Most know my job is installing anything to do with fireplaces. The company I work for has been around since 1958. It is a small family business. We also install residential and commercial garage doors. Three months ago we had four two man commercial installation crews, seven one man residential installers, and three two man fireplace installation crews.

We now have two commercial crews, two residential crews, and one fireplace crew.

The boss called us in after the lay offs and said he has kept the best guys he has to try to make it through this time period. He said he has money to make it through october.

I am currently working in fireplaces three days a week and commercial two days a week. I have not had a steady forty hours in almost a year. We have not had any raises for three years. The other day the boss told me that I can not have my little fridge in the back by me because it costs 150 dollars a year to run. He is coming to the back of the warehouse and turning off the six flourescent lights in the warehouse.

I am looking and placing resumes in my qualified fields. If I hear from any of these companies, I am unsure of taking their offer. I have been chosen to be the top fireplace person and flexible commercial lead fill in guy to get through the slump. I want to see us last and get through this, but I am unsure of are future. When the cuts are made he gives no warnings. You come to work to do what is needed and toward the end of the day he calls you in and sets you free.

Not sure what to do. When do you bail?

I can not survive on ten dollars an hour or workmans comp. I need to work and make comparable to what I make now to stay afloat.

 

I'd bail,

My company isnt doing so hot, we just laid off 2 of the "lowest common denominators". we do what we can to save money, haven't been able to give out raises since 2008, but I try to find the money to get the guys pizza about once a month. helps keep morale up.

 

Things are bad everywhere Kyle, this is not a good time to bail. I'd try and stick it out and maybe pick up some side work if I was you.

 

Look at any offers carefully. Your current place is tanking. It sounds as if the owners only care for themselves. They will cut you loose without a blink.

 

Times are surely tough, but, "Change" is coming.

As for a refrigerator, that's a non-issue. Bring a cooler to work, and keep your drinks chilled.
I've been doing this for many, many years. The 'frig' is a non-essential 'perk'. Plus, 'the man' is paying for the juice to keep it running.
Same with the lights, although, his savings from turning off the lights is very, very small. (Pennies do add up, though.)

It does sound like he's trying to keep you employed.
You might want to start putting out 'the feelers' to see if something else is available, but, times are hard, everywhere.
My company is going through a period of 'voluntary severance', but, this is just a 'management event'.

You might want to have a discussion with your boss about his company, and let him know your concerns, about possible lay-offs.
Convey to him that everyone's future is affected, and see if there's anything you can do to help him conserve some $$$, without anyone losing their job.

 

My guess would be that if your good enough to keep around till the last bell tolls, then your a very skilled person.

I would stay with this man, clearly he's been good yo you at some point in your employment with him. But be cautiously optimistic, he is looking out for the company before anyone else.

I would also seek out some side work. I'd bet that you can do most anything related to plumbing, electrical and carpentry. Hell, I'd bargain that you would even have a good hand at some masonry and tile work.

Did he force you to sign any kind of a no compete clause?

 

I agree....stick it out and if you're close to the owner sit down and talk to him. As an owner myself, I've been open with my employees in the past. While my interests are first, I won't screw someone intentionally and it does look like this guy has taken care of you thus far.

First thing to go when times get tough for business owners is labor.

A second job is a good thing, but be careful that the owner doesn't see this as a threat to leave his company at some point down the road or a way to compete. Owners of any business always deal in training their own competition down the road.

 

Thanks for the heads up guys. I like where I am. My concern is as I get older, it is harder to start over. I have not picked up a side job in over a year. I may have a fence job, but not sure yet.

The fridge is no big deal either, I was just giving an example. I have not put out tons of resumes yet. I have seen a couple of good jobs on craigslist and filled out their applications. Hopefully, we will start to get more work as winter comes. Fireplaces should start picking up. New construction and renovations have almost stopped lately. I also suggested that since we are so shorthanded that we look into hiring some skilled workers on a daily basis as needed. I know some people that work for home depot. They are very skilled and usually have two days off during the week. They would gladly come in to assist and make a couple of bucks at the same time. The suggestion fell on deaf ears.

I am still staying in there for now.

 

Pretty soon he will be breaking up the furniture for firewood............time to look elsewhere.
I did the same thing 11 yrs ago, my loyalty netted me nothing more than a pink slip.

 

It sounds to me that if business is so bad they're cutting back...there must have been indicators. You probably should have been putting feelers out there already...not too late to do so now. It's always easier to find a job when you have one. Unfortunately...the construction trades are down now...locally house sales are down approximately 37%. Good luck!!!

 

Which tells me that more people are going to be fixing up the one they already have. It should be a great time to get some side work.

 

I have noticed this starting to happen in my area Stu. Still not out of the woods by a long shot though, foreclosures are still pathetically high.

 

I don't know why you would say that the owners only care for themselves. They are trying to keep the doors open and they have been open and straight forward in advising the survivors that they have money to make it through October. Pretty much an invitation to start poking around the labor market.

I don't know this owner but, it may have just killed him to lay off those folks. May have waited to the last minute hoping for something....anything...to keep it from happening.

With that said, with homebuilding and remodels down...this situation might have been predictable.

 

Actually my boss and I have not always seen eye to eye. We do have respect for each other though. He needs this company to succeed. There are too many family members comfort levels at stake.

I had a job to check uptown once. I told the boss to walk away from the job. I said it was to dangerous to do with the equipment we had. He told me I did not know what I was talking about and sent my superior out. He agreed with me and confirmed with the boss. The next morning the boss said that we had to tell the customer something and give them some estimate. Our normal charge to remove and haul a unit is 300 dollars. We told the boss to tell them 900 dollars. The customer did not bat an eye and we were sent to do the job. No one would give them a quote due to the danger. I told the boss that he just tripled his money but that the risk of danger was still the same. I asked what do we get for taking all the risk.

His response was "I charged this much for the two of you to be able to take the time to do it safely."
We were given an hour and a half to do the tear out and made no extra cash on our checks.

He does have all the answers. I do make him money. It is a job I like and hope to see it through. I just go in early get my days work and get out. The sooner I finish the sooner I go home. My personal reward is the satisfaction of the customer from my work and the lack of call back complaints about my work.

 

You sound like where I am at presently, Kyle. I'll give you my advice, and hope for the best for both you and myself.

Keith did bring up a good point about discussing your situation and the company's situation with the owner. I know that in my situation, I found out that our company was beginning to do some downsizing, and that this would be based mainly on a 'last in, first out' basis, although 'problem children' were also in the first batch of layoffs. Again, an open dialog with the owner is the best way to find out what is really going on with the company.

I would also begin putting out feelers, and also look at as many different job board websites as possible. One I highly recommend is www.indeed.com; they are a web crawler that searches many different job board websites for open positions, from general job boards to specific openings on corporate websites. Like I said, I highly recommend this website.

As for handling an offer from another employer, I would recommend possibly talking to your current employer, state that you received an offer, and might be willing to refuse it and stay where you are if you receive a comparable counter offer from your current employer. Again, this would depend on your current company's employment status and future versus the new company's offer.