This man believes it’s only right for landscaping companies to pay their employees more, especially since they’re constantly exposed to the elements. So, he disguised himself as an interviewee—just to tell them off!
Hiring Season
When OP (Original Poster) posted this story, it was that time of the year when landscaping companies started hiring “in droves.” The problem was that these companies offered “ridiculously low wages.”
For OP, being paid $13 to $15 an hour is “disgusting,” considering how much money is made from people’s hard work.
Unfair Compensation
Aside from the low wage, OP highlighted that employees usually had no benefits.
He added, “These are jobs where you are constantly in the elements performing back-breaking work, dealing with difficult customers over the pettiest of issues.” Clients would usually complain and say things like, “Why’d you trim my bushes into squares? I wanted them circular, and you should have somehow known this without being told,” or “I don’t like the way the riding mower stripes; can you push mow my .75 acre lot from now on?”
I Know the Industry
OP believed he had the right to comment on these things because he was self-employed in the same industry; he knew about the profit margins.
He said, “For example, most of my residential contracts are around $500 a month and require an hour or so of labor per week—sometimes more, sometimes less. It’s common to knock out 10 or more of these a day. Some of my commercial contracts are around $3,000 a month and tend to be considerably more profitable. Do the math. Overhead is fairly minimal, with most of it being equipment maintenance, insurance, and fuel.”
Oh, It Happens, Alright!
OP noted that though some people don’t believe this is actually happening, people better believe it. To him, others’ validation is unnecessary for him to do what he’s doing.
He said, “I don’t need your validation, so keep hating it if it makes you feel better about yourself.”
Do You Believe In Karma?
Some people might think OP would someday face the consequences of his actions. But for him, it’s just what he has to do, so he doesn’t plan on listening to others’ unsolicited opinions.
A Waste of Time
OP wanted to explain that he wouldn’t do it if he thought it was a waste of time. He noted that his time was his, and it was up to him to use it however he wanted to.
He shared, “Whether you think it’s a waste or not is inconsequential. That said, this isn’t a major time investment on my part. It takes two minutes to quickly apply to multiple jobs on Indeed. It takes an additional two minutes to answer my phone and schedule an interview for Friday. The interviews themselves usually last a whopping two minutes before they realize where it’s heading and about a max of 10 minutes before I’m shown the door. I did two interviews last week, two earlier today, and plan to keep that pace. The point is, I’m not spending hours doing this as some of you seem to think.”
Do You Not Have Any Hobbies?
OP also wanted everyone to know he didn’t have as much time as people think. But he usually had Fridays off since he worked 11 to 13 hours 4 days a week.
Since his wife was at work and his kids were at school, he had ample time to do what he needed, like laundry and some cleaning, and then go to the interviews. He said that this was an excellent way to use his time; plus, he already had some other hobbies, too!
It’s All About the Results
He noted that though his actions wouldn’t start change on a big scale, he’d like to think that he’s helping someone somewhere in some way.
OP wrote, “I’d like to think that when I explain how it’s not possible for an individual to afford to live on what they offer, that they at least show some sort of empathy toward their current employees and new hires in the future. Yes, I realize that this is probably wishful thinking, but to me, it’s worth a shot. S*** on it all you want because, sadly, you’re probably right.”
Unsolicited Opinions
OP also knew some people who would say landscaping is “unskilled labor that anyone can do with two hours of training, so why do they deserve to get paid more?”
For him, this kind of perspective is hugely disappointing. He explained, “Yes, the job is easy to understand how to do for the most part. Being fast, efficient, and providing quality work is another story. The work is also not easy. Try putting in 12 to 20 miles a day, carrying equipment in 100-degree weather, and then come talk to me about these positions being paid adequately.”
Defending His Profession
OP explained that though some might think landscaping is “a job for people who can’t do anything else,” he’d beg to differ.
For him and other landscapers, it’s a great job because they can do what they want to do. He said, “I have a business degree, but you can bet your a** I’d rather be out in nature instead of in an office dealing with co-workers and bosses I can’t stand. Try not to be so judgmental, maybe?”
A Better System
Though OP currently works for himself and by himself and therefore has no employees, he said he’s planning to pay his future employees $25 to $30 an hour. He mentioned that he’d already started considering expanding his business because he had to turn down some clients due to insufficient manpower.
He added, “For an experienced professional that I could trust to handle everything to standard, I would likely pay a profit percentage for those properties and forgo an hourly rate altogether.”
Rules of the State
OP then discovered that he lived in a “one-party consent state.” So, he’ll start recording their conversations next time.
Though he doesn’t think all issues will be solved immediately, OP wrote, “I plan on keeping this up until I run out of companies to interview for.”
Insights From Redditors
Redditors commend OP for doing something like this to help out fellow landscapers.
One shared, “I have many years of experience in my field. I cherish the opportunity to remind a guy that he is a cheapskate.” Another said, “I did that for a while. I would do at least one interview a week and tell them things like, ‘How do your employees survive on that low of a wage? Are they homeless or retired?’ It was fun, and it was a great opportunity to polish my interview skills.”
This Is What We Need!
People also rose to defend OP from the hate he was getting from others.
One Redditor wrote, “Lol, why are you getting so much hate? That’s hilarious, and f*** those people for trying to underpay. This is exactly the kind of creative protesting we need in society to change. Direct feedback for these a**holes is the only thing that’s going to make them see how bad they are for society. Where are all the people yelling, ‘F*** capitalism,’ and s***?”
Do you think OP did a great job? What would you do if you were in his shoes?
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This post first appeared as He’s Been Going on Landscaping Job Interviews He Has No Intention of Taking, Just to Tell Them in Person How Ridiculously Low the Wages They Offer Are! on Quote Ambition.
