Discussion:
working for nothing

Good day thought it was time to get you all talking again,
Here`s the companys cunning plan, the field engineer is no longer working as soon as he heads out to his first job ,The company want him to give them the first half hour because they say that would be like traveling to work.
Now all of a sudden your working for nothing for the first half hour of the day.
In england this falls into the bracket of the minimum wage because due to that legislation no one is allowed to work for nothing.Hence designed to do away with slavery.
Also two other problems arise if I am not working is my van insured as we have been told it is only insured for work use!!
If i am not getting paid I am not working.
Also 2 if I am now commuting in the van to the first job/first half hour will I have to then pay tax on the van that I am now useing for commuting?
And finally if I am not to be paid for the first half hour is the customer also getting this time for free????
Let me know what you think, is this company penny pinching at the expense of the engineer ,Is it legitimate to force people to work for nothing. Is it the same overseas or do you have better legislation to protect workers from being used.
  • Posted 4 Dec 2010 06:29
  • Discussion started by daryl_j
  • manchester, United Kingdom
Showing items 1 - 15 of 44 results.
Thanks for that but i'm leaving the Fork Lift injury to take on a bigger challenge and very much looking forward to it. Be Well.
  • Posted 6 Jun 2011 21:24
  • Reply by Stan
  • Cornwall, United Kingdom
Stan,
Just a few comments:
1. The devil you know is quit often better than the one you don't know. I & I don't know anyone that interviewed a new prospective company where the new company openly mentioned their short comings. They seem to paint a "bed o roses" & roll out the red carpet. On day one at the new job they lift the carpet & you see were the dirt was hidden. There is no Utopia! Even if your the King!
2. In an unrelated industry (commercial electrical work) my son is a journeymen electrician (& heaven forbid a Mason which I encouraged him to do). His company has been giving him 40 hours a week work steady for the last year. They bid jobs based on a no over time basis & if an employee turns in overtime pay without approval from one of the owners (3 of them) they are subject to dismissal as OT can affect the profitability of the job. On occasion he will work OT but not often. Maybe the same applies at your company when a service quote is issued to your companies customers.
Just food for thought.
  • Posted 5 Jun 2011 02:35
  • Reply by johnr_j
  • Georgia, United States
"Have An Exceptional Day!"
Hello. Im in the very same position. Some of my compratiots say thats its not quite legal but I imagine they would have made sure first, from a legal standpoint. I know Barloworld do not do this. Out the door at 8am and in @ 16.30, core day. I dont agree with it which is why i'm leaving my company in the VERY near future. Be safe out there.
  • Posted 5 Jun 2011 01:52
  • Reply by Stan
  • Cornwall, United Kingdom
have some problems and sleep expera.
  • Posted 13 Apr 2011 22:24
  • Reply by vishal_s
  • Ontario, Canada
http://www.gofleet.ca
proshadetree,
No doubt you have your act together and facts from a practical viewpoint, to prove your value & contributions to your company and yourself & family. I guess that's how a "shadetree" becomes a "Professional" - just a friendly play on your screen name.
Don't stop!
  • Posted 28 Jan 2011 21:58
  • Reply by johnr_j
  • Georgia, United States
"Have An Exceptional Day!"
proshadetree, it sounds to me like you work for the rare breed of management in the forklift industry that can not only count high enough to see the whole profit picture, but that also has the authority and gravitas to keep the bean counters from mucking up the works.
  • Posted 28 Jan 2011 21:36
  • Reply by edward_t
  • South Carolina, United States
"it's not rocket surgery"
I had a reply my company likes me charging for the trip for extra tools. Nope most of my lifts are under guaranteed maintenance. Customer only pays set amount a month. My tools are all mine down to the air hose. The laptop I carry is mine with all programing on it. To travel home costs my employer. I am closer to the customers than they are. My last two customers are a direct result of employees getting laid off at one job and obtaining a new one and recommending me. My Employee Cost Analysis is consistently high. My nonchargeable is consistently low. I have spent hours on end my time and cost collecting information that has benefited my company so when the 1/2 hour rule passed they backed down. My tools are back in the van. My company gets my lunch everyday as I normally do not take it. To raise profit improve you low productive people and praise the ones who make you money. Always worked for me.
  • Posted 28 Jan 2011 13:31
  • Reply by proshadetree
  • Tennessee, United States
from your mouth to God's ears johnr j. if an employer cant make a profit from your labor do them a favor and go to work for the competition.
"in a land without profit the well soon runs dry"
  • Posted 15 Jan 2011 04:14
  • Reply by toyzilla
  • Texas, United States
easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
Disgruntled folks, no matter the job responsibility have a tendency to believe in the philosophy that "Life is not fair when you actually have to perform productive work for the time you are paid for."
  • Posted 9 Jan 2011 04:59
  • Reply by johnr_j
  • Georgia, United States
Duodulux is also right about lift tech's not having to fix their mistakes on their own time.....like most automobile mechanics do!
Friends are very envious when they see us with a company truck, free gas. It's a big edge over them. My employer pays for training each year, sending some of us a thousand miles by plane and paying for all food and lodging and travel.
Now that the world economy is still struggling, and sales are down, we still have disgruntled techs who complain.
Our manager's asked all techs to bill the 40 hrs they are paid for, even close to 40 will do! Some have quit, others let go because they did'nt even get 60% efficiency. They found other jobs where they can "make up hours". But customers are getting wise to all the tricks some tech's pulling. Work orders have to be signed by managers at site with time stamped on arrival and departure. Also, a flat rate fee for job procedures is in place. With GPS added, only the best tech's will survive. Giving a bit of time to your employer will come a lot easier when you see all your mates lose their jobs during this tough economic global recession.
  • Posted 8 Jan 2011 23:18
  • Reply by EasiTek
  • Ontario, Canada
I kinda agree with Duodulux

Problem is if employers were able to sack or sue Employees for misrepresentation on CV's or interviews then we probably would have nobody left in the workplace.
  • Posted 6 Jan 2011 19:21
  • Reply by Normandy
  • Co. Cork, Ireland
Been road tech for 12 years. Have been through many changes in travel time last company we got 1/2 hr every day home and then got a flat rate which was ok. Now have a pretty good deal we figure the distance to shop from home and draw a travel circle. Have to be out of circle by start time and get paid when hit. Works well for me being I live 8.2 miles from shop, s u c k s for the guy who lives 30 miles away. ( hope dispatch likes you)
  • Posted 5 Jan 2011 11:41
  • Reply by chuck_m
  • Illinois, United States
When I applied at this previous company I was a maintenance machinist. I rebuilt engine lathes, mills, auto feed band saws, conveyors, etc., What little I knew about IC forklifts was that I could do more damage than good (but kept on trying til I couldn't fix it anymore). I knew absolutely nothing about electric forklifts (which was the primary bread and butter there). After acing the mech aptitude test I failed the electric apptitue test utterably. They gave me a second interview in which the lead tech doing the interview walked in and set a brown bag on the table. He proceeded to pull out parts. I was able to name off (and he even learned a couple of things) the name and use of each mechanical part. When he pulled out SCRs, transitors, gated SCRs, etc., my only responses were "another electrical thinga-majiger". I was then hired as I don't blow smoke and I know what I don't know....no guesses and I can be trained". I was then taken out to the shop area and shown an EZ-Reach with all the circuit boards exposed. I kept sending out resumes for weeks after expecting to get the boot anytime. They stuck with me and I stuck with them even after most of the other techs that were working there when I hired on had moved to other companies. In 11 years I never actively looked for other employment and turned down alot of offers. But as I was told during a meeting, "If you don't like all the changes then you know where the door is". And it took me about 6 months to find it afterwards.
  • Posted 4 Jan 2011 23:50
  • Reply by joe_d
  • Texas, United States
Ain't nothing I can't fix but a broken heart and the break of day!
Again it's a two way street. I can't remember that I ever promised anything to any employee that I didn't follow through on and I certainly have never taken anything away from anyone.
As an employer one thing that is remarkable to me is that if every resume or every potential employee being interviewed is correct about how good they are- Wow would we have all unbelievable successful companies. To me, that is their upfront promise to a company of what they will bring to the table. Unfortunately, what most bring is not what was reflected in their resume or the interview.
The other amazing thing to me is this. Can you imagine if the person being interviewed had the same attitude and respect 3 or 4 years after they were hired as they did in the interview? What I want to know is what changed?
  • Posted 4 Jan 2011 23:32
  • Reply by duodeluxe
  • United States
duodeluxe
Oh, I have no real problem with it, duodeluxe. As I said, I can see both sides of the coin. My only problem with it was if it was part of your "sign on package" like insurance, 401K, mandatory overtime/on call, etc., and then one day some bean counter yanks the parts the company/owner can make more money off of??? But, atleast I had a job when so many others didn't...atleast until I found a better one.
  • Posted 4 Jan 2011 23:10
  • Reply by joe_d
  • Texas, United States
Ain't nothing I can't fix but a broken heart and the break of day!

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Terberg YT182
Balling, Denmark
Used - Sale
Terberg YT182
Balling, Denmark
Used - Sale
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