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accordfire
I wouldn't know where to begin - I've worked for some right cowboys in the past, as well as some gems, and even had both in the same business.
It's a key reason I went out to do it all on my own.
One of the worst, I think, had to be one of the "Big Blue" alarm companies (with an A a D and a T in the name), who many years ago had me working as a service engineer in post codes which were around 60 miles from home. My girlfriend at the time became pregnant, and had an exceptionally difficult pregnancy. At the same time the post codes around my home became available - and I got turned down for the move on the basis that it wasn't economically viable to the company!!!!! Even having explained my need to be far closer to home, the fact that it would cut travel and hence cost, and so on. Final straw was they took on a guy in one of the post codes I was covering, and gave him the post codes round my home area!!!!
Needless to say, my employment ended around that point - to the genuine surprise of said area manager!!!!
There was another clown actually quite local to where I live now, who was so desperate for subbies he was phoning everyone and anyone up to see if they wanted work (circa 94 or so), and then didn't pay! I went to look at one of his jobs, had to re-write the spec, re-design most of the electrical and the fire (ironically enough this was a SEEboard mega showroom!!!!!), got the job design signed off, and the extra it was costing, did the first fix, and got told I wasn't needed any longer - turns out his own engineers had nothing to do, so he put them in. I ended up taking him to court for the money, and he tried to deny I'd done anything for him - despite my name being all over the design certs.......duh.
On the good side, another firm I worked for gave out cahoofing massive turkeys at Christmas (the one I got one Christmas had to be cut up before it would fit in the oven - thank you aligator saw!) and fed three families!
Another one bought every lad who worked for them a Samsonite tool case, with decent tools in it, a Bosch Hammer, a decent spec De-Walt (yes, it is an irony), battery drill, and various items of test kit - which was never claimed back - it was ours to keep.
Most companies, to be fair have had moments of sparkle, and moments of feeling like it was a sewer.
It does make me mindful of what I do for my lads and lasses these days though. It can be a tough act balancing the needs of the business against the needs of the employees, and still keeping my Ferrari clean and fueled - I wish!
Generally, I think the "employer" is judged more on the little things than on rate of pay alone - like give and take with time, flexibility in other areas, and so on.
As an employer, I've resisted things like trackers, limits on phone bills, restrictions on use of vehicles, and so on - because ultimately, it's a trust agreement - and it takes only the smallest of things to damage that forever.
good on him. nice to see there are still some good ones left out there
