Episode 297: Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Job Share in 2022

Let's talk about job share... Job sharing can actually be a GREAT thing... and you already are probably taking on BIGGER liability in your pet sitting and dog walking business. This episode will give insight into a different way of thinking. Now is the time to be creative, think about how we are going to get our sales up. The big R (recession) is coming (or is it here?) and we have to think differently to achieve more. Some of you might say, "Insurance companies will not cover you if you job share." Well, that's FALSE. I reached out to my friends over at Business Insurers of the Carolinas and this is what he said: "I received your phone message. You are absolutely correct that you are still covered by insurance if job sharing. However I typically recommend if you are going to be sharing jobs with a nanny, a neighbor, a teenage son/daughter, or even another dog walker or pet sitter, that you get a release/addendum signed by the owner releasing you of any liability while others are also in and out of the home." The pet business industry has seen many claims involving theft of clients' property, as well as property damage, and injuries to pets. And typically we see them blamed on the insured pet sitter or dog walker. Especially when the person they share the job with does not have any insurance. As a result, we have seen claims denied as there was no concrete proof of who caused the incident. Both situations are not typically ideal, as it increases both liability and the potential for a denied claim if no proof can be established. So, it is certainly fine to job share if the client wishes to increase their liability exposure and do so. I do recommend amending contract language to have the client hold our insured harmless for liability or theft while others are in and out of the home." Do you want to hear how I think you can leverage this to get even more daily dog walking clients? Biggest Takeaways: We need to get our sales up (2:24) Insurance coverage (5:36) Why you should job share (8:00) What other liability you are already taking on that is even riskier (8:53) It is possible (10:48) Links: Better Marketing With Bella Mastermind Gingr Pet-Care Software Transcript: This is episode 297 of Bella in Your Business. You love to take care of the pets but not the busy work that comes with running a pet care business. Meet Ginger, the best-in-show dog daycare, boarding, and grooming software. Ginger is packed with time-saving features that make running your pet care business easier—and your customers will love booking appointments from the Pet Parent mobile app. More tail wags, less busy work. Say hello to simplicity with Ginger. Visit gingerapp.com/bella to claim your free one-month subscription. That’s G-I-N-G-R-A-P-P.com/bella to claim that one-month free subscription. Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump. Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we're going to talk about something that's actually pretty interesting. We're going to be talking all about why you should job share. Now, before you go and hit skip to the next episode, I want you to hear me out here because I've got two really big reasons today that I want you to think about. We talked about this in a prior episode when we were talking about sales—how to get sales, especially in a volatile market. You might be a dog-walking company or pet-sitting company, but maybe you’re a dog-walking company that does not want to do any more vacation visits because you don’t want to do weekends or AM and PM shifts. I got you, boo. I understand. So if anyone comes in and says, “Hey, we need a dog walker. We're going on vacation, and we have someone staying at the house, but we need someone to exercise our dog in the middle of the day,” you might say, “Hell to the no.” Or if you’re a pet-sitting company and someone calls saying, “We just want you to come in the mornings or just midday. We have someone sleeping over,” or “Our neighbor will check in the evening, but we just need coverage in the morning,” you might also say, “Nope, we don’t do that.” No, no, we’re not going to do that anymore, you guys. And I'm going to tell you why today. I want to give you some food to think about, some bones to chew on. Try not to negate me right away—just hear me out. I’ve got two really good points for you. The reason I’m thinking more creatively right now is because we’re in a time where we have to figure out how we’re going to keep our sales up. You might say, “Bella, I can’t hire fast enough right now.” And that’s fine, because mark my words—it’s June/July 2022, and we are heading for the big R. Yep, a recession. We’ve been through them before, and it’s coming again. When that happens, people are going to get scared. They already are—tightening their belts, freaking out about gas prices, about stuff they can’t control. They’re making decisions out of fear:“I can’t really afford a full-blown pet sitter, but I know I need one.”“I know my dog should get walked every day, but can I trust someone else?” I’ve been saying this the entire podcast—this summer is gangbusters for pet sitters, but dog walkers are going to start to see a taper off. This episode is for both pet sitters and dog walkers because I want you to think about how you can keep your sales up. It’s not just about getting a booth at an event this summer. It’s not just sending an email asking for more business. There’s a strategy behind this. So, the next time someone asks you to job share, I want to encourage you to say yes. Here’s why. 1. The Insurance Myth There’s a long-standing belief in the pet industry that you can’t job share because your insurance won’t cover it. That’s just not true. This idea is as outdated as believing independent contractors cost less—it’s archaic thinking. I actually reached out to my dear friend Dave Purcell from Business Insurers of the Carolinas and asked him directly if job sharing voids insurance. Here’s what he said: “Hi Bella, hope all is well. You are absolutely correct that you’re still covered by insurance if job sharing. However, I typically recommend that if you’re going to share jobs with a nanny, neighbor, teenager, or another dog walker or sitter, you get a release or addendum signed by the owner releasing you from liability while others are also in and out of the home.” He continued: “Over the years, we’ve seen claims involving theft or damage blamed on the insured pet sitter, especially when the person they shared the job with had no insurance. Sometimes claims are denied if there’s no proof who caused the incident. So, it’s fine to job share, but I recommend amending contract language to have the client hold you harmless for liability or theft while others are in and out of the home.” So there you have it. There’s a difference between what’s been perpetuated online (“insurance won’t cover job sharing”) and what’s actually true. When I had my company from 2002 to 2016, I sometimes job shared. If someone seemed difficult, I’d say no, but often I just had them reply to an email confirming they understood that we weren’t responsible for others in the home. You could do this through your service contract or a simple addendum, written by your lawyer, that says something like: “If anyone else has access to your home during our service contract, we are not responsible for anything that happens.” This covers everyone—housekeepers, plant waterers, family members—anyone else entering the home. By doing this, you stay protected and open the door for more opportunities. Maybe that vacation client decides later they only want to work with your company because they loved your professionalism and follow-up. It’s all figure-outable. In times like these, as dog walks taper off and vacation demand slows, creativity is key. 2. Real Liability You know what’s actually more risky than job sharing? Taking on dangerous or reactive pets. Think about it—how many of you are still caring for dogs that pull hard on leashes or pets that bite out of fear? That’s far more of a liability. One bad bite or pull can lead to a workers’ comp claim or a serious injury. I’d argue that it’s less risky to job share than to walk dogs that could injure your staff. This is something to think about deeply. Why do you have a no-job-share policy? Is it truly rooted in facts, or is it just something you’ve heard others say online? As Dave from Business Insurers confirmed—yes, you are covered. You just need to protect yourself with proper contract language. And think about the money you’re leaving on the table by refusing these jobs. What if you did that vacation walk for a week or two, sent great pictures, gave amazing updates, and the client said, “Wow, I wish you were doing all the visits”? That’s how relationships—and repeat clients—are built. Don’t just provide service—ask for the sale. Be the sitter or walker people love so much that they can’t imagine using anyone else. When was the last time you bought something and felt excited to pay for it? That’s the kind of experience you want to create for your clients. I know this might ruffle feathers, but I hope it makes you think about your policies and whether they really serve you. Change is good. Evolution is good. You don’t have to make a decision today, but at least consider it. Think about the thousands of dollars in potential revenue you could unlock by saying yes instead of no. And remember: when life gets you down, always keep jumping. Bye now.