Shane on the Wire

First job and fitting into a team

Over the years we have employed a few people, both from our farming years and other ventures, and now within our fencing business. All of various age and gender. But, it still threw us a little when we received a message from a local high school that they had a student who wanted to work for a fencer in his holiday time.

My initial thought was, ‘good grief,’ he’s only 15. But then I remembered that I was spraying some farmers weeds at 12 to earn some cash for a scout jamboree that I wanted to go to. So, if he’s keen, we might as well give him a go, cause if we don’t, then someone else will. Besides, when I spoke to him, he told me he could fence, as a schoolteacher from his last school taught him...

The first week was a short one for him. I had to get a parent to co-sign his contract, so we didn’t break any laws and he needed work boots, so we had to buy those as well. He arrived at work on the Tuesday and after an induction, with a hiss and a roar, away he went. The first couple of days went ok. We had him be the ‘gopher and hold this and fetch that.’ We even had him do some end ties, although he tried to convince me that he knew what he was doing, the result was less than desirable. So, to his annoyance, I cut them off and showed him how to do them properly and left him to it. According to my ‘other’ loyal eyes and ears, as soon as I turned my back, he was doing them his way. My other guys fixed it and told me later.

The next day went much the same, a little like an eager dog, not knowing what to do, but showing all the typical signs of modern young species of a person that is hard to understand, having been raised in a completely different way to us older generations. And the rest of the week we were rained off, giving me a chance to think about how I would tackle things with the ‘new guy’ next week.

My ‘eyes and ears’ also informed me that apparently, his ‘teacher’ told the class that you did not need anything to be a fencer, didn’t need to think, didn’t need to know anything about Math, English and the sciences, you could be totally dumb and own a fencing business. So, I logged that to memory, mentally cursing the teacher for his or her very, ‘ill informed’ statement of what it takes to be a good fencer.

The following Monday we were back into it, a new job. Retro fitting predator netting on an existing fence and installing a new entrance way. I thought I would like to see how good his hammer hand was. His job, remove all the staples and drop the wires so the netting could go up then re-staple the wires. I figure hand stapling sorts the boys from the men.

We started with the standard Monday morning health and safety meeting and a discussion of the work ahead. I also took the opportunity to do a little talk, aimed at the new guy, about fitting in and working in a team and as he had never had a job before, a little insight into workplace etiquette. I also told him that if he wanted to do well, he needed to know the ‘golden rule.’ That piqued his curiosity, he asked what I meant. So, I told him it was something passed down to me when I was young. I told him that there is the ‘right way, the wrong way and the boss’s way.’ And if he wants to be a good employee then he needs to do things the boss’s way. And with a little wink at the guys and a ‘righto, let’s do this’, the day started. Away he went, a bit slow but to be expected. I had to leave site for the rest of the day so left my guys ‘baby sitting’.

Early the next morning I got a text from his mum, telling me he won’t be at work today. I accused my guys of breaking the new guy. They did tell me he got blisters on his hammer hand halfway through the day. I asked them what they did about it. Apparently, they laughed at him and told him to toughen up. Wow, what can I say to that.

Bugger me, he was back the next day. And worked the rest of the week. I asked him when we finished up on Friday, how he found it going. The answer, “very, hard work, and not what I was expecting.” I said to him, “let me know if you are coming back in December,” and figured I wouldn’t hear from him again.

What would you know, a few days later I got a text from his mum, he loves the work and wants to come back.

Maybe, another future fencer...

Shane

Shane Beets Co-owns (newly branded) A1FenceworX, and builds fences in Northland