Work Schedules Cancel The title field is required!

1. Whitehead Kyle J

   
   7/24/2012 9:07 AM

   With this Hot and Humid summer were having I'm finding that my crew is getting tired after about day 8 out of a 12 day work schedule. Currently I have a crew of 15 and split the crew in half to work every other weekend. My Assistant and I are also following this schedule.
   Just trying to figure out how to get everybody two days off per week and still maintain about 75-80 hours per pay period.
   Anybody have any unique scheduling practices that they would share??
   
   Thanks
   
   Kyle Whitehead

   
   
   
   
2. Robert Searle

   

   0 posts
   
   7/24/2012 12:07 PM

   In High School when I worked at the local golf club we would get an afternoon off during the week, usually a tues, wed, of thurs. On weekends half the crew would work saturday and the other half worked sundays. The hours lost during the week from your afternoon off are made up on the weekend morning you worked, netting you roughly 40 hours. Can't say this would work in your situation but just thought I'd throw it out there.
   
   Bob Searle
   Abenakee Club
   Biddeford Pool Maine

   
   
   
   
3. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   7/24/2012 1:07 PM

   Easily the best way I ever did it when I was the employee as well as when I was the boss:
   
   Split your crew in half.
   
   Crew 1 works Tues-Wed-Thur-Fri 8 hours each day, then Sat-Sun 4 hours each = 40 hours. Then they work Mon-Tues-Wed-Thur-Fri 8 hours each day = 40 more hours. Two week pay period = 80 hours, with no OT.
   
   Crew 2 is off Sat-Sun-Mon. Three days off in a row is pretty cool. Crew 2 comes back to work on Tuesday, working the same schedule as Crew 1 above.
   
   Good things: No OT for the club. Crew likes three days off every two weeks.
   
   Bad things: Sat-Sun-Mon always only half your crew available. Everybody works 11 days straight, but two of those (Sat-Sun) only half-day anyway, so no big deal, at least to me when I was doing it.
   
   It's not quite emloyee abuse, but in my opinion, giving your guys a Wednesday off or a couple afternoons a week off, just so you don't have to pay overtime on their required weekends is not fair. I don't know too many employees who like that schedule.

   
   
   
   
4. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   7/24/2012 1:07 PM

   Kyle,
   
   I stopped doing the 12 day shifts for my staff several years ago. I now hire 5 part-time employees who work between 26-32 hours a week including every weekend and holiday. The rest of the staff only works weekends when we have big events and need more people, or occasionally to fill in for part-timers when they are off. This has worked out great for me as we always have enough people for the weekend, and I hardly pay any overtime anymore. We generally have 2-3 new weekend part-timers every year. I am up front with them that they will be working 5AM-8AM every weekend and holiday during the golf season. I find out right away if a employee is compatible with the hours.

   
   
   
   
5. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   7/24/2012 2:07 PM

   I split my crew into two.
   Everybody works 8 hours Mon thru Thurs
   Crew A works all day Friday and is off of the weekend.
   Crew B works until 9 am on Friday and the comes in on Sat and Sun for 2 1/2 hours
   Switch crews the following weekend and everybody gets 80 hours.
   
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
6. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   7/24/2012 3:07 PM

   I split my staff into 2 groups, with the following schedules alternated for each group. I only have 6 employees, plus the 3 full timers and I personally work in Group 1. The equipment manager sets his own weekend schedules.
   
   Group one works first week : off Sunday, work M-F, off Saturday. The following week, work 4 hours Sun, M-F, then 4 hours on Sat. 88 hours each pay period, less bodies to worry about and the quality of work is somewhat consistent. Most of the guys drive together in the car pools, makes it simple for me.
   
   Group 2 alternates the same schedule, except they get the alternate weekend days off instead. Rarely do I have a no show. The cycle works for a 2 week pay period for me.
   
   I tried part timers again a few seasons back, and had a bunch of no-shows.

   
   
   
   
7. Wallace Jeffrey V

   
   7/24/2012 8:07 PM

   Wow...a lot of different schedules here.
   
   I like crews A and B. If you were supposed to work the weekend, you had Wednesday off. If you worked Wednesday, then you had the weekend off.
   
   A nice break every other week on a Wednesday. Pay your bills, take care of things that weren't possible on a weekend, whatever.
   
   Worked for me....and for them. Obviously, I had to decide on the groups, because I needed to make sure that key employees were always on-site during those 3 days.

   
   
   
   
8. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   7/24/2012 9:07 PM

   Sorry Buddy, but I can't believe your employees were honest with you if you asked 'em how they like having a Wednesday off, and they said they liked it. That's what they told you because that's what they thought they had to say to keep their jobs.
   
   Who the heck wants to have one day off, in the middle of the week like that, knowing they gotta work two half days on Saturday and Sunday? Nobody I know.
   
   What can you do with one day? Go to the grocery store? Go to the bank? Who goes to the bank anymore? What if the dentist or the manicurist is already booked on Wednesday?
   
   Take the family to the beach? No way, unless you live within an hour of the beach. Can't spend the night 'cause you gotta work Thursday.
   
   Nobody likes one day off in the middle of the week, only to have to work Saturday and Sunday. They're lying to you. Unless they don't like the wife, and this way they don't have to see her on Wednesdays when she's working and on weekends when they're working. That could be.

   
   
   
   
9. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   7/24/2012 10:07 PM

   This is my year round program NO Names.
   All people 40 hr week only NO overtime allowed
   
   
   Keith Pegg
   Zama Japan

   
   
   
   
10. Justin Peckens

    

    0 posts
    
    7/25/2012 8:07 PM

    Is the 80 hour week required by the course? Our employee's work enough hours to get the jobs done and then go home. Some days that is a 10 hour day, some days 2 hours, but it is all understood when they are hired.

    
    
    
    
11. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    7/25/2012 8:07 PM

    Justin Peckens said: Is the 80 hour week required by the course? Our employee's work enough hours to get the jobs done and then go home. Some days that is a 10 hour day, some days 2 hours, but it is all understood when they are hired.

    
    
    The 80 hours referred to was an 80 hour paycheck, or a two-week pay period.

    
    
    
    
12. Wallace Jeffrey V

    
    7/26/2012 2:07 PM

    Peter Bowman, CGCS said: Sorry Buddy, but I can't believe your employees were honest with you if you asked 'em how they like having a Wednesday off, and they said they liked it. That's what they told you because that's what they thought they had to say to keep their jobs.
    
    Who the heck wants to have one day off, in the middle of the week like that, knowing they gotta work two half days on Saturday and Sunday? Nobody I know.
    
    What can you do with one day? Go to the grocery store? Go to the bank? Who goes to the bank anymore? What if the dentist or the manicurist is already booked on Wednesday?
    
    Take the family to the beach? No way, unless you live within an hour of the beach. Can't spend the night 'cause you gotta work Thursday.
    
    Nobody likes one day off in the middle of the week, only to have to work Saturday and Sunday. They're lying to you. Unless they don't like the wife, and this way they don't have to see her on Wednesdays when she's working and on weekends when they're working. That could be.

    
    
    If they lied to me, then they will have to live with the idea of going to Hell. Besides, they picked Wednesday, not me. I gave them two choices. Wednesday, or Wednesday. There were a lot of back and forth discussions, but they finally woke me up and told me they had picked Wednesday. I loved it. With half the crew gone, it was like a holiday for me. So I took the day off as well.
    
    Dude.....I'm TELLING you! They liked it. I don't have one knife scar in my back. A couple of bullet grazes from what was obviously a long range sniper rifle, and a lousy shooter, but no knife scars.
    
    If they pretended to like it because they didn't have to deal with their wives' schedules, then that was their problem. I'm not a marriage counselor. If that sounds heartless, it's because it is.
    
    To the hundreds of people that have worked for me in the past: If my complete disregard for your personal well-being has caused you any problems, then just let me say, "Someone should be sorry".
    
    If that wasn't sincere, then I don't know what else to say.
    
    Sincerely,
    
    Jeff
    
    Consistently rated "Boss Of The Year"
    (Before bonus checks were handed out)

    
    
    
    
13. League Michael

    
    7/26/2012 6:07 PM

    We have a crew of four full-time employees (mechanic and three crew workers) and two seasonal workers (4 months max)
    
    The four full-timers work every other weekend 4 hours a day and take a day off during this week. I allow them to pick their day off and it can change, but they must let me know in advance which day they are taking. I feel since they are required to take a day to save from overtime I can at least be lenient and let them choose.
    
    One seasonal hire works Tuesday-Saturday and the other works Sunday-Thursday. This gives them two days in a row off every week.
    
    I dont work many weekends in the winter, tournament and busy weekends in spring/fall, and most every weekend in summer due to hand-watering requirements (today was the coolest day in two weeks+ and it was 100 degrees on the dot)
    
    I have a very limited overtime budget and many paid holidays, therefore I work most every holiday and the only overtime allowed is for hand-watering, aerification or emergencies (irrigation blowouts, storm damage, etc)

    
    
    
    
14. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    7/27/2012 5:07 AM

    You could do what I do...I practically live at the golf course. 133 hrs from July 1 - 15. Im working on about 140 for the rest of the month.
    I think i should listen to some of your advice on crew schedules or hire an assistant. hummm sounds like a great idea...

    
    
    
    
15. Christian Pekarek

    

    0 posts
    
    7/27/2012 9:07 AM

    Hi Kyle,
    
    Our staff works 5:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Monday through Friday and either Saturday or Sunday from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM for a total of 39 hours per week. I don't see the need for overtime. We do what we have to do during the regular work day. The guys are pretty fresh all summer long only working 7 hour days and it's nice for them not working in the heat of the day. My assistant and I work 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM during the week and take off both days every other weekend.
    
    The best part about the schedule is that our golfers never see a crew member after 12:00 Noon during the week or after 9:00 AM on the weekends.
    
    Chris Pekarek
    Village Links of Glen Ellyn
    Glen Ellyn, Illinois

    
    
    
    
16. David Soltvedt

    

    0 posts
    
    7/27/2012 9:07 AM

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I split my crew into two.
    Everybody works 8 hours Mon thru Thurs
    Crew A works all day Friday and is off of the weekend.
    Crew B works until 9 am on Friday and the comes in on Sat and Sun for 2 1/2 hours
    Switch crews the following weekend and everybody gets 80 hours.
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Steve

    
    
    
    So you can set-up your course with half a crew in 2 1/2 hrs?

    
    
    
    
17. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    7/27/2012 5:07 PM

    David Soltvedt, CGCS said:

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I split my crew into two.
    Everybody works 8 hours Mon thru Thurs
    Crew A works all day Friday and is off of the weekend.
    Crew B works until 9 am on Friday and the comes in on Sat and Sun for 2 1/2 hours
    Switch crews the following weekend and everybody gets 80 hours.
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Steve

    
    
    
    So you can set-up your course with half a crew in 2 1/2 hrs?

    
    
    Yep

    
    
    
    
18. Wallace Jeffrey V

    
    7/27/2012 6:07 PM

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said:
    Yep

    
    
    Can you please expound?

    
    
    
    
19. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    7/27/2012 6:07 PM

    Nope

    
    
    
    
20. Wallace Jeffrey V

    
    7/27/2012 6:07 PM

    ok

    
    
    
    
21. Timothy Walker

    

    0 posts
    
    7/29/2012 10:07 AM

    David Soltvedt, CGCS said:

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I split my crew into two.
    Everybody works 8 hours Mon thru Thurs
    Crew A works all day Friday and is off of the weekend.
    Crew B works until 9 am on Friday and the comes in on Sat and Sun for 2 1/2 hours
    Switch crews the following weekend and everybody gets 80 hours.
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Steve

    
    
    
    So you can set-up your course with half a crew in 2 1/2 hrs?

    
    
    
    same here

    
    
    
    
22. Jay Neunsinger

    

    0 posts
    
    8/22/2012 9:08 AM

    A few questions come to mind:
    
    1.) Do you have to have two different "Split" crews?
    2.) With it being hot and humid.....Is working 8 hours on Saturday and Sunday out of the question?
    
    Why not use weekend days and utilize them as regular work days? Not just "mow and go".
    
    We work 8 hours - 7 days a week here and each guy has 2 days off during the week.
    
    Monday: 5 guys working
    Tuesday: 9 guys
    Wed: 9 guys
    Thurs: 9 guys
    Friday: 6 guys + one part time guy (8 hours)
    Sat: 4 guys
    Sun: 4 guys
    
    It can be done. Typically weekends are busy on golf courses and ownership doesn't like seeing guys on the course till 12:30 or 1:00 on Sat. or Sun. but when you have only a few guys nobody even notices them out there. Especially if they are holding a hose and watering hot spots.
    
    3.) The bigger question is: Are you and your assistant willing to work 8 hours on Saturday or Sundays? My asst. has Friday and Sat. off and I have Sun. and Mondays off. Even though during the summer months I usually only take off Sundays (Family and laundry day )
    
    It was difficult for me to break the mold as well but my crew seems to be fresh for the 5 days they work. Even if their days off are Fri & Sat., Sat. & Sun or Sun. & Mon they seem to like it better than the typical one day off during the week and working 4 hours on Sat and Sunday's. If I was closed on Mondays (which I'm not) I would move the days around to maximize the work that could get done on Monday's.
    
    4.) Is part time labor out of the question? Part time guys could help immensely. Ask the golf course superintendent from a neighboring course if any of his guys want to mow rough in the afternoons for you.
    
    Just some ideas that may help.
    
    Best of luck,
    Jay Neunsinger, GCS
    Tilden Park

    
    
    
    
23. Christopher Boldreghini

    

    0 posts
    
    8/22/2012 10:08 AM

    I just try to be the hardest worker on the course. If they can't keep up with me I give them applications for McDonalds and Taco Bell.
    
    Charlie B.