Remote workers having too much access - Power!!

[estwig]

I design loft conversions, house extensions and the occasional house build for a living. After I have done a survey and chatted with the client about what they want, most of the actual Autocad work is then subbed out to one of my cad monkeys, (these are remote workers who have full time jobs and do me as a sideline in the evenings) who produce the plans. I then deal with the client again, make submission to planning, deal with builders, etc.

I am discussing promoting one of cad monkeys to a team leader type role, giving him a company cc, with limited funds to pay for submissions. He would then organise the other monkeys and deal with submission to planning and some of the client enquiries.

This would give him considerable access to my business, access to client files and a large database of previous plans via onedrive and to copy him in on most emails. He would need to learn the business, or there would be no point in having him.

My concern is him stealing all this, learning how to do it and then setting up for himself, he is in N.I so wouldn't be competition, but it would leave me having invested time and effort, with no one to do the work. Having come to rely on him, it would leave a considerable hole in the business, if he left.

Has anyone got any thoughts on this?

How would you proceed and what would you do to safeguard your business and limit the impact if he left?

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Some sort of "non compete, no set up his own business for five years within fifty miles of you" sort of thing might do it?

 

[Hedgie]

You could outsource to me Keith. No chance of me setting up on my own. 22 years architectural technician experience?

 

[KM-Tiger]

Have you ever met face to face with this person?

 

[Sparx]

I must admit, calling them "CAD Monkeys" comes across very degrading...

 

[sirearl]

I must admit, calling them "CAD Monkeys" comes across very degrading...

Wait till you see the main ape.

 

[fattony]

This is what every business faces, so your going to offer him full time employment rather than a freelance cad technician? (monkey)

In my opinion you need to discuss with him is that a role he wants and if so reward him well, may be a decent salary coupled with other benefits?

I'm sure in time he will leave, people progress, want a change of scenery etc

 

[estwig]

Some sort of "non compete, no set up his own business for five years within fifty miles of you" sort of thing might do it?

Maybe, it's a good suggestion, but being as he is in NI I'm not concerned about him setting up near me.

You could outsource to me Keith. No chance of me setting up on my own. 22 years architectural technician experience?

We should have that 'conversation' I hate biz speak, yea definately chat Hedgie.

Have you ever met face to face with this person?

No, he has been with me 6+ months now, good as gold, family man, I like him. Some of my other monkeys have been with me years, but this fella is good at what he does and has a good attitude towards it all. Confident, bordering on aggressive, which appeals to me.

I must admit, calling them "CAD Monkeys" comes across very degrading...

As long we don't let any light in the cupboard and keep feeding them quavers and pot noodles, they don't care!!

This is what every business faces, so your going to offer him full time employment rather than a freelance cad technician? (monkey)

In my opinion you need to discuss with him is that a role he wants and if so reward him well, may be a decent salary coupled with other benefits?

I'm sure in time he will leave, people progress, want a change of scenery etc

No employment, played those games and never again, he would be a freelance, subbie, call him what you like, but not an employee.

You're right he will leave at some point, I think my issue will be in being prepared for when he does and have a plan in place to cover myself, keep the wheels turning.

 

[Bob]

No employment, played those games and never again, he would be a freelance, subbie, call him what you like, but not an employee.

I am discussing promoting one of cad monkeys to a team leader type role, giving him a company cc, with limited funds to pay for submissions. He would then organise the other monkeys and deal with submission to planning and some of the client enquiries.

Not sure that HMRC would agree that he wasn't an employee
You would need to draw up a watertight agreement that shows him to be in business in his own right and not an intrinsic part of your business

 

[estwig]

Not sure that HMRC would agree that he wasn't an employee
You would need to draw up a watertight agreement that shows him to be in business in his own right and not an intrinsic part of your business

Thanks Bob, I will put my faith in the World's best accountant, she also happens to be my accountant. If she says it's not working out in my favour, we pan it, until then by every means possible, he will be a subbie.

 

[The Byre]

I am discussing promoting one of cad monkeys to a team leader type role, giving him a company cc, with limited funds to pay for submissions. He would then organise the other monkeys and deal with submission to planning and some of the client enquiries.

I have had exactly this problem. OK, not AutoCAD, but a very similar gig. The guy earned a few thousand and coordinated an entire project, farming out tasks to others as the need arose. Soon, both ourselves and our customers were relying on this guy and he did a brilliant job.

We farmed out to him, those projects that were smaller and fiddly and took up too much time for the turnover involved. This involved dealing with those older customers who just could not deal with computer files and wanted everything on paper. We paid him very handsomely for this work and he was happy to do it.

Then a problem customer came along. He lost project files, moved house and lost them again. Then he moved to another country and lost every file and document. Once we had this idiot back on track, he started making changes. Then he ran out of money and, as a friend once brilliantly commented, "I can lose all sympathy for a man, when I discover that he has no money!"

Our freelance point-man turned the gig down. "Sorry, I just don't have the time!"

He was firing us! He had enough monkeying around with bozo clients too dumb to work a computer and doing things that were pointless, meaningless and frustrating. He had a new gig and was traveling the World. Emails came in from Iceland, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai telling us that he just could not be arsed dealing with nincompoops.

We tried others, but they each either made a mess of things, or just told the problem customers to bog-off and grow a pair!

So we had to stop dealing with people who wanted the clock to stop at 1980.

I'm not too sure what you could learn from our experience (if anything!) but my gut feeling is that you need to just give this guy the tasks as they come up, keep him away from customers (that should be your job!!!) and not rely on him organising the work (again - your job).

I just see too many pit-falls in what you intend doing.

 

[estwig]

Brilliant thank you The Byre, some very good points, sorry to hear it didn't pan out for you.

I know what you mean about numpty clients, get my fair share of those. I would front everything up and deal with all customer enquires, beyond the basics of emailing them files and keeping them informed of applications and notices from planning.

Not blowing my own trumpet, well I am but hey what can you do when your sh*t hot! It's my ability to design, win the work and importantly manage client expectations, that make the money. This would have to stay with me. The actual cad work and general admin associated with it, bores the pants off me!