This may be the dumbest question I ever had to ask you guys!

What would you be paying him for? For not stealing your work and doing it on the side? Isn't that what they call a bribe?

Any work that comes from an ongoing job belongs to the company that spent all the money on advertising, etc.and all the effort selling etc. to get that job. It's just a continuation of what was already started. I've been on both ends of this issue many times.

When I sub-contracted from other roofing companies and someone stopped by I always referred them to the company I was doing the work for and always expected the same from anyone working for my company.

Whether or not they are salaried or subs doesn't matter. Now if you want to "give" something out of the goodness of your heart that's a personal choice but if there was no upfront agreement I don't see how someone can say you owe them.

Easy, I would tell the man he can have 1/2 the commission, 2.5% as he didn't close the job and since he considered himself in sales he would be working commission only and go find some jobs and get some contracts signed. Cya when you have one. :)

Vickie the Boss Said: Where do people get their entitlement ideas from.

So I had this great employee - loved her. I took all the office to the trade shows and she never got to go. We would all come back with these fun stories of getting to go out to dinners and the travel etc. So I decided to send her on a dream vacation for the weekend to San Fransisco. She had never been on a plane before. I sat her down and planned her entire trip - airfare, Alcatraz, every taxi ride, tips and nice dinners, set her up at a Marriott so she could have a nice room. I also included an Oakland Raiders game BUT I asked her to get the tickets herself because she had a connection. I wrote her a check for all the spending money and the tickets.

I was happy to do it for her and proud I could. She comes to me a few days later and says the tickets were $18.00 dollars more than we had figured so could I give her the difference. Mind you she probably had $800.00 spending money in her pocket she hadnt spent yet but she needed $18.00 more.

I was so mad that I got $18 in loose change and walked up to her desk and dumped it on it and said here you go.

Mike H Said: The 5% part is rhetorical.... but I would do something for the guy. Probably even the whole crew, and probably at one of our company functions, for all to see, as an example of the fact that you are ALWAYS selling, even when its just your appearance and your work ethic. Be proud to be part of something different, and know that your actions DO count, and if it shows so well that it gets us work, you will be rewarded.... even though theres no obligation to do so.

Good employees are hard to come by, something like this is an opportunity to make an object lesson that should not be missed.

I dont disagree with Lefty often, but definitely on this issue.

I would begin to work with him so he could earn extra money with leads and selling.

I don't think your employee deserves commission in this case.The customer could have gotten your number off the side of your trucks or off the phone book. As for him handing out your business cards he was doing his fiduciary duty toward the company.Good workmanship sells the product but he and the others are getting paid an hourly wage for that. If the customer is an acquaintance of his or somebody that he tracked down with the purpose of acquiring his business and is using your company because of him than he may entitled to a commission.

If the guy cant talk to a customer to get himself and everyone else some work without being greedy then like my dsd would say fuck em. I would have told that employee to pound sand!!!Ungrateful s.o.b. I might have kicked his ass on the way out!!