SM&P Hiring Freeze

[sprayandpray]

We have heard a rumor that SM&P has instituted a Hiring Freeze. Has anyone else heard the same? It is very recent and we also heard that they were supposedly calling peolple that were starting class today, 6/02, to 'fuhgettaboutit".:hammer::bang:

[badger44]

Hmmm...sounds like what happened to me in 2007. I was scheduled to start class but the day came and no one ever called until a week later, then it was "oh sorry, we don't have enough people for a full class" A month later I got in and here I am. Not sure if that's good or bad!

[underground quester]

We have heard a rumor that SM&P has instituted a Hiring Freeze. Has anyone else heard the same? It is very recent and we also heard that they were supposedly calling peolple that were starting class today, 6/02, to 'fuhgettaboutit".:hammer::bang:


Hey there Spray:

Would that be because they believe they may have too many people with the amalgamation?

[locomike]

utiliquest in va is on a hiring freeze thats the only one i heard about

[RoadMap]

Hey there Spray:

Would that be because they believe they may have too many people with the amalgamation?

It has to do with the efficiency numbers in certain districts. They figure if you can not hit your numbers then you are over staffed. Also if your On time Percentage is close to 100%, why hire more people. But that is not happening everywhere!

[TBONE]

I think everyone is till the merger goes through they want to see if anyone wants to transfer probally :ecomcity:

[sprayandpray]

It has to do with the efficiency numbers in certain districts. They figure if you can not hit your numbers then you are over staffed. Also if your On time Percentage is close to 100%, why hire more people. But that is not happening everywhere!


I heard later last nite that the new management believes that the new co. overall is overstaffed and until they determine exactly where this is, everyone is going to pay the price. Ain't this just lovely? Being lumped all together. Again, I hope I am wrong, but I don't like the feel or smell of this type of corporate thinking.:rules::bonk::confused:

[USIC1]

I heard it to...

But most of the trimmings will be from the top down...

All you management people hovering around the site better get those resumes

tideyd up...

[TBONE]

:rules:

[Goldenboy]

Hiring Freeze = Mucho Overtime =http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/predrunner/cablevine/money.gif

[underground quester]

It has to do with the efficiency numbers in certain districts. They figure if you can not hit your numbers then you are over staffed. Also if your On time Percentage is close to 100%, why hire more people. But that is not happening everywhere!


Holy Crap Batman:

So they work the few they have to the bone not realizing there is a point of burnout in everyone? We have no where near enough people to do all the work but I believe our on time is within a percentage or two of 100% could be wrong though. Some of us Seniors are assigned to territories and get to know the infrastructure quite well so can do more tickets in less time compared to a nubee. Many times I can take a quick look at the area to ensure nothing was SNUCK in when I wasn't lloking, then go to all my known hookup points. Saves a ton of time not having to search each time for hook up points.

Our economy is moving along quite well, but for some reason I am pretty sure our numbers are not what they were last year. Could be wrong though! So not as much pressure.

[shovelhead]

Hiring Freeze = Mucho Overtime =http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/predrunner/cablevine/money.gif
Nyet. Let's look at this through the eyes of a locator who sees a large urban market severely understaffed year after year...

Hiring Freeze = late tickets = burnout = damages = burnout = vehicle accidents - burnout = comp claims = burnout = turnover = burnout = Hiring Freeze .....

Now we're told, " Don't worry, help is on the way!".

From the CLS crew. Only last week we got word that 18 or so didn't pass drug tests, or their USIC paperwork, or...

And 8 CLS sups were demoted to locator. Some CLS guys are transferring OUT of this area!

And let's see how many pass the Nicor " let's weed out the feeble minded" gas training. We'll lose a good size chunk of 'em there.

CLS has an OUTSIDE company doing phone tickets in the greater Chicago area while they train, etc. !

No such help here. Just locators quitting, and getting fired. With a multi million dollar phone contract just over the hill.... overtime? Great! Just don't expect me to work over 100 hours a week, because you didn't think it would be cost effective to hire sufficiently.

Or is it your bonus? You know, the one you get if you cut costs to the bone, to the detriment of your field staff?

The one you don't think anyone knows about? That bonus?

Like the title of another thread that was posted on this board recently:

Different Name, Same Game!


Sounds like an even bigger nightmare than ya'll are going through in other parts, eh?

[UULC]

I just heard that layoff's are coming in Florida for USIC. They will be looking at the low producers and non-productive locators. There is a possibility of the loss of the FPL contract in Florida due to the price FPL pay's for tickets.

So to the locators who just coast, your day's are numbered.

:blahblah:

:tease:

:bump:

[USIC1]

I already have paint palsey and flagitis in my good hand...

Whats an old timer to do???


:crying:

[beyond help]

From what I've heard, There is no freeze. Most areas that need the help have classes going on. By the way, the idea is to be slightly understaffed, You save on the overhead costs (insurance, vehicle costs, etc.). Do I agree with this. Hell no. But, the overhead costs are what a company looks at. Figure 25k per locator in overhead costs. The wages do equal out (60 hours by a senoir tech per 90 hours by 2 newbies).

[sprayandpray]

There is definitely a freeze on in Texas and Oklahoma. Classes that were supposed to start this past Monday were postponed indefinitely. With a 4% un-employment rate down here, none of the prospective employees are going to wait around to see if they get hired in the future.

[beyond help]

With a 4% un-employment rate down here, none of the prospective employees are going to wait around to see if they get hired in the future.
I wish it was only 4% here. State ave is 12%, some areas are at 35%. Damn near like the depression my grandma said.

[underground quester]

I have been helping some of the nubees the last few days. Christ, they are putting some of these people - one month or so out of class - on some of the most difficult intersections in the area. CRAZY.

These people are stressed. In some cases, in over their heads and panicky!
Any wonder why we have turnover.

No other trade I am aware of would put a first year apprentice on a difficult journeymans task and expect them to complete it without incident!

[yahoo]

hiring freeze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!in the middle of the summer..........can we say company suicide............

[UULC]

Company Suicide for sure. :jumpinsmile:

:bonk::bump::icon_eek::bonk:

[shovelhead]

From what I've heard, There is no freeze. Most areas that need the help have classes going on. By the way, the idea is to be slightly understaffed, You save on the overhead costs (insurance, vehicle costs, etc.). Do I agree with this. Hell no. But, the overhead costs are what a company looks at. Figure 25k per locator in overhead costs. The wages do equal out (60 hours by a senoir tech per 90 hours by 2 newbies).You could be right, maybe there isn't a hiring freeze. But there sure as hell aren't any trainees in any classes in Chicago. We are at about 1/2 of what's needed in the field as far as techs are concerned, and most of us are doing routes double the size of what we did last season, or in some cases even larger than double. Add to that our last weekend of mandatory phone training, and the general management panic around here, and morale is pretty low my friend!

Slightly understaffed? For about a 3 month period in the last six years. The washout rate here is unreal. But if you came here and saw what they hire for 10 bucks an hour you'd understand right quick what the problem is 'round here.....

[USIC1]

You could be right, maybe there isn't a hiring freeze. But there sure as hell aren't any trainees in any classes in Chicago. We are at about 1/2 of what's needed in the field as far as techs are concerned, and most of us are doing routes double the size of what we did last season, or in some cases even larger than double. Add to that our last weekend of mandatory phone training, and the general management panic around here, and morale is pretty low my friend!

Slightly understaffed? For about a 3 month period in the last six years. The washout rate here is unreal. But if you came here and saw what they hire for 10 bucks an hour you'd understand right quick what the problem is 'round here.....

All your upper management are scared the henchmen cometh...

Thats why there bitch-boyin the area...

Its a no brainer...

[beyond help]

You could be right, maybe there isn't a hiring freeze. But there sure as hell aren't any trainees in any classes in Chicago. We are at about 1/2 of what's needed in the field as far as techs are concerned, and most of us are doing routes double the size of what we did last season, or in some cases even larger than double. Add to that our last weekend of mandatory phone training, and the general management panic around here, and morale is pretty low my friend!

Slightly understaffed? For about a 3 month period in the last six years. The washout rate here is unreal. But if you came here and saw what they hire for 10 bucks an hour you'd understand right quick what the problem is 'round here.....

Trust me. went through it here too. The former CLS DM there used to be the DM here for the few years before that and did the same friggin' thing here. We were severely understaffed for years and we had also just got the at&t contract also. I can understand exactly what you're going thru. Just try and hang on and document anything you can. If you need help, email everyday. It's the only way to cover your @$$.

[USIC1]

All those SMP jobs on monster certainly dont confirm this freeze..

Especially in Texas...

Unless there fishin for hard up veterans to work for 10$ an hr...

[Wingfoot]

Hmmm...sounds like what happened to me in 2007. I was scheduled to start class but the day came and no one ever called until a week later, then it was "oh sorry, we don't have enough people for a full class" A month later I got in and here I am. Not sure if that's good or bad!

Welcome Aboard badger! Your Avatar is SWEET! You made the good decision to be locator. The money's good. The hours are flexible. The trucks are new(er) and you're burning their gas. Bonding with fellow locators comes quick. More than intelligence, a good locator needs common sense - A little common sense makes this job a snap! A locator that sports very little common sense will learn quickly that it's a good thing McDonalds and Burger King is always hiring!

[USIC1]

I just heard that layoff's are coming in Florida for USIC. They will be looking at the low producers and non-productive locators. There is a possibility of the loss of the FPL contract in Florida due to the price FPL pay's for tickets.

So to the locators who just coast, your day's are numbered.

:blahblah:

:tease:

:bump:


What about the USIC rumors coming out of Florida over locators startin to pay a daily gas allowance???


:complain::complain::complain:

:cry:

[Locatingart]

Lets see. Why would we not be hiring and training anyone new right now? Is it because we are so focus in training everyone on ATT,Nicor,Comed,and Comcast, in Illinois? Is that why we have other trainer from other states to help from both companys? WOW Could that be the answer.

[yahoo]

Lets see. Why would we not be hiring and training anyone new right now? Is it because we are so focus in training everyone on ATT,Nicor,Comed,and Comcast, in Illinois? Is that why we have other trainer from other states to help from both companys? WOW Could that be the answer.

i am assumming you did not give up after all.............

[Locatingart]

No Steve invited me back! via Email

[Locatingart]

In talking with good friends in the Locating Dept at Nicor. I beleive that there will be looking elsewhere for there locating needs. There feel that USIC can not focus on there locating needs as long as there doing four plus party locates.

[beyond help]

In talking with good friends in the Locating Dept at Nicor. I beleive that there will be looking elsewhere for there locating needs. There feel that USIC can not focus on there locating needs as long as there doing four plus party locates.
It depends on how much time is left on the contract. We damn near lost most of ours this past year. But all have reupped.

[Locatingart]

If Nicor wants out of the contract there have away out.

[beyond help]

If Nicor wants out of the contract there have away out.
Everyone can get out of a contract, question is, do they have enough cash to do it, and who will the turn to?

[frostypeters]

Everyone can get out of a contract, question is, do they have enough cash to do it, and who will the turn to?

There are enough outs written in any contract to get out in 30 days if need be. If NiCor wants out, they'll get out.

Plus, there would be no shortage of contract locate companies willing to get into the market.

[big boots mcghee]

There are enough outs written in any contract to get out in 30 days if need be. If NiCor wants out, they'll get out.

Plus, there would be no shortage of contract locate companies willing to get into the market.

And all it would take is one contract locate company getting their foot in the door, performing well, and potentially picking up additional contracts from other facility owners who feel the same way. It's the circle of life of the locating industry. USIC may be the largest locating company now, but it won't last.

[frostypeters]

Anyone who has spent time in the industry can confirm it is cyclical. Remember when CLS was the mac-daddy? Or SM&P before the SBC "incident", hell even UtiliQuest was the BIG player for awhile.

The format however is still broken & until the "big boy" on the block makes the changes necessary, we will continue to have this cycle of life.

[underground quester]

Anyone who has spent time in the industry can confirm it is cyclical. Remember when CLS was the mac-daddy? Or SM&P before the SBC "incident", hell even UtiliQuest was the BIG player for awhile.

The format however is still broken & until the "big boy" on the block makes the changes necessary, we will continue to have this cycle of life.


Yes Frosty you are absolutely correct. The Consortiums basically dictate who will be king and who will be the joker based on bids and what any company biding on a contract may be willing to give up to get the contract.

Its sad, its broken and I predict it will not change in the foreseeable future.

[frostypeters]

Yep, the good thing is as a locator, you can just change the t-shirt you are wearing everytime the contract changes hands.

With all the warts on the industry, we have a necessary & desired skillset. If you are good, you are always employable. You may have to relocate, but if you can always work once you become a locator.

[USIC1]

Just wait until some of the utility owners find out how

badly USIC is to there employees...

If you had a large contract with someone protecting your facilities would you

like to know how bad the employees feel about there company and the risk of jeopardizing those facilities???

I dont think so either...


Thats where the big squeeze of USICs gonads will ultimately be

tested...When the digruntling remarks get aired out to the facility reps in the field...

Just wait and see...

Who will do there part when the short changing escalates???

[shovelhead]

The longer I am in this biz, the more obvious some things seem to me. One of which is this:

They already know how everyone is treated. And for what it's worth, some of the folks I've talked to really seem to feel for us. But there is nothing they can do. As long as they are saving money, and there isn't any negative press, I don't think the folks who make these decisions for the utility customers care how the work gets done. They are just trying to hold on to what they have left.

Because not so long ago, things were better for them too.....