Bottom Line

[daleuger]

Lately, service work has been slow here and we're getting less than full time most of the week as have some of the bid jobs, whilst other jobs are running into OT and falling behind according to their foremen I've talked to. For a while, the guys with the OT jobs that are falling behind have been letting some of us that are not getting enough hrs come in and lend a hand to supplement us both. Yesterday, the owner made it very clear that this is to stop now. For example, today I was sent home after calling in after the first service call. I realize that a contractor doesn't want to to go over a bid and lose money on a job because of labour. I also realize I like to eat and pay the bills at the least.

Opinions on this if you don't mind (and I know some of you really don't mind), and are you employee or contractor?

 

[BryanMD]

Bottom line (right, wrong or purple) the boss is the boss.
There may be reasons you aren't privy to that make him OK with being behind on the job.

Still, I'd want a chat with him about the hours.

 

[ishium 80439]

I am a small contractor (2 men). When things get slow after a relatively good period I try to keep my JW busy w/ whatever I can, including helping me around the house w/ various projects. However now that things are slow after a slow period I just plain don't have the money to pay him to do things like that anymore.

I don't know what type of relationship you have w/ your boss but if he is approachable I would try to talk with him. Many unnecessary arguements and hurt feelings come out of bad communication. My guess is he doesn't have the surplus to pay more people on a job that is already losing money.

 

[Rewire]

Many things can put a job behind like material backordered other subs behind etc.. not all of these mean that more manpower will catch you up.Comunication is important if you are not speaking up your boss will never know you are in need.

 

[220/221]

Although it is the owners call as to who works where, you may be able to influence his decisions. Let him know that you willing and able to help on any job, doing any task.

Also, when you do assigned service work, make an effort to upsell the custiomer.


On a resi job, smoke detectors are alway an easy upsell. Just mention that you noticed that they had none (or not enough) and talk about the number of lives they save. GFCI's are easy too.

 

[aline]

Also, when you do assigned service work, make an effort to upsell the custiomer.


On a resi job, smoke detectors are alway an easy upsell. Just mention that you noticed that they had none (or not enough) and talk about the number of lives they save. GFCI's are easy too.

Even if they do have smoke detectors it's recommended they be replaced every 10 years.
I just replaced every smoke detector in my home. They were a little over ten years old and I found several of them not working properly. Not only that they were starting to go off in the middle of the night.

There's a lot of homes out there with smoke detectors more than 10 years old.
Don't forget about carbon monoxide detectors either.

You have to keep these stocked on the truck. You can't sell what you don't have.

 

[daleuger]

Even if they do have smoke detectors it's recommended they be replaced every 10 years.
I just replaced every smoke detector in my home. They were a little over ten years old and I found several of them not working properly. Not only that they were starting to go off in the middle of the night.

There's a lot of homes out there with smoke detectors more than 10 years old.
Don't forget about carbon monoxide detectors either.

You have to keep these stocked on the truck. You can't sell what you don't have.

Ha....seems like every time I get one stocked and laid out like I like it I get switched around or go to a job. Then there are guys who have been riding around in the same rig for years.

Thanks for the input thus far.

 

[charlietuna]

First understand that some work is much better than NO work and this is not the time to be looking for a job! Your boss is right! Why? Because he is the boss! It is his money on the line when you travel to a contract job from a service call! It is not cost efficient to transfer servicemen onto contract work because there is just too much lost time. And the next day send you to a service call in the morning and back to that contract job in the afternoon...

 

[nunu161]

i guess you wil just have to moonlight:grin:

 

[daleuger]

First understand that some work is much better than NO work and this is not the time to be looking for a job! Your boss is right! Why? Because he is the boss! It is his money on the line when you travel to a contract job from a service call! It is not cost efficient to transfer servicemen onto contract work because there is just too much lost time. And the next day send you to a service call in the morning and back to that contract job in the afternoon...

I realize he's got a business to run and he's not in the business of losing money. It's like that all over around here and there's no way I'm going job hunting right now. Luckily I'm not really hurting for the money.....(go go gadget bank account)....and I've been lined up a little over month with another contractor where I'm moving at the end of March. Just to be clear, that move is not related to the lack of work. It's just a matter of waiting on my gf to finish her schooling here. I was just curious what people would think about it.

 

[rt66electric]

same story

same story

Lately, service work has been slow here and we're getting less than full time most of the week as have some of the bid jobs, whilst other jobs are running into OT and falling behind according to their foremen I've talked to. For a while, the guys with the OT jobs that are falling behind have been letting some of us that are not getting enough hrs come in and lend a hand to supplement us both. Yesterday, the owner made it very clear that this is to stop now. For example, today I was sent home after calling in after the first service call. I realize that a contractor doesn't want to to go over a bid and lose money on a job because of labour. I also realize I like to eat and pay the bills at the least.

Opinions on this if you don't mind (and I know some of you really don't mind), and are you employee or contractor?

I to have been in a similar situation, Try asking the boss if would be best to take a scheduled unpaid vacation day or two; Meanwhile have a side job lined up. I have built a few fences and such during these times. The boss will be either happy because he dosen't have work for you.. or .. He may have sized you up already-cost effective for certain jobs and not for others.. or.. he his testing your loyalty... I have often felt unjustifiably submarined by certain foremen, who have to have somebody to bad mouth just to make themselves look good, or they felt threatened by someone who was as equally intellegent as they were. (in hind-sight it is best just to keep your suspicions to yourself) The boss also may be trying to decide who to lay-off next--- don't make mistakes or waves.. put in your time, learn as much as you can on someone else's dime. Take your contractor test as soon as you can, maybe years from now you will be facing what he is facing. Every time That I have FIRED it was the best thing that could happen to me..