Random Babbling Thread 120

Remove all ads!

I'm a field tech, but 99% of the time, I'm paid per install/removal/repair. As a subcontractor, I'm only required to wait 15 mins past the appointment time, and then I take pics of the place, note who I tried to call/text/email, and submit a no-show. I'll get a no-show fee, and mileage. Then they can pay me again to come back out to do the job after they reschedule. Because like you, I get to the job 10-15 mins early, it's already been half an hour by the time I am about to leave, so I really have no sympathy when people will finally call and say, "the driver will be there in 10 minutes, just wait". No, I won't "just wait". I can't stand some stranger who happens to be somebody else's boss barking orders at me like they're my boss. I have no boss. The driver is never there in 10 minutes, and even if he/she were, I won't be. Since the vendors stopped paying wait-time, we don't wait anymore, and 15 minute is more than generous for an appointment that's usually planned several days to weeks in advance, and they were emailed the day before as a reminder. "I didn't get any email" (as I quietly proceed to send a screenshot of the email from my phone, since the schedulers cc me on every reminder).

 

If I were not getting paid to wait and had such a no-show fee? I'd agree with you wholeheartedly.
I believe that stuff like this is why Insight is switching to independent contractors instead of hiring via temp agencies. If you are hired through the agency they have to pay you while you are on the job site.
If it's an independent contractor, they don't have to pay for wait time but can make it a per-job thing no matter how long it takes, and they can do stuff like cancel in the morning if there is an issue with shipping and often not have to pay any fees unless the person is showing up.

The whole switch is about finding ways to pay the techs less in hours and benefits.

In any case, I was on the clock and being paid hourly, and my second site for the day had been canceled, so the longer I had to wait, the more I got paid since I was already screwed out of half a day's pay. So I kinda did mean it when I said "I don't mind waiting, I get paid by the hour."

 

It really is hotter than hell out here in Chicagoland!




Yes, those are REAL, unaltered screen shots from my weather app. Hell, Michigan is a real place.

 

*RANT*
Speaking as an American, I miss the Thanksgiving decorations.
After Halloween the ghosts, goblins, skeletons, and pumpkins used to come down and we'd put up pilgrims & Indians together, turkeys, cornucopias, and fall-themed decorations.
Now, none of the stores sell that stuff, they all jumped right into Christmas and skip Thanksgiving.

The problem is with all the Christmas crapola being put out so early-some stores put it out before Halloween- by the time Christmas rolls around you are sick of it, especially the Christmas carols.
It used to be they waited until the day after Thanksgiving, often called Black Friday to put out all the Christmas decorations. However over the last couple decades retail stores have been trying to push the Christmas BUYING season earlier and earlier, to the point where some stores are put out the Christmas crapola before Halloween.
I just wish something could be done, but you can't even boycott the stores putting the stuff out too early because then you wouldn't be able to shop anywhere.

 

A week ago I just ranted about the Christmas stuff going up too early, but it's supposed to be nice weather in the next couple days before getting colder again.
Would I be contradicting myself or being a hypocrite if I put up the Christmas Lights up outside in the nice weather tomorrow or the day after, but don't actually start turning them on until after Thanksgiving?
Well except for testing, but that won't be more than an hour or two while I'm putting them up, and then for maybe 5-10 minutes after dark the night I put them up to make any adjustments since the lights are harder to see in the day, then I'll unplug them until after Thanksgiving.

 

Yes, it’s hypocritical but do it anyway. You be you.