Quote from: 18hammers on Apr 05, 2024, 09:52 PMYes, I should start looking. I heard, or more correctly overheard the office number crunchers talking and if I heard correctly the turn over rate is in the 60 to 62 % range, and from what I have seen and gathered, I would not dispute that figure.
I was talking with one of the new hires, a younger kid. He was going on about how wonderful it was that the company insists on supplying all the tools (corporate policy), and I don't disagree with that but as a old guy with years of experience in this world I told him straight up to stop and think for a moment, look at the turn over. It means nothing of yours is on site or in the company trucks. So when they can your ass, and it is likely they will,  you have no reason to go back on or in company property to retrieve your stuff as none of it is yours. He just looked like a deer in the headlights when I told him. I hope he doesn't  take out any loans, or runs  up his visa thinking he can count on this job. 

as a long time self employed person of the so called "gen X" grouping I have never expected anything but ham fisted exploitation from an employer. Loyalty from them or myself seemed to have been discarded before I joined the workforce. On the trades front it makes sense to provide tools to an employee as it assures your guys can do the work while cynically understanding most trades people are horrible with money. When I ran a crew I used to do a tool allowance where you paid $1 an hour dedicated to tool and consumables purchases and trusted them to have what they needed ... It rarely worked well. I was far from an exploiter of labour but the pulls of consumer society would have tradies driving shiny trucks with ATVs and sleds in garages while slinging a rounded hammer on a broken down tool belt. I gave up that practice for the onsite tool trailer and the seasonal home Depot gift card for personals. It's never a black and white situation. I gave up running a crew as it was professionally unrewarding and I have much more fun as a high skilled consultant and trouble shooter in solar and construction. I do miss having manpower though. If I was starting out I'm not sure how I would do it. If I was smart I would search out a high skilled specialist operation preferably that does a lot of different things and bust my hump to gain street cred. As a senior hire it would be harder of course since hump busting hurts more physically and the life commitments are more essential then they were at a younger age. I like Small personally even if there is a renumeration hit involved I think. That balances out with time though. I hope you can find a better niche. I know in my work competence and a broad skill set has never been as well rewarded or sought out as it is right now.
Cheers,
NF