Scheduling issues and what to do

[cadpoint]

...
Also it really bothers me when GCs try to mandate Saturday work because that puts me into an OT rate, which may not have been accounted for in the budget.

Why isn't it in your contract that if the GC requests you to be there due to no fault of your own, that they will pay your peoples wages?
I've worked on many, many jobs where the GC had to pay to bring in the Electrical Crew, I don't get it!

[nyerinfl]

Originally Posted by cadpoint

Why isn't it in your contract that if the GC requests you to be there due to no fault of your own, that they will pay your peoples wages?
I've worked on many, many jobs where the GC had to pay to bring in the Electrical Crew, I don't get it!

Easier said than done. Who determines who is at fault anyway? They can raise the issue that there could have been more manpower or whatever nonsense they can come up with, an uphill battle for sure.

[cadpoint]

Originally Posted by nyerinfl

Easier said than done. Who determines who is at fault anyway? They can raise the issue that there could have been more manpower or whatever nonsense they can come up with, an uphill battle for sure.

Just because their nice charts and graphs/time line/whatever aren't ringing true to their implied completion rates, that's not your problem!

Is their total manpower accounting has something to do with their payout rate from the client?
Do they base their completion rate on x-number of men on the job, maybe their in trouble.

So, then it's not in your contract, as I read it in your OP, it's not your fault in either case. Why should you pay for their mistakes, or their ramp up, IE it's their fault, if I totally missed it, forgive me!

Just something to think about adding, IE in your future contracts!

Granted my experience have been with heavier construction, but we were on schedule and it was covering a ramp up and not a catch-up!

[cruzJD]

This job had 1 sub back out at the last minute and one sub went bankrupt and closed the week they were going to start there.
We have not worked a Saturday on that job but a few of the other subs are working 6 ten hour days. I got my guys working 5 eight hour days, they did have a 7 hour day so I could get them all at the shop for our monthly OSHA video and test.

Our contract has the clause that the GC pays wages when we are requested to be there. That’s how I’m getting them to pay for our down time.

I did bribe everyone to work 2 Saturdays in a row last month. We did a huge addition a few months back and they were updating the old part of the building. It was a ballast switch out with all new bulbs and lenses, new switches, new outlets, new exit signs, new emergency lighting, a little cat 6, and a few circuits. We did a floor each day and the place was totally empty. Both days I showed up with the grill and fixed New York stakes, grilled veggies, and brought desert.

[LarryFine]

Originally Posted by cruzJD

Both days I showed up with the grill and fixed New York stakes . . .

Are they as tasty as Belmont Stakes?

[cruzJD]

Originally Posted by LarryFine

Are they as tasty as Belmont Stakes?

I had to look that up ;-) but no I didn’t bring them the June horse race in the middle of October.

I went to Sams club and bought a few family packs of New York strip stakes. At the point that your boss shows up with a grill on a job site and cooks you stakes and grilled vegetables the stuff that’s going through there mind should be; he didn’t cheap out, they taste good, he’s paying me over time pay to eat, and he’s not rushing me to get back to work.

[Sparky555]

Originally Posted by cruzJD

I had to look that up ;-) but no I didn’t bring them the June horse race in the middle of October.

I went to Sams club and bought a few family packs of New York strip stakes. At the point that your boss shows up with a grill on a job site and cooks you stakes and grilled vegetables the stuff that’s going through there mind should be; he didn’t cheap out, they taste good, he’s paying me over time pay to eat, and he’s not rushing me to get back to work.

Rather than look up Belmont Stakes, look up steaks.

[Ohmy]

Originally Posted by cruzJD

Were currently working 2 large jobs one is a week ahead and the other is 3 weeks behind. Both GC’s want more people on the job. I’m sure I know what I want to do but would like other people thoughts.

#1 is 3 weeks behind because of other subs. Were chasing other subs through the building and there are other subs chasing us. 2 GC checks have bounced in the last month. GC comes up with a new rule every week before he will write the check; this week was all accounts for the job must have a zero balance before being paid. Currently have 3 two man crews on the job. Getting paid for down time.
I have worked for this company a bunch of times and this GC a few times. There jobs have always run much smother. After talking to others the whole company is getting like this.

#2 is 8 days ahead of schedule and was told today that if I don’t get more men on the job I will be slowing it down soon. GC pays twice a week and must have invoices that shows you owe less than $5,000 for that job. Currently have 2 two man crews, a lone ranger a few days a week, and I show up and “help” when I have time.
Out of state company just opened up an office in town. This is the first job I have worked for them. I have a second job with this company starting in a few weeks. I have been asked to bid on 2 other jobs they have lined up.


Worked a few Saturdays on last minute for “we have to have this done now”.

I need to get 2 more people on job #2. I feel that no mater what I’m going to have issues with getting paid from the first job and pulling 2 people off will make it worse. I don’t want to risk hiring anyone right now.

Go where the money is everytime. Whats the saying..."money talks, bull@#@ walks." It sounds like the first contractor is long on the Bull and lean on the money so move your guys to where they make money.

BTW, would you rather be chasing this first guy for alot of money or a little money? Second, when this first guy goes bust...it will be nice to have a good new contact.

[cruzJD]

The first GC is doing 3 unattached motel buildings. The first one will finish this week. The second one is getting close to us starting trim out. The third one just got red tagged; the core plumbing drilling contractor hit a post tension cable Saturday. I got 2 guys left on the job.

The second GC is doing a huge semi shop. Thursday we punch list the offices, by Monday the parts department should be ready for our punch list, and Monday I started the pipe rack, setting the panels, and setting transformers in the shop with 5 men. I got 7 on the job and will move 2 back to the other job when they lift the red tag.

I killed my cash pad. Friday after getting my weekly check on job the first job I ordered the materials I would need for the week with 4 people on it. With having to pick up a bunch of materials at the last minute for the second job I’m running dry. But on the bright side we installed 12 panels and 3 pad mount transformers for the shop that were ridding on my inventory for the 28 days. After the contractors meeting in 3 hours I’ll be fine.

This is the first time I have run down the road of having to much money tied up in materials. I’m used to being able to let some balances sit on supply house accounts till pay day and paying them not the other way around.

[Rewire]

pull a crew from job 1 this will keep job 2 ahead .if you are having down time on job 1 then 2 crews hould be able to handle it. If job 1 needs a gang bang for a couple days then being ahead on job 2 is a priority