[bdog1234]

What do you guys do? Our work schedule is not steady right now, but when we do work it is a lot of hours. For example we may work two weeks of 80-90 hrs a week and then be off a couple weeks. No set schedule but with bidding on jobs and weather that is how it has been.

I encourage the crew to find odd jobs when we are not working but they have not had much luck.

I have always allowed pay advances because emergencies can happen but now it seems they are taking advantage of it. After one week off the whole crew is calling for advances. I have been doing it, and taking it all out of their next checks but it seems I am creating a bad cycle. When payday rolls around half their checks are gone to repay the advance and then they are broke again and mad that they just worked 15 days straight of 12 hr days and did not get a large check. Just curious how other folks handle this.

 

[strathd]

I used to help the guy's out. Then I found some of them took advantage of it. Spend their money foolishly knowing they could borrow money from me. I don't do it anymore. I won't pick guy's up for work either, did it for years. No more.....:no:

 

[SelfContract]

What do you guys do? Our work schedule is not steady right now, but when we do work it is a lot of hours. For example we may work two weeks of 80-90 hrs a week and then be off a couple weeks. No set schedule but with bidding on jobs and weather that is how it has been.

I encourage the crew to find odd jobs when we are not working but they have not had much luck.

I have always allowed pay advances because emergencies can happen but now it seems they are taking advantage of it. After one week off the whole crew is calling for advances. I have been doing it, and taking it all out of their next checks but it seems I am creating a bad cycle. When payday rolls around half their checks are gone to repay the advance and then they are broke again and mad that they just worked 15 days straight of 12 hr days and did not get a large check. Just curious how other folks handle this.

The answer is : There is no EASY way, only the HARD way!"

 

[Winchester]

Why not set up some rules?

Like:

• 4 advances per year.
• never more than a certain % of average paycheque for the last 3 months(let's say 25% or 30%). I've given advances before, but never more than a couple hundred bucks.

If they have a real emergency there are payday loans and lines of credit, etc.
They can look after their own problems. You're not responsible for their lives. They should be a little more wise with their money

 

[rjconstructs]

Never let them get ahead of you, bad things happen.

 

[Leo G]

Ask them for a work advance. You know. They work for 2 weeks without pay and you give it to them as an advance when they ask for it in the future. See how that goes.

 

[480sparky]

One word: Don't.

 

[Mitch M]

The only advance that I give is maybe five minutes earlier that the schedule is set for. I saw former co workers take advantage of that so I nipped it in the bud up front. I hold a week in the hole anyway so the only exception may be if they were going on vacation or I was going on vacation I may give it to them on the last day that I see them.

 

[woodworkbykirk]

most contractors whom ive worked for who do advances usually only do it when someone has had a crisis such as car accident, sudden medical expense or rent is do and its the odd week for cheques. there have been guys ive worked with in the past who blow their money on booze and gambling then are looking for an advance. ive had these bosses offer me money and ive said no, if i dont have it i dont have it and its my own fault. however if the odd chance my bank card gets broken and i need 20 bucks to get gas because he needs me to goto another site that day these guys are cool with that as they would rather front me 20 than have me leave work to stand in line at the bank for an hour or two waiting for a new card.

 

[WarriorWithWood]

Ask them for a work advance. You know. They work for 2 weeks without pay and you give it to them as an advance when they ask for it in the future. See how that goes.

I'm an employee and still laughed at this.:laughing::notworthy

 

[Warren]

Dont they collect unemployment while they are off? With that and odd jobs, some find that they make just as much and work only half as much.

 

[Chris Johnson]

Do you have Bank of America tattooed on your forehead? Or are you providing a stimulous plan?

I will advance a guy a max. of $ 100.00...after he's finished work for the day and that is it till payday

$ 100.00 allows the guy and his family to eat till payday, I don't care about what other poblems they create for themselves

 

[Crock]

Dont they collect unemployment while they are off? With that and odd jobs, some find that they make just as much and work only half as much.

If he pays the unemployment insurance like he supposed to.:laughing:

 

[Greg Di]

Do you have Bank of America tattooed on your forehead? Or are you providing a stimulous plan?

I will advance a guy a max. of $ 100.00...after he's finished work for the day and that is it till payday

$ 100.00 allows the guy and his family to eat till payday, I don't care about what other poblems they create for themselves

I'm just stupified at this whole notion of pay advances. I can't believe any business owner would even have to consider doing it. They work, you pay.

If they can't live off their paychecks like normal humans, then you either are paying them too little or they are financial disasters.

I had a sub ask me for $10 for gas to "get home" and I nearly flipped out on him for asking. I deducted the $10 from his check and he questioned it. If looks could kill....let's just say it has not been an issue since.

 

[Chris Johnson]

I hate it too, but if the guy has worked I will forward him only $ 100.00, and he better not ask me again for a long time.

I had one guy broke the Monday following payday, always complaining of being broke, never had lunch with him, so he would just sit there and watch everyone else eat, got rid of him pretty quick

 

[Warren]

I got the one that takes the cake. Bout 5 years ago, We not only got paid on Dec 15th, but I also gave them all decent Christmas bonuses. 5 days later, one guy asks me for an advance. I said, "Are you kidding me? you not only got your paycheck, but also a bonus last week." He says " I forgot Christmas was coming and I didn't get gifts yet." I was like, ya know, Christmas is always Dec 25th, EVERY YEAR!!

OK, I'm a softee (sometimes) gave it to him anyway.

 

[strathd]

I got the one that takes the cake. Bout 5 years ago, We not only got paid on Dec 15th, but I also gave them all decent Christmas bonuses. 5 days later, one guy asks me for an advance. I said, "Are you kidding me? you not only got your paycheck, but also a bonus last week." He says " I forgot Christmas was coming and I didn't get gifts yet." I was like, ya know, Christmas is always Dec 25th, EVERY YEAR!!

OK, I'm a softee (sometimes) gave it to him anyway.

I would be willing to bet he was a good hand. :thumbsup:

 

[Warren]

I would be willing to bet he was a good hand. :thumbsup:

You would be wrong! Actually, he was one of those guys that we all work with once in a while. Decent talent, at times a hard worker, but just a bunch of crap going on in his life that affects his work life as well. There were many times where I thought he had turned the corner and was getting it all together, but it would never last.

 

[strathd]

You would be wrong! Actually, he was one of those guys that we all work with once in a while. Decent talent, at times a hard worker, but just a bunch of crap going on in his life that affects his work life as well. There were many times where I thought he had turned the corner and was getting it all together, but it would never last.

I know what you mean. Sometimes people's lives get in their way.

 

[XanadooLTD]

we will advance one days pay