How many employees does it take to...

We have been in the exterior only business for 2years and are opening our second location next month. I have had the "priviledge" to take my tunnel back over, from my manager, about 6 months ago, and have noticed that I can run this thing by myself. I know there have been a couple of really bad accidents and even deaths with having only one employee onsite at a time. I just wanted to get some feedback on if anyone runs a single employee at a time, maybe just during slow times,(early/late)? Right now I usually always have 2 onsite and dont want to get into a bad situation and have an unnecessary accident. Just wanted to know what you guys were doing.

If the "one guy" is YOU, you can weight the benefits and drawbacks first-hand. You make the policy, and it's your money.

Having just one employee is risky. If the attendant is inside the rack, making adjustments... and is injured, no one knows or hears. Or if adjustments or emergency repairs require 2 pair of hands, having only one man falls short... and time is wasted. If the attendant is in the restroom, for all intent and purpose, you're closed. If someone phones your business (for any reason), that task takes the employee off the mark. If somebody wants to hold you up, use the same logic as c-stores, and always have 2 for security.

However, if you have an automated cash control, you can operate with one site all-purpose employee. However, even with an automated teller, you may find the value to also having a service advisor to assist in sales and engaging customers when business merits it.

Can you operate an exterior with only ONE person. Absolutely. Your new best friend will be a traffic cone.

Many operators have found the value in maintaining a team of 2 for various reasons. It's cheap insurance for... whatever. just keep everyone productive all the time. Two... can be a positive or a negative, depending on your policies and management style.

I personally feel it's real important for customers to immediately "see" real live people. Years ago... I required each team of 2 at the exterior washes (when not busy cleaning or maintaining the site) be standing at the front of the lot at "parade rest", ready to engage and serve customers as they entered.

Yes, it was a great image builder, but moreover.. a great motivator.

It was no surprise to see the staff constantly keeping meticulously busy... maintaining the site constantly clean.

-Steve

A lot of these incidents seem to occur because of carelessness or not following policy. One I recall involved an employee spraying down the tunnel and letting a car go through while he was in there working. The accident would have happened whether there was one employee on duty or two. Strict safety rules play at least as big a role as the number of employees on duty. And I mean strict - for example a lockout on the controls for tunnel equipment should be in place if someone is working in or on it, and someone who doesn't adhere to that should be fired.

Americans have fallen into a bad habit of relying on others to ensure their safety over their own stupidity, but you shouldn't have to be responsible if they stick their finger in your light socket.

One employee is like driving without car insurance. If nothing ever happens, great. If something deos happen, you're glad you have it. Do you really want to bet on nothing ever happening. Besides, there's almost always something to do. Empty trash cans, fill vending, maintain the the outside lot, wash walls and equipment, cut grass, mix chemicals, maintain equipment, etc. Besides, the second person even if you leave them alone keeps the place open should you decide to leave for whatever reason - lunch with a friend, supplier pr distributor, personal reasons, an errand to run, etc.

Also, what do you do when the busy season arrives. Can you really find 1-2 more employees willing to work just 6 months a year who are dependable, knowledgable and trustworthy to handle the cash, books, etc. Even in the off season, customers are like bananas - they come in bunches and two people will process those casrs much faster and at least in theory better than just one person.

All that said, I have recently laid off a full time employee and three days a week, we open with just one person at 7 AM, The other comes in at 8 AM, they both stay till closing at 7 PM. So I do have just one person for an hour. We operate with just 2 people Monday -Thursday. On Friday, I have a third person come in Friday 11-7 and Saturdays 11-7. This weekend (Fri-Sun) we washed nearly 1,000 cars, took in $8K and paid out about $800 in payroll. A decent trade for perfectly clean, dry, shiny cars.

MEP makes a good point about safety protocols. I have known many managers missing fingers and broken bones because of not following the rules or lack of rules in general. However once the accident does happen the other employees are instumental, someone has to drive to the emergency room.

I thought the rest of this question was going to be: How many employees does it take...."to change a light bulb".

The answer: >3 one to hold the bulb and at least two others to drink beer until the room starts spinning.