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Employee killin' me: All he wants to do is blog, talk on the cell and nap

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

 First, I want to state that King of the House, Inc is a smaller firm. There are basically two employees, me and I own it, and the hired hand who is of Italian descent, Mr. Topolino Stromboli. I have spent lots of money on training this employee. He is supposed to do office work and some inspection duties. He is fully trained as a "certified attic technician" acronym C.A.T. On top of that, he is certified as a rodent intervention specialist. And he is about two weeks away from being certified in quick books. The point is, I have spared no cost in training this individual and, generally, he is a good employee. However, this recent 90 degree weather seems to have totally wiped out his ambition. All he wants to do is blog at AR, talk to friends on the cell phone and nap. I am one frustrated small business owner -- trying to keep things rolling on my own while paying another who is a slacker. Reluctantly, I post the photos below which show just what frustration I am feeling as the "nice guy" employer who does not want to threaten this individual's livelihood. Frankly, if I let him go I am not sure he could find other gainful employment. To see where this all started, please visit: http://activerain.com/blogsview/91434/Say-goodbye-to-payroll

 

Bellingham home inspections

On the cell phone, between AR blogs -- Brother!

 

Stretching prior to more serious blogging

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

If you enjoy nostalgia and music of yesteryear, click on Elvis' gold record to visit This Day In History. To explore The Stories Behind The Music blog posts click on the electric guitar. 

 

        

 

 

 

 

Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

David,

Reading your comments I really want to be manly and righteously indignant. I want to drive to your house and set your straight. However, the cat has just about got the payroll checks done on quickbooks and he says I have to hang around to sign his check so he can pay his cell phone bill.

 

Steve

Jul 12, 2007 08:56 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Thanks for all the comments folks. This is one of my more popular blogs over the past couple weeks.
Jul 12, 2007 05:21 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Glad you liked it. I would like to say that the cooler weather made him a better worker...not so far.
Jul 13, 2007 07:09 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Thanks Deborah,

 

If the "rat boy" as he is affectionately known was worthy of a gold star it might make up for his poor work ethic. Otherwise I think I am going to have to send him down to Labor Ready to see if they can find some sucker who appreciates paying a sleeping employee.

Jul 13, 2007 08:52 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Steven, what an adorable post. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face ((-:

Jo 

Jul 13, 2007 10:53 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jo-Anne,

Thanks for the comments. I am currently involved in yet more turmoil with this whelp. I may be posting a followup blog.

Jul 13, 2007 11:00 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

This is to all of you who, through AR and privately, gave me advice on dealing with this serious personnel issue that I shared with you.

I really appreciate all the suggestions and comments I got from various Active Rain members. As some wisely suggested, I had a long discussion with Mr. Topolino Stromboli about his role with this company, his future in it, our obligation to our clients and my expectations. I had thought that that formula had worked. For a few hours he was actually quite on the ball and tending to business. However, today while I was working on a project for Bellingham Technical College, I noticed that the office phone was ringing and it was not being answered. So I go out to see where the employee might be. The photos attached show that, despite my valiant efforts to save his job, I am the rube. I think he is playing me for the fool.

 

 Topolino reading fiction

Caught, in the act, lounging and reading pulp fiction

Topolino stromboli

Not threatening the boss -- plain and simple case of lazy employee yawning and sleeping on the job

Jul 13, 2007 11:20 AM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire
cats Steve...threaten him with this...Responsibilities put everyone on the straight and narrow
Jul 13, 2007 11:31 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Ahhh, Steven,.  You're cracking me up.  I LOVE those pics of him reading the book. My kind of cat. Perhaps he would like to come and work for me?

Jo 

Jul 13, 2007 12:06 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Yeah, Actually that is one reason I took him in: Literate cat and all. Little did I know that all he liked was Grisham novels and spy thrillers. Obviously he is not the intellectual I had anticipated him to be.
Jul 13, 2007 12:11 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jo-anne,

Are the two in the photo your assistants? If so maybe we can organize an employers union to try to get some honest, productive work out of this feline pestilence. The assistant is here tonight, about to bat the mouse onto the floor. He also rips FAX's out of the FAX (seriously) the problem is he runs off with them and does not always give them to me. I find them with the corner chewed. He is more of a clown than a cat. If you accept COD shipping he is on the way Monday. By the way, I would never find a female cat that would marry him. He cannot even provide for himself.

Jul 13, 2007 07:08 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Deborah,

You are another late night blogger. I have got to get some sleep. In answer to your question, I take my work seriously for myself and clients but like to have fun here at AR and, in general, in my private life.

Jul 13, 2007 07:28 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
I probably should have posted this link earlier. This was on topic and an article I did, several months back, where I was crowing about how clever I was -- getting around the tax laws, with my sole employee. Yeah, Topolino Stromboli was the subject. I am pretty red in the face about this previous article, in light of the personnel crisis that exists today.  However, reading this previous blog will give you some insight into the depths of my disappointment and despair. It is just so hard to find good workers today.
Jul 14, 2007 02:52 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Yes,

 

I actually find it kind of relaxing to play on active rain after my primary work is done. Sometimes I am up too late though.

Jul 14, 2007 08:38 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Deborah,

 When those of us who teach home inspection for BTC go out for dinner in Bellingham, that is what Charlie Buell wants to do--get the fish at Boss Tweed. We have some good seafood places here. I have been to the peninsula, but not to the lavender festival. I assume that is the scented plant you are admiring and not an event where everyone, including the crazy canucks who bust the border, dress in lavender and stroll about.

Jul 14, 2007 09:51 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Steven, No, those aren't my assistants. I believe they are Joans.  Here is a pic of my two FORMER assistants.

 This literary Father/Daughter team had  excessive reading habits which forced me to fire them. They even took to guarding the bookshelf !!
Only Grisham and spy thrillers ? Hmm, I would say save your packaging costs and keep him there. If he isn't willing to scan agreements of purchase and sale for errors and omissions, then he is of no use to me.  I gave up on sending the profiles of my former assistants to the cat personals. One was a eunich and the other had terrible pms. Not something I would wish on any potential marriage partner. Perhaps we should switch back to dogs ? Seems there are many  AR members who have excellent dog assistants .

(((-:

Jo 

Jul 14, 2007 11:14 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jo-Anne,

 

I think I better keep him. I think his sloppy work would get you in trouble. Seriously, based on what I have described, do you want him scanning your agreements for E/O issues. They are likely to be one big error. He would like a blank page as well as a full one. Good chewing. Glad I Email reports.

Jul 15, 2007 04:18 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Deborah,

Lots of the places that brag about seafood are not that good. That is typical of a waterfront town. Visitors expect great seafood so every Tom, Dick and Harry opens a marginal place. There are good places with seafood in the area, but you have to know them. Those bragging about it as their specialty might be among the poorest. Charlie is a fellow I teach with, and on AR but not too active. The post I made yesterday, of the creepy snake, is a Charlie picture.

Jul 15, 2007 04:21 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon
My sick sense of humor was telling me to call your phone to scare the cat! - LOL
Oct 20, 2007 05:27 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
Stephen, I used to have a cat who occupied a similar spot in my life and my house...
Nov 02, 2007 04:15 PM