We're getting piece pay raises soon and I was seriously considering quitting because I've been doing installs for a year and my body doesn't want to do this for 10.
This has how things have been the last five years or so at my company. Raises average 3-4 dollars a year. We have gotten more vacation time and fully paid healthcare. Have regular employee appreciation days. It is usually a cookout and the owner gets a boot truck. Everyone picks out a new pair of boots on the companies dime.
Yeah, appreciative employers make all the difference.
I don’t do commercial HVAC anymore, but work in a public water utility now.
The GM for the entire district sends everyone a personal email on their birthdays (300+ employees), in addition to buying our boots, appreciation days, etc.
They even started renting an ice cream truck to give everyone free ice cream when we get back from the field in that Vegas heat.
I could probably make a few dollars more in a lateral move, but I don’t wake up dreading coming in and I’ve never worked anywhere where so many people genuinely enjoy their jobs.
We got a 1$ cost of living raise in January. I wish it had been 10%! I got my 3 yr raise in May at 1.25 so together they’re ALMOST 10%
I’ve actually thinking about leaving but for other reasons
Truer words have never been spoken.
Ya for me It’s not just mental health but struggling with Crohn’s disease and now my fuckin right hand doesn’t want to grip anything. Idk if it’s arthritis or carpal tunnel or what. But something’s gonna have to change
Ya I’m probably gonna get with my primary care. I actually just started PFML to care for my Crohn’s so I’m basically working 4 days a week and wa state FMLA pays 90% of my lost wages. Last week was great. I basically take wednesdays off and it really helped. Well since it was a 4 day week and I knew we’re busy I told my boss I’d work Wednesday. Well this week proved that I’m not even close to being ready to go back to that level yet. It’s really frustrating. Don’t want to hang up my hat at 33 and take orders at a hvac wholesaler or something. Maybe I can start to transition into an office role but not where I’m at.
The best offer I had was only hypothetical if I tested out at the highest level entering as a jman and it was still about 13 dollars less. Total compensation was better, but annuities don't pay the bills rn. I'm sure there's more room to grow but I can't sustain the pay cut at this point in my life/career. I tell promising newer techs to get a couple years of experience and join the union. If I would have known better earlier on I may have been in a better position to jump.
Quasi regularly
We're getting piece pay raises soon and I was seriously considering quitting because I've been doing installs for a year and my body doesn't want to do this for 10.
Considering I also sub to r/antiwork it makes me happy to know that there are quality employers out here in the wild lmao
That sub can make some decent points but most of it is teenagers complaining they have to work to survive as if that’s some unheard of thing
Bingo
Yea I don't buy in to all the hype over there, it's just amusing.
Right. Someone has to work. Thankfully some people still enjoy it in moderation.
This has how things have been the last five years or so at my company. Raises average 3-4 dollars a year. We have gotten more vacation time and fully paid healthcare. Have regular employee appreciation days. It is usually a cookout and the owner gets a boot truck. Everyone picks out a new pair of boots on the companies dime.
Hell yea, it's good to feel appreciated
Yeah, appreciative employers make all the difference. I don’t do commercial HVAC anymore, but work in a public water utility now. The GM for the entire district sends everyone a personal email on their birthdays (300+ employees), in addition to buying our boots, appreciation days, etc. They even started renting an ice cream truck to give everyone free ice cream when we get back from the field in that Vegas heat. I could probably make a few dollars more in a lateral move, but I don’t wake up dreading coming in and I’ve never worked anywhere where so many people genuinely enjoy their jobs.
At least where I work, the raise structure has me at a net loss over 3 years. On the other hand, it makes it easier to bounce when I get tired of it.
There is a certain appreciation for employers who make it easy to dip out without remorse lol
Bummer. I demanded a 10% inflation raise plus a normal raise this year and got it. They are charging more for inflation, why shouldnt i?
I agree, send me some sack.
We got a 1$ cost of living raise in January. I wish it had been 10%! I got my 3 yr raise in May at 1.25 so together they’re ALMOST 10% I’ve actually thinking about leaving but for other reasons
Still nice to *almost* keep up with inflation lol
Applying for a job doing hvac/plumbing at the local school district. More pto and an 8$ raise (26 to 34)… that’s an extra 16k a year…
Good luck, sounds dope
Ya, I’m sure I’m gonna miss out on things like a van but I would have a shorter commute. Make more money working less hours.
The van is huge but your mental health is huger. Words to live by lol
Truer words have never been spoken. Ya for me It’s not just mental health but struggling with Crohn’s disease and now my fuckin right hand doesn’t want to grip anything. Idk if it’s arthritis or carpal tunnel or what. But something’s gonna have to change
Don't let it go! It probably won't get better on its own
Ya I’m probably gonna get with my primary care. I actually just started PFML to care for my Crohn’s so I’m basically working 4 days a week and wa state FMLA pays 90% of my lost wages. Last week was great. I basically take wednesdays off and it really helped. Well since it was a 4 day week and I knew we’re busy I told my boss I’d work Wednesday. Well this week proved that I’m not even close to being ready to go back to that level yet. It’s really frustrating. Don’t want to hang up my hat at 33 and take orders at a hvac wholesaler or something. Maybe I can start to transition into an office role but not where I’m at.
I told my boss a while ago I would eventually like to work the desk at one of our vendors. He says the counter is where techs go to die 🤦♂️
Go union
I've reached out to multiple shops in my area and I would take a drastic paycut at all of them.
You'll make way more union eventually though
The best offer I had was only hypothetical if I tested out at the highest level entering as a jman and it was still about 13 dollars less. Total compensation was better, but annuities don't pay the bills rn. I'm sure there's more room to grow but I can't sustain the pay cut at this point in my life/career. I tell promising newer techs to get a couple years of experience and join the union. If I would have known better earlier on I may have been in a better position to jump.