Floor Focus Article

Floordude

Reading an article, by Lisabeth, in the latest Floor Focus rag, I was surprised they actually printed this...

"Most of our installers are subs, "but we manage them closely"
If you are a sub and do not do what we want, you do not work for us anymore. Right now we have two subs that work exclusively for us. We utilize manufacturers training for sales and installation."



Talk about an admission of guilt, and he doesn't even know it. His partner is an attorney. Neither had any flooring experience, besides having floors in their own homes and businesses. They bought an existing business, without any knowledge of the business.


This is how wages are surpressed, and exploiting the uneducated or passive labor. I'm sending this article to the IRS, as some proof as to what I have been writing them about for the last 2 years. This guy will get an audit, hopefully.

The laws are there to prevent this, but because they have never really been enforced, and the uneducated labor are not going to know, to do anything about it, it runs rampid, all over our nation, and in the UK.



What do you think Angus??? Sound like the show your running??

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Angus

You have no idea what you are talking about. Have you been to my business? Have you talked with my subs? Have you done anything to back up that absurd comment? NO. Just because you THINK something, doesn't make it so. I was an installer also, if you will remember. I have been on both sides. In between your insane rantings you have had some valid points. But, it all gets lost, and you lose all credibility when you ASSume to know someone elses business. Most people will not listen to what you or anyone else for that matter, when start telling people what they are or are not doing. Run your own business. If I, or anyone else, are running our business illegally, it will catch up to them. And just a little FYI, my sisters' mother in law is an IRS agent. I have sat down with her, and talked at length about my biz. I let her comb over every aspect of my business. We had some issues at first. She help me correct them. I am not saying every business owner has done this (I am lucky my sister married who she did!), but, most of us in this trade want change also. Sitting there lecturing anyone from a few states away will help change little, if anything.

Demonseed

I have worked as a sub and hourly, right now I do both. I have worked for companies that strictly use Sub Contractors for their labor, while this is a convenient way to avoid having employees and the costs associated with them, it is not a fool proof way to avoid liability. I have read about cases were subs were actually able to sue the shop they worked for in Job related accidents. Basically, if you are a sub and you are required to come in at a certain time, follow a company schedule and guidelines, for all intents and purposes you are an employee.

Not every 'shop' or retail store falls into this category, but many do. I am not talking about any particular person or business, outside of the article posted. I do not know the agreement those people have with their installers, perhaps they are paid well enough to carry their own Workmans comp and Health insurance etc. At the same time, while the practice of using sub labor is basically needed to price out jobs, I would eventually like to see a blue book come out for installations.

After a year of working as an hourly installer, and many arguments and 'hairy' situations. The people I work for have admitted my value to them and they have given me perks over the other installers, ( I am approximately 50% more productive than any of the other guys they have). I said I can slow down, or something can be done. If I didn't have Health Insurance and WC, I would be out about 5-7k so far with a knee injury and potentially alot more if they still decide I need surgery.

Productivity is a mind set. When one of the other installers asked why I could leave early (with pay), take time off with out penalties etc. They basically said, when you can get as much done as him, you will get those perks as well. This led to a mad frenzy, one guy running around like a madman trying to keep up with me, and all I could picture was that old cartoon with Pepe le Pew and the cat with the white stripe, the cat running like crazy and pepe just bouncing along. My pace is my pace, I don't have to look at something for 30 minutes to figure out what tools I need or how I am going to approach an install, I just start.

My rambling is done pretty much

Angus

[quote=Demonseed;288754]

Not every 'shop' or retail store falls into this category, but many do. I am not talking about any particular person or business, outside of the article posted. I do not know the agreement those people have with their installers, perhaps they are paid well enough to carry their own Workmans comp and Health insurance etc. At the same time, while the practice of using sub labor is basically needed to price out jobs, I would eventually like to see a blue book come out for installations.


I could not agree more!! Well thought out post, Demon.