Shop Owner with a Question

[redcorvetteman3]

Mods please move if I placed the thread in the wrong area..


Ok I own a small heavy truck repair shop, The shop has only been open for 1 1/2 before that I owned a machine shop and I needed a change so I started a small trucking company then added a garage. I have a few questions that I am looking to know. Most guys are making $17 to $20 hour with no benifits.

Who pays for Uniforms? Currently I am

Someone clocks in change's into there uniform and sames when leaves then clocks out? Is that normal?

I own most of the tools, but the employee's do have there own, I keep getting the notion that if they break their tool working I should replace it??

We are small shop so breaks and lunch times to varry from day to day.

I am looking for what others think or deal with. In the machine shop days I did not have to deal with these type of problems.

 

[nehog]

Mods please move if I placed the thread in the wrong area..


Ok I own a small heavy truck repair shop, The shop has only been open for 1 1/2 before that I owned a machine shop and I needed a change so I started a small trucking company then added a garage. I have a few questions that I am looking to know. Most guys are making $17 to $20 hour with no benifits.

Who pays for Uniforms? Currently I am

Varies, but I find most smaller companies let the employee pay for uniforms after they are issued two 'free' ones. Some (larger) provide the uniforms and clean them as well...

Someone clocks in change's into there uniform and sames when leaves then clocks out? Is that normal?

Personally, (bet I take flack for this!) I think changes should be off-clock.

I own most of the tools, but the employee's do have there own, I keep getting the notion that if they break their tool working I should replace it??

Their tools, they pay. Your tools, they pay. Breaking a tool (a good one, not a POS) is always the fault of the user of the tool.

We are small shop so breaks and lunch times to varry from day to day.

And the question is?

I am looking for what others think or deal with. In the machine shop days I did not have to deal with these type of problems.

You didn't mention how many mechanics you have, what type of tools are being broken (and how).

 

[stingry]

I haven't had employees for quite some time and have never ran a repair shop, but, I can tell you this. It's just human nature for employees to push the limits, 10 minute breaks become 15, then 20, etc. Set your rules and stick to them!

Cheers
Steve

 

[Jim in Wis]

Providing their uniforms is a nice thing and seems fair, but there should be a limit on how many a year.
Maybe have a 10 minute clean up time at the end of the day for washing hands, putting stuff away, taking off the uniform, etc.
In most machine shops the shop pays for normal wear type tools - drills, taps, etc. Stuff that would get "used up" while using it. Regular tools should be the responsibility of the employee - they should buy good warranteed stuff. The shop could own some things that are more unusual, like maybe really big wrenches (1 1/2 inch or something).
It sounds like you are trying to be good to your employees - as long as they are happy and the customers are happy, you're doing it right.

 

[NitroPress]

Depends a lot on how you want to treat your guys. We weren't a mechanical company but we took VERY good care of our people. Those who appreciated it stayed on and got even better treatment; those who took advantage were shown the door and found new careers.

As long as you can afford it, things like providing uniforms and laundry, a reasonable tool replacement budget, etc. will go a long way towards keeping your best people and making them loyal as hell. Trying to pinch every penny out of salary and compensation is a short-sighted profit motive.

 

[redcorvetteman3]

Varies, but I find most smaller companies let the employee pay for uniforms after they are issued two 'free' ones. Some (larger) provide the uniforms and clean them as well... Personally, (bet I take flack for this!) I think changes should be off-clock. Their tools, they pay. Your tools, they pay. Breaking a tool (a good one, not a POS) is always the fault of the user of the tool. And the question is?

You didn't mention how many mechanics you have, what type of tools are being broken (and how).

Right now I have four guys they mostly break sockets some are good ones other I am sure are HF. The other day they were taking a head of a detroit and one stud would not come out, I had to torch the head to get enough stud to stick out, took tons of time and not sure how many tools they broke. I was working on something else so I was not there the whole time.

The lunch thing was just a FYI..

 

[wornoutoldman]

Uniform changes should not be on your dime. Show up on time in uniform. Remove uniform put on street clothes after you punch out. Shop pays for uniforms/cleaning.

Tools should be the responsibility of user.

You can't let empoyees take advantage of your good nature. It's a lot like parenting. This doesn't mean you have to be a **** but you have to draw a line at some point and be the boss not their friend.

 

[ptschram]

The changing time is dependent upon the pay method. If paying flat-rate, that is their time. If paying clock time, be "fit for duty" at starting time.

If you break one of my tools you're gonna replace it with the same damn thing or you're gone on down the road.

I like to think I'm an easy guy to work for (don't we all?) but it is a dictatorship, not a democracy. I got really tired of having everybody in the shop working out of my toolbox and had to put down the law. Two guys were gone shortly thereafter and one showed up with a plastic tub full of H-F tools.

Now that it's down to me and my kid, I'm a lot more tolerant, but I don't think he knows it yet, but I'm hoping to have his own toolbox set up for him over Christmas.

 

[Al Bundy]

Your shop, your rules. Just make sure your employees know what's expected of them. I've always been a stickler for being on time. But I always let everyone know when I hired them. "If you're supposed to be here at 9:00AM, be here ready to work at 9:00AM. Not 9:05."

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Here' my 2cents based on my own shop experience both in machine shops and equipment repair -- all small places of 25 or less employees. **NOTE check your local emplooyer rights / responsibilty laws **:
Uniforms usually provided by the company - some places may charge a small weekly maint. fee back to the employee and / or charge for excessive wear /damage that goes beyond the uniform companies allowable limits (most uniform places will replace all garments once a year for free as worn-out replacement). So, if a worker sets a shirt on fire with a torch while it's only a month old they (employer) will charge him for a new one. That said, my current shop understands that I would not set that shirt on fire intensionally ('cause that fricken' hurts me too!) and has never charged me for anything like that.

Time card issues: The only way to control the getting ready before / cleanup after and if it's on the time card or off is to lay out the rules in a company policy that each employee reads and signs before they ever start thier first day of work. Now, IMO / Experience, the only places that do that and enforce it have been the production jobs. IE: machine shops / factory type environment....most repair places are flixable on this -even moreso if you don't have the working enviromemnt of structured breaks and lunchtime. If the employees are paid for lunch time due to variyng times or you might have to drop your sandwich and help out a customer sort of thing, then "fudging" a little time while getting changed into your inform is usually not worth fighting over....otherwise the guy will start clocking out and going out for an hour lunch away from the shop just for spite.....leaving noone there to handle the customers who invariably show up at lunchtime....I have also heard that some states laws are that you have to allow the worker time to get ready and therefore the clock in first, then change -- again consult you local authorities.

Shop generaly only buy specialty tools, shop equipment (jacks and stands), wear / consumable type stuff (drill bits / taps and dies / grinding wheels) or oversized stuff. Anymore than that is just being nice to the employee....also emlpoyees tend to be a little careless with tool that are not "thiers".

 

[Steevo]

Employees should arrive dressed in their uniforms, or get dressed before clocking in. Getting dressed for work is not "work". If my staff showed up in their bathrobes, clocked in, and then got dressed for their job, I'd warn them once and fire them the second time.
If you have supplied them with all of the required tools to do the job, but they "prefer" to use their own instead, then all wear/breakage is on the employee. If they are supplying tools you do not provide, that are necessary to perform their duties, then you should cover breakage. The alternative is a "tool allowance agreement" wherein you add some stipend to their weekly check, that is intended to cover tools they have to provide, and they sign an agreement saying they don't expect you to buy or replace those tools, nor are you responsible for wear and tear on them.
As for breaks and lunch, just be glad you are not an employer in California. Everything about hourly employees is so regulated that you'd go nuts calculating the overtime, missed meal period payments, long duration work period adjustments, cumulative hours adjustments, etc.
You are the owner/boss. Set some rules about breaks and lunch, and enforce them. Post them visibly in the break area, so there is no question about them.

 

[dude67]

Can you write off these items like uniforms and tools the company taxes as a cost of doing business? The other things like lunch and breaks are at your discretion. I think that 10 mins to clean up or 20 mins to clean up the shop and wash up at the end of the day is fair. If it's being done and not standing around BSing. I mean you get dirty working there and make the mess. You should be ready to go to work when you clock in. Not clock in and hang around and BS twice a day getting dressed and undressed.

 

[phreke]

I worked as a flat rate tech at an Audi dealership for 6 years. Because we were flat rate there was no issue with punching in and then changing, however the two hourly kids had to change and then punch in. The uniforms were supplied by an outside company and split between the employer and myself. $7 a week for each of us if i recall. The dealer supplied equipment. ie AC machine, cherry picker, ****** jack etc. Everything else was the techs responsibility. they provided a set number of cutoff wheels and sanding discs per month, if they got used up too bad. If we broke our stuff and asked for a stipend they would laugh at us, and in my area the shop paying for hand tools is unheard of, especially because we use warrantiable tools almost exclusively. The first place i worked at the shop foreman would yell at this one hourly kid all the time because he would punch in then take his morning dump and then change. Lunch and breaks were pretty laid back, again becuase we were flat rate. It sounds to me as though you are being pretty fair.

 

[Jagmandave]

It depends......

We had a small company (less than 30 employees) and ran a food plant, the employees weren't allowed to take their uniforms out of the plant (contamination possibilities) so since we provided them we also had to pay for change time, that's just the way it works (it's the law here in Kansas - check your state's regs)

I think a tool allowance is better than simply replacing their broken or damaged tools - pay it quarterly or yearly - it'll feel like a bonus to them and reward those who take care of their (and your) stuff better.

I'm for policies that encourage good work habits and care about the shop and equipment - that also translates to the customer's equipment and makes for good long term relationships and lower shop turnover.

 

[rickb801]

Employees should be in uniforms prior to clocking in and should change into street clothes on their own time. Starting time is starting time not get ready to work time. All tools, except specialty tools, should be furnished by the employee.
I don't know how many employees you have but lost minutes per employee add up very quickly to many, many non billable hours per day, week, month, and year, which is increased operating costs for you. Do you use flat rate or time spent to bill your jobs?
From my experience as a business owner for 17 years with shop workers( not mechanics though), with written policies signed by the employees, it was a constant issue to enforce the policies and eliminate non productive time.
It is interesting, and necessary, to find out how much non productive time you are paying for each day, week, month, year. My guess is that at least 25% of billable time is lost per day per employee. In a 8 hour workday that equals 6 hours of billable time. The point is you need to operate your shop at maximum efficency in order to be profitable.

 

[Jagmandave]

Like I wrote before, check your state's regulations - in our state if the employer pays for the uniforms he's also required to pay for time to change into and out of them. Period.

Whether it "seems" fair or not, it may be the law!

 

[toymn6366]

my truck shop and maint.shop has 4 guys total we pay for uniforms and washing for them. As for paying for changing time they wear uniforms home so its not a problem.In truck shop all hand tools they own with company suppling other tools but in maint. dept.company supplys all the tools.

 

[MartyO]

Everyone wears jeans and work boots.

For shirts we supply button downs, T's, and sweat shorts. Everyone washes their own clothes.

 

[evil_twin]

Who pays for Uniforms? Currently I am

Either or. Some guys like just the work pants and don't use the shirts, so it would be a waste if you paid for shirts that they didn't use. At my old shop, we had to pay for our own uniforms. At another shop, the owner took care of payment for the uniforms for us.

You can just have them wash their own clothes and give them "X" amount of money so they can buy pants and shirts. Boots is on their own.

Someone clocks in change's into there uniform and sames when leaves then clocks out? Is that normal?

Again, this all depends on what you want to do. At my shop now, we change when we get there AFTER we clock in. At my old shop, it was easier to change before you clock in because that way you can grab the first ticket, and were quicker.

I own most of the tools, but the employee's do have there own, I keep getting the notion that if they break their tool working I should replace it??

I've always had to pay for my own tools. Every now and then I do have to borrow a tool. If it breaks, I buy my own and replace the broken one. My rule of thumb with tools is: If you have to borrow it twice, you need to own it.

We are small shop so breaks and lunch times to varry from day to day.

Legally for every 8hrs, employees get 45mins for lunch(I believe). I used to skip lunch and would just 'snack' throughout the day. And I think it's for every 4hrs employees get a 15min break?

I am looking for what others think or deal with. In the machine shop days I did not have to deal with these type of problems.

Every shop is different. You just have to remember to enforce what YOU want. Most people will just deal with the rules, and you ALWAYS have the few that try to push the limits.

Goodluck.

 

[redcorvetteman3]

Wow thanks for all the replies, I feel like most people do when it comes to most things, but like I said we are small everyone gets along good and dont need to rock the boat to much. We pay for a uniform service, so all the fixing and laundry is paid for. Looks like the first of the year I should start/ create a new employee hand book and have them sign it.

I am trying to do the right thing, I want to be fair and honest but dont want walked on to much either.

 

[blackice]

we pay uniforms. If not, they would just want to wear whatever, and thats not professional looking.

Techs buy there own tools, we only provide shop equipment (which is the standard around here). My personal tools are safely at home (I am not on the floor anymore). when they where there, i didnt lend tools normaly, and if you broke it, you would pay.

My policy is not to punch in till your ready to work, and punch out before you get ready to leave. I have techs that still try to cheat the system. I got tired of arguing with them, so now I just adjust the times it when I do payroll. I no longer have arguments about it.

I normally automaticlly deduct a half hour for lunch, except for one tech that often works through his lunch or eats quick when we are busy.

just remember, you need to balance your budget evenly with what needs to be done to attract and retain good employees. you cant go broke giving them everything, but you need to invest a little in your staff too.

 

[NitroPress]

I am trying to do the right thing, I want to be fair and honest but dont want walked on to much either.

A detailed employee handbook, written in the simplest possible language and looked over by a labor lawyer experienced in your area, can eliminate a huge amount of trouble.

 

[ptschram]

I personally prefer that these things be taken care of on a one-to-one basis.

Blanket proclamations always seem to have a way to come around and bite me in the ***.

 

[xurusaibobx]

as a Tech and as a supervisor point of view

my shop i work at is a small 3 man shop it all depends how you want your business to look like. for us my boss wants us to look very professional so he provides uniforms that everyone wears (i.e tucked in shirts). he pays for that but ive been to other shops were the tech provided their own uniforms some would wear regular t-shirts, dickies work shirts of different colors, that just didnt seem right or professional in my mind. so yes i think as a good boss they should provide uniforms paid for or at least 50% split.

you can make that money back by using some of the "Shop Fees" you charge on every bill.

Tools- Shop Tools should always be located in a shop tool box not in personal boxes. if a tech is always using a certain tool he should well enough buy his own at one point of time. they only reason why i see Bosses buy tools is in case the techs tools break then he can borrow those but not always using shop tools and never buying their own set.

my helper borrows my tools all the time but i cant complain hes helping me right now. but later on when we finally give him his own stall i have to tell him no. in this business your tools make you money. but you need money to make money if you know what i mean.


at the end of the day as the owner you have to ask your self " are my employees happy" happy employees make a good business, a good trusting business. remember that! most shops out there owners get greedy cut corners save shop money. if your in that for the money your in the wrong business let me tell you.

 

[kv501]

Legally for every 8hrs, employees get 45mins for lunch(I believe). I used to skip lunch and would just 'snack' throughout the day. And I think it's for every 4hrs employees get a 15min break?

Wrong.

I know you're intentions are good, but don't come to internet forums and talk about imaginary laws that you thought you heard one time. It does nothing for useful conversation, especially when the OP is asking legit questions regarding his business. If you want to talk about laws cite your sources like this so people don't get misled or confused. It's like that buddy everyone has who says, "It's a state law, man."

Armchair human resources is a complete waste of time.

 

[Brentocool]

Where I work its understood that if a co requires you to wear a uniform changing time is on the clock. We have a uniform service and they split the bill with us weekly.( $8)Tools no question are the techs own property. Shop tools are the companys and are not the techs problem if broken. Unless miss used. Then theres other issues.

 

[BillK]

Vetteman,
I would recommend that as soon as you are done reading this, you go to www.iatn.net and sign up. It is free and you meet the qualifications. Once you get signed up, go to the Shop Management Forum where you will learn more than you want to know They also have a Heavy Duty Fleet forum. I have learned so much from the management forum that it is amazing. There are some hard guys there and they will let you know what they feel about anything you post, but it is all in a positive manner.

I think that anyone in the automotive repair business should be a member there.

 

[redcorvetteman3]

Thanks I am going to look into that looks very useful