I thought that I was clear - my issue is not that overhead exists, or that employers have to cover it. The problem is how this reality is communicated to the mechanics, which can often be summarized as "shut up and go back to work, and by the way you also need to buy a few grand of new tools and move your shit from your own van to the new one off the clock". These employers want the wrench-turners to be smarter than the engineers who built the truck, and be salesmen and account service reps when dealing with the customers, and then get treated like a 2nd-grader when it comes to the economics of how the business works. Meanwhile, they've got debt the size of a car loan to pay for the tools they're expected to bring to the job.
I'm not in the repair industry, although several friends are, my dad worked as a diesel mechanic and ran his own shop for a while, and I sit on the industry advisory board for a local school alongside the owners and managers of several independent and factory shops. I've also spent enough time with the wrench-turners doing my job as a product engineer to get a solid earful of what works and what doesn't, and that includes everything from their gripes with the boys to my inability to find my own ass with both hands and a flashlight.
If you guys are communicating all this stuff clearly and consistently and the message just isn't being heard, maybe that's on the employees, and I don't know how to help them. But I know how this industry has treated people for a long time, and so does everyone else on the street, and unfortunately that perception is going to take a while to reverse.
Devils advocate…being a wrench turner when younger and still a wrench turner when my “break glass when needed” knowledge is needed.
Yes my mechanics and change over guys still get me at times. As much experience as they have and training they have gotten over the years, no matter who I recruit from and how much I pay…I’m still needed at times.
So, yes I’ll go out there in shoes and pants that cost more than that guy makes I’m a week and get dirty…that’s what it takes to win and what it takes to make money.
If you think your above that and think that you shouldn’t have to anymore because “you’ve made it”…you’ll be out of business sooner rather than later.
Separate,
It’s not management’s job to explain to employees how and why a business is run the way it is.
It’s the employers job to create a safe work environment and pay the employee what his pay check is supposed to be….that’s it. It’s called “at will employment” for a reason.
If the employee is lucky management has a path of advancement, but in some companies (like when I was smaller), there is no advancement. It’s a 2 person department and I the owner “I” was the other person.
I personally try to explain whats happening and the reason for decisions and paths because I think getting buy in helps and a rising tide raises all ships. But again if i don’t want to give the ra-ra speech that week I expect you to do the job your paid for.
Additionally, I might be making a decision that to the guy on the floor, makes no sense.
but I’m setting myself up for a venture capitalist investment etc.
Do we think it’s smart for a owner to tell a employee that “I’m taking this shitty job that we all know we suck at and will be below margin on but if I do the parent company will invest XX million $, for expansion etc.
Of course not…go back and do what your PAID to do, which is change oil filters (that’s your job)
because when the new owner shows up one day and checks employee reviews…you better be the best oil changer in the company…if not your out.
And it’s not my fault if the other oil changer is better than you are, it’s your fault not ownerships.
Also, no one says jobs are forever and no one says the job you have now that affords your life style will be a needed skill next year.
If it comes out tomorrow that Tylenol and vitamins cause cancer…I’m out of a job and everything I worked for is useless…I’m starting over from day 1. And I will never regain the lifestyle that I have currently.
Will any old employees even stop to help me change a tire on the expressway on their way to their new job…nope. I hope they would but would I get mad if they don’t no…I understand how it works.
That’s on me…so I better save …it was my business choice. It’s not the manager at the next job I get as a data analyst, to explain to me and hold my hand. Not everyone get a trophy in the real world.
It might be that a farmer, wrencher, welder, hvac occupation is on the same path as the blacksmith.
They still had skills that were learned and sweat over but they are worthless at some point in time.
Don’t blame the employer for your career choice, they didn’t recruit you in high school and give you a written contract that you’ll job will be exactly the same for the next 45 years.
People need to take accountability and look past their nose. Stop blaming people for industry and economic changes that cause issues with their skill set.
If you not thinking, today fry cook tomorrow burger flipper it’s on you, not the useless manager that you have (and yes in certain respects they are useless but I can’t manage almost 400 people can I).
I know I’m coming across crass but
Your employment is your problem.
Your income is your problem
Your review shitty or not, is your problem
Boss says work Saturday for cash not OT, it’s your problem that you didn’t go to the labor board but took the money. Because he’ll expect it next time.
I’ve bought more new cell phones, rims for cars, gift cards, jackets, boots, then can possibly be imagined to get employees to go above and beyond what I think their actual job entails.
Because their position is only worth so much on the org chart. I cannot pay you more even if I wanted to.
On certain audits (Walmart, UL and a few others) they are looking at pay scale between employees.
Where 5 years ago I can pay the old school guy who is past his prime but knows what time it is a big salary, now the audit comes in and says why is a grade 2 maintenance guy making more than a grade 1.
Now we all know the grade 2 guy will never be a grade 1 and isn’t trying to be a grade 1, but he helped me build my company when I personally wasn’t taking a paycheck.
He truthfully deserves “more than he’s worth”…now I fail a company social audit.
Try explaining that to the young guy who wants a raise and sees the old guy who busted up and can’t write a email…explain that to HR.
That’s why management doesn’t have to explain anything, people need to do their job and get to work on time.
