I was asked "why did you delay the positive climb call" and I said because we didn't have a positive rate of climb. The checkie said yeah ok but single engine its inhibiting the performance so the gear needs to come up.
I'm with you Major L, in the first instance. If the a/c is within weight and the flaps have been reduced and full power is being applied, then no ROC comes from another problem. Analyse that first before jumping to conclusions. I would have thought that the gear down would not be the primary reason. If you have the power & the attitude you should have the performance. What's the rush? Has PF been a little tardy with establishing the attitude? IMHO better to wait a few seconds and be climbing away than hear the sad sound of scraping metal and think, "oops".