cell phones & service trucks

Wayco Wayne_2

on both of our service trucks. They are to be used for work only with an exception made for family emergencys. I have an emplyee who can't help himself and has made it his connection to his friends, and last week took it home and then did not make it to work, so there was no phone in the truck. I am on the verge of firing him over it. (I am really pissed off) When I am calmed down I wonder if there is a better way of handling the communications between me and the mechanics so he is not tempted and I am not awash in acrimony. WW

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Murph'_5

Ask him if he wants to use it

that it gets deducted from his wage !!



Murph'

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ed wallace

cell phones

is it a nextell if so disable the phone part so only the 2 way works

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Floyd_5

What else is gonna stick.....

to his fingers?????
My concern would be much broader than just the unapproved cell phone usage....
If the guy can't be trusted with a cell phone, that you obviously can track his usage of....then how on earth can you trust him to be in anyone's house or place of business unsupervised???? And I'm sure you don't have the time to be a full time babysitter!!!!
I know good help is hard to find.... but this guy sounds like a trainwreck waiting to happen......

JMHO
Floyd

Kevinj

cell phone

I am not clear if you have the phone assigned to the truck or the employee. Our techs are assigned a truck and each tech is assigned a phone. Our guys can use any amount of phone time they want within reason. If they do not exceed the plan minutes there is no charge, any time over plan minutes is deducted from their check. Some of the guys have dropped their own phones and pay us to have a better plan. By having a phone they can use we have a better chance of contacting them on off hours if the need should arise. Cell phone abuse if very hard to control but the cell phone is almost required these days.

Mad Dog

Unacceptable

We use 2 way Motorola radios...the phones are cell-phone capable,but are not activated. 2 ways are much more economical. We also cracked down on cell phone use during the day. You can make or take calls at lunch or emergencies only during work day. Before that, the phones were going off all the time. After 11 sept 2001 people have taken advantage and look at you crossed eyed when you tell them they don't need to use their cell phone all the time. I saw a guy during last week's funeral take a call in church!!!!! Now you see 9 year old kids walking around talking on their cell phone. I think it is out ofd hand/ Mad dog

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Phil_6

while you're on the subject...

...it's not the cost of the calls that I care about, since they're included, and all my employees also have their own personal phones anyway. But don't you wonder how much time a guy can spend gabbing away with his friends and lovers while they could be working? I hate when I'm standing there at a job and one of my guys gets a call on his phone. After all, if I'm not the one calling, it's not business. And since everyone around here speaks spanish except me, I don't even know what they're saying :-(

Kevinj

Cell

Mad Dog,

I should have mentioned that we use Nextel with a small amount of cell minutes and unlimited two way. Some of our suppliers have Nextel at the counter. We also discourage the personal calls during the work day. We are an industrial contractor so we do not have good access to phones in a plant. It is handy to be able to call for parts from the roof in case you need more info from the machine.

Mike Reavis_2

Suggest to him that he read \"The Wall\" tonight

when he goes home for one thing. Have a conversation with him , and bring up the fact that if you had one of you office staff behaving in this manner, that they would be terminated. Do a re-read of the company policy. Contact a guy like Alan Levi if you need to fill in some gaps in this area.

Mike

hetrola

If he's using it on company time warn him and then take action if it persists. If you can't trust him otherwise fire him.
Sounds like you have it in for him anyhow.

Nick W

IMHO

I've been in this business long enough to know, even with the little information you've given, what kind of smart-guy you're dealing with there. If he did that in my company, I would have fired him Tuesday morning- after he handed me my phone back.
I work too hard to be made a fool of by the people I trust with my reputation.

Good luck.

Mad Dog

Good for you

you don't mess around. I like that. I would give this guy one stern warning that if you catch him again - its over. Tell him he is on his honor and you shouldn't have to check the phone logs. Mad Dog

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Constantin

Here is what I would do:

If you have standard operating procedures for your company, I'd check them to ensure that the private usage of company cell-phones is prohibited, except in emergencies. If you do not have such a document that is signed when a employee joins you, I'd go and have a lawyer-friend put one together.

Here are some of the things I would look for in said document: Specific clauses prohibiting the private use of ANY company property, non-compete clauses (i.e. no moonlighting), if they behave in a un-company-like manner they can be fired, etc. Such a document is a godsend if a terminated employee attempts to collect unemployment benefits and attempts to challenge his/her termination.

If said employee signed such a document, I would make him sign a written warning and add it to the personnel file. How many warnings are equivalent to a firing is up to you. After all, sometimes folks simply make dumb mistakes, not meaning any harm. However, it should not become a pattern.

Paul Pollets

Cell charges

Since it's an essential tool, the cell phones must be managed...abuse is common and we're always taking someone to task over non-business calls and overcharges. We allow x amount of minutes, and charge for the overage by payroll deduction and the printout of the bill. You can also have the tech provide his own cell phone and pick up the base charge, but that can allow the customer to call directly to the tech, and I've seen monkey business happen without the office fielding the call first.

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joe g

phones

In hi rise work if you want me to go to a pay phone every time i have call the supply house,call the office,call in the time thats fine with me.Most G.C. dont have phones on site anymore.If the boss doesn't want to pay for my cell phone calls its his money and time im wasting every time i have to go down to the street and make a phone call.

Ken C.

You're right, it is out of hand

It seems like every other driver on the road is talking on a cell phone. It can't all be business related. The worst is when someone is driving extremely slow (to the point that it's a traffic hazard). As I pass the car, if it isn't an elderly person, then the offender is usually talking on a cell phone, oblivious to his/her surroundings.

Tony_8

i agree

with Floyd and JohnNY. Been there, done that. You're fired, goodbye.

Greg_15

phone mess

Waco, Hi Wayne,

Maybe look at it this way. The tech is using minutes up that is included in the base plan or is free because it is another nextel customer. If the minutes he is using is less than the new business he is bringing in each month, then you got a gripe. If his friends are giving him additional business each month when he is talking to them, and it exceeds his cost and the cell phone additional costs, then you made out. Maybe explained to him this way, you just created a revenue stream and both of yins are happy.
Just another way of looking at it IMHO,
Greg

Darin Cook_3

Goodbye

is what you need to say to the employee. I agree with John 100%. If he cannot follow that rule, what other rules are a problem. Besides the cost of the extra calls, how about the time lost. Maybe the company truck is being at night for side jobs. Where does it stop? Mad Dog's policy of having Nextel only is a good one. This issue is one of integrity and company loyalty. If the employee does not posses them, he needs to look elsewhere for employment.

Wayco Wayne_2

Epithat

I gave him a stern warning and one more chance. (this was the umpteenth last chance) Today 1 day later, my wife saw him going through town and called me. He was supposed to be someplace else working. I called him over and over. He did not answer for a half hr. When he did he denied being anywhere but where he was supposed to be. I told him to turn in his cell phone and keys, and to park the truck in front of my house. He called me back and told the truth. A friend of his needed a ride and he took off to help. If he had called me and asked if it was OK I probably would of said OK. But to have him take off on his own, and then lie about it, not to mention getting the call from his friend on cell phone he was not supposed to use for personal calls it was all too much. It's done and he is history. It makes me sad. I raised him from a pup and trained him personally for 3 years. I hope he does well somewhere else and will use this as a lesson in the merits of truth, respect and honor. It's also a big step back for me. I have to fill in for him while I find someone to replace him. It sucks all around. WW

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Constantin

Sorry to hear that

It must hurt to pass on all that knowledge only to have a personality fault get in the way of a good working relationship. I suppose he may have felt scared to ask you for permission to give his friend a lift after the weekend incident, but this stunt certainly did not engender further trust on your part.

Best of luck finding a new apprentice.

Mad Dog

Don't WW it will all be for the best

I've been in your situation several times. I've had guys say.."I' know you'll be screwed if I leave." I laughed and reminded him that I!!!!!Started the business...I!!!!!!Built it up from nothing by doing all the same jobs he was complaining about.....and that the only way HE!!!! would be irreplaceable is if I!!!!!!!!! was paralyzed from the neck down and couldn't go out in the field...and even then I would not tolerate an arrogant employee.! He got the picture, and he started to get in line. Look, The calls and the picking up the buddy are one thing (immaturity). The lying , however, cannot be tolerated and even if he does grow up down the road, I would not hire him back because he lied. We work too fraekin' hard, take huge risks, and don't make enough to put up with employees like that. I always start out way too nice, and most will take advantage. As Mark Hunt told me several years ago: "just remember, Matt, you're ALWAYS the A--hole...the A-hole who tells them they have to work late...the A-hole that won't give the raise." Bottom line, being the boss means making the hard decisions, laying down the law and many times "being the bad guy." You must get used to it or you'll go crazy. No matter how well you treat an employee it is usually not reciprocated on an equivalent level. They think you are raking in the bucks, and think only of themselves. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions like chris that works for Scott Milne and I'm sure several others. I've got a few really good guys, but you really have to keep them on a tight leash. Mad Dog

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Leo

As an Employee

As an employee I agree with most that I have read on this subject. The one thing I take exception with is Mad Dog's statement of keeping his employees on a tight leash. I am not an animal nor anyone's pet, no one puts me on a leash. I work at being a mature adult, it is a constant labor of love always being fine tuned. Hopefully it was a poor choice of words. To the cell phone thing, we have an on call phone (use radios during the day) the on call phone is picked up when you are on. It is a hassle and most of us have our own personal phones and use them on call by choice with nothing expected in return.

Leo

Floyd_5

Leo,

Trust and respect are EARNED!!!!! until any employee has earned that, they shall be watched closely.... I'm sure that is what MD is saying here.

There's an old saying.....

Fool me once, shame on you......

Fool me twice, shame on me!!!!

Ditto to what you posted MD, well stated.....

Floyd

Murph'_5

PPPPPHLoyed !!

Leo is the guy that makes the company full, not some pimply faced brat that does not know better!!


Murph'

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(SHow em' the dawgs Matt)

Floyd_5

I wasn't pointing a finger

at Leo,.....simply making the statement based on what I think in general. If Leo has earned that trust and respect he has nothing to worry about.....sounds to me as though he has.....if he is what he says he is.
There aren't too many out there though......
I just went though a situation, hired a guy how said he had 11 years experience. Was a preacher... needed more work as the small congregation that he pastored didn't have much money and he needed work to he feed and cloth his five kids. I figured that of all people this guy would be trustworthy.
After a sawzall blade through a brand new tub ( he originally denied doing and later confessed), a sawed shower valve that he switched tubs on to make it look like he didn't do it, said it came out of the box that way (yeah right), and putting hours down for time not worked (I checked up on him a couple of times),Oh yeah and I had to show him where to cut the floor registers twice, he still calls me up and I tell him that I went over t twice already and he should just do something himself once, he cutts the first hole at a place that my fifth grade son would know better than to cut!!!!!!

ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Your FIRED!!!!!!

Hired an eighteen year old kid that will be graduating in June.... he's running rings around me tell him how to do something once he does it than is standing there "I'm bored"

Hey, I got lot's more work for a guy like that!!!!

Floyd

Wayco Wayne_2

Yeah

I'm down to one helper. He is a very resposible young man and is eager to learn. Trouble is he's green and has never worked with his hands that I can tell. Maybe in several years he'll be a worthwhile help, but I've got work out the ying yang now. I ain't getting any younger. I need someone with experience to fill the gap this other guy has left, but competition in this area for experienced help in feirce. Maybe it's time to just go to work for somone else and try to get a job designing systems or selling or something. WW

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Nick W

Hmmm.

Is that a familiar thought, or what?

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Nron_9

Employees

Why is it so hard to find and keep employees? Time. Not enough of it. We need time to find people. Sort through the resumes. Then to interview them (more than once, hopefully) for the chosen few. Then check back ground and refrences. Contact former empoyers. Then actually hire the right person. If they are still avalible, (not picked up by another company)now you start training them on the proceedures of your operation. Depending on his/her level of apprentieship they may be in the feild working independantly in 1 to 6 months. Maybe after all this they don't leave in 6 months for another $1.00/hr. During all this you still have all the work you and the old employee needed to do.

All the while your asking "How did I get into this?"

Unknown

sure is........