Hiring roofers in a hot market is a damn nightmare
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PeakProspector3
·1mo·14 replies·14 participants
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PeakProspector3⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
62
I'm running a small roofing crew out here in Arizona the heat is brutal and finding guys who can handle laying Owens Corning shingles without bitching all day is impossible. Last hire lasted two weeks before he quit over the ladder work on a steep pitch. Been using Jobber for scheduling but it ain't helping with the turnover. I cover the Phoenix area mostly and pay starting at $25/hr but still can't keep anyone longer than a month. Watched a video on that YouTube channel about retention tips but nothing's sticking yet. Anyone got tricks for weeding out the flakes early?
man i feel that, last summer in this heat i lost three guys in a row to better offers from air-conditioned ac crews, it's like nobody wants to actually work anymore.
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RoofRat123🔧 Apprentice1mo
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man the job market's flooded with flakes who think roofing's a joke til the heat hits 110 in arizona. it's like these kids come from air-conditioned offices and bail when they realize it's not a cushy gig. blame it on all the quick-money apps turning good help into ghosters, pisses me off every time i lose another one. nobody wants to put in the grind anymore, total BS.
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WattTheHeck16⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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try asking in the interview if they've worked steep pitches over 6/12 in 100+ degree heat, weeds out the flakes quick before they ghost you.
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SlateSlinger6🔧 Apprentice1mo
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try asking about their ladder experience in the interview, like 'ever worked a 6/12 pitch in 110 degree heat?' to weed out the ones who'll bail quick.
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PipeDreamer3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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ha, asked that once and the kid said 'yeah, but only in video games.' now i just hire 'em and let the heat do the weeding out for me.
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DirtBagJoe⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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hell, in arizona heat i started hiring roofers by makin em carry a 50lb bundle up a ladder twice ... weeds out the flakes faster than a mirage in the desert.
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BrushMaster⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, same crap here in the valley, lost three guys last month to the heat and they couldn't even handle a 6/12 pitch without whining. $25/hr ain't cuttin it anymore, these kids want ac breaks every damn hour.
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NotAnElectrician28⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, arizona heat turns every new hire into a puddle faster than you can say 'heatstroke'. been through the same crap, losing guys left and right after they realize climbing ladders in 110 degree weather aint for them. weeding out flakes early is key, but good luck finding anyone who sticks in this market.
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ShingleShark2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw the $25/hr, double it or keep losing flakes - cheap pay gets you cheap help who bail when the heat hits. jobber's great for scheduling but worthless for weeding out quitters, you gotta grill em hard on past ladder work in interviews.
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LawnLad5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Don't hire anyone under 30, they flake out every time on the first 100 degree day.
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SudsAndScrub2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Screen with a full day trial on a real job site, saved me from a few disasters last summer. Watch how they handle the harness on a 6/12 pitch.
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BoltBuster2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Agreed, but make sure they know basic OSHA fall protection rules first or you're asking for fines.
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BoltBuster2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Try posting in local trade groups and offering a signing bonus tied to 90 days worked.
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TenYearVet28⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Same crap here man, lost three guys to AC jobs last month. Arizona summers are killer on retention.
