Polishing Paperwork

[George Stolz]

This topic is intended for one and all.

Employers, what steps do you take to ensure complete paperwork is turned into the office for work completed?

Employees, what steps does your employer take?

For example, if a Change Order form is required from a longtime GC client, and due to scheduling issues that form can't be obtained by the electrical foreman until the following week, is it appropriate to not pay the foreman for the time spent performing the change order until the paperwork is into the office? Suppose a note was included with the weekly paperwork explaining the situation, and that the proper form was on it's way. Should the pay be withheld?

Or, for another example, suppose warranty work is performed, and an internal form to the company is required to report and explain such work. If the paperwork is missed or incomplete, would it be normal to withhold the warranty hours paid until the paperwork is submitted?

 

[iwire]

is it appropriate to not pay the foreman for the time spent performing the change order until the paperwork is into the office?

For me that would be unacceptable.

I would be at the office collecting my pay and depending on the vibe at the office might be also be my last day.

 

[GUNNING]

You start messing with payroll and all kinds of things happen. State steps in, people quite, Feds show up, insurance gets canceled. Nope, Keep the payroll straight.

 

[larryl]

You start messing with payroll and all kinds of things happen. State steps in, people quite, Feds show up, insurance gets canceled. Nope, Keep the payroll straight.

"YEP" thats rite,,
being a contractor myself,i could'nt imagine holding a guys pay back for anything,,
are you out of your mind???

 

[fc]

For example, if a Change Order form is required from a longtime GC client, and due to scheduling issues that form can't be obtained by the electrical foreman until the following week, is it appropriate to not pay the foreman for the time spent performing the change order until the paperwork is into the office?

Unless I am one of the owners then OK if not that rule not going to fly around here. Let the inside person be in charge of the paper work. The foreman out in the field have enough to worry about and don't need paper work held over the head for there pay. The only paper work we require from our foreman is hours his men worked.

 

[JohnE]

I don't think it is appropriate or legal to hold back wages for any hourly employee for any reason. (The only ecxception might be for a dispute over hours worked if clock wasn't punched or time sheets filled out or something of that nature.)

 

[tshea]

1. Never withhold pay for paperwork reason. Very demoralizing!
2. Insist the "right person" complete paperwork. Right person is foreman, electrician, estimator, project manager, engineer, office clerk, etc. Your employee manual should include who is responsibilbe for submitting paperwork for Change Orders.

 

[speedypetey]

For me that would be unacceptable.

I would be at the office collecting my pay and depending on the vibe at the office might be also be my last day.

I don't think I could have said it better!

 

[ceknight]

This topic is intended for one and all.

Even the one-man shops?

Employers, what steps do you take to ensure complete paperwork is turned into the office for work completed?

I tell myself "Self, did you do your paperwork?", and if the answer is "no", I then decide whether to wash the dishes, sharpen my drill bits, clean out the parts bins, do the paperwork, file my quarterly taxes, return phone calls, plan the next week's work, take out the garbage, spend time with my family, make sure everything's ready for tomorrow, or stay up late chatting online with some guy named georgestolz.

Employees, what steps does your employer take?

See above.

But seriously.....

Having run a business with employees in my mis-spent past, I will agree with everyone else about not holding up your workers' pay because of what are, essentially, bureaucratic details. If you have reason to think the employee is deliberately holding things up, that's a personnel issue you have to deal with separately. If s/he's just busy as sin and not getting things in promptly, that's a business problem you'll have to deal with as wisely as possible, preferably with a little extra help or, heaven forbid, a little extra (instead of less) financial incentive.

Those paychecks are the lifeblood of some family's existence. An unpaid, disgruntled employee with hungry kids will do your company no good whatsoever. Nor will your making him unpaid and disgruntled because of some late paperwork reflect well on you as a business owner.

Just my opinion,

 

[Minuteman]

Okay George... What gives?


I have read enough of your posts to know that there is a story behind this. My guess is that somebody didn't file a change order and you want them taken out and flogged! (But you would settle for them loosing money.)

Fess up son, what's the matter?

 

[George Stolz]

I am simply looking for all opinions on this matter.

Call it a man-on-the-street poll.

I am interested in unbiased responses, so I shall endeavor to post no further on this thread.

I appreciate all replies, pro or con.

Thanks!

 

[77401]

If you're on the job you get paid.
You hold up paper work, you get a letter in your file and a warning.
For every action there has to be a consequence. Even if your work is poor or unsatisfactory you still get paid but not for much longer.