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What do you pay your after hour on call techs?

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  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt Member Posts: 4,908
    Got a job starting in the spring in Granville


    So close!

    We should have our own mini-gathering!

    Lets have a drink sometime!

    Mark H

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  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    Well put Justin

    I think Frank knows we are right too, that is why we haven't heard from him. Mad Dog

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  • Tony_8
    Tony_8 Member Posts: 608
    excellent

    post Justin. I'm glad to see that attitude from the employee side. You're a team player. Could you imagine being miserable for 24 years ? And not doing anything about it but whining ? Not me.
  • Joel_8
    Joel_8 Member Posts: 2


    I too have read this extensive thread, and realized what narcissists all of you owners are. "What is the going rate" is all Frank was asking. Instead of listening to his vent and answering his question, 3/4's of you have used his disgruntledness to legitimize why you haven't been sleeping more than 5 hours or having dinner with your family for 15 years. Doing taxes and payroll isn't as difficult as you make it sound. Payroll companies and H & R Block will figure it out for a nominal fee. Stop being pathetically material and ease up on the kid.
  • Barry_2
    Barry_2 Member Posts: 35


    When perspective HVAC/R students come and inquire about the new associates program here at the college, I make it a point to let them know that the service business is definitely NOT for everyone.

    When asked why they are interested in HVAC/R, the most common response is that they know of someone who works inthe field and makes tons of money... What they fail to understand is that the "tons" of money are not simply dropped from the supply chute of a low-flying cargo plane.

    As we all know, working overtime in this field is a given. The heating guys are swamped in the winter and the A/C guys in the summer. But quite often, when we're in the middle of our busy season, we quickly forget the times in the "slow season" that we were sent home WITH PAY because there were not that many service calls.

    When working in the field, I absolutely loved overtime. The more calls the better. I can remember a summer back about 11 years ago when we got hit with an usually hot March and everyone was scrambling to get their A/C systems in order. Most of the other techs did not want to put in the overtime, so, of course, it was offered to me. This one night, my boss kept asking me how many more service calls I could handle... My answer to him was, "Jimmy, If the customer is willing to stay awake and wait for me, I'll be there!"

    That one night I stayed out until almost 3:00 am. Forgetting about the 11 hours of overtime I earned that night, the customers were so happy to see me that they were very, very generous with the tips.

    As many have mentioned in this thread already, you have to love what you do. If money, or lack thereof, is standing between you and happiness, you need to sit down and speak with the boss and work things out. Most of the time, the boss will be very receptive... And never start the converstaion with, "How come you never gave me a raise?". The answer may be a very humbling, "You never asked for one before".... Take the initiative...



  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    .

    Retired and loving it.
  • GaryDidier
    GaryDidier Member Posts: 229
    pathethitacally material

    Jim,
    First off, not all of us are owners. Secondly he is getting much needed advice [free too] on what he can do about his situation. Thirdly , there are many considerations to determine a persons pay scale such as experience, location, agreement to work overtime/service calls etc. and the persons attitude. Lastly, there is a lot more to running a company than doing taxes and payroll. I dont think your post was particulerly helpfull and I dont think you have a clue. Would you want this individual to do a no heat call service call for you in his current state of mind. I don't think so!
    Gary from Granville
  • Burner King
    Burner King Member Posts: 1
    On-Call Techs

    I recently spoke with a colleague regarding this exact issue. A 15,000 account fuel oil dealer pays one tech a week his 40 hours to sit by the phone only! The tech is free to clean the basement go shopping, whatever - gets his forty hours. He needs to respond to any calls between the close of regular business and the open of regular business for one week. Anything that he works on-call over forty hours is paid at OT. He's rested, compensated, and "fresh as a daisy!"
    Hope this helps...JH
  • Robert O'Connor_7
    Robert O'Connor_7 Member Posts: 688


    H&R BLOCK. Now thats a good one. What was that other word again? BOC
  • jim lockard
    jim lockard Member Posts: 1,059
    Boiler King

    That sounds very fair and as a big shop the oil company can afford the manpower to do it that way. When I worked for a large commerical building management company they had a night crew and you can in at 8pm went home at 4am. The next shift started at 6am and did there 8 hours. For a tiny little business like mine all night work does is screw up the next day. So yes I will run for my customers and I have build my business by the folks I meet in the middle of the night and on the weekend. As for one night stands they can wait or call some one else. Best wishes J.Lockard
  • Boiler Guy
    Boiler Guy Member Posts: 585
    ATTA BOY Justin

    Well said.
    There is one thing that does bother me about this post though. Was one of Frank's concerns not having free time
  • Boiler Guy
    Boiler Guy Member Posts: 585
    ATTA BOY Justin

    Well said. There is one thing about this post that begs questioning. Was it not one of Frank's original concerns that he was not able to enjoy "free time" due to always being on call? If that is the case ... why does he still want to do side jobs? Don't they take time? What would happen if he got hurt while so engaged? Yes it is "extra" cash, but who/where is the work coming from? Could this possibly be some of the reason for a little "ill treatment" from his current main source of income? Is the requirement to be on call actually cutting into his extracurricular work activities and the complaint of lack of compensation only a smoke screen for the real issue?
    So many questions ..... So few answers.
  • bovide_3
    bovide_3 Member Posts: 8
    frank

    Frank, oh Frank, where art thou?
  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    Jim.................................The Armchair General

    If you've never been "in the arena" as we narcissitic business-owners have been, don't even try to think you can walk in our shoes. Mad Dog

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  • Ken_8
    Ken_8 Member Posts: 1,640
    Jim

    The "kid" decided to go into the "service business."

    He chose to do the service tech job. That job entails standby at rates known and conditions understood - BEFORE HE SIGNED ON!

    No one forced him to accept the terms and he is free to look elsewhere.

    Whatever his circumstances, they are of his own making.

    Period.

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  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    Good to hear from ya Ken.....

    well-said. MD

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