WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I was promoted to a salary and commission job last summer, my dilama is their are four of us drawing a salary, i, another salesman, the secratary... oops, OFFICE MANAGER, and the owner of the company... alot of money going out but none coming in. We do only residential roofing and have done 3 since christmas.. 1 new const. and 2 reroofs. We have several jobs signed up but all want to wait till spring to let us do them. Sping around here means late april to mid may. Would you tell your employer that you would be willing to go on unemployment till spring at which time you would be rehired at same position, or would you just keep your mouth shut and keep drawing a check. I have worked for this employer roofing (shingler) for over thirty years. When i got the salary job i was well aware that during the winter there would be days of sittin in the office with nothing to do. I guess i just can't justify sittin on my can and get paid for it. I have been told by everyone when i got in thi position, that i had paid my dues and deserved this job. Sorry for missing letters , batteries goin dead on keyboard.>>>

Being the boss is pretty lonely some times........kudos' to you for the effort.

Our owner is very religous and kept all of the employees around as he has faith that things will get better, even though the bank advised him to get rid of salaried employees

He finially had to make a decision to keep the business going by downsizing and cutting pay. Some of the christian majority in the company began to vocalized how angry they were at why he had to do this to them, some just had thier salary decreased and still have a job.

This man felt like he was on an ISLAND all alone. Even though I had to take a field position, I understood what had to be done, and I am doing ok. >>>

I can relate to your situation, you've been at this firm for 30 years, and feel like you should be more productive let your employer come to you with that situation, he probably has more money than you think. ;)>>>

If you're a salesman and your job is to knock on the doors there shouldn't be any down time for you.Economy is slow people don't have the money you won't be able to close much but you'll plant the seeds of the future.When things turn around and people can afford roofs they'll know whom to call.>>>

I can tell you this, if someone who worked for me that long came to me with that suggestion I would be very happy, to say the least. By your actions you are really "stepping up" to the situation and all owners appreciate such a thoughtful person. Being the boss is pretty lonely some times........kudos' to you for the effort.

JET>>>

Use this time to sharpen your sales skills and build a database of prospects and their addresses. Whenever you are in a neighborhood, write down all the addresses of the places you see that need a new roof some time in the next year or so. You can look up owner info on the county tax records. Then, when the time comes, contact them via advertising or even just send them a post card or give them a phone call.>>>

We are a state farm premere service provider and i just had their program installed on my computer, so i can keep myself busy learning that and also get a little more experence on the computer.... this is all new to me so i guess i'am going to have to be a little more patient with myself when the snow comes down sideways for a week.>>>

Years ago, I used to work with employees to help them get by on unemployment. If I had only enough work for a guy to get 35 hours in a two week period, I would put all of it in one week so they could get full unemployment check for the other week. Then a guy got mad at me because I was giving more time to another (more productive) employee and decided he would get back at me by filing a complaint. About halfway through the complaint process this guy realized that the result of his complaint would no only get me in trouble, but require him to pay back money, so he dropped the complaint. But it put an end to how far I'm willing to go to help employees out.>>>

our company sort of shut down for a few weeks this winter cause of the weather but i didn't sign up for unemployment. I found a few jobs to do and was in the middle of one when they called me back in :woohoo: So I'm scrambling to finish this job and I cant do it.The next day instead of going to the company job I finish my job in the morning then i go to the company's job and help the crew finish that day (Friday).So I show up at the shop Monday ready to work and after a talk with the boss on why i didn't sign up for unemployment and why i was late and WTF was I doing and who the F did I think I was :) any how I am still employed .>>>

Several of the office staff including my self were downsized to different positions, some were let go who could not contribute elswhere, the rest took a 20% pay cut until spring. I am a lead service tech now and I fill up my off days/ half days with work from 3 other roofing companies. Those co. have downsized and can't offer full time work and are not able to draw the quality roofers. That is where I come in.

I dont like the idea of taking a free ride either if I was salaried, But if you sacrifice yourself and no one else are doing the same...you have accomplished nothing.>>>

I don't see any masqueraded nobility, I do see a noble suggestion and one that does'nt take long in reaching from one coming in to the management side from the tools, where you know if you ain't hustlin' then the company ain't making money. T Lok, I felt the same way when in the same position you are, and my boss simply said " Jed, you gotta take the quick with the slow"..............now, sure enough, we are back to 12 hr days.>>>

Very well said Mike>>>

T-Lock,

What would I do?

Anything I had to in order NOT to collect unemployment. If collecting unemployement isn't "sitting on my can and getting paid for it", then I don't know what is.

As and owner, I know the winter is slow and I budget for it. While I recognize the masqueraded nobility of your considered gesture, I would actually be disappointed in a valued employee that offered to take what I consider to be a glorified welfare check in lieu of a paycheck.

I'm sure that you are the kind of guy that will put in your 60 hours for 40 hours of pay during the heat of the season, and as the owner of the company I consider these winter/slow periods as payback for the dedication you gave when the heat was on. I know it's a switch from what you have done all your life, but it's really not the same. >>>

What a guy! Heck, start another roofing business! Thatis what everybody does!>>>

Very interesting topic. I own a small roofing business similar to the one you describe and just went through the same thing. ALL of my sales and office staff are laid off and on unemployment until work picks up. Actually work has picked up some but not quite enough to hire them back on yet. I kept all of them way too long because as you describe they are friends as well not just employees. But when it comes down to them or the survival of the business i had no choice but to let them go. That being said i still have to agree with JSC. Its not your responsibility to fire yourself. The owner knows the money sitituation. He must decide. Might be a good idea to mention your willingness to do this because he may be keeping you own even though he cant afford it. Then again maybe he can afford it. If he can then dont worry about it. The work will come soon enough! :)>>>

Anybody going on unemployment right now is probably guaranteed exensions until the end of the Obama administration. $450 per week guaranteed no matter how bad it gets out there. Change you can believe in. Sit home, make crap to sell on ebay.>>>