Discussion
Lost my best tech to a competitor paying $4/hr more. Lesson learned.
PlumbingKing✓March 21, 2026
My best plumber gave notice yesterday. Going to a competitor for $4/hr more. I offered to match but he said it wasn't just the money — he felt underappreciated. That stung because he was right. I took him for granted. Lesson: don't wait until someone quits to show them they matter.
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Replies (3)
GarageDoorMan✓just now
Been there. It sucks. I now do quarterly check-ins with every tech — not performance reviews, just "how's it going, what do you need, anything bugging you." Catches problems before they become resignations.
DanTheOperator✓just now
$4/hr on a 40-hour week is $8,320/year. You lost your best tech over $8K. That's way cheaper than recruiting, hiring, and training a replacement. Always pay your A-players above market.
LaundryMogul✓just now
The "not just the money" part hits hard. People leave managers, not companies. Sounds like you're taking the right lesson from it though.