Well I call this taking a back seat,
I was at work today and having an alright day when my boss takes me aside and basically told me he was taking the truck, and I was going to have to find my own way to work, this is how it went: so did you have any traffic problems lately I said yes about a month ago I was stopped and was told I was going miles over the speed limit, he didn't right me up for speeding just not wearing my seat belt which I always wear just not this time. so he then said his insurance co. said I was an unsafe driver and his insurance was going up if I was kept on. Now here is the real story: They have so much work and not enough people to do it they hired the cousin and he is coming back into the field and his dad is going in the office from retirement, so he needs to buy 2 vans and insure them. I over heard him telling someone else. now if he takes mine away this leave him only having to buy 1 van and insuring 1 van. I am kinda left out in the cold here and unless I get to keep the gas card I will be looking for a new job.
and I think it is all because I am taking 5 weeks off this summer to fish and do Lighthouse duty, but he knew this before he hired me.

Any advice?

ask for an increase in pay to make up for your lost bonus of having a truck to commute in. take your own vehicle to work each day, then go to work in his work truck like most others do.

what do you do for work??? if you can find a job in your field easy enough and youll get what you want ( van & gas & lots of vacation).....do it.....take care of numero uno

i think your probably good enough at what you do
to just start
your own company....
time to think ....out of the box...

in past experience when a family member is joining the staff
it creates a tense competition from then on.

and the boss always believes and sides with them& not you.
in other words ......it aint worth the hassel ....
time for a change....is blowin in the wind.

telling a boss what he can do with his job is one of lifes pleasures.

Tell him to blow it out his arse and then fish ALL summer!:kewl:

Tell him to blow it out his arse and then fish ALL summer!:kewl:
BEST ADVICE EVER!!!

Easier said than done...

Tell him to provide the insurance company's statement IN WRITING that you are considered an unsafe driver and that is directly resulting in an increase in his rates. That is a very derogatory accusation that you will pursue, if necessary. Give him seven days to produce. If he can't, it will smell of wrongful termination or at least making it more difficult to do your job. If he did know all the vacation time when he hired you, it would help to document that. Hell, plumbers are in demand with all the building and remodeling, I know! Sounds like his business must be in bad shape if he can't support adding another guy, especially when I see service rates for plumbers around here at $80-95.00 an hour!!! It sounds like a BS excuse to me.
Best advice I ever got about running a contracting business and dealing with employees was to treat them the way you would want to be treated if put in the same position. Try sharing that with him.

I am waiting to find out what he says tomorrow he is going to call back and find out how much it is going up. or that's what he is telling me. it saddins me to think that I am in work everyday on time and work hard. I wish employers were as faitfull as the employee. it is all about money bottom line. I also figured out that we have 2 dumb ass plumbers helpers thats are going on the insurance and they just turned 18 so now they can drive the Co. trucks this will increase the rates big time. I can go and work anywere, my sons Co is hiring so I will probably go there he works with alot of guys I Know. I will post what happens tomorrow, best thing is lay me off I can do side work and collect and fish. there is no way I am going to start a plumbing buisness I will never fish then.

Let me know if you need some side work...I need a new spicket installed closer to my garage so I can wash all my gear easier!:wave: Also need the old spicket (only one on the house) on the other side of the house replaced as it leaks!:wave: Job security!

Humm Plugs for plumbing that could work

So he is telling you that the insurance company is going to raise his rates if they keep you as an eligible driver on his policy? How the heck much is he going to see his insurance raters go up that he cannot afford to absorb these costs for a good employee, especially if there is enough work out there so that he needs to take on more employees.

Maybe you are right, and the boss does not want to buy another van and wants to take the one you use. Or, he is bringing in his cousin and his Dad in the office and he is trying to nudge you out the door to keep payroll in check. If he takes away this perk maybe he suspects that you won't want to use your own vehicle and put the miles and wear on that and you might think it is time to move on. Maybe his family is putting pressure on him to bring in the cousin.

I may be way off base and full of it - but unless you are a step 21 in the driving ratings and have a very bad driving history the story doesn't make too much sense. You got a seat belt violation - not a driving to endanger infraction. Instead of telling you the truth (whatever it is) sounds as if he is using the minor driving infraction as a cover story. Managing people is not much fun, but I think we all appreciate being told the truth and actually end up respecting those people more - even if we are told something that we don't want to hear.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you.

FWIW - I know of a guy that has a fleet of 5 transportation vans - once he gets over 5 vehicles he supposedly gets a big break on his insurance rates and some decent discounts at the dealership on new vans.

labrax, I think you hit the nail right on the head, and it's what I am thinking to

Bob - I got the same bul%$%$%$%$ ticket last year. It doesn't effect your insurance or your driving rating at all. They hand them out to fill a quota and get the dough in the til. :yak6:
The boss is using that as an excuse to stuff it to you. Why not either screw off til he lays you off or (ouch - I hurt my .... ) and get some comp time on his ticket ! That will really piss him off and he cannot do a thing about it.:devil2:

We had a talk today and I can say that I am getting screwed,
I just got off the phone with my Insurance Co. and there is no way in hell it is something I did. I had the seat belt thing and a speeding ticket 2 yrs ago. other than that nothing for years. I am now looking for a new job.

When you do find another job, go back to your boss the day before you leave, and tell him"Take this job and shovit, I ain't working here no more!!" just like Johnny Paycheck!

Good luck with the search. Hopefully the new additions of the family members will cause a lot of strife after the honeymoon period. You know - when the Dad starts questioning him on his decisions and comparing it to how he did it when he was running things. Or that the cousin is a frustrated nascar fan with a lead foot and the trade skills of a rheseus monkey. Start burning those vacation hours.

Well now it is two brothers and a cousin, now the dad is coming back
with the mother doing the paperwork. to dumb ass helpers and one
other mechanic. it is a family deal. my wife wants me to leave and
thinks it is totally unfair.

Thats sucks, it would be nice to no show, no call on monday, but you would'nt want that to bite you in the a$$. Maybe you can make some %$%$%$%$ty joints up that will come back to bite him in the A$$ later...

Your a plumber right? You can get a job anywhere, don't take crap, and listen to your wife.

That sux Bob. Being an outsider in a family business isn't worth it most times. They will all stick together even if it runs the business down. You are better off finding another job and being happy. I would find another job and not announce it to your old employer. Then once you are hired go back to old job and pick up your tools. No notice is required as he sounds like a arse. He wouldn't give you 2 weeks notice if he was letting you go so screw him and his family.
Best of luck.

And the horse he rode in on. You see this more and more in business these days. Scum all of them. They've forgotten that loyalty runs both ways.

when you take out all of the personal feelings you have...

and look at the situation in a purely logical manner....

you perform work as an exchange of your skills for X amount of $
your also supposed to be doing this work because it gives you some
sort of satisfaction or pride... doing what you love is very important.

the thing is....
when you add stress to the equation added to the less
money/privaledge side....
suddenly the satisfaction is LOST...
and the exchange is no longer equitable....

stress is "the" number ONE killer of Americans
so that has to WEIGH
allot when view your scale of balance. :read:

That sux Bob that he is lying to you to make some sort of excuse.:rocketem:
You don't need that kind of job, I'd be looking also. Good luck

Thanks for the support guys, I have a few leads and I am going to stay until I find something or they lay me off, I have to many bills.

not sure how it works in mass or here in RI for that matter, but if i am correct, it is harder to collect un-employment benifits if you quit a job.. but if the job cans you it is obviously easier to collect...

Maybe the guy wants to can you because your going to take so much time off this summer, but doesnt want to pay extra $ if you collect, so he may be jerking you around so you will leave on your own accord.

Use up all your Vaca time before you leave, then quit.

Use up all your Vaca time before you leave, then quit.


I thought bush was on that path just after hurricane katrina :laughs:

Skip,
The thing is they offer nothing as for benefits, no vacation time or any type of retirement, and the big one no health insurance.
Eben,
I really want to wait it out and get laid off for the summer, it won't happen but that's what I want to do, my wife hates me not working :wiggle:
If you walk off a job or quit you Basically can't collect they either have to fire you or lay you off. :hs:

I have a few places to call Monday and will not leave until they lay me off or I find something else

Oh and I plan on asking for 3 dollars an hour for turning in the van

If you're on good terms with your boss, maybe you can ask to be laid off instead of quitting. It seems like the least they can do.

You can't win being the only non-family membe in a family company. It may ruin your fishing for this year, but you'll be happier in the long run and nothing is worse than waking up every morning dreading going to work.

I wouldn't use your vacation time. They have to pay you for it if you don't use it - the extra cash could be useful if you're changing jobs.

I need a tub installed :hee:

Bob, I have an idea, start your own business and we'll come to work for you and show you what screwing off really is. Can you imagine the inside of the company vehicles with ten rods and hundreds of custom made lures hanging from the racks.:jump:

Bob, I have an idea, start your own business and we'll come to work for you and show you what screwing off really is. Can you imagine the inside of the company vehicles with ten rods and hundreds of custom made lures hanging from the racks.:jump:

I started a Business about a year and a half ago and at the middle after I had insurance and contracts and then bailed because I didn't want to work 80 hrs. and get paid for 40 running a 1 man show is way to much work and I wanted to fish and enjoy my family, screw work it's for people who don't fish.

Speaking with a little Human Resources background, walk the line with the boss - just enough to not get fired for non-performance (kills any unemployment) but enough that he really wants to get rid of you (so you do collect).

Then, you know the Outer Cape, hit the Campgrounds for the summer/fall, tie into any of the builders/plumbers out here for part-time (read - when the fish are not wild) work. Any skilled tradesmen out here who is worth their salt can have all the work they want. Of course, this is only a 4-5 month option but it would almost be like a vacation from the real world.

Bob there are always people on criagslist looking for a plumber for side jobs too.

Thanks for the heads up, when I was in my 20's and 30's I would work my regular job then work another 8 hrs, Sat and Sun moon lighting, I told my self I am all done working like that. I missed my kids growing up. and I want to enjoy the rest of my life. Oh and I never fished.

Today he walks up and says we're not doing that van thing today I am to busy. I pretty much think if the insurance co. told him to have me drop the truck off and I was no longer insured (like he told me Friday) He could get sued big time if anything happened. it is a big lie :af:

Rich, I would so love to do that, seeing I just set up my truck camper with a new truck. I am to honest to do that and just screw the other guys I work with. I think I will ask for a raise tomorrow for turning the van in

Bob, when and if you try the business thing again, don't do it as a one man show...Young guy I know, Electrician, starts his own business a year and half ago, after being a foreman for a big company for several years (union).. well, he def. does not want the work 80, get paid for 40 routine, so he goes out, lines up a chit load of union work, makes his co. a union shop, hires 3 guys he knows, bills them out at a hundred + per hour, and works about 3 days a week himself, so's he can fish :D... I think he's up to 4, maybe 5 guys now.. work keeps piling in.. he ain't payin' them a hundred per hour, that's for sure... he only hires guys he knows.. most of them like to fish, so, they are agreeable to working 4- 10 hour days, or the occasional 3-13 hour day, weeks.. so works well for all.. a good formula, and better than the one man show. He primarily just lines up the jobs, estimates, billing, and collecting and such.

Good luck in your endeavors.

Great advice Karl, but it is not for me I like to go home and leave work at work I don't even like to talk about work, when my wife asks me how my day was I say good thats it.

I went to the insurance co. yesterday to get the form to register my truck and she gave me a print out of my driving record, I have 5 things total sense 1978. and 2 things in the last 10 yrs. although I am no saint I do respect others on the road. I got a driving record from the registry also that afternoon and It was the same report just had a stamp on it.

Bob,

Ever thinking for working for a large facilities management company like a CB Richard Ellis. They have a ton of commercial properties all over the place. They manage the property where I work, seem to retain their HVAC staff, Electricians, etc. for years and I think compensate them decently. May be another option to check out aside from plumbing contractors.

Your boss must be named Pinnochio after giving you the insurance bump/sealt belt violation nonsense.

My plan is to become a trade school teacher in the near future. I have to find out all the details. but I need to do what I can do best :teach/fish

Raven has a good point,do whatever you can to LESSEN your stress level.And this is no time to be a nice guy.He's shown you what kind of guy he is.Turn the tables on him if you can.No guilt involved.And if you have to take a layoff just tell your wife to deal with it.She'll be OK,believe me.This is how I would deal with it.The best thing is that you are an excellent worker with an extremely marketable skill set and you will do well IN THE LONG RUN.I hope this helps.