distractions though. Quality wains fast when people are looking at
other things when shirts are flying off the auto.
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Your policies and procedures are there to cover your ass in the case of termination, not the employees.
Once a policy is in place and in the handbook, you can write up your employees for infraction of said policy.
They violate policy, you write them up for it. They keep doing it then you fire em. You have documentation to show in the unemployment hearing how they violated company policy X amount of times along with written documentation where they were informed of said policy, told that if they did it again, termination. Their signature on the bottom of the write up report is enough for any magistrate to deny the claim.
Show up at an unemployment hearing without documentation of any kind (verbal don't count in court) and you're F'ed.
If you need an employee manual, plenty of basic ones are available online that will get you going. Then you just amend is as you go.
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Alan lots of turnover here recently too. People just don't have any motivation to work. Shame
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Your policies and procedures are there to cover your ass in the case of termination, not the employees.
Once a policy is in place and in the handbook, you can write up your employees for infraction of said policy.
They violate policy, you write them up for it. They keep doing it then you fire em. You have documentation to show in the unemployment hearing how they violated company policy X amount of times along with written documentation where they were informed of said policy, told that if they did it again, termination. Their signature on the bottom of the write up report is enough for any magistrate to deny the claim.
Show up at an unemployment hearing without documentation of any kind (verbal don't count in court) and you're F'ed.
If you need an employee manual, plenty of basic ones are available online that will get you going. Then you just amend is as you go.
I'm working on a manual for sure. I've just started this year with employees. Until recently me and my wife were doing it all.
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OK, so now we've gone to policies and writing up/terminating people. We spent a lot of time and money writing up a very comprehensive employee manual. We had our HR company write it for us, so lawyers were involved, also. We feel like we have left nothing to chance. We have always gone by documenting all disciplinary actions. If it's not recorded, it never happened. One thing that I do when I have the pleasure of writing someone up, is I put it in THEIR words. For example.
" I realize I was late to work again today on 06/09/14. I have been talked to about this previously and I understand the implications of my actions, Those being dismissal with further occurrences. I understand that my tardiness puts an unfair load on my fellow employees, and also hurt production. My position with this company is dependent on me being to work on time, and ready to work at that time. I understand if I cannot meet these commitments that we have previously agreed to, my position here is in jeopardy. I understand I have caused unfair extra work to my fellow wmployess and cause production to suffer. Lastly, I understand that if this happens again, I may lose my position with this company"
Or something like that, ya know? Make them own up to their mistakes and poor performance. Along with this I have a form that any temp worker must sign and bring it on their first day. Just the basics. Work your hours, No ell phones, blah blah. Don't bring this form in with you the first day, you don't work for me. I don't care how busy we are. You work for me, not the other way around. I know I sound like a prick, but the temps this year have been the worst I've ever dealt with. (should I start a new thread?) I'm trying to run production, and I can't let it run me.
Stepping down off the soap box
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is I put it in THEIR words. For example.
In their words.. i like that.
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I probably didn't write that very well. The point I was making is that when I hand an employee a written notice (or record of verbal warning) I want them to read it as though they are saying it. They OWN the problem that has to be corrected. Certainly more has to be written than I said, such as the infraction, remedies, and consequences. I just really like this style. And, it's not making me the bad guy either.
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What has been said above is good stuff. I let my guys know up front that I dont fire people. People fire themselves. We have rules and they are to be followed.
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I didn't catch one guy playing on his phone the entire day yesterday. It was nice.
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Did you have a talk with them or did they just catch the vibe/hint?
Murphy37
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What has been said above is good stuff. I let my guys know up front that I dont fire people. People fire themselves. We have rules and they are to be followed.
I am stealing this. Said perfectly.
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We're hiring two new employees (canned two on Monday) and they have a 28 page handbook that outlines how we operate and how they can get themselves fired. We used Bill Hood's handbook template and modified it to our needs. If anyone wants to purchase it from him I can give you his contact info.
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Did you have a talk with them or did they just catch the vibe/hint?
Murphy37
Just the uncomfortable staring I did on Friday seemed to work for now. But I've still got the cell phone policy notice that I will put in their next paycheck just to reinforce it.
I started on an employee handbook a year or so ago and stopped and then forgot about it. I have to find it on my old hard drive and finish it. It was the generic version where you go in and customize it to your business.
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Did you have a talk with them or did they just catch the vibe/hint?
Murphy37
Just the uncomfortable staring I did on Friday seemed to work for now. But I've still got the cell phone policy notice that I will put in their next paycheck just to reinforce it.
I started on an employee handbook a year or so ago and stopped and then forgot about it. I have to find it on my old hard drive and finish it. It was the generic version where you go in and customize it to your business.
That's funny...I need to get a hand book going. Did you just do a Google search & find something suitable to work with?
Murphy37
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What has been said above is good stuff. I let my guys know up front that I dont fire people. People fire themselves. We have rules and they are to be followed.
I am stealing this. Said perfectly.
Ha! I've been using that phrase for decades. But Dave aka Bim aka Barth Gimble (funny no one picked up on that yet) didn't steal it. It's a simple truism.
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there are online handbooks you can download...they are an excellent starting point. i think ours was $30 and it's been great.
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Yeah Murph, I think I paid 19 for the basic outlined handbook that allowed you to customize it just about any way you needed.