Storm Work Compensation

[shankenstein]

I work for a newer company, not the owner, and we're having a hard time getting people interested in weekend storm work. If it's not too proprietary, I'm interested what other companies offer for compensation and what kind of response they get from their production crews. I see storm work being an opportunity for sales staff to charge a little extra for short term response and kick some of that back to their crews. Thanks!

 

[Lumberjack]

I pay double time.

 

[pctree]

Im with Carl, double time and everybody loves storm work!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

At least 1.5 for Saturday. x2 for Sunday. Mininmum call in time of four hours no matter how long they work

 

[southsoundtree]

Long hours... Company should make sure people get food, water, coffee/ energy drinks/ hot cocoa, dry socks.


Hopefully, this is a change of pace from day to day, where the employee should come self- sufficiently.

 

[Steve Connally]

I've never gotten more than straight time. Maybe they might throw a few extra bills at me but generally I see no increase in pay. This gives me even more incentive to be a Monday through Friday guy. Taking care of your guys as you're making bank X2 on most jobs increases employee retention.

 

[Crimsonking]

One crew I worked on paid double time, which included evening calls during the week. To pull me away from my wife and kids for the weekend and take away my recovery time, you gotta make the pay worth my time.

 

[pctree]

I just don't get guys who would even consider paying straight time for storm / emergency work. Personally I jack my prices if they want me there right away as opposed to waiting like every body else. It screws my whole schedule up and people get mad at you for not being there on time. That being said I love storm work, live for it. Gives me a huge kick of incentive knowing you are really helping somebody in need and getting to charge an insurance co. for it !!! If I call my guys in the evening and want them to come in they jump and are happy to do it, because they make jack just like me! Why else would they come??

Maybe this attitude is why Im not rich!!

 

[SomethingWitty]

Basically the same here as everyone else.
Storm damage is inherently more unpredictable and hazardous than routine house clearance type stuff.
If it is "storm damage cleanup" the company charges (and pays us) time and a half.
If we have to stop what we are doing it becomes double time. That's where weekend stuff falls.
If I am working in the rain and the dark with floodlights and headlamps because some politician or something HAS to have a tarp on their roof asap, I'd better be making 3x.

 

[Oroboros]

Joker I climb for part time has a list of high quality people that show up when called because he has his number$ in the right place.

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

No one's mentioned the Ol' 1.5x any hrs after 3:30 Monday-friday, all day Saturday, and double on Sunday

 

[SomethingWitty]

No one's mentioned the Ol' 1.5x any hrs after 3:30 Monday-friday, all day Saturday, and double on Sunday

Nah. I like working evenings. When the whole neighborhood comes home and watches the opposite of setup is when you get people calling you. Setup sucks.

 

[Lumberjack]

I would think 2x for storm work (usually means long hours for multiple days) covers the 1.5X.

 

[evo]

No one's mentioned the Ol' 1.5x any hrs after 3:30 Monday-friday, all day Saturday, and double on Sunday

That's how I roll. Time and a half over 8 hrs daily M-Thrus. If I call ya in outside those hours is double time. Rarely work more than 30-35 hrs in the field unless it's a freak storm, the above is regardless of storm work.
Storm work is part of the job if it falls within normal business hours, for my employee. I do charge more, but that's to cover the scheduling headaches. One storm, and I had to reschedule 3 months of work which were already waiting on me. I lost previously scheduled jobs due to having to push my backlog further out.

 

[southsoundtree]

That's generous, Evo. Above and beyond to pay overtime rates without requirement.

 

[evo]

That's generous, Evo. Above and beyond to pay overtime rates without requirement.

Nahh, just doin it right. This job gets stupid after 6-7 hrs of labor. I've done 4 10's doing this, and then I can't move for two of the three days off. That is not fair to myself nor my family.

 

[jdhoward]

You guys are generous. All the companies I've been an employee for treat their guys like dog poo. 15 bucks an hour for foreman no matter when ya work. Except for with asplundh. Only cause of the union though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Scheffa]

All of our call outs are paid at double time if after hours or weekends. No chance I'm getting up at 2am to go climb a tree in the dark and rain that has fallen on the powerlines for standard rate.
The boss is always onsite for call outs unless he is away due to the dangerous situations that often present themselves