I Think they are seriously underpaying you ash, I have worked for peanuts in the past. You need to relies just what you're worth it's easy to underestimate yourself at the end of the day you are gsr all the cost ,time and stress you need recompense. If plumbers/gas engineers are getting paid badly which seam's to be talked a lot about on the forum then change jobs, it appears companies want to pay trades all the same rate which to me is unfair a painter does not have to retrain every 5yrs (no disrespect to painters).
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- Thread starter armyash
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View the thread, titled "Am I being too sensitive?? feeling a bit stressed." which is posted in UK Plumbers Forums on UK Plumbers Forums.
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Ok thanks for clearing that up regarding pay as i said i'd be honest about things so will say what i know.
Still doesn't change the fact that the other guys do a lot less but get paid more and don't do the extra hours i do.
First thing I will do is ask for a pay rise this week and see what they say, as already said i enjoy the work but I want what i feel is fair.
Thanks for all the replies. I feel more confident now to go in and have a word and ask for a pay rise. I have no problem working for them, I'm sure there have been times when they have wondered why they gave me the job but those days are past.
I'll see what gets said, if they say no to a pay rise then I'll be making it clear that come 4.30 I'll be finishing for the day like the others. It works both ways.
I can live on my current pay for now providing I am finishing on time.
I'll see what gets said, if they say no to a pay rise then I'll be making it clear that come 4.30 I'll be finishing for the day like the others. It works both ways.
I can live on my current pay for now providing I am finishing on time.
Hi ash Not knowing your status i.e wife kids mortgage etc etc I think you need to find another job I myself left without another job to go to over the guy cutting my money by 35 quid a week but like you I had the ethic to go to work as you have there is always agency work to fall back on even temporary basis Approach them about the things you have highlighted and its time to believe in yourself best of luck mate and keep us informed...regards Turnpin😀
I
IDCHAPPY
Guy sounds like he's taking the Mick in my opinion 🙂
they are taking the pee ash youll get better money than that anywhere a minimum of 13 per hour on cards with a van fuel card and phone included
The pay for the situation a year ago was perfect
now personally think it's become a one way street and certainly not yours.
now personally think it's become a one way street and certainly not yours.
That's a fair rate for say first 6 months but you can earn more as a labourer. Would be a fair rate if you was working with another fitter and him showing you everything but not to be going out on your own
I
iain85
Where in Kent are you Ash? I think that you should really consider starting to look for another job. Those rates for self employed are horrible. Sounds to me like your employer is a chancer and at the very minimum should be paying you for your overtime.
Like it's already been mentioned there is no way a fencer should out earn a gas engineer, newly qualified or not. The risk we take has to have a significant monetary value attached to it or it's just not worth doing.
You could sub to BG on servicing work ( boring to be fair) for 22 quid an appliance. When I last subbed to them during the induction I met a father and son firm where the son had literally just qualified and he was out subbing on his own.
Good luck what ever you decide. I suppose you could start by requesting minimum a pay rise to achieve parity with your other colleagues and then time and a half after 4.30pm. This should buy you time to find other employment and not fell like your being mugged off.
Like it's already been mentioned there is no way a fencer should out earn a gas engineer, newly qualified or not. The risk we take has to have a significant monetary value attached to it or it's just not worth doing.
You could sub to BG on servicing work ( boring to be fair) for 22 quid an appliance. When I last subbed to them during the induction I met a father and son firm where the son had literally just qualified and he was out subbing on his own.
Good luck what ever you decide. I suppose you could start by requesting minimum a pay rise to achieve parity with your other colleagues and then time and a half after 4.30pm. This should buy you time to find other employment and not fell like your being mugged off.
J
julesverne
Ash you need a raise. I pay my trainee 250 a week + overtime and dinners if I forget to make sarnies
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PlumbersMate thanks for that, I have been down on myself thinking the boss is in the right because of my experience but like you said I don't have anyone going out with me, sure there's still plenty to learn but i'm doing the same work all by myself that if i left he would have to pay another engineer more to do the same work.
If he is happy for me to go out and work on my own then I think it's time he paid me the going rate.
Ash would be a credit to any company he works for.
if i had the work workload id be asking him to work with me because frankly i wouldn't have to worry about the job one bit.
if anyone in kent needed a hand on a weekend then ash would be my suggestion.
if i had the work workload id be asking him to work with me because frankly i wouldn't have to worry about the job one bit.
if anyone in kent needed a hand on a weekend then ash would be my suggestion.
You said that they would review your money based on a month by month basis this hasent happened so i would start the conversation of with ive been here a year now and havent had the pay review we talked about on my appointment can we organize a meeting to discuss this. Then gives you a chance to make notes of all the points you"ve mentioned to us
Thanks Killy!
As you know I lack a bit of confidence at times but the willingness is there and nothing is too much.
Do you pay all your own fuel and van etc etc Ash?
if you do then they are taking the **** to be honest, a year down the line you should be taking home a lot more than that.
As as a self employed engineer, you need to be taking home more than direct labour engineers due to the cost involved and the risk you may not have a job tomorrow.
I had my hours cut at BG and only work 3 days a week now, and I earn just under £700 a week for three days.
I work monday to wednesday and on Thursday and Friday I go out with one of their direct labour engineers and learn more about the repair side of the job.
I dont get paid for this, but as I don't do any private work, I'd only be say at home doing nothing if I wasn't out learning, and you can't really put a price on what I've learnt in the last few weeks. I'm using what I've learnt already and have earned more on the days I'd do work, so it's working out well for me.
BG are not everyone's cup of tea, but it may be worth you having a look at what they could offer you if they take on more contractors in the future.
if you do then they are taking the **** to be honest, a year down the line you should be taking home a lot more than that.
As as a self employed engineer, you need to be taking home more than direct labour engineers due to the cost involved and the risk you may not have a job tomorrow.
I had my hours cut at BG and only work 3 days a week now, and I earn just under £700 a week for three days.
I work monday to wednesday and on Thursday and Friday I go out with one of their direct labour engineers and learn more about the repair side of the job.
I dont get paid for this, but as I don't do any private work, I'd only be say at home doing nothing if I wasn't out learning, and you can't really put a price on what I've learnt in the last few weeks. I'm using what I've learnt already and have earned more on the days I'd do work, so it's working out well for me.
BG are not everyone's cup of tea, but it may be worth you having a look at what they could offer you if they take on more contractors in the future.
How comes they've cut you Tom? Surely they ain't quiet?
Sounds like a good set up you have there. Earning good money on the days you work and learning on the days you dont get paid. What work are you doing when they are paying you?
They do provide van and pay fuel etc but thats the same for the other guys too - painter, labourer etc. If i was paying all that myself i'd have left long after 3 months.
I used to do serving five days a week.
Now i do a mixture of servicing and repairs and some upgrade work now, I much prefer the variety now 🙂
They're not quiet, they're just not a busy as they thought it would be, mainly because we didn't have a cold winter really.
Most of the cuts are down to the fact that their direct labour engineers only work 3 days a week in the summer and they legally, because of the union, have to offer them the chance to work their days off in the summer. If they kept all the contractors doing their service programme then they wouldn't be able to offer the legal overtime.
It suits me at the minute, ive worked like a dog the past 18 months getting my house deposit together and working 3 days a week is like a mini rest for me 🙂
i have it on good authority that I'll be back on 5 days in September. Otherwise I'd have left when the cuts happened 🙂
It sounds like you suffer from nice guy syndrome. Willing, understanding and not a money grabber, that's perfect for an employer who won't offer you more money when he thinks you won't bring it up either and cost himself more.
I've been there myself and judging by your previous posts you suffer a little from low self confidence in some areas of the job. (No offence)
You need to value yourself so that you can sell that value to your employer. Once you've realised you are good at what you do ( and I would say you sound like you are from the posts and very interested in doing it right) you'll have the confidence to open up the conversation.
I think the wage was fair but the hours aren't, so suggest invoice him for your extra hours, or agree a higher basic. Nothing to stop you looking for other work in the mean time.
good luck with it, sounds like your worth employing so if he's sensible he will be wiling to negotiate, if he's looking at the short term pound signs he won't budge on your wage and you'll know its time to move on.
I've been there myself and judging by your previous posts you suffer a little from low self confidence in some areas of the job. (No offence)
You need to value yourself so that you can sell that value to your employer. Once you've realised you are good at what you do ( and I would say you sound like you are from the posts and very interested in doing it right) you'll have the confidence to open up the conversation.
I think the wage was fair but the hours aren't, so suggest invoice him for your extra hours, or agree a higher basic. Nothing to stop you looking for other work in the mean time.
good luck with it, sounds like your worth employing so if he's sensible he will be wiling to negotiate, if he's looking at the short term pound signs he won't budge on your wage and you'll know its time to move on.
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Sounds ace to me tom
Spot on really. I'm fairly new to this type of work and it's the first time I have worked on a self employed basis so I kind of feel like I have let them dictate terms to me without questioning anything and have accepted it all.
I agree the wage is not totally unfair IF i'm working to my set hours and like you say i'm not a money grabber but now I know everybody is earning more for doing less it's got to the point where something needs to be said.
If they are not prepared to budge it will definitely be time to move on.
Thanks for your response.
I love it mate.
I still reckon 60/70% of my work is servicing! which I don't mind as I find it quite relaxing.
The other 30/40% will be anything from breakdowns, which I'm slowly getting the hang of and some pipework jobs and rad installs, which is what I did most of my apprenticeship in so I'm pretty good on that already.
I can't complain really 🙂
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