Q: I bought a carpet cleaning company recently and it is going great except for two problems… the problems are two long-term employees, lead technicians to be exact. They have a lot of demands, they make more money than most everyone else and I feel they don't respect my position as the new owner. It's like they have a superior attitude. What should I do?

— Harold, Philadelphia, PA

A: The tale you tell is quite common… you buy an existing company and you inherit all kinds of challenges you must deal with, and some of them aren't pleasant.

But with your situation, are you sure that what you have to deal with is negative?

Here is the point: When a new owner or manager arrives on the scene, they typically make a lot of changes based on their own experiences or preferences. But what they should do is first analyze the new situation and see if their own experiences or preferences can “mesh” with what is currently in play.

We all know that when we have a nice, cushy contract that it can quickly come to an end because a new owner or manager takes over. It may not seem fair, but it is what it is — the new guy in charge wants to throw his weight around and the first thing to go is the cleaning company. It happens often.

There is no reason for that same attitude to be part of how we do business. If you are buying an existing company, wouldn't it be to your advantage to work with the current (and not doubt profitable) personnel already employed?

There may be personality conflicts and all kinds of challenges, but there is usually a reason why those lead techs are earning good money and why they may have a superior attitude.

There's nothing wrong with confidence, and that may be what your new lead techs have. Perhaps what you should do is sit down with them and outline your own goals and ask them what theirs are and try to make everything mesh together.

The end result can be very profitable — to everyone involved.

Q: We run a large commercial carpet cleaning company, and have many employees on location. Here is the situation: I have an employee who is taking way too much time for breaks and lunches. One time, I opened a storage room and found him reading a book… only to discover he was on the clock but hiding out. But he is a great cleaning technician. What should I do?

— John, Cranston, RI

A: There are many responses to answer your question, but the first one that must be considered is this: Fire him!

If someone in your employ is brazen enough to “hide out” and take advantage of a situation that involves trust (which means no direct supervision, which can allow an employee to hide out in a closet and collect pay) you really can't trust him or her. It may be time to just make the hard decision and let that person go.

You say this individual is a great technician. But how great of a tech would someone have to be so that you accept the fact they are ripping you off and that you are OK with that?

Do the right thing. Create company policies (having them in writing protects you as the employer) that handle these types of situations and make sure they are listed in your employee handbook. Everyone (including you) should follow the policies.

Your company will run smoothly, more profitably and you will be a happier employer.

Have a question for us? Ask at Cleanfax.com/experts or jcross@ntpmedia.com.