Staff appraisal - would appreciate a little input lads.

[wade88]

Hi lads/ladettes,

I am in the middle of writing my staff review up and have just gone into my eleventh page...


The sort of crux of my job i guess is improving productivity via efficient and well structured maintenance regimes and keeping machine downtime to an absolute minimum. As well as maintaining/repairing/modifying the machines, i also do all the grunt work. Plumb new toilets, repair leaky taps, all electrical work, PAT testing, coffee making, donut buying, **** scraping, the list goes on and on.

Now the angle i am taking (and quite rightly too) in order to get more money, which is generally i feel the name of the game as far as career progression etc is concerned...but want to use the "you pay me £££ a day but get ££££££££££££ worth out of me, if your following.

So, what i was hoping you could all tell me, as i have never quoted for or worked on industrial stuff before having come to this job, is what you would charge/quote for certain jobs.If i write a list of example, do you think you could put down next to it, what you would charge, so i can get a feel as to the total amount of money i have potentially saved my boss. after all, if you can quantify your value to a company, the incentive i feel is a little more obvious to reward those necessary.

OK, so, quote me for the following, based on if you were travelling to the job, NO MATERIALS as company pays for these, etc regular, full quote as you would carry out.

1. New socket + new circuit - 3p NE
2. 3p NE spur
3. New TP+N board let say 12 way standard hager or something, 10m SWA cable run
4. Various different lighting scenarios but for sake of argument, installing a new 6ft twin fluro onto existing circuit, working at height.
5. High bay lighting
6. PAT testing figures (what do you charge per item these days)
7. Remedial repairs on sockets, fixtures, switches whatever.

Very anoying post i do aplogise, may not even make much sense, i am just trying to scope what things cost in the industrial sector in comparison to that of domestic stuff. i.e would you still charge £30-40 for a new socket in a warehouse or would it be more like £70-80 after taking other factors into account or whatever.

i appreciate most of you are already :banghead: but bear with me.

I just want to get an idea. Ignore what you would charge for testing and writing certs etc, i just want base, primary cost of works for now.

Cheers guys

Ben

 

[Hiddo]

I work for myself but I don't think the "you pay me x and charge the customer y" is the way to go because whatever they charge is their business and if they paid you whatever they charged the customer they would go bust and you wouldn't have a job.

A lot of employees don't take into account that after they have has their wage the company still has costs attributed to keeping the employee.

If I were you I would put your case forward that as you are a hard working, diligent & conscientious employee and in view of the fact that you have many wide and varied responsibilities your hourly rate should increase to reflect this.

Just my thoughts.

 

[wade88]

Thanks for the reply Hiddo, i didnt make myself very clear in that post at all.

I dont work as an electrician for an electrical firm. I work as a "plant manager" for a company. From my understanding of this position traditionally, i would be expected to sub contract in the worl, manage the schedules and employ a solid PPM scheme from which i can order works where necessary be them plumbers, sparks, engineers, fitters whatever. But i plan the work,schedule the work, then carry out the work. on my own. From everything i have read about this job role (which i sort of fell into) it is unusual for it to be aone man band scenario. If a new CU is required, the plant manager will then arrange and order the work with the relevant firm. But here, i do the lot, but on a basic wage.

So my question was to kind of gauge, how much money i am actually saving the company via being a one man band against the traditional job role, of just being the overseer. Make more sense?

 

[brman]

I agree, the "i am worth this much because I earn you that much" wouldn't get much response from me if I was your boss. I'd just say I pay the going rate, if you don't like it, go elsewhere...

My approach would be to try and compare your role to similar ones in similar industries. i.e. what can you get if you look for another job? That not only gives your boss a benchmark (if he doesn't already have one) plus also says in a subtle way that you will not be there for ever if he doesn't pay what you are worth. This works best if you really are invaluable to him although I have always believed that no-one is irreplaceable and I used to work in an industry where there genuinely was no one else in the world with the knowledge/experience of some of the guys that worked for me.

If you have been in the job for a while I would also consider reviewing what you do now and how experienced you are compared to when you started. If pay rises have been bad over the years you can also use the arguement that you are more experience, do more work and so are worth more than you used to be.

That said, you know your boss/company better than us - your approach might work with the right people. Good luck

EDIT: Ok. Just read your last post. Working out how much it would cost to sub the work might help......

 

[wade88]

EDIT: Ok. Just read your last post. Working out how much it would cost to sub the work might help......

Thanks brman, all valid points, i am but a mere mortal, i am replaceable for sure (however no one else brings in regualr 5 packs of chocolate donuts like i do....you dont just find that sort of trait in people)

But now that you read my last post, you will decipher that working out what subby works costs is EXACTLY what i was getting at in post 1.

Im just curious thats all really. I feel like i spend my days getting paid a salary of £100 a day but in fact save him about £250 extra a day....im just wondering where i draw the line and say, please sir, can i skim that little bit off and have it....

 

[brman]

Thanks brman, all valid points, i am but a mere mortal, i am replaceable for sure (however no one else brings in regualr 5 packs of chocolate donuts like i do....you dont just find that sort of trait in people)

But now that you read my last post, you will decipher that working out what subby works costs is EXACTLY what i was getting at in post 1.

Im just curious thats all really. I feel like i spend my days getting paid a salary of £100 a day but in fact save him about £250 extra a day....im just wondering where i draw the line and say, please sir, can i skim that little bit off and have it....

Yes, it is a difficult one but not unusual, not much different from a school caretaker although I admit not many caretakers should be allowed near the electrics
I can't help with your original question though as I don't work in that sort of environment and all my jobs are costed specifically rather than like a menu of options.

 

[wade88]

Im going to just skip past that comment and pretend that you didnt just compare me to a school caretaker but thanks mate..... now i feel amazing about my job woooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo

 

[brman]

Im going to just skip past that comment and pretend that you didnt just compare me to a school caretaker but thanks mate..... now i feel amazing about my job woooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo

:lol: Sorry! But personally I think being a caretaker is a under-rated job. I'd do it if the pay was a bit better

 

[wade88]

I'd only do it if i got a cool name badge....and could wear a tool belt without being laughed at.

I can see this post has died on its feet anyway, it was worth a try.

I guess ill just go into my staff review armed with a rolled up newspaper and a mouth full of bad words instead. see where i end up

 

[brman]

I can see this post has died on its feet anyway, it was worth a try

you never know, we might have kept it active until everyone gets back home for their tea and start reading the forum :lol:

seriously though, I am sure there are a few previous threads on costing jobs that might help you.

 

[wade88]

Im at work and clearly capable of procrastinating, jeez......... however, maybe this is why i dont get paid enough......

yea im sure you are right, i shall have a little browse tomorrow during my 11th coffee.

 

[Hiddo]

Ah I see what you are trying to do now.

What about if you went to your boss with a strategy that puts a bonus scheme in place?

For example:

If you currently pay x per day for a lad to install an additional socket and you can source that labour for 25% less as an example. Then you could receive a bonus payment.

I suggest that you take last years figures and perhaps suggest a quarterly payment based on expenditure saved through your efforts as hard negotiator.

It might take some persuading and negotiating with your boss first.

Hope I'm making sense!!

 

[wade88]

But i am the lad doing the work, lol. I dont do any sourcing because what would normally be subbed out.... i am doing instead. So i am doing two jobs rolled into one.

 

[tombrooker84]

Hello Wade,

I've recently got a job as a multi skilled maintenance tech at heathrow, its a shift position which is brilliant as I can still tick my businees over on the days off and earn a little extra, however I suppose I work in a similar environment. To give you an idea the basic salry here as about £17 per hour increasing to £18.50 after three years, i mainly work on a KNX and dali lighting system so wages may be a little higher, although I have no real comparison.

We also have maintenance shift team leaders and managers, and at the start of the year a budget of works is set for various parts, and if these budgets get stuck to the managers and team leaders get a bonus of up to 10%, which sounds fair. The only thing I would say about, is that now that it is coming to the end of the year, sometimes rather than doing a job 100% perfect people are looking to skim a little bit off the job so that they can keep to there budgets. If you are an employee of the company and no longer working for yourself, then I would look to the JIB rates ans use that as a starting point perhaps, and then enquire about a bonus if you can stay within a budget/ target

 

[wade88]

Thanks Tom,

I don't work to a budget, im a totally free entity. If i need things, i buy them, if i propose we need something to improve safety/output it gets considered and or bought. I pretty much do what i feel is necessary as i am the entire maintenance team.

I think thats part of the problem, at the years end, there is no quantifiable evidence of any monetary values anywhere. Although i know i save the company a small fortune, i suppose i dont leave a paper trail. I might start keeping a record (just for fun) of all the jobs i do that would normally be subbed out, then see a years end total. Hence why i was interested to see what industrial guys charge for their work on average, so i can generate some figures.

Do you work on a fixed rota then Tom or do you just go in when needed?

 

[UNG]

I dont work as an electrician for an electrical firm. I work as a "plant manager" for a company. From my understanding of this position traditionally, i would be expected to sub contract in the worl, manage the schedules and employ a solid PPM scheme from which i can order works where necessary be them plumbers, sparks, engineers, fitters whatever. But i plan the work,schedule the work, then carry out the work. on my own. From everything i have read about this job role (which i sort of fell into) it is unusual for it to be aone man band scenario. If a new CU is required, the plant manager will then arrange and order the work with the relevant firm. But here, i do the lot, but on a basic wage.

So my question was to kind of gauge, how much money i am actually saving the company via being a one man band against the traditional job role, of just being the overseer. Make more sense?

So what was the job description when you were originally employed the job title "Plant Manager" could have many interpretations of what was expected to be part of role, if you have enough time to carry out the work as well as the planning then it could be argued that the Plant Managers role as you understand it is under utilised as you have time to undertake work outside of the role you are employed for

When you took on the job of Plant Manager did the low wage not get any alarm bells ringing especially for the potential responsibility it carries

Thanks brman, all valid points, i am but a mere mortal, i am replaceable for sure (however no one else brings in regualr 5 packs of chocolate donuts like i do....you dont just find that sort of trait in people)

But now that you read my last post, you will decipher that working out what subby works costs is EXACTLY what i was getting at in post 1.

Im just curious thats all really. I feel like i spend my days getting paid a salary of £100 a day but in fact save him about £250 extra a day....im just wondering where i draw the line and say, please sir, can i skim that little bit off and have it....

If you agreed to such a low salary at the start then what was your original expectation of the job

But i am the lad doing the work, lol. I dont do any sourcing because what would normally be subbed out.... i am doing instead. So i am doing two jobs rolled into one.

Comes back to what is your boss sees as your job description and what he expects for the salary

I don't work to a budget, im a totally free entity. If i need things, i buy them, if i propose we need something to improve safety/output it gets considered and or bought. I pretty much do what i feel is necessary as i am the entire maintenance team.

I think thats part of the problem, at the years end, there is no quantifiable evidence of any monetary values anywhere. Although i know i save the company a small fortune, i suppose i dont leave a paper trail. I might start keeping a record (just for fun) of all the jobs i do that would normally be subbed out, then see a years end total. Hence why i was interested to see what industrial guys charge for their work on average, so i can generate some figures.

If you don't work to or have any budget responsibility then how does your company price it's end product, from this I can only assume that whoever organises the maintenance and capital work budget is happy for you to carry on what you are doing

I assume there are test certs for the electrical work undertaken as a minimum but then again a plant manager should be keeping proper work records in order to identify problem or failing areas of the plant that need improvement

Unfortunately you have set a precedent for the job you do at the salary you do it for


Sorry to be so negative but I think you have dug yourself a hole and it's going to be difficult to argue yourself out of it

 

[wade88]

Not negative at all UNG i am aware of this. My salary isnt low per se, i just feel it should be higher considering. The company i work for is small, but on the edge of becoming quite large. It is a home grown company and is still very basic in numerous operations. We are by no means, a large company...yet.

We have 3 manufacturing/storage warehouses and a separate testing lab. Not quite AstraZeneca but growing each year. The main problem has been, the company has never really needed "Me" in it before as it was sufficiently small to just sort of, over look any problems and deal with them if and when, now there is more scope for my position everyone is a bit new to the idea and not so familiar with the concept of the job role. Me included to be honest. Didnt really know what i was expected to do, fix things when they break was my original brief.

But now my job is evolving rapidly and i am way more involved in project management of new machinery, design and commissioning of new machinery, consulted on an array of issues, and then of course spanner man who keeps things ticking over.

Anyway, it was an ambiguous question on the offset so i wasnt expecting anyone to come up with the golden ticket to my salary increase, but this is the first staff review i will have ever had to do and i know i have a good angle to work with, just having trouble loading the ammo in the mag.

 

[UNG]

I think you have just answered your own question in your last post

The capacity in which you were originally employed has evolved as part of your appraisal you need to negotiate a job and salary review for the role you undertake. If the company is growing there will come a time where you will have to put your tools down and bring in outside contractors and this will impact on the savings you currently make for the company by doing a lot of the work in house

You are best placed to justify your value and what you bring to the company as your the only person who can quantify what you do for the company

Good luck with the appraisal and I hope you get what you want for your efforts

 

[wade88]

Thanks buddy

 

[HandySparks]

Sounds like your job is a bit like the "Clerk of Works" I knew that worked at a local private school. He's in charge of maintenance and some new projects. He has one or two blokes working for him. Some jobs he does himself. If he doesn't have the time or skills, or it's a specialist job, he'll bring in contractors.

You could try looking up the job title and see if there's any indication of salary in job adverts, etc.

 

[wade88]

Check average Operations Manager salary | Operations Manager salary information on totaljobs.com.

Same sort of thing.

I fit snuggly in low

 

[wade88]

Check average Maintenance Manager salary | Maintenance Manager salary information on totaljobs.com.

Maintenance manager is probably more accurate to my job. My business card is printed:

Ben Wade

Plant Maintenance Manager. So this link is more appropriate, putting me off the bottom of the scale entirely lol

 

[Gavin A]

I am in the middle of writing my staff review up and have just gone into my eleventh page...

I don't know if anyone else has pointed this out, but 11th page?

stop, go back, work out what the key points you want to make are, then fit this succinctly into 3-4 sides, 5 sides max (minimum 11pt text, with paragraph breaks) - bullet points are your friend.

no manager is going to appreciate being made to spend ages reading 11 pages of stuff for a staff review, and you'll b onto a loser from the moment they pick it up and see how much you've written, and how much time they've got to waste reading it.

Suggest maximum 3 key changes that could be made and why, suggest additional training that would benefit the company if you went on it and why (eg if they have to keep hiring someone in when you could get trained up to do that... and then ask for a rise because you're now better skilled), pick out a max of 3 issues you have etc.

nobody's ever going to implement more than 3 changes you think of anyway, not in one go anyway, drip feed them from one review to the next.

IMO

 

[wade88]

Its only 11 pages because the Staff Review booklet has 12 pages of questions on it!!!! Trust me, i would have rather not watsed all MY time having to write this thing out either!