marcusluvsvols
Blue collar skoller
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2012
- Messages
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Yep. He is co-owner of the company with his business partner. My friend handles the field operation and his partner handles everything in the office from bidding jobs to billing, payroll etc. My friend definitely has the easier job by orders of magnitude and at this point spends about 1/3 to 1/2 the year on vacation whether in state or out of town/country. I have never asked my friend about the vacation pay...have never asked either of them for a raise either. I have only asked for a raise once actually in 30 years. The 1st guy I started framing houses for in summer 1993 for $6 an hour. I know that has cost me lost income over the years. Its just something I always figured that I make it obvious that I work my ass off...production is unmistakable in construction...and have always been the guy who wanted to work late and weekends. Its obvious when a mason lays 1000-1200 brick everyday and the other guys are laying 700 or 800. If I ever felt woefully underpaid or underappreciated I would have gone to work for someone else...I have always felt that if I am a top producer and making my employer good money that I shouldn't have to ask for a raise. They never had to ask me to give 100% or set the pace everyday for the entire crew. I learned decades ago that strangely most people think they are hard workers when in fact 20% of the people do about 80% of the work. Fortunately construction is great at separating the real producers from the rest. Both in terms of quality and output. Everyone around you can tell how much you get done everyday...theres no "hiding in the office, then take credit for coworkers efforts" type crap like sometimes happens in office environments from what I understand. There are definitely downsides to construction though...i have had 2 back surgeries and while I don't ever build with my hands anymore unless i just get bored and want to, I still freeze all winter and fry all summer. Dont have insurance for my family either. Only medical on myself paid by the company. I should probably ask my boss about the vacation pay. I love my job though honestly. My boss is great to me. He might come by my job once every month or 2 for a few minutes...never, ever calls me about work. When we talk we are laughing and cutting up and never even discuss work unless theres a problem on my job that I want to bring to his attention or a change order so big that I dont feel comfortable pricing myself...and both of those are very rare maybe once a year type things. They leave me alone and let me knock out these apartment complexes and almost never question what I do. I took the other day off...I didnt have to call and tell anyone. My boss always says " If your jobs good, we are good. Havent heard a peep." I have been offered the same position for 2 other competitors and both offered me a little more money than i am making but I just dont think anyone else would ever treat me as good as these guys do. I really enjoy the freedom and trust they allow me. Maybe I am an idiot and could have earned substantially more money over time if I was willing to take more risks. I am thankful for the job security though for 14+ years and my boss had told me that if 08 happens again and he has to lay everyone off that I will be last man standing because we are loyal to eachother. I am really thankful for that. 08 scarred me man because I saw a lot of good men like Slice and my FIL who were self employed/owners lose literally everything they had. Many guys that were quite good at their trades never recovered.
