Christmas Bonus??!?!?!!

[G & G Electric]

ITO, you are correct in many ways regarding this thread. My mentality is as long as I can pay my men, my suppliers, and other expenses, I should be successful. And my success isn't measured by my bank account. But I refuse to overlook my employees. I feel as though if I profit, then the people who worked so hard for me should profit too. What is wrong with that? I want to be wise about it all, and I am the biggest tightwad I know, at the same time try to grow the company. And as ignorant about it as I may be, I am humble enough to say that you are right when you are right. Just give me enough time to succeed (or fail), and I will keep you posted.

 

[growler]

At the shop I work for, benefits are part of the total package numbers they use to bid, but we get zero benefits.

OK, so you didn't ask or they didn't explain about the benefits before you decided to take the job?

If you expect to have benefits, profit sharing or bonuses this is something that needs to be straightened out at the time you hire in.

What if you hire a man and he starts to complain that the last company he worked for furnished him with a company vehicle, you say we can't afford another vehicle at this time and even if we could we don't furnish vehicles.

You negotiated a job with this employeer to work for a certain amount of money and benefits (none). Has he lived up to his part of the bargin? Did you get everything that you were promised?

When you bid a job it's the same thing, no one is going to come in later and give anything you didn't bargin for. It's the real world, get used to it.

 

[G & G Electric]

You negotiated a job with this employeer to work for a certain amount of money and benefits (none). Has he lived up to his part of the bargin? Did you get everything that you were promised?

QUOTE]

The EC I'm with now has changed my views unlike any other shop. I was promised a percentage of net job profits on my completed jobs. I've finished six so far, and have seen nothing. I interviewed with the VP of the company, and he's the one who told me about the percentage, and he's the one I've questioned about it. I know this is my problem, I should have gotten it in writing, but I didn't. I could go to another shop, but here in town every EC offers the same thing as far as benefits - nothing. I've promised myself that next time not only to get it in writing, but to carry a tape recorder with me. And it's not as though I take losses on jobs. Each one has made profit, some more than others. One I finished came out nearly $122,000 ahead. Sorry if some of my responses seem to have attitude, but it is frustrating. The whole idea of the thread came up after I questioned the VP, and he said he would make up for it in my xmas bonus. Nobody got one this year, and everyone was expecting one because we were told to be looking for one this year. VP told me and my crew the owner spent the xmas bonuses rebuilding his houseboat. Yes, I'm a little irked over it, but what can you do? I just keep on showing up for work, and do the best job I can.

 

[steelersman]

As was mentioned kind of a few posts ago, I'm just fine with my boss saying "good job" or "thanks guys, you're doing good work", something along those lines. My boss doesn't say that stuff. He has said it once that I remember but that was 3 years ago. We do get bonuses, and I'm happy to get them and don't expect them. Like I said if there were no bonuses then no problem, but keep in mind that telling me that I'm doing a good job goes a long way, instead of questioning us about "what time did you guys start break" or insinuating things like that quite often, especially when we don't milk the clock and are usually busting our humps.

Now I'm starting to get ticked off.

 

[G & G Electric]

but keep in mind that telling me that i'm doing a good job goes a long way, instead of questioning us about "what time did you guys start break" or insinuating things like that quite often, especially when we don't milk the clock and are usually busting our humps.

yes!! Exactly how i feel!!

 

[growler]

I was promised a percentage of net job profits on my completed jobs. I've finished six so far, and have seen nothing. I questioned the VP, and he said he would make up for it in my xmas bonus.

If you had just said this at the beginning you would have had a lot more people on your side. That's one of the oldest cons in the book, much like "the checks in the mail".

Once you are promised something even verbally you have a right to expect the company to fork over the money.

 

[480sparky]

If you had just said this at the beginning you would have had a lot more people on your side. That's one of the oldest cons in the book, much like "the checks in the mail".

Once you are promised something even verbally you have a right to expect the company to fork over the money.

Once you are promised something verbally, your next step is to get it in writing.

 

[growler]

Once you are promised something verbally, your next step is to get it in writing.

Yes, you should get it in writing but I have known more than one foreman to fall for that old trick. I learned about it at a young age so I'm not one of them.

You not only have to get it in writing but determine how profit is to be calculated and over what period of time. One trick that's been pulled is to give out one good job that can make a profit followed up by a real dog and average things out. The new guy will normally end up with more dogs than good jobs and will never see a check. It important to see what types of profit sharing have been paid out to others. If no one has ever got a check then you are probably not going to get one either.

Another trick is to get the profits based on an annual percentage and get rid of the foreman before the year is up.

There are some real shaddy contractors out there but the local guys will learn about them fast enough so they hire the new guys comming into town.

 

[G & G Electric]

If you had just said this at the beginning you would have had a lot more people on your side. That's one of the oldest cons in the book, much like "the checks in the mail".

Once you are promised something even verbally you have a right to expect the company to fork over the money.

I know, it's a "dumbass me" moment. My intention with the thread was to complain about the empty promises a lot of us get, but I knew it would turn into a "get it in writing" response. I knew I should have got it in writing. But I decided to see what the general consensus was regarding xmas bonuses. As the days wore on at work it has been eating at me, but I have to let it go. I could quit, but thats no guarantee I'll land another job, especially now. As I tell my men, "you can be at work wishing you were at home, or you can be at home wishing you were at work - which is it?" I'd rather leave well enough alone and go to work. But my views regarding appreciation still stand - bonus or not.

 

[tonyou812]

Well, you don't know me at all. I don't have the "entitlement" mentality. But when an EC doesn't pay for health insurance, holidays, vacations, or ANY type of fringe, to me it seems that I may be expendable. If you've got a group of guys that bend over backward for you, you don't take and bend them over forwards. NOT SAYING I EXPECT BONUSES. But something, anything, as I have said - even a "good job" would be great. I get the sense that you must be the owner of an EC shop. Seems that once the worker becomes the owner, he forgets how hard it was to eek out a living.

I dont disagree with that. A little approbation goes a long way with me too. The few occasions that I have friends help me with some bigger jobs I make sure to thank them and I also take care of them, Monetary wise. And the few times I asked them to stay late or they go above and beyond I'll take them out for a nice steak or lobster dinner. I am a very generous person by nature and if I had employees I would want them to like their jobs. And I would do all I could for them. (withing reason of course, In the end the company still needs to turn a profit) I think as an employer its good to break up the work week once in a while with a half day or take the guys out for dinner or something.
And I also agree with you that it stinks that your boss doesnt pay any benefits or vacations. That wouldnt make me happy either. But you took the job knowing that, .....right? Its not like he offered it and then took it away. I mean I dont really know what your situation is as far as how many other employers are near you. But working for someone like that would not make me very happy either.
I think as an employer if you want to maintain a good crew you have to at least offer some basic stuff like Health Care, even if its not a great package. Especially to your top dogs. And you know I really cant think of one employer that Ive worked for that didnt offer any sick days or vacation days. I think your boss needs a bit of a reality check.

 

[Minuteman]

You're with a contractor that doesn't give bonus'. You also contract. So, your night and weekend job is in competition with your day job? BTW, do you give bonus'?

Did you answer my question?

 

[G & G Electric]

I dont disagree with that. A little approbation goes a long way with me too. The few occasions that I have friends help me with some bigger jobs I make sure to thank them and I also take care of them, Monetary wise. And the few times I asked them to stay late or they go above and beyond I'll take them out for a nice steak or lobster dinner. I am a very generous person by nature and if I had employees I would want them to like their jobs. And I would do all I could for them. (withing reason of course, In the end the company still needs to turn a profit) I think as an employer its good to break up the work week once in a while with a half day or take the guys out for dinner or something.
And I also agree with you that it stinks that your boss doesnt pay any benefits or vacations. That wouldnt make me happy either. But you took the job knowing that, .....right? Its not like he offered it and then took it away. I mean I dont really know what your situation is as far as how many other employers are near you. But working for someone like that would not make me very happy either.
I think as an employer if you want to maintain a good crew you have to at least offer some basic stuff like Health Care, even if its not a great package. Especially to your top dogs. And you know I really cant think of one employer that Ive worked for that didnt offer any sick days or vacation days. I think your boss needs a bit of a reality check.

A lot of it has to do with where I am - central Texas. When I lived in Dallas, there were plenty of shops that offered all kinds of goodies, and I recall one shop that was offering a $500 sign on bonus (some restrictions apply, I'm sure). But down here, there aren't as many shops, not as much work, not as much anything, so you roll with the bad and take the good. I guess I fuss because I've had it a whole lot better than I have it now, even with smaller shops.

 

[tonyou812]

I worked for this one guy out of Ledgewood years ago. We got 4 sick days a year. several weeks paid vacation (depending on your time in) christmas bonuses upwards of 1-6 grand (also depending on your skill level, time in , and position) a company fishing trip every Sept, several new tools on Chrismas, If you were a Crew leader and you managed to keep all your issued tools and truck in one piece you recieved another 300 dollar bonus at the end of the year, and one time he took all of us to a Tony Robbins weekend seminar at the Medowlands in NJ.
SO my point is there deffinatly are good bosses out there you just have to find them. Jezzz there are many times that I wonder why I ever left this guy.

 

[tonyou812]

You know G & G sometimes you gotta stay or go where the work is. You know what I mean?

 

[G & G Electric]

Did you answer my question?

I'm not in it so far that I even have contracts for jobs to give bonus'. When I get to that point I will drag up. It is unethical to work for a shop and bid against them at the same time. The few calls I do get are from friends and one relative who owns a huge car recycling company (he buys and sells cores), and he has never used the shop I work for. Says they're too expensive. But when I reach that point, I plan on rewarding my guys. Maybe not with cash, but tools, restaurant gift cards, a "thank you". These things are inexpensive, but the moral it builds - you can't put a price on that.

 

[MGordon]

Bonuses should be earned not just given

Bonuses should be earned not just given

i think bosses should give employees bonuses it improves morale and makes the employee feel like hes appreciated. my boss gives out pretty decent bonuses. the one i got for christmas was bigger than all the other bonuses i ever gotten in hte past by a long shot

Bonuses should be earned. If an employer just gave everyone in the company a bonus then there would be a lot of employees who probably shouldn't have. Everyone has someone in their company that just isn't the greates.

 

[Cow]

Once you are promised something verbally, your next step is to get it in writing.

It's really a shame that you can't take someone for their word anymore.

 

[garbo]

Christmas bonus

Christmas bonus

I never received more than $50 for a Christmas bonus the last 39 years. Got layed off at the end of last summer and consider myself extremely lucky to get another job. The best job I ever had at that. Life is good with or without a Christmas bonus. Last years bonus consisted of one thin sandwich. This year I had two free great lunches.

 

[Deep South]

Every company has the one or two guys that really produce. I feel those guys are the ones that should get the big bonus. The best way is to work a formula off of gross and split it between the big producers and the other guys. Example --400k at 2%=8K . You have two main guys you really need to keep no matter what. They split 4K and if you have six others then they split the rest BUT no less than a weeks pay for guys (or gals) on the job for a year. The important thing is a formula. One need not share but it can really help production if you do. Gross income works best because as we all know net can be manipulated.

 

[jimmyglen]

I'd rather work for an EC who actually DID say "good job" than get a bonus at the end of the year. For instance, the job I'm on was bid at $200,850. I passed my final inspection today, and have about a day or two left on it with the FA guys to help with any problems they may have. Profit on the job is projected at $18,000 (give or take a little). Will I get a pat on the back? No. Will I get anything other than a paycheck and the usual rant about how broke the owner is? No. All the while the owner is rebuilding a houseboat, owns over 1700 acres with a house so big I could get lost in it. He is entitled to that, he is the owner. But my point on this thread is for the EC owners not to forget where that money comes from, and who's blood, sweat, and tears it took to finish the job. All I'm saying is if you've got a moneymaker out in the field, throw that dog a bone (or at least scratch him on his head and say "good boy").

I agree 100 percent

if a bonus is in order than one should be given

if it s not that its not

for example I have had years where I should have received a nice bonus and other years I should have received zero