WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I was promoted to a salary and commission job last summer, my dilama is their are four of us drawing a salary, i, another salesman, the secratary... oops, OFFICE MANAGER, and the owner of the company... alot of money going out but none coming in. We do only residential roofing and have done 3 since christmas.. 1 new const. and 2 reroofs. We have several jobs signed up but all want to wait till spring to let us do them. Sping around here means late april to mid may. Would you tell your employer that you would be willing to go on unemployment till spring at which time you would be rehired at same position, or would you just keep your mouth shut and keep drawing a check. I have worked for this employer roofing (shingler) for over thirty years. When i got the salary job i was well aware that during the winter there would be days of sittin in the office with nothing to do. I guess i just can't justify sittin on my can and get paid for it. I have been told by everyone when i got in thi position, that i had paid my dues and deserved this job. Sorry for missing letters , batteries goin dead on keyboard.>>>

I can relate to your situation, you've been at this firm for 30 years, and feel like you should be more productive let your employer come to you with that situation, he probably has more money than you think. ;)>>>

If you're a salesman and your job is to knock on the doors there shouldn't be any down time for you.Economy is slow people don't have the money you won't be able to close much but you'll plant the seeds of the future.When things turn around and people can afford roofs they'll know whom to call.>>>

I can tell you this, if someone who worked for me that long came to me with that suggestion I would be very happy, to say the least. By your actions you are really "stepping up" to the situation and all owners appreciate such a thoughtful person. Being the boss is pretty lonely some times........kudos' to you for the effort.

JET>>>

Use this time to sharpen your sales skills and build a database of prospects and their addresses. Whenever you are in a neighborhood, write down all the addresses of the places you see that need a new roof some time in the next year or so. You can look up owner info on the county tax records. Then, when the time comes, contact them via advertising or even just send them a post card or give them a phone call.>>>

We are a state farm premere service provider and i just had their program installed on my computer, so i can keep myself busy learning that and also get a little more experence on the computer.... this is all new to me so i guess i'am going to have to be a little more patient with myself when the snow comes down sideways for a week.>>>

our company sort of shut down for a few weeks this winter cause of the weather but i didn't sign up for unemployment. I found a few jobs to do and was in the middle of one when they called me back in :woohoo: So I'm scrambling to finish this job and I cant do it.The next day instead of going to the company job I finish my job in the morning then i go to the company's job and help the crew finish that day (Friday).So I show up at the shop Monday ready to work and after a talk with the boss on why i didn't sign up for unemployment and why i was late and WTF was I doing and who the F did I think I was :) any how I am still employed .>>>

T-Lock,

What would I do?

Anything I had to in order NOT to collect unemployment. If collecting unemployement isn't "sitting on my can and getting paid for it", then I don't know what is.

As and owner, I know the winter is slow and I budget for it. While I recognize the masqueraded nobility of your considered gesture, I would actually be disappointed in a valued employee that offered to take what I consider to be a glorified welfare check in lieu of a paycheck.

I'm sure that you are the kind of guy that will put in your 60 hours for 40 hours of pay during the heat of the season, and as the owner of the company I consider these winter/slow periods as payback for the dedication you gave when the heat was on. I know it's a switch from what you have done all your life, but it's really not the same. >>>

Very interesting topic. I own a small roofing business similar to the one you describe and just went through the same thing. ALL of my sales and office staff are laid off and on unemployment until work picks up. Actually work has picked up some but not quite enough to hire them back on yet. I kept all of them way too long because as you describe they are friends as well not just employees. But when it comes down to them or the survival of the business i had no choice but to let them go. That being said i still have to agree with JSC. Its not your responsibility to fire yourself. The owner knows the money sitituation. He must decide. Might be a good idea to mention your willingness to do this because he may be keeping you own even though he cant afford it. Then again maybe he can afford it. If he can then dont worry about it. The work will come soon enough! :)>>>

TL if this co has been in bus. for that long, then maybe they can afford to pay you during the slow time.....if they really make some moolah during prime time. This is something the owner must already have considered. Could you make yourself busy working on trucks and equip, getting ready for spring? It's not your responsibility to fire yourself.>>>

HOP I had already suggested that to the second in command, just have'nt brought it up to the boss yet... I really consider him more of a friend than a boss. I live in wyoming, a state of less than 600,000 ,55,000 in the city where i live. Right now we are down to 6 full time roofers and 2 truck drivers. We have 40 roll off containers that we use and also rent out, but with new const. taking a dive we have 20 sittin in the yard now. Wyoming's unemployment can be as high as 450.00 a week, depending if you worked all year. I'm just a simple man don't have a lot of bills to worry about so i could survive off that for a little while.. just give me a fishin pole in one hand and a cold beer in the other and i'm happy. :silly:>>>

Bill - I think what you are proposing is very noble. Perhaps you should sit down with your boss as ask him if it would be better for him that you do this. You could even offer to come in and run any leads as they come in. After all, when I worked on a commission, I knew that I would reap what I sow.

Where are you from? Here in Florida the maximum unemployment benefit is $275 a week. That pretty much sucks. If I had to depend on that to survive, we would be living on the streets in a couple of weeks.

How big of a company do you work for?>>>