My employer made the executive decision to utilize my troubleshooting skills more, and has hired somebody to take on all of my mundane duties. On top of that, the company has upgraded some big lines and they need me to assist preparation and startup. I'm in the Ag business and harvest is firing up early (hotter than normal weather - but plenty of water) so there's that. The cherry on top? The company spent a lot of money and weeks upgrading a production line - like upgrading a 7.3L IDI to a Superduty 7.3L. Somebody tried to start the machine and it wouldn't go, so they called me in. At a glance, I asked where the equivalent of a deluxe TPS was. The reply was "TPS? Uhhhh... we thought it was in there. Can you fix it by Monday?"

So... while I may exhibit the symptoms that my interest here has waned, this is not the case. I'm just a cat in a sandbox trying to cover a lot of turds right now.

Stinky is awaiting a rear-end alignment, an injector, traction bars, and a driveline repair. I don't even have the time to take Stinky to the alignment shop.

 

I certainly know how you feel Rich, way too much work, way too little play. Fortunately both of our industries has seasonal highs and lows, and we can catch our breath during the lows!

 

Mine is like that. I have trouble trying to catch up on chores during that time to get to work on the truck. It needs it though. Something is not quite right with it but i have only driven it about 200 miles in the last 2 months.

 

Work is always a way to afford more Bucks-Zooka rounds. May not hurt so much the next time you pull the trigger.

 

That's a happy thought, but I'm salary. I get my life back during some months, but Fall isn't close to any of those particular months.

 

I worked for a salary once....never again.

 

I've been salary most of my career. The trick is to give yourself the time off when it's time to balance things out. I'll take a day off here and there or go home early (without burning vacation time). If anybody gives me any grief about it, I point out that while the company is good about making sure I'm there when I'm needed at work, there is no advocate (other than me) making sure I don't work myself into burnout. I've been fair about doling out downtime to myself and nobody (important) has ever given me grief about it.

Hourly coworkers? Oh sure... they spin crap about my hours, but I always point out the times they call me at home on second shift, the hours I'm at work while they're drinking beer at a picnic, and I never get overtime. Some get it and some don't, but the people handing out the annual bonuses seem to get it... and I concern myself more with what their impression is.

 

My bride as been a salaried employee for many years, with different companies. IMO, it's a ploy in which the company gets 10-15 hours/week (above 40) for no compensation. I hate it.

 

A lot of it depends on the company. I've got personal timesheets I started keeping in 2000 that show averages of 85-90 hours many weeks in a row (often out of town on a job site, to boot). Primarily the result of a Type A company owner of a small company.

It all paid off when the company got purchased in 2009. Bonuses at that point in time nearly paid off my house. Stock option vesting since then has allowed me to semi-retire to working part-time (ironically for the same company - they wouldn't let me quit last fall) and traveling the country in my fifth wheel.

It can pay off in the long run - depending on the company, of course.

 

You're aa smart man, Tugster.

Stewart