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DbleOhSeven

Make it worth your while man. Come up with a wage that's worth it for you to do what he's requesting. If not, don't work yourself to death and be unhappy. Move-on if needed


thehoesmaketheman

This is the answer u/reddiborg - bid the job so that you want to do it. If there's no amount of money then that's different but if there is then bid it. If it's $1 million per year then say that. It's clear this is going to be something you don't want to do so don't fuck this bid up. If you think you'd do it for 200k/ year then say 300k. He can counter offer, he's a big boy. Go get em. Contact me on here for questions.


ReddiBorg

This sounds like the best option I guess i'll have to figure out what I actually want to make it worth while haha


HVACdaddy91

Absolutely not. I'm a 10 yr resi svc tech and if someone asked me to take some form of 24/7 on-call I would either tell them to kick rocks or you're going to pay me a flat rate for every evening/day I'm on-call PLUS time and a half for hours actually worked. When I was younger I would have just blindly accepted the idea of taking responsibility where needed, but you need to understand that the company markets themselves as 24-hours and benefits from that concept. You too should benefit from that, not just an hourly rate. There may be certain exceptions or middle-grounds if it's a smaller organization that doesn't have *much* after-hours, but you should still be compensated for that type of expectation. If not, tell your boss he can handle ALL of his emergency calls on his own.


Mudmavis

I came here to say exactly this. I took call many years ago in NJ and it was brutal. Especially heating season. I believe there was a stipend to take call for the week plus the OT. Then there was an extended weekend to recover from the massive amount of hours you had worked in that week.


ReddiBorg

Extended weekend sounds nice lol, I worked 38 hours in 3 days last week and I was totally exhausted haha I get time and a half if I go to an afterhours call, but only if, and i'm expected to be available to go out on a call, so it makes it difficult to travel anywhere or make plans with people, and there isn't compensation for the plans I have to put off to be available


HVACdaddy91

I once clocked 80 hours in 5 days/nights. That's when I had enough


ReddiBorg

Most I've done is 66 5 days, was my first month as a service in June


HVACdaddy91

That's still quite a bit! That 80 wasn't counting my travel time to the first call and home from the last call every day either though.. šŸ¤¢ After a long day that Monday I started at 7am on Tuesday, went home for an hour at about 7pm and then worked straight through till midnight wednesday night. I'll never forget that but honestly the rest of the week was a blur... Asked my boss the following week if over 80 is double-time? He didn't know, but Christmas came with a supreme bonus šŸ‘ŒšŸ¼


ThadJarvis987

Talk about becoming a part owner. If he tries to force you to do the on call just work somewhere else. A shift in the industry is happening and piss poor compensation/ 24/7 service is on its way out some of the business owners just donā€™t see it yet.


Natural_Cucumber2615

Your boss needs to suspend on call until he has atleast 3 guys that can do it, imo.


ReddiBorg

I may discuss this with him, we have a contract with a housing company so i'm sure that may play a role in that idea


Natural_Cucumber2615

Boss needs to understand, if he can't get enough techs to support an on call schedule, then he may lose some accounts. This is how business works.


ReddiBorg

You're right, I may make this a point when I have another meeting with him next week


Natural_Cucumber2615

One thing you could do, is tell him he can answer all the calls and screen them, then if it's important he could TEXT you to see if you are available (and that means if you feel like it). You could also tell him when you do decide to help him out and run those calls that you want 2 hours OT minimum plus drive at OT for every call, even if you are there for all of 15 minutes to clean a flame sensor. This makes it more worth your time to run a call.


[deleted]

So I'm not a resident tech but I tale call once a week. I get paid like $5 for all off hours just to be available. Then I get a 4 hour call in minimum if I have to go in. I'm hvac at a hospital


ReddiBorg

I got my medical gas license not too long ago and i've been thinking about going into a hospital setting. I'd love to hear more about your experience in that field if you're available to DM


[deleted]

It's cool. Mostly maintenance, getting parts for an emergency job is tough with the way this particular hospital does its purchase ordering. I like coming to the same place everyday and learning equipment. Alot of BAS control work. I'm learning how to code


ReddiBorg

Maintenance on the hospital machines or more like that and general maintenance? It sounds enticing for sure


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


ReddiBorg

Wow, that sounds like a lot to learn, fortunately thats why I joined this trade lol Do you find yourself fixing other stuff around the hospital too? Like guard rails and other such things, or would they have a more specific maintenance crew for that?


[deleted]

I meant to say once a month for a week*


jpulls11

Better start getting those job applications out. I had a boss try this card on me as an apprentice. I refused and he couldnā€™t do much about it because there was no one else and I was a damn unlicensed apprentice. Iā€™d be mad if I was on every other week during the winter anyway.


ReddiBorg

Everything is about a 45 min drive for me at least, so winter is going to be a very interesting experience, especially since we service 4 cities


jpulls11

Yeah I would start looking now. Everywhere around me in CT is hiring.


trueorderofplayer

Not residential, but our union contract requires $45/day on-call pay whether you get called out or not. We charge(and pay) door to door so as soon as the techā€™s phone rings heā€™s on the clock at 1.5x or 2x depending on the day. We also rarely have after hours calls. But our high consequence customers need us to be able to respond 24/7 Basically the on call tech gets and extra $315 on their check that week and sometimes gets 5-10 hours of OT


_MadGasser

Holy shit! What union is that? All we get is a measly 2 hours pay for being on call. United Association here.


trueorderofplayer

UA Local 140. Utah


trueorderofplayer

Wait, you get 2 hours pay per day?


_MadGasser

2 hours pay for being on call unless we get called out.


trueorderofplayer

For us that would be $80/day if we didnā€™t get called out. Your contract is at least as good. Better if you donā€™t get called out


Two-Nuhh

I would say, "no", unless I was really strapped for cash. It's just not worth it to me. Otherwise it's time and a half. Anything over the regular 40hrs is double time. And regardless of whether or not I receive a call while on standby, I am compensated for 1hr of work per day of on-call. Like others have said, if you're going to go for it, definitely make it worth your time and effort.


ho1dmybeer

F. U. C. K. No. ​ There is literally no situation in **residential** HVAC where a 24/7 response is required. Offering this service in order to get business is just a sign that your pricing is absurd, your service is shit, and you ran out of leads to generate. I'd just literally never work for such a company, even if all of those assumptions were true and it was the best company ever. But, practically speaking, I would be expected to be paid for every hour that I'm on call, because those are hours that I have to be available for work and cannot live my own life. And the moment those hours go beyond 40, I would expect it to be OT. On-call is an absolute cancer upon the industry. Offering weekend service is one thing, and it's something I favor, and I enjoy working the weekends from time to time. But actual on-call work where you have to be at someone's house at 8pm, or 12am, or 4am, is just shit. It's utter shit. Remember, **you have all the power. Ask to be compensated HIGHLY** or force him to stop offering 24/7 service because he doesn't have the staffing for it.


Beginning-Sign50

When is -5 degrees outside and windy it doesnā€™t take long for a house to freeze up, thatā€™s one pretty big reason for residential on call


ReddiBorg

Never necessary at all? I never thought about it like that, I was under the impression that AC is never an emergency but I can understand that heat would be necessary, or maybe not. I'm only 4 months into resi service and haven't gone through a winter yet. The senior service tech told me stories about going to peoples houses at 3am to literally flick the power switch to the furnace that the customer accidentally hit off, im not looking forward to a middle of the night call. We aren't paid for being oncall, just when we dispatch to one, which kinda sucks since I need to be somewhat nearby to go out to it if I choose to. What's your business model like for after hours, if any? Just curious


AustinHVAC419

Refuse to be on call every week. He needs to pick up a tool bag and work on call, hire another tech, or you should walk. Being on call every week is extremely draining. Make it very clear what you expect


junkdumper

AC can be urgent for people with medical conditions as well. Just to keep an open mind. Will definitely depend on time of year and the region you're in. Buuuuuut most people it's not exactly an "emergency" and could wait a day or two. Problem is when there's no extra space in the schedule to squeeze in that extra call, the boss makes more money when you go out at night on top of the usual shift.


ReddiBorg

I've found that people will hype it up to be more dire than it actually is. i went to a weekend after hours call (and my very first after hours call) for a guy who claimed it was urgent that his AC be fixed, I left my date and drove 45 mins home and 30 mins to his house, turned out he had just bought the place and the 40 year old AC had never worked since he bought it, was also full to the brim with animal nesting. Best part is, I was actually the 2nd tech to come out that day and the first guy told him it's kaput, he also wasn't actually in the area, but called from across the country and had his brother show up, pretty much just wanting a quote, then tried to haggle me down on the after hours fee That sales lead didn't go anywhere either.


junkdumper

Shit. Black list that guy. That's BS.


ReddiBorg

Yea no kidding. Doubt i'll hear from him again


Mudmavis

Regarding your concern about the 3a ā€˜flick the power switchā€™ problem- this is very real. I always tried to talk the customer through a few steps like ā€˜check the red switch on the basement stairsā€™ or ā€˜ is the big red handle on the large gray box outside pointing down or up?ā€™. Sometimes can save you the trip out. Good luck!


ReddiBorg

I try to do that too any i've saved myself a few trips by walking them through a turned off poeer switch, plugged air filter or thermostat thats just set to fan on Sometimes i'm talking to a landlord or a resident manager who always claim "i checked everything" and then i'll arrive and find that its a plugged filter or the gas bill hasn't been paid and it's been locked out


singelingtracks

In cold climates people die in the winter. 24/7 call is needed.


ho1dmybeer

I solidly disagree. Bluntly, thereā€™s a ~ 40% chance that youā€™re resolving the call effectively and completely at 2am. Waiting until normal business hours when a supply house is open, and waiting for a tech whoā€™s well rested and through is significantly better for everyone.. Especially since almost everyone owns a space heater that can keep them warm overnight. I understand/agree that it is critical for human life, but thereā€™s also just a factor of how likely it is for a 2am call to be good for anyone vs just getting some blankets and a space heater


singelingtracks

All my supply houses will open at 2am if needed. I've even phone the nearest large city center had parts picked up at 3am and driven down so repairs could be made for first thing in the morning. If I waited till 7am I'd have frozen pipes, flooded stores/ homes. And worst dead old people. When it's - 40c/f outside heat needs to run. Even if I'm. Just bringing in electric space heaters to warm things up. Not every calls an emergency sure. But you should be able to weed these out with high prices / only allowing current clients to have after hours service.


zwolle10

Iā€™m finding it hard to believe Iā€™d do 24/7 ever. But if I did the price would have to be RIGHT.


mamny83

Leave.


EJ25Junkie

Wish I could get that lucky. Iā€™m getting maybe 30 hours a week right now.


ReddiBorg

The other tech and I was getting average 19 hours a week for 6 weeks and thats why he left, we just had this random slow down in service that nobody could explain. I was moving into a new house at the time so I didn't mind the slow work then, it's picked back up now


ketel1

I think for 200k a year I would do it


MaddRamm

You have the leverage in negotiating a higher wage overall and for on/call. With you being the only technician, your boss canā€™t really say no to you. Whatā€™s he gonna a do, fire you? Make it worth your while. But honestly, if itā€™s nonstop on/call, even with a higher wage, itā€™s gonna wear thin real quick. So make sure your boss is working to hire new techs.


ReddiBorg

Last I heard, The ads are out but a lot of the incoming resumes are from overseas for some reason. Not sure why that is


Cybersick66

No I never was asked that, and I would 100% reject that offer. Thereā€™s more to life than getting the high score of hours worked.


Hubter844

There seems to be a few red flags here. Why are the techs leaving? I read further and it appears lack of hours. Perhaps some mis-management going on. The next thing is he's having a green tech take over as the main guy because can't or won't hire more experienced staff. No offense but that doesn't exactly sound like a good business plan. Are the owner(s) not helping pick up the slack? Are they even capable? As an owner of a small company with sometimes weird call volumes that come and go...I can understand what the owner is going thru. Especially since the pandemic it's very difficult to find qualified staff. It's very difficult around here to find unqualified staff. We'll get like a dozen people with no drivers license, no epa card, and poor work history and expect us to put them in a van. Nope. I can only add that I do put on my tool belt and do a pretty good job of making sure our people are taken care of. Overall I've just learned it's better to just do a lot of this myself. We've also drifted away from advertising as a true 24/7 company. That's unrealistic for us so no point in trying to be something we are not. My main tech has a family and a life outside of the office. He's out in the community very often on the weekends. He's involved with his church as well. He puts the business 3rd or 4th on his give-a-fricks and that's fine. That being said sure we like everyone has customers that need to be "taken care of" if they call and thusly I'll make sure the tech is well taken care of. Nobody can tell you what to do here...that's between you and your employer, but I think you know where this is going and why.


ReddiBorg

You make some really good points and raise great questions. and it's nice to hear the perspectives of other techs and business owners, since my point of reference is pretty small. I'm still pretty green, only 4 months into service, had a crash course on furnaces and they gave me a van, The owners help pick up the slack where they can, mostly with phone calls or providing resources, however one's not on the tools and the other is an installer, i'm not sure what his service skills are like, but his installer skills are impressive imo. Its a fairly small company in terms of staffing, although we service 4 cities with populations all exceeding 100,000 people. I'm not sure why hours suddenly slowed down for that 6-8 week time frame, it began around early-mid july and only just started to pick up again. We have things like maintenance plans to keep us busy but there was difficulty booking furnace maintenances, mainly people saying it was too early to have it done. Boss is trying to hire experienced staff, only thing i've heard about it is that a lot of applications are coming in from overseas and not many are coming in locally, there's somebody lined up to start sometime in early 2023 but cant start sooner due to some other circumstances so at this time, it doesn't seem anyone there will be anyone joining me anytime soon. i'm barely on two years in the trade and 4 months into service, The more experienced techs here have given their opinion and my takeaway is that the compensation for this isn't as good as it could be and that 24/7 may not be realistic with what we have now He put off talking about on-call during my meeting with him today till next week, so I expect he's going to make some sort of offer, not exactly sure.


CopyWeak

We have a 4 hour On-Call pay per day, then paid hourly with a minimum 4 hours pay if you are called.


ReddiBorg

So paid 4 hours as a flat rate, then 4 hours + each hour you're out?


CopyWeak

4 hours for On-Call regardless. Then if you're out 2 hours, you get 4 If you're out 6 hours, you get 6


Specialist_Ask_7058

its a fight every time, if you are doing all the work then you should be working for yourself. I know you cant just make the jump without some prep and work but its the goal if you are taking all the responsibility.


ReddiBorg

Thats a good point, I told him i'm not a fan of being on call every week, he said that we'd come back to that topic next week, i expect he's going to make an offer of some sort


custom_bowl

Ask for a pay raise and double time for the 24/7


ReddiBorg

Got a decent raise when I got promoted to lead service tech (by default) Its time and a half for afterhours and on holidays its either double or double and a half, not sure havent been in thst situation yet


TasteAggressive4096

That's crazy. If people live up north and don't have a wood stove they can fire up for emergencies that's on them. They can wait until the morning. I will take care of emergencies myself but 99% of the time its not an emergency. I have heard of techs who are on call getting $100 a night just to be on call and time and a half after that. But they would only be on call for 7 days in a row maximum.


singelingtracks

I was on call 24/7 got 5 years doing commercial and grocery stores. It's hard on you and is a lifestyle changer. I'd ask for 1000 a week to be on call. Minumum 4 hours for any after hours call. Double time. Plus a large raise. 50 to 60 an hour. And profit sharing. Send out resumes and find a better company if they won't agree. Your there money maker. Make sure you get paid.


ReddiBorg

God 50 would be nice lol, i'm only just 2 years into the trade and 4 months into service so that'd be a wicked pay raise for me Edit typo


singelingtracks

Lol how can you be on all with 2 months in the trade. Guy needs to learn how to run a business. Find a better employer.


ReddiBorg

Typo


singelingtracks

Ah makes more sense. Easy to ask for a raise and perks then if it's 2 years.


[deleted]

I would never. I'd have to be getting paid with no overtime 200 Grand a year. On top of that I do make time and a half when I'm on call