BigBlue

A month and a half ago I scheduled this weekend off so I could go on a little vacation to the Ntx DTR meet. All went well except for the rain. Anyways. So I had this weekend scheduled off cause I worked last weekend and it was the other employee's turn this weekend. So I'm laying in bed watching tv and around 7pm my boss calls and tells me that I have to go to work because the other guy has done enough for the weekend and he doesn't want to bother him. Well naturally I get upset. Not only have I had this weekend scheduled off (and I had today scheduled off as well) but he doesn't want to disturb the employee whose on call this weekend. I guess what I'm upset about is why doesn't he bother the other guy. I mean it's his job and he was scheduled on call this weekend so shouldn't he be the one that gets called regardless of how much work he's already done this weekend? I mean we get paid by the job and we make double during emergency calls so the money is nice but I didn't deserve it this time. I'm debating discussing this with my boss tomorrow along with a few other things that have me and the other employees bothered (I have the most senority in the company). Do yall think I should bring this up with him? It's happened on more than one occasion and I can honestly say that I'm about fed up with it.

Sorry for what may seem like a small meaningless thing to some but this is a major problem with my job and I wanna make sure that I'm justified in getting upset and discussing this with my boss.

t-boe

I'd say you'd be justified in being upset. If the other guy is on call he's on call, not you. I'd be careful on how you approach your boss though. He might take it as whining about having to work.

Totallyrad

Do you receive any compensation for being on call?

bigredBCS

i would just make the money until things get super ridiculous.....


id hate for you to bring it up cuz of the seniority issue, then im try and make a point and fire the guy who has been there the longest

redpoint5

Being upset needs no justification. You have the right to be upset at whatever you want. It's how you deal with it that matters. I would talk to your boss about the things that upset you and see how he responds to your concerns. If he doesn't take a course of action that satisfies you then consider moving on.

berok

Since you say that you are one of the ranking guys there, I say you have the right to say something.... Just be tactfull when you do. He should want some feedback from his employees. I know that I would, good or bad. That's what makes him a better boss and, much more, have better employees. With that said, only you know how he might take it.... Good luck

madhat

I'd be mad too...

Remember, (like I have to say this, you're a smart guy, blue) A little tact goes a long way. I'd say something, but I'd make a plan first. You know all these things.

BTW, if it don't work out for you, I got a GOOD job for ya!

BigBlue

t-boe, I don't plan on going in there and yelling at him. I plan on sitting down with him and asking him and discussing this problem and the others we have with him. Like two adults should.

t-rad, the only time we receive compensation for being on call is when we actually have to work. We make commission so instead of making 20% like we would on a normal job we make 40%. Very nice pay for us but at the same time you have to draw a line at when the work is worth the money. And it's quickly approaching that line.

bigredbcs, things are getting super ridiculous that's why I think I should say something. Everyone else seems to scared to or what not. I've kept quiet for the last 4 years and I've about had enough.

madhat, thanks for the offer but at the same time no thanks. I don't like taking orders.

Problem with my job is that it's different than any I've worked. It's very seasonal and in may and august it's nothing for us to pull 12/18 hours respectively (yes you read that right, we clean carpets for 18 hours a day for 7 days straight in august). And we all know that we have to pull long days and that we are on call but it's getting to the point now where our boss is becoming greedy and losing site of the fact that he depends on us and we are only human and can only take so much. The only set hour we have is 8am when we get there and other than that we work until the boss gets tired of adding on jobs (I've had many 8 hour days turn into 14 hour days). He's also started adding on jobs on the weekend which is kinda redundant because he doesn't add enough to justify the fuel it costs. It's 25 miles one way to his place. So it's 25 miles there, 25 miles back in the van (which gets 10mpg), 25 miles back out there, and then 25 miles back. That's a lot of fuel on both ends for a $45 job.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining about my job in the least. It's my job and I understand what I have to do and I do it. But it's starting to get to the point where he is taking advantage of us and I don't like that. I've known my boss since he had 3 employees and 2 units and now he's got 4 or 5 employees and 7 units and does almost every major complex in town and a few out of town and what he's doing to us now (along with other things I haven't listed) is starting to get just a bit ridiculous.

Totallyrad

It sounds like he needs to increase the number of on call people so if a busy weekend happens everybody knows where they stand. Just some fatherly advice, don't talk for everybody, just talk for you. You will be amazed how quick the "rest of the guys" will abandon you if they get cornered by the boss. Remember, no one can make you come in if you feel you are too intoxicated to drive your vehicle or a company vehicle. If you are scheduled off and receiving no compensation for being on call, you can reasonably assume that you can consume alcoholic beverages without the risk of being called to work. Lastly, if you are not a salaried employee you might want to check with wage and hour about this "on call without compensation" situation.

BigBlue

Well we've lost one guy (he quit showing up) and one of the other guys he doesn't want working weekends (don't know why) so it's me and one other guy that get to swap being on call. The boss didn't really think this through when he implemented his new system.

And yes the intoxication thing is a major issue with our boss but I'm not one that's gonna lie and say I have been drinking when I haven't (morals kinda suck sometimes ). Like I said, I've known him for so long and he really depends on the other guy and I to pull his company through (I've been there 4 years and the other has been there 1) that it makes it difficult to tell him no. I guess this is where I need to stand up as an employee and treat him like a boss and not a friend.

Totallyrad

Regardless of which way you do it, you do need to talk to him before tempers flair and people get their feeling hurt beyond repair. You are entitled to some down time.

biododge1

blue, less mods, more caller id. . . definitely express your concerns. or, maybe, round up all the workers one 'planned' morning and all of you have a meeting. then ALL the issues will be discussed, and every one will be on the same page.

BigBlue

Less mods? That's why I have this job. More mods.

Good idea to round up all of the other guys. Might have to talk to them about that.

biododge1

[QUOTE=BigBlue;1536952]Less mods? That's why I have this job. More mods.

isn't that that the truth. don't hold a meeting on a Monday.or, depending on what busy days you have. it's best to do this when things are a bit slower then normal---if that's possible

BigBlue

Not possible until maybe july. We are running a total 36 jobs between 3 people a day if not more.