steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
yeah i know. I figured that's what the smiley face meant.
Doing more than electrical work
- Thread starter stickboy1375
- Start date
- Status
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
Okay, I really like the way this thread has plaid out so far... but my real question is this, would you pay a guy more because he can do more than one job? It really is not that hard of a question.... If you could hire a guy that can perform more than just ELECTRICAL, then isnt he worth more than the average joe? and how much more?
Keep this in mind, I am making my boss money for a job he cannot do by himself because its not electrical related, this is my point... and my only point.
Keep this in mind, I am making my boss money for a job he cannot do by himself because its not electrical related, this is my point... and my only point.
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Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
Have at it. Let us know if Jethro Bodine is in your class....
He is in my class. How could you have possibly known that?
BTW his grammar skills are embarrassing ,unlike my English major like
grammar skills. Yep you heard me, English major like grammar skills.
Anyone want a taste of these mighty fine opossum "innards" that Jethro
just gave me? He said his granny made em fresh.
Stickboy, you should be comensated for your skills inside or outside the
electrical trade. JMHO.
I know how you feel, Stickboy. I've gotten bitter over the exact same thing over the years...
Apparently it is really, really, really, really, really, really hard for bosses to admit that one guy does better and knows more than the next guy or himself. And if they both do something that can outwardly be maintained to appear similar, I think many a boss would die before he admitted it... And they will certainly fire you before that happens.
One guy will read the code, study, come here to this site , take courses in electronics, computers, CAD, spend time and money ... whatever... the next guy doesn't do those things.
On the job... Everyone knows when the two are on the job, who'll be making the decisions, doing the planning and ordering, and programming anything that comes up. Everyone knows who to ask rather than bothering to look it up. Everyone knows who'll be on the phone to the manufacturer, or reading the manual when anything requiring techincal understanding arises....
Everybody knows it, but nobody'll accomodate it in any meaningful way.
The boss will "delegate" dealing with this stuff to you. ( as, of course, is the right of the boss who has the authority to maintain the outward appearance of directing the work force... It wouldn't, of course, have anything to do with his inability.)
After a while, somehow it becomes your routine job to perform work at a higher level... for the same pay,... and as always, if you don't like it, you could walk away from everything you've done over the years and start over somewhere else.
Exactly how that is fair or reasonable, I have no idea. But, I will tell you this: I believe if you try to push for fairness, you will lose.
Apparently it is really, really, really, really, really, really hard for bosses to admit that one guy does better and knows more than the next guy or himself. And if they both do something that can outwardly be maintained to appear similar, I think many a boss would die before he admitted it... And they will certainly fire you before that happens.
One guy will read the code, study, come here to this site , take courses in electronics, computers, CAD, spend time and money ... whatever... the next guy doesn't do those things.
On the job... Everyone knows when the two are on the job, who'll be making the decisions, doing the planning and ordering, and programming anything that comes up. Everyone knows who to ask rather than bothering to look it up. Everyone knows who'll be on the phone to the manufacturer, or reading the manual when anything requiring techincal understanding arises....
Everybody knows it, but nobody'll accomodate it in any meaningful way.
The boss will "delegate" dealing with this stuff to you. ( as, of course, is the right of the boss who has the authority to maintain the outward appearance of directing the work force... It wouldn't, of course, have anything to do with his inability.)
After a while, somehow it becomes your routine job to perform work at a higher level... for the same pay,... and as always, if you don't like it, you could walk away from everything you've done over the years and start over somewhere else.
Exactly how that is fair or reasonable, I have no idea. But, I will tell you this: I believe if you try to push for fairness, you will lose.
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steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
Very encouraging words. That's the way to give someone hope.
That might be one of the most depressing statements I've ever heard.
electricguy61
Senior Member
Stickboy:
The way I see it, you have two options:
1) Stay in your present job and discuss your pay level w/ the boss.
2) Go find someone that appreciates your skills
That being said, I was a brash, arrogant young man. Yes, I was smarter then many others, but folks couldn't stand to work for me or sometimes even with me because I was so fat headed.
Wisdom comes with age. At some point, you may realize that, yes, you're good, but you will be much better with some humility. Then a boss will really value you.
The way I see it, you have two options:
1) Stay in your present job and discuss your pay level w/ the boss.
2) Go find someone that appreciates your skills
That being said, I was a brash, arrogant young man. Yes, I was smarter then many others, but folks couldn't stand to work for me or sometimes even with me because I was so fat headed.
Wisdom comes with age. At some point, you may realize that, yes, you're good, but you will be much better with some humility. Then a boss will really value you.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Humility is not something an electrician is capable of.
I point you to Exhibit A: Iwire. :grin::grin:
I always say so far as jobs go, the more skills you have and the more things you can do, the better.
When applying for a job, you will be picked over other applicants.
When layoffs come, you will be kept and other let go. So in lean times, the extra skills might help you to just have a job.
Then in boom times, you can negotiate for more pay or easily find another employer who will pay more.
Then something is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.
So is this a boom or a bust period? What is your employer willing (or able) to pay? What are other employers in your area paying for the same skills?
When applying for a job, you will be picked over other applicants.
When layoffs come, you will be kept and other let go. So in lean times, the extra skills might help you to just have a job.
Then in boom times, you can negotiate for more pay or easily find another employer who will pay more.
Then something is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.
So is this a boom or a bust period? What is your employer willing (or able) to pay? What are other employers in your area paying for the same skills?
ivsenroute
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Sticky,
1) Be happy you have a job. Many do not and are unemployed.
2) Going above and beyond is what should make you stand out and will eventually decide how much you will make in the future. Your worth with this employer has a lot to do with your attitude and how much you are willing to keep is company in the black so that you can earn a paycheck.
3) <Deleted Comment>
4) I can hire a kid in college to come out and set up a network for $10. hour so don't think you are worth more.
Sounds to me like you are part of the newer "entitlement" generation.
You can always show him who's boss by quitting and trying to collect unemployment for having to do other work.
1) Be happy you have a job. Many do not and are unemployed.
2) Going above and beyond is what should make you stand out and will eventually decide how much you will make in the future. Your worth with this employer has a lot to do with your attitude and how much you are willing to keep is company in the black so that you can earn a paycheck.
3) <Deleted Comment>
4) I can hire a kid in college to come out and set up a network for $10. hour so don't think you are worth more.
Sounds to me like you are part of the newer "entitlement" generation.
You can always show him who's boss by quitting and trying to collect unemployment for having to do other work.
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steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
Don't know about elsewhere, but around here you can't collect unemployment if you quit, you have to be laid off or fired to collect.
And no I don't know this from experience as I have yet to try or need to try to collect it, thankfully.
ivsenroute
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Correct, that is why I said "try to collect"
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
Seriously man if you dont feel appreciated or well compensated at work join the crowd. Personally if I had a guy working for me that knew other stuff that was usefull to my buisness in other ways i would take care of him to keep him on my team. But you should talk to your boss about it maybe he doesnt realize it.
steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
whatever iv dude.
Stickboy--You have a skill tat makes your boss money. What does HE do for you? I bet you get paid and probably have some bennies! Next time our review comes around, ask for more money.
My thought here is if that is unappealling, next time you are sweeping the floor, give back a lot of money. Floor sweepers are a dime a dozen.
Then if all that still has a burr under your saddle--quit and start your own business. But then you may not have the skils to run a buisness, like your boss!
Choices are yours pal.
My thought here is if that is unappealling, next time you are sweeping the floor, give back a lot of money. Floor sweepers are a dime a dozen.
Then if all that still has a burr under your saddle--quit and start your own business. But then you may not have the skils to run a buisness, like your boss!
Choices are yours pal.
So is your question "should I be paid as a computer programmer that also knows some electrical stuff" or is it "should I be paid as an electrician that knows some computer programming stuff" ?
It seems to me you are not a computer programmer, you just happen to know enough about it to get by and help you company keep working. Like I said before it sure beats digging trenches, and I would bet your boss compensates you in ways you are not considering, maybe you drive the company truck home and use it on side work, or perhaps you get paid more then the guy working next to you?
My point is you are an employee. If you have a skill that keeps you working and more valuable then the guy next to you use it, If you think your a better contractor then employee go out on your own. If you go out on your own you will see that any skill you have will be used to get the job and it will not change the rate you charge, if you charge $80 an hour for electrical and the customer wants you to patch and paint the wall you cut into your not going to say "well a painter is only $20 an hour so let me cut my rate by 75%" your going to charge $80 an hour to patch and paint. The same goes for doing a little work that may be worth a little more if they had to call in someone else to do it, your not going to raise you rate to do that one task.
It seems to me you are not a computer programmer, you just happen to know enough about it to get by and help you company keep working. Like I said before it sure beats digging trenches, and I would bet your boss compensates you in ways you are not considering, maybe you drive the company truck home and use it on side work, or perhaps you get paid more then the guy working next to you?
My point is you are an employee. If you have a skill that keeps you working and more valuable then the guy next to you use it, If you think your a better contractor then employee go out on your own. If you go out on your own you will see that any skill you have will be used to get the job and it will not change the rate you charge, if you charge $80 an hour for electrical and the customer wants you to patch and paint the wall you cut into your not going to say "well a painter is only $20 an hour so let me cut my rate by 75%" your going to charge $80 an hour to patch and paint. The same goes for doing a little work that may be worth a little more if they had to call in someone else to do it, your not going to raise you rate to do that one task.
marissa2
Senior Member
- Location
- Connecticut
stickboy1375
Just remember one thing, no matter where you work there are good and bad points with every job. Sooner or later something will come along that you may not like, sometimes a talk with the boss can fix it or he could say that if you don't like it go someplace else.
Lou
Just remember one thing, no matter where you work there are good and bad points with every job. Sooner or later something will come along that you may not like, sometimes a talk with the boss can fix it or he could say that if you don't like it go someplace else.
Lou
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