I need to clarify again. As I originally said I give installers more than enough time (based on mutually agreed time alotments) to complete a job. They are then require to test and SIGN OFF on each wire installed. If they sign off on something that was not done they are docked the amount of that particular installation. Before I started doing this, installers would be extremely careless and just figure that return trips were more hours for them. I am not out to screw installers out of money, but they represent the company and must perform to high standard if they expect to make a high wage.

I am the business owner and one of the installers for my company, so i am on every job sceen, because I believe in the job being done right the first time, and a high quality job. Therefore being fast is not always a good idea, which may create more hassle down the line. An incentive for installers pay, in my opinion, would be there knowledge base, and how well the job is done. As long as installers know the basics and how quality work is to be done speed will come naturally. Bottom line, pay for quality not quantity in this business.

The only possible problem with that, is the way you go about overseeing the work of the others as you go out to see how things are going. I'm guessing that you have a bit more tact than my old boss, but if the installer thinks that you're just trying to baby-sit them they might not appreciate it much, and you'll have a hard time hanging on to them. But if you use the time as a learning and teaching exercise instead of a lecture period things will go much better... My old boss.... well, I won't get into that.

Just be nice when you're there.

The upside to going out to each site is that you can see first-hand how each of your techs work and can more accurately judge who is worth more per hour than whom, and not just decide according to seniority and time spent with the company.(still being the new guy can start to rub you wrong if you if you do more/better work that the other guys and don't get paid as well.)

I work as a team with my installers, no baby sitting! We all get along, and have fun doing it. I am the boss who goes in the atticks and crawl spaces, I do the same work as everyone else.

wonderful!

What ever happened to earning what your worth. If an installer wants to keep their job then they will perform to the highest standards and be rewarded with pay increases. The bonus that I give my installers is free paid training when available, trips to Cedia Expo, and trips to CES. To our company these trips bring unity and pride to our organazation that no bonus percentages could ever match.

But nothing talks more than cold hard cash, to be totally honest...

The trips may be fun but when we go its for the training and exposure to product...that of which benefits you as an owner and we as an installer....
Never think that free training is just beneficial to us as installers ;because it makes us look as good as the company that we work for......Bonus money is there for those who earn it and make the sacrifices and the effort to stand out....Treat us well and we will work for you and with you, treat us badly and we will just work!.......Wouldnt you rather have a great crew working with you that just for you!????

Word up brother, so where's my raise... ; )

See there is the attitude that gives our industry a bad reputation. If you are a top notcth installer then you will get paid enough to make you happy and content. I dont think installers ever see the big picture. Your employers have to pay employee state tax, liability insurance, employee medical benefeits, overhead, vehicle insurance and payments, the list goes on. This is what will be the decline of the custom industry the hungry installer just looking around the corner to make fast quick cash, and never sticking around for the long haul and help in building a business that is sucessful for many years. You want it all and you want it now. A company will always sink being held hostage by their employees.

Right on Jm. I have been trying to convey this message to installers for years. Bonuses need to be paid when the COMPANY reaches certain milestones and not simply because it's Christmas or the installer has managed to remain employed for 6 months. I have even gone so far as to go through the company books with them even showing some of them that I paid them more than I paid myself. Sadly, it doesn't seem to register. If I could find a few that could see "the big picture", then I wouldn't have to play musical installers and could actually grow the biz.

See the little wink at the end of the statement. Lighten up guys sheesh. There's why management and installers sometimes don't see eye to eye. Your to freaking tight....

I've worked for the same company for 10 years. Don't talk to me about company this and company that, I've went two years without a bonus raise or anything because of problems that the company had that I had no part of. My advice to you is to look why your installers keep leaving, and when is the big picture and your hopes and dreams going to come true. Telling an installer that they have to see the big picture and that things will 'get better' without a plan or even an explanation as to the companys direction is totally wrong and maybe why installers leave. Communicate your thoughts and ideas with the installers, you'd be surprised how much longer they stick around.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh..

The installers lash out.........make it beneficial to us that we do what we do and we will stay....percentage of the business and a cut of the action.......you owners started as installers or you should have started there....we want a piece to feel that when we put in 12 hours and give our cell phone to an angry cutomer to get a hoold of us for a Sunday Game to be watched by his 12 buddies that we know why we do this......

Sorry to the owners but....arent all installers waiting till they get their own thing going.....

Why not treat them so good that they know they are in their own thing without the hassel of the insurance and the disability and the workmans comp and the overhead but that they are a pillar or a column in the work and give them some decisions.....


This may happen but """"CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG"""!!!


heheheheheheehe

nawty

I worked at a company where the owner started a program where everyone in the company started learning and understanding how the business profited and actually made or loss money.We would also learn about how we cost more to the company than just our rate of pay.We also had started a bonus program per job, so that everyone got paid a certain of the bonus of the job(whoever worked on it)as long as the job made money.This bonus wasn't paid out until the entire job was fully paid by the customer, which was only after all the problems or bugs were worked out.This keeps the quality level high and the time on the job more productive.To keep installers happy you need to feed our egos and tell us how great of a job we did and we will always be happy!!!

Thanks for the installer perspective. I think you guys that use the internet and actually pay attention to this website are probably in the top tier of your profession and are to be commended. I have tried some of the things you mentioned, ie explaning business strategy and how various expenses acrue, with varying success. It seems that regardless of what I may tell installers there is a perception that the business owner is getting rich off all the installer's "hard work". In a small company I would bet that this is hardly ever the case. If you are working for a small company chances are whoever your working for is struggling to pay bills, get business etc. I left a high paying electrical engineering job to do this because I love it, not because I wanted to steal money from installers. I would say to you installers out there to take and active role in your company. If you do enjoy the work why not sit down with your boss and see if you can't map out a strategy that helps you both get where you want to be. It can be fun to learn the business end and you'll be able to track the progress and see when bonuses are available. If you are really in need of the cash or the company your working for just isn't cutting then by all means move on to another company. Keep up the good work, I'm sure it is appreciated much more than you know.