Hi Mark

I can sympathise with your recruitment problems, I have had the very same problems in the past.

My view on employing eastern europeans would be to be sure that they understand both written and spoken english. I had two Polish men on a work trial about two years ago, they were both competent at there work but spoke little english and could read no english at all. The problems arise with the reporting of defects and understanding repair instructions/job cards, leading to other problems as I am sure you can imagine. I found it very difficult and frustrating spending time trying to understand them.

I have take the decision to find (head hunt) top quality employees and pay them above the going rate, offer good working conditions, invest in training and dont enter into bonus schemes that causes ill feeling between technicians, it's cost effective in the long run, (I am making good money so why shouldn't they) take away the argument "that so and so will give me more per hour". I get better quality of work, better harmony at work & virtually no complaints or rectification.
HTH
Graham Clark