Good day ladies and gents.
That’s my situation in a nutshell. I had my only employee call me just after lunch yesterday to let me know he was leaving early to go help a friend finish a painting job.
Now for some details. It’s just myself and him (journeyman and 4th year apprentice, and a friend for the last 17 years). We are absolutely swamped right now with a few houses on the go. I worked through my weekend because I’m trying to get us caught up. I have him working another jobsite, and I’ve already been getting rode pretty hard to hurry up and finish rough-ins so drywall can start.
I let him know on the phone that I was not happy with this decision, but I’m hesitant on what my next step should be.
What say the masses?
Call him a journeyman and hire a newbie for him to train. He’s sitting on top of the fence. Shake him in or shake him out.
The only problem is that I can’t just slap a journeyman title on him. He’s got another year for his hours, plus 2 rounds of trade school, and finally the red seal exam before he’s a full journeyman.