I hired a house painter for my new condo via a family church referral. The church works with the homeless and this guy was formerly. He's now pseudo-back on his feet, living in a single occupancy room at a local motel type place. He painted my dad+step-mom's place fairly recently without issues. My dad recommended him to me to try and help the guy out because I just moved and needed the place painted.
Since I hired him, he was here for five days in a row the week of Nov 22-26. Last week, he asked for Monday off for doctor's appointments and other stuff. I told him that was fine. Tuesday came and went and he didn't show up or call at all. Wednesday, he showed up an hour late and said he had been having a throat biopsy done and was in the hospital Tuesday. He was visibly ill and I urged him to take the rest of the week off to recoup. He left, and he said he'd be back on Thursday.
No show on Thursday again, again with no call. He came Friday and worked all day, saying he'd be back the following morning (Saturday). Saturday morning around 10:30, an hour and a half after he was supposed to start, he called and asked if he could come Sunday instead. I said sure. He no-showed Sunday, and again today (Monday). I finally got a call today at 1pm (he was supposed to start at 9am) and he said he was running "a little late". I told him to please just be here for 9am tomorrow.
I understand this guy has some medical issues what with the throat biopsy, but I don't really know what to do at this point. I feel really jerked around and like I'm not being treated fairly. However, he's a very inexpensive painter but at this rate it's going to take him months to paint my place, and I'm sick of it being a half finished mess. I don't know what to do at this point, as my place is about 1/3 finished and was due to be COMPLETELY finished at the end of the week. I want my place looking nice for Christmas, his personal issues notwithstanding. I'd understand if he was a friend or family member or even an acquaintance, but he's a stranger.
I do not feel any loyalty. Especially because for the last week and a half, I've gotten up early (I typically get up around noon and go to bed at 4am - I've shifted my entire sleep schedule for this guy), and been showered/dressed/ready for him here at the time he's supposed to arrive. And he flat out hasn't shown up for 7 of the 8 days he said he would.
Where do I go from here? I would feel like a serious jerk firing him at this point, because I told him to take some time off if he needed it - but the no showing has got to stop. What can I say without coming across as a completely insensitive jerk?
Since I hired him, he was here for five days in a row the week of Nov 22-26. Last week, he asked for Monday off for doctor's appointments and other stuff. I told him that was fine. Tuesday came and went and he didn't show up or call at all. Wednesday, he showed up an hour late and said he had been having a throat biopsy done and was in the hospital Tuesday. He was visibly ill and I urged him to take the rest of the week off to recoup. He left, and he said he'd be back on Thursday.
No show on Thursday again, again with no call. He came Friday and worked all day, saying he'd be back the following morning (Saturday). Saturday morning around 10:30, an hour and a half after he was supposed to start, he called and asked if he could come Sunday instead. I said sure. He no-showed Sunday, and again today (Monday). I finally got a call today at 1pm (he was supposed to start at 9am) and he said he was running "a little late". I told him to please just be here for 9am tomorrow.
I understand this guy has some medical issues what with the throat biopsy, but I don't really know what to do at this point. I feel really jerked around and like I'm not being treated fairly. However, he's a very inexpensive painter but at this rate it's going to take him months to paint my place, and I'm sick of it being a half finished mess. I don't know what to do at this point, as my place is about 1/3 finished and was due to be COMPLETELY finished at the end of the week. I want my place looking nice for Christmas, his personal issues notwithstanding. I'd understand if he was a friend or family member or even an acquaintance, but he's a stranger.
I do not feel any loyalty. Especially because for the last week and a half, I've gotten up early (I typically get up around noon and go to bed at 4am - I've shifted my entire sleep schedule for this guy), and been showered/dressed/ready for him here at the time he's supposed to arrive. And he flat out hasn't shown up for 7 of the 8 days he said he would.
Where do I go from here? I would feel like a serious jerk firing him at this point, because I told him to take some time off if he needed it - but the no showing has got to stop. What can I say without coming across as a completely insensitive jerk?