My "What should I do?" thread.

I feel like my job is kind of dicking me around. I work at a fairly large salvage yard. I do all the inventory, all the computer stuff, sales (mostly phone from my office, but I work the counter on occasion too), and general problem solving. If something doesn't work I fix it, if one of the mechanics is having a problem they come to me and I figure it out, etc., etc. Point blank, I'm the smartest mother berkeleyer here and they know it. I worked here for eight years before moving to Pennsylvania for a year or so. When I moved back I did port and polish work and general auto work from my house while they tried to get me to come back. Finally, they offered me a pretty substantial raise to come back, so I did. I've been back 6.5 years, and have gotten zero raises (or any other benefits). They did give me a company truck for a while, but I agreed to let one of the other guys "borrow" it for shirt period of time while he fixed his car. Despite me GIVING him the part to fix his far three or four months ago, he's still driving my company vehicle. He's also a serious ass kisser and friend of the boss, so the boss doesn't say E36 M3 to him about it. While that annoys me, it's not a deal breaker. The last straw came yesterday, when the boss tells me that he's cutting my hours, without coming right out and saying it. We officially open at 8am, though I (and the boss and one other guy) came in at 7. I've worked the same amount of hours for the 14.5 years I've worked here. Yesterday he tells me that he's not opening the gate until 8am from now on. That means if I do nothing different except come in at 8 instead of 7, I lose $5k a year. That's E36 M3ty.

I could tell them probably 30 ways they could save money, and 30 more way to make more money, but my boss is a stubborn old dude that does things his way no matter what. I can tell you none of these things involve cutting my hours.

Some back story on me: I'm an intelligent guy. I genuinely feel like with a little training, I can do pretty much anything. I'm an artist (mainly sculptor), musician, mechanic, and basic jack of all trades. I can drive anything with wheels and build anything that needs to be built (within reason). I also have no college degree.

There are some positives of the job. I'm completely self-managed. I generally get parts at a deep discount if not free. I like most of the people I work with. I can use the shop (although that's also getting restricted). I can screw off on this forum all day as long as I get what I need to get done finished.

What I think I'm going to do: Talk to the boss. Let him know that cutting my pay is unacceptable for all that I do for the company. Cut my hours all you want, but don't pay me less. Either give me a raise or put me on salary, and I'll work what ever hours you want me to. I'm not asking for any more than I already had, but getting less is bullE36 M3. If those conditions aren't met, I'll continue to work here, but I'll be looking for other opportunities. I've passed on better jobs because I felt like I was treated well before, but that won't happen again.

Some other options:

1. The passive-aggressive approach: Pack my lunch everyday and clock in as early and clock out as late as I possibly can. Skipping lunch will cover my lost hours and the early clock-in/late clock-out will just be bonus. I'll end up making more than I do now.

2. Not say anything but look for other employment.

3. Tell them all to berkeley off and work from home again.

Sorry for the novel. What angles am I missing? What would you do?

Sounds like you have a solid plan, although you might not want to go with fallback option 1 if you want a good reference from this guy.

You've been there a long time, so you must know your boss pretty well. I'd ask him for a meeting / private lunch, and rationally and unemotionally let him know how you feel. Maybe he can accommodate you, maybe he can't, but at least if you leave you will know that you spoke your mind. He needs to know you feel like you are getting the shaft.

Chances are they don't think this will push you over the edge. Let them know you aren't happy with the changes, and why. If they value your work, they will make sure you are taken care of. If not, there are plenty of other places that need a talented-- hard working, honest person with marketable skills.

or you could just do cylinder head work for a living!

Joe's got it. Maybe communication isn't your strong suit but it really helps to tell someone what is wrong and how it can be fixed. If they don't know they've upset you and don't know how to make it work for you then there's no way for them to make it right.

Joe Gearin wrote: or you could just do cylinder head work for a living!

I've seriously considered it. It worked for a year and a half! The problem is discipline. When I work for myself, it's a lot harder to get out of bed. But I did make it work last time, and that was during a much more tumultuous time.

Are we talking porting and such?

dculberson wrote: Maybe communication isn't your strong suit...

Yeah, it's not. I'm generally not a fan of confrontation. That's one thing I like about this job. I come in, do my job, and don't have to explain myself. I hate awkward conversations, but I think this one has to happen.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Are we talking porting and such?

Yep.

Hrm we may need to have a talk.

That's cool, but just so you know there's a robot sculpture, Joe's cyl. head, an E30 timing belt, and a 944 timing belt and clutch in line right now.

No rush, it's my spare somewhat built head.

Something about a smoky burnout on gravel

A sit down sounds like the best course of action, best of luck.

BTW Do you have a xxxxx for a 199x xxxxx?

16vCorey wrote: Yeah, it's not. I'm generally not a fan of confrontation. That's one thing I like about this job. I come in, do my job, and don't have to explain myself. I hate awkward conversations, but I think this one has to happen.

It doesn't have to be a confrontation, though, although from the description you gave it might be that your boss also has a communications problem and the combination might turn it into one.

I don't think there is any harm to lay out to the boss that you're unhappy about this and why and see what he says. You have a backup plan, so there isn't really a big downside for you.

16vCorey wrote: I could tell them probably 30 ways they could save money, and 30 more way to make more money, but my boss is a stubborn old dude that does things his way no matter what.

If you are going to sit down with him; I would put a list of these 60 items together IN WRITING so that he can review them at a later time. Make it a nice presentation and show him actual dollars he can save/make.

Then it would be his choice since he owns the place and you can show him that you are trying to make HIM more money.........which trickles down to the employee 20% of the time.

16vCorey wrote: Either give me a raise or put me on salary, and I'll work what ever hours you want me to.

For your sake, don't let the bolded words leave your lips. Most bosses equate salary with slavery, and that ain't the way it works. Just because you're on salary doesn't mean you work more than 40 hours without overtime.

I've been there on more than one occasion. I had one boss so bad about it that I had to sue him after quitting to recoup just a portion of the money he refused to pay me.

In my opinion, not offering you a raise in 6 1/2 years is B.S. Then again, you don't get what you don't ask for.

Sit down with the boss and tell him exactly what you told us. (Maybe leave out the line, "I'm the smartest guy here and you know it." If he doesn't know it, telling him won't help.) Write it down and read it out loud if that will help. Any time I have an important meeting like this, I make a list of points to cover, because I always forget something in the moment. Allude to a couple of the ways you can increase their profits, but don't give it away with too many details. If you begin to come to any agreements get it in writing. At the very least, write down the points on which you're agreeing and then just type up a list of the points, sign it, and have the boss sign it. Boom, contract.

I can empathize with your position; I've pretty much been there myself. You have to stand up (or sit down, in this case) and make your own case - nobody else will make it for you. And if they don't buy what you're selling, pack up and move on, simple as that*.

*He said, from the internet, on his couch, in no position to feel the consequences.

i'd keep the "i'm upset" part out of it unless you've grown a Bob Costas since the last time i saw you. facts, not emotion.

AngryCorvair wrote: i'd keep the "i'm upset" part out of it unless you've grown a Bob Costas since the last time i saw you. facts, not emotion.

I agree completely. And for the record, I never said I'm upset. And I'm not, at all. I just think I'm being slightly berkeleyed over, and have been for a little while, and am tired of being E36 M3 on.

What Alex said. Make a list of talking points to keep you focused.

A few points.

1. Your boss hired you back because he knew it would cost him significantly more to hire someone else with your knowledge.

2. Being salaried has its ups and downs. When you crack out your work and can go home early, its great. When you have a lot to do and need to put in the hours, you don't have a choice. As a salaried manager, be ready to fix your employees mistakes/do their work after they leave or before they come in. If you are salaried in a position that requires you to be there during all business hours (customer service, sales, anything that deals with office operations), its only free hours for the boss, NOT free time off for you. Your boss expects you to be available during all the office hours, so forget ducking out early. When you are salaried as an engineer, project manager, purchasing dick, etc, you can come and go as you please with no fear.

3. Not getting a raise is only YOUR fault. You didn't ask for one, and you didn't quit. Why would an owner/manager give you more money if you don't ask for it. I don't care what the employee handbook says, if you want more money above the occasional token raise or cost of living increases, be prepared to ask for it or walk.

4. One of my good friends claims the only way to get a sizable raise is to switch companies. Make yourself presentable, start pounding the pavement, if you are as talented as you say you are, more money should come easy once you get out there.

5. Be prepared to walk if things don't go well. Give your 2 weeks, do it in a professional manner. If you are interested in coming back, give your boss the terms that you would need to return.

6. Evaluate your financial position before walking. Can you live on 3-6 months of no income/reduced income and not affect your living standards? If not, build a war chest and then have the talk with your boss. Its a lot easier to be open when you are not worried of becoming a "marked man"

Anecdotal discussion: I love being salaried. I can come and go as I please, but the cost is I work stupid hours some days. No time sheets, no clock to punch, lunch whenever you want, who cares if you are 10 minutes late or duck out 10 minutes early? But thats only in my new position where I am back-up for the customer service/inside sales and not doing it every day. When I was customer service manager, I was expected to be available to answer the phones from 7:30 to 4:30 every day. So I had to be there and in my desk. Now, I come and go as I please but my drive to excel means I do all my work before I go.

All my big raises (20+%), bonuses, and signing bonuses have come as a result of changing jobs. Typical raises were 2-3% cost of living increases in a good year, nothing or hours cut in a bad year.

Every job but one (K-Mart front end circa 2003 for 5 weeks) has come as a result of someone calling me, not the other way around. Get your name out and become respected in your industry and people will want to hire you.

My old job called me to come back "with a significant increase in pay and responsibility". I knew that they had not let my former manager go (who would still be my manager, or at least I would have to work with him and split commissions with him) and I told them I was not interested. They know the terms it would take me to get back in their office. This situation is made even more interesting seeing that I went to work for their direct competitor and its a small industry.

Good luck in whatever direction you decide to go.

Thanks for all the tips everyone, I truly appreciate it.

But to clarify a few things, I'll just respond to the last thread, since that pretty much encompasses everything that's been mentioned so far.

1. Definitely. In fact, he did have two other guys try to do my job while I was gone, and they were both terrible at it. He knows from experience that replacing me isn't easy.

2. Salary in my position wouldn't change much. I already work the entire time we're open, except for Saturday. My boss already knows I don't do Saturdays unless he's in dire need. I think I've worked one Saturday in the last six years. Being salary wouldn't really change much at all, except my paycheck would be the same every week, instead of varying $20-$30 each week due to being a few minutes early or late.

3. Once again, I agree completely. I never asked for a raise because I felt like I was being paid fairly, so it was never a big enough deal to risk causing any tension in the work place. But cutting my pay is another story. They're basically telling me to do the same work in less time for less money. berkeley that.

4. I also agree with that, in most fields. Salvage yards aren't the greatest paying businesses. I've had offers from every yard in town, and quite a few car lots and mechanic shops. The problem is, I've pretty much topped out the pay for working at a salvage yard. A few of them have offered me more money(but not much), but I wouldn't get the freedom I've earned at my current job. I've been offered more money as a mechanic several times, but I enjoy working on cars, I enjoy building race cars, but if I did it for a living I don't think I would anymore. And although it's a skilled manual labor, it's still a lot of manual labor. I don't want to come home filthy and tired everyday. I've also had an offer at a local machine shop, but once again, that's being on my feet all day every day, going from machine to machine making parts. I'd miss you guys too much .

So basically what I'm saying is, I'm going to be fine no matter what. The decrease in pay isn't going to kill me. If for some reason our meeting does get heated and I get fired or quit, I can have another job tomorrow.

The real problem is I kind of feel like it's time for a change, but I have no idea what direction to go. I'd like something with some growth opportunity. I'd prefer to not bust my ass everyday (in a manual labor sort of way). I enjoy problem solving and using my brain to figure out ways to fix things or make them better. I also enjoy building things, but there's a fine line between that and manual labor. And ideas?

well.. try this. Let them cut your hours and use that extra hour a day to work on your home business of porting and polishing? I have a BMW head I might want done in the next year.. and being in NJ.. coming to you with it is a no brainer

mad_machine wrote: well.. try this. Let them cut your hours and use that extra hour a day to work on your home business of porting and polishing? I have a BMW head I might want done in the next year.. and being in NJ.. coming to you with it is a no brainer

That was going to be my suggestion as well

I agree with other peoples' suggestions to sit down with your boss and let him know how you're feeling and why you're not happy, as well as your other ideas for making and saving money.

One thing to be prepared for though is your boss saying "you did get a raise, I gave you a company truck to use, that's worth a lot of money." He might see it as him giving you a great benefit to show how much you're appreciated, and you turned around and regifted it to someone else. Sure, you were doing it to be nice to a coworker and most people will recognize it that way, but I know several people who would be personally offended that you didn't hold their gift in the highest esteem possible. Now, if your boss asked you to let your coworker borrow the truck (its not clear from your post who asked you to lend it to him), then ignore my post, or better yet, throw that back at him to show that you've already given up some compensation.

Another question, you said that you have a number of other ideas for making money. Are all of these tied to the salvage yard or are they things you can do on your own, kind of like your porting business? If they can only be implemented at the yard, is there any chance you can talk to your boss and see if you can implement some of these ideas on a commission basis so he's not out any money to start with and if these ideas take off then you both end up with more money? Or maybe talk to one of the other salvage yards and see if you can implement your ideas there on a commission basis.

Also, don't forget that his business may be losing money and he simply can't pay you any more than he is now.

Good luck, I hope things work out well.

You've been there 14 years. You already know what's going to happen. You're just venting.

It sounds to me like somebody needs to stop being Mr. nice guy. I was there once, and was afraid that if I was the prick I wanted to be, that it was going to end up costing me. It didn't. Now I don't take E36 M3 from anybody at work, and it's only made my job easier. The most important thing is that you do a good job, and it sounds like you have that down.