Had enough...

[Koogatubac]

Been in and out of jobs past 6 years all on temporary contracts due to 'no work' left the most permanent job i had to work in my hometown in november (got told the guy wants a plumber who does good work etc promising me good hours, anything i need etc) anyway turning sour due to this:

3rd job where he expects this done in a day: all 2nd fix
- basin with chrome pipe and trap
- toilet
- electric shower
- shower enclosure
- towel rail
- smart siliconing finish
- triple extension ladders to patch waste pipes outside
All needs draining down and testing
8am - 4pm he expects this done, 1 man

Ive told him its impossible to do this properly, 2 man would be doable. Ive been covering all private work while hes doing heating contracts.
He wont answer his phone and i got a snotty message saying its not working out and the jobs just paying for my wages.
Its took 5 months that hes gave me even a drill! Ive had to buy all my workwear, equipment. Btw im employed

 

[hammers4spanner]

start stealing his customers and go it alone

 

[Koogatubac]

Every1 just wants a cheap, fast job. Boils my blood

 

[PlumbersMate]

Surely of you're employed it's his legal duty to supply your workwear?

 

[Roger Welton]

Sounds like a gem, 'tis a sign to start looking for greener pastures.

 

[Koogatubac]

Plumbersmate - you totally right. Theres alot of stuff hes supposed to of done which is legal. However employees have no rights if they have served at a place less than 2yrs

I know whats going to happen. Tomorrow ill work my normal pace, and do a good standard, work till contracted hours (any extra hours i dont get paid) he'll txt at 6 since for some reason he wont talk to me and lay me off. He's most likely only quoted a day to 2nd fix which is absolute bonkers...

 

[Koogatubac]

Roger - im sick of going in and out of jobs. Think im going to wrap it all in. I tryed self employed and it failed because people wanted cheap, fast jobs.

 

[Killy Bing]

Where are you koog and whats your experiance.
never know you might be able to buddy up with another member.

 

[Leo21]

Crash his van!

 

[gasmanrob]

I've had that feeling before.... For me recession hit sites shut and there wasn't a scrap of anything anywhere, luckily it was Christmas time and parcel force were looking for Christmas labor so managed to get on that to be fair I actually really enjoyed the job, whilst it wasn't satisfying it paid well and I had zero responsibility just drive and deliver but eventually it became boring and sole destroying knowing what I should be doing...

any way if that's how you feel get a job with one of the outfits, BG, homeserve, AA ok we slate them but 30k a year and all you need to do is provide your pants and socks! Ignore the politics and just do your job it's actually not that bad I'd done a year as a contractor to serve and 3 1/2 years on BG, if you can toe the line it's a job for life with the call outs and overtime holiday buy back etc I was well over the 50 mark and for what just doing as I was told, I only left because I'd told myself if i didn't start up on my own by 30 I'd never do it and time was running out, look in this months gas safe AA are recruiting

 

[hammers4spanner]

Roger - im sick of going in and out of jobs. Think im going to wrap it all in. I tryed self employed and it failed because people wanted cheap, fast jobs.

i dont think you can ever work out how self employed works its totally hit and miss with pricing up your works.

Lately i have been trying my luck chucking in prices at a higher end and they have been coming back with start dates ,

other times i think lower my prices and dont hear anything

 

[Koogatubac]

Cheers gasman. I got into this trade to do good jobs, not butcher peoples houses.

Ive been gas safe for 3/4 yrs out my time, majority of experience on install side with some boiler repair experience that taught myself. Ill give that a look tomorrow rob, ill most likely know whats happening tomorrow aswell. Feel like im going to flip my lid and ive got his van, the copper will all be gone if im laid off. Just pants how this is happening, all i want is a stable job that does good work which will help me pay mortgage etc. looks like looking for a house will be on hold! Damn!

 

[Koogatubac]

I live in darlington, county durham. Majority of the plumbers are bad, 9/10 every1 is cheap as chips aswell!

 

[hammers4spanner]

sounds like plymouth that does

 

[SimonG]

I live in darlington, county durham. Majority of the plumbers are bad, 9/10 every1 is cheap as chips aswell!

Well Ill go to the foot of our stairs. Just down the road from me koogs. Im in barnie. Im self employed but only enough for myself. If I hear of any gas work ill give you a shout.

 

[SimonG]

I only do oil and wet work, but do get asked for the odd gas job.

 

[Koogatubac]

No worries mate, barnard castle has LOADS of work! All loaded aswell! Only place ive ever been where they want a decent job and didnt care how long it took!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

start stealing his customers and go it alone

Really !!!!

 

[Killy Bing]

Now simon knows he can in a pinch get an extra hand from you koog 🙂
beauty of knowing forum members local to you 🙂

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Been in and out of jobs past 6 years all on temporary contracts due to 'no work' left the most permanent job i had to work in my hometown in november (got told the guy wants a plumber who does good work etc promising me good hours, anything i need etc) anyway turning sour due to this:

3rd job where he expects this done in a day: all 2nd fix
- basin with chrome pipe and trap
- toilet
- electric shower
- shower enclosure
- towel rail
- smart siliconing finish
- triple extension ladders to patch waste pipes outside
All needs draining down and testing
8am - 4pm he expects this done, 1 man

Ive told him its impossible to do this properly, 2 man would be doable. Ive been covering all private work while hes doing heating contracts.
He wont answer his phone and i got a snotty message saying its not working out and the jobs just paying for my wages.
Its took 5 months that hes gave me even a drill! Ive had to buy all my workwear, equipment. Btw im employed

Sounds like reasonable expectation but not sure if it's the correct wages involved !

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Your better than that mate, I'm going to use my catchphrase here 'Come to Edinburgh' :lol:

 

[northcarr]

It's hard around me at the moment keep getting undercut I priced a job £1200 very low cust said got another price £800 turns out to be a Large company that did the job at cost just to keep the lads busy.I had a look at jobcenter plus there are company's on there paying £10 pH Around me, they expect every ticket under the sun call out rota the lot ffs.

 

[gasmanrob]

Or if 9/10 plumbers are bad use it to your advantage market yourself as an above average service,

 

[gasmanrob]

It's hard around me at the moment keep getting undercut I priced a job £1200 very low cust said got another price £800 turns out to be a Large company that did the job at cost just to keep the lads busy.I had a look at jobcenter plus there are company's on there paying £10 pH Around me, they expect every ticket under the sun call out rota the lot ffs.

Someone priced a full system at 2k less then I did and 1k less then the next quote, I finish tomorrow at my original price as agreed. Was I too expensive or was he too cheap? Anyway reputation proceeded me and I landed the job

 

[chris watkins]

Kooga, Go & talk to him before you do anything rash. See if he will go for a pint, tell him how you feel & let him tell it from his side, keep an open mind. Ask him how the work is priced & what he expects from you.
You may well end up at the same place or you may well see things from each others perspective & come to a more happy working relationship.
In my experience it is the lack of communication that is the down fall & the breakdown benefits neither party.
Talk !!!

 

[julesverne]

Plumbersmate - you totally right. Theres alot of stuff hes supposed to of done which is legal. However employees have no rights if they have served at a place less than 2yrs

Employees have plenty of rights especially when it comes to things like PPE and not supplying tools etc.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Employees have plenty of rights especially when it comes to things like PPE and not supplying tools etc.

Yes they have the rights, but they can be very hard to enforce, unless the employer does something really stupid.

 

[Koogatubac]

Well got the toilet, basin, shower unit, towel rail all done and tested by 12:30. Dont like being rushed. However shower enclosure defeated me. Was a load of crap! Was a 2 man job, unfortunately customer had to help me, 75yr old, never been so embarrassed in my life!! No good this...

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Your spot on mate, 2 men make it a lot more manageable 🙂

 

[AWheating]

sounds like plenty of other gaffas. If he wants a poor job at a rushed rate, then its either what you want to do or not. I work for one guy who constant tells me off for doing my job to the letter of the law. He keeps giving me work tho, because all his other lads cant sell a fat kid sweets in a sweet shop.

 

[Millsy 82]

Well got the toilet, basin, shower unit, towel rail all done and tested by 12:30. Dont like being rushed. However shower enclosure defeated me. Was a load of crap! Was a 2 man job, unfortunately customer had to help me, 75yr old, never been so embarrassed in my life!! No good this...

Please don't take this the wrong way. But sometimes it's good for people to rush you. Years ago I used to go at a leisurely pace and jobs used to take ages but looked brilliant now I can work a lot faster and still do a good job because I worked for a company that piled on the work but I refused to drop my quality. You learn to plan things before you do so you can get the work done quicker. I am now looking to go self employed and I will be more competitive now that I know I can work quicker. (It used to take me 2 days to do a combi swap nothing else like power flush valves etc now to do the same would take me 6 hours including having a chat lol.)

 

[lame plumber]

bit of a chin wag may help, look at things fm the otherside, do you buy kit, tools etc then see the guy poke off or do you give them some time see the outcome and decide to keep them. 2 sides to each story most days

 

[Koogatubac]

Took 6months to get a drill, im not using mine because im not getting any money back from wear and tear. Seems like millsy hit the nail on the head! Supposably the business side isnt making much money, since jobs are taking longer. Going to see how it goes, ive even offered to work for free on saturday to help catch work up but doesnt want me to, and going to catch up next week. Watch this space cheers guys for all input!

 

[Centralheatking]

photograph ALL your work and keep records CHkingQUOTE=Koogatubac;624048]Plumbersmate - you totally right. Theres alot of stuff hes supposed to of done which is legal. However employees have no rights if they have served at a place less than 2yrs

I know whats going to happen. Tomorrow ill work my normal pace, and do a good standard, work till contracted hours (any extra hours i dont get paid) he'll txt at 6 since for some reason he wont talk to me and lay me off. He's most likely only quoted a day to 2nd fix which is absolute bonkers...[/QUOTE]

 

[AWheating]

Your employer legally should supply and maintain everything. Does not matter about the time you have worked for him/her. They are legally responsible for all health and safety items ( both supply and maintenance of) , including any protective clothing and uniform, they should even wash it for you if needed. They must protect you from asbestos and other hazards in the work place.

If you worked in a factory which is your workplace would you be expected to bring the tools and machinery to work with you? Would you have to pay for you own protection from working hazards? No. Your workplace is the property your working in, legally it's the same. In the real world only large national companies supply hand tools, most don't supply power tools. This has been the way of the trade since time began tbh. Most tradesmen don't mind this as they prefer there own tools and can take them where ever they want.

 

[sheff paul]

Took 6months to get a drill, im not using mine because im not getting any money back from wear and tear. Seems like millsy hit the nail on the head! Supposably the business side isnt making much money, since jobs are taking longer. Going to see how it goes, ive even offered to work for free on saturday to help catch work up but doesnt want me to, and going to catch up next week. Watch this space  cheers guys for all input!

He sounds like a complete **** (sorry croppie).Jack it in and start working away again,i fyou can stretch to Leeds there is plenty of new build planned for the future

 

[Dotty]

He sounds like a complete **** (sorry croppie).Jack it in and start working away again,i fyou can stretch to Leeds there is plenty of new build planned for the future

You're allowed to let loose in the Arms Paul.

 

[chris watkins]

You're allowed to let loose in the Arms Paul.

OH F**Kit now he tells me.

 

[thompsonbrown]

Kooga, Go & talk to him before you do anything rash. See if he will go for a pint, tell him how you feel & let him tell it from his side, keep an open mind. Ask him how the work is priced & what he expects from you.
You may well end up at the same place or you may well see things from each others perspective & come to a more happy working relationship.
In my experience it is the lack of communication that is the down fall & the breakdown benefits neither party.
Talk !!!

Totally Agree..

If you have been in and out of work for the last 6 years and want this permanent job, It might be worth while trying to explane the concerns you have before you quit. Personally he sounds like a *****.
and you might be up against it, if he's pricing jobs to cheap then texting you saying it's not working out.
Most bosses want to make money out of people they employ and will often push them till somthing is said. Any decent boss knows it's in his best interest when safety matters are a concern.
Fitting shower screens is a valid point, Try to explane that him poppping back for 30 mins to help with the glass screens etc.. is a safer alternative to you struggling with a 75yr old customer. And a cheaper one than you smashing it while fitting alone.
The last thing working in your home town you need is a ex-boss saying you've stolen gear or trashed his van.
So I would stay away from that Idea. Iv'e had bosses I couldn't stand and once I found how to get my point over without ****ing them off, Turned out to be good mates months later.
Anyway:Good luck.