not gonna lie...it fuckin hurts and im trying hard not to take it personal. I thought my industry was well protected but I guess not. Im a plumber in S Carolina
Thought my boss was MAGA but he may be a cuck boi. Layed off all the long term, loyal employees and kept the lower paid newb idiots.
Said we probably wont be up and running again full speed for 9 months?! But we were welcome to reapply after.
Fuck man..did not expect this at all.
Yeah but people will penny-pinch thus not call them as much unless complete failure/catastrophe. Just pointing out essential services still feel the squeeze through domino effect.
It's not just penny-pinching. People don't want strangers in their homes right now.
Damn dude that sucks. Idk anything about the plumming business but have you thought about going out on your own? If you are good at what you do for a good price, you could start your own business.
THIS^^^^^ I have a good friend who is an electrician. Same thing happened to him. He started his own company and has a $500,000 house and does $1 million a year with a small crew.
Was he just an electrician? It's one thing to know how to do the work, it's a whole other thing to be able to successfully run the business including things like bidding jobs, getting permits and scheduling inspections, managing employees, navigating finances/taxes etc. Those are all skillsets that aren't really something the average electrician or plumber just have. It's not easy, if it was everyone would do it.
If somebody wants it bad enough they'll figure it out. It's not theoretical physics.
Most of that stuff isn't stuff most people can just "figure out if they want it bad enough", it's stuff that you have to be taught either in a school setting or hands on training with someone that's experienced. It's not the common sense stuff you have to worry about, it's the stuff that you won't have any way of knowing unless someone tells you.
Stay positive man. Every time I've been laid off or forced to find another gig it has ALWAYS ended up being a blessing in disguise. In the moment it seems overwhelming and personal but in a few months chances are you'll be thinking about how weird it is that everything actually turned out better.
I like the spirit here. Of course, government bureaucrats both local and state will shut him down for practicing without a state or local license, without being bonded, and without having insurance, etc etc etc.
And see if you have a thing called Nextdoor. its like free advertising for work all around your local area, and people like to hire local. I get tons of work through mine.
Boss is an idiot. We still need plumbers, and not the new ones who don't know shit. (Heh, that was funny right there.)
My son in law is a plumber. A good plumber can get a good word of mouth business going very rapidly. Call insurance companies, too. Get on Takl and Angie's List. Have cards to give your customers to give to their friends.
Sorry to hear that. I got sent home yesterday, myself. My employer wouldn’t even make it official. They just sent me a link to the governors stay home order. It took me telling them “ unless I hear differently I will be coming to work “ that got them to finely said out an email telling me “ do not show up to work, until the governor removes the order” Best of luck, at least we have the Donald!
This is just the beginning. Business are going into self protect mode. Most wont be able to meet payroll if not this week, than next week. Its going to get real ugly. This whole thing sucks. Hopefully you will be able to make lemonade out of your lemons. We are starring at the shadow of a giant meteor.
That sounds like a guy who is just taking advantage of an opportunity to save a poorly-managed company. I'll bet he was in debt and mismanaging everything, so he can save himself by cutting payroll and have a believable excuse.
S t a r t y o u r o w n t h i n g.
Sorry, man. I am hearing from many people right now who are getting let go, furloughed, pay cuts, etc. Everyone is trying to hold on in what is becoming a spiraling man-made crisis.
I am glad you chose to tell us about this, but you MUST voice your situation to those who are responsible. Call every politician's office local to federal and tell them it is time to wrap this fiasco up. Don't just call and email, also take the time to write a handwritten letter. They will read it.
Your governor's office: https://governor.sc.gov/contact-governors-office
Senator Graham (calling the local state office is usually more effective than calling DC office. It is easier to establish a rapport and actually be heard and noticed): https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-senator-graham
Senator Scott (again, call contact local office): https://www.scott.senate.gov/contact
Things will turn around, not on their own, but, just as last time when we won the 2016 election, because WE did something. MAGA
It's time to move on. Your former boss has demonstrated what he thinks of you.
Others have suggested that you try striking out on your own. I'll modify it: try building your own business by networking with friends, neighbors, relatives, etc.
But at the same time, look for a permanent position and don't "settle" for the first low-ball offer unless you don't have the means to pay the bills.
You might be surprised at the popularity of your solo act. You might find you like working for yourself. But I'll warn you: the most demanding boss you will ever have is yourself.
Sorry fellow pede. I've been thru 4 lay offs since 2007 - most recently on Feb 4 - laid off after business unit was sold to our main competitor. 106 people laid off. Best way to look at it is that it is purely a business decision. That way you don't waste a second of your life focused on someone else having wronged you. You've got a skill and it is straight up valuable. You'll land on your feet.
Go apply for one of the competitors instead, I'm sure they'd love to have you onboard.
Edit for Elaboration: Any company worth a shit knows that if you have a chance to take talent away from your competitors is the company you want to work for. Be sure to bring a Pay Stub so you can present it and attempt to negotiate your current pay or better yet, get them to beat it. Also don't forget to talk w/ the employees of the Company you are applying for and get info on their pay and or see if they can't vouch for you. You've had to run into a few people that work at another plumbing company that you may have come in behind or ahead of on certain projects.
Second Edit: My bad but another consideration would be the Water District or MUD (whatever its called where you are). Given the situation I'm sure they are overloaded due to the lockdown and are at the very least looking for temporary hires.
can you start your own shop with the people that were laid off?
in a few months you could be putting your boss and his newcucks out of business.
think American.
why don't you get a stack of business cards with their name and phone number on it and walk the door to door handing them out. That's how I started my business in 2004. There's no reason you can't start your business right the fuck now.
Sounds like a good opportunity to start your own competing plumbing business. Sounds like you know a few guys you could partner with to get it up and running too. Treat it as a crisitunity and become your own boss.
Time to go into business for your self. Jack all his clients ?
Unprincipled and stupid boss is using this as an excuse to get rid of his most expensive workers. Time to move on
That sucks. I'm a plumber in Illinois and things are the same as before here. Were you service?
The world always needs good plumbers. You will back on your feet in no time. If not with this employer, someone else. I know it sucks, but you will be back as soon as this blows over.
"RIPRiders Plumbing Service: after you rip one we'll root it out." Sorry to hear, not making light, but maybe consider starting up a new business.
There will be a lot of this because they can take advantage of the economy and get rid of people with seniority. Can you laid off guys start your own company or go independent?
Start your own business. This could be a change for the better.