leadmen help

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Pierre C Belarge said:
NYS now has a 1 year moratorium on starting new apprentiship programs.
Even without the moratorium, getting an apprentiship program off the ground in NYS is almost as hard as getting a rocket off the ground and also very expensive to start and run - let alone thinking of the continuing paperwork involved.
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Are you talking about Union programs, or non Union Labor Department programs?

Train your own, put them in a labor department, or equal program, so they have something of value to work for. Many EC's just don't want the men to improve for fear they will ask for more money, you can blame these guys for some of the lost intrest in the trades.
 
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HighWirey said:
My former employer and great mentor advised that "we never hire away from a competitor"

Maybe I am living in the dark ages, but I think not? Any takers here?
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From an electrician's standpoint, that would really suck. If every EC had a rule like that, the homegrown electrician's wage would be stagnant and in total control of the EC who originally gave the guy a job... because no one else would ever hire him.

Homegrown Electrician: "Hey boss, I have been working here for 17 years now, do you think I could get a raise from $13/hour to $14?"

Boss: "Nah, I'm only paying you $13. And if you quit, ain't any other contractor gonna hire you, so I suggest you go back to work and never ask for a raise again."

Competition for labor is a wonderful thing. But I guess it depends on which side of the fence you are on.
 
HighWirey said:
Your item 2 really sucks

My former employer and great mentor advised that "we never hire away from a competitor"

Maybe I am living in the dark ages, but I think not? Any takers here?

Happy New Year Everyone and Best Wishes
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In my labor market, lead men that are unemployed simply don't exist. If you're not growing your own, your only option is to pirate one from another contractor. It's just part of how the game is played in some markets. We're competitors, after all, not buddies. Business is business.
 
iwire said:
Folks, before coming down on DDIXON keep in mind that the rules are very different across the country, there are still many areas that do not require much if anything about licensing and apprenticing.
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Sorry,
I dont think it is safe or ethical to send poorly trained people out to do electrical work.
 
DDIXON said:
where can i get lead men to run my trucks all i have is helpers who i have to baby sit which takes twice as long to get anthing done?I have four trucks my lead men i had retired and moved out of the area.Should i try skilled labor? temp help? My helpers won't even go to school to get ahead i having trouble being in five places at once
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DD you are saying you have four trucks. How did you get to the point where you acquired four trucks? You had to be doing something right to go from one truck to four. What happened to the helpers that were under the lead guys that retired? In our shop they are the ones that moved up.

I used to ask the same thing about help. I once told a mentor of mine that I needed a guy who can do it all. He answered back, those kind of guys are out there, they are known as your competition.
 
dduffee260 said:
I used to ask the same thing about help. I once told a mentor of mine that I needed a guy who can do it all. He answered back, those kind of guys are out there, they are known as your competition.
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That's kinda what happened to me. I was contracting on my own, and doing fairly well, till I hit bottom (Long story - sad ending). A guy that had been my general foreman, when I was foreman at a large contractor, had went out on his own and needed a lead man. We ran into each other at the parts house. He called me and now I am top hand and WELL paid.
 
most of my foreman came from other companies. try Craigslist say electrical foreman needed good pay and truck for quailified canadites. There are alot of good foreman that are with companies that arent taking care of them for whatever reason. Show them that your the one to be with. A good foreman will do wonders for your company when you can show him some respect and security. Thats all they want.
 
DAWGS hit the nail on the head. I believe my company is good as my worst employee. I went through 8 men before i found one that showed up everyday,wanting to learn and doesnt hide his foul-ups.
 
The help I need is on my trucks this shop is a family run business which lost some key poeple. When I asked the helpers to step up they did knowing I would clean up the loose ends but I am having trouble being in the field and inside getting paper work done and getting jobs to be profitable. I am loking for leadman so I can do my own work done. I in the Tampa/Clearwater area in fla. Thanks for the input DDixon
 
True,
If you have an EC license in Florida you can hire and work as many unlicensed people as you want thanks to the Latin Builders Association lobby.

I still dont think its safe or ethical.
 
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