ELM and holiday pay

[TheCableVine]

I think they've done this before.

Apparently they have a policy where if you don't work the day before a holiday or the day after a holiday, then you can't get holiday pay. I've seen that policy at other companies as well.

This year I hear that half the crew was given the day off before Memorial Day weekend and the other half was given the day off after Memorial Day weekend. Thus canceling out their eligibility to collect their holiday pay.

Is that cool or not? I wonder if they tell them in their interviews that they offer holiday pay.

[yahoo]

that is way below being sorry!!!!! no that is below what lawyers and used car salesmans do!!!!!

[beyond help]

I can hear the word lawsuit

[TheCableVine]

I'm sure this comes from above. I don't think Don, the Manager, would do something like this unless directed to do so.

[Red Dawg]

That not right. If you are sent home the day before a holiday, then you should get the pay. Could you take vacation time?

[swagman]

I was talking to some of there personnell around the state,guess ELM management has had some meetings with there people all over the state and basically told them,no raises,holiday pay ,and the best part they could not care less if they stayed or left,this explains why one of their REALLY quality people,was so willing to stab one of his six plus year locators in the back so fast.,I worked for them in 06 ,when i was laid off I took it as a blessing ,I was not very impressed with the way things were run if they pulled me in and said they did not care if I stayed or went ,I would tell said supervisor ,that I hope he has a good time doing my tickets,I know a little about Don ,I think his reaction would be ,you know that noise you hear when a baby is loading up a diaper ,you know how it sounds like a coffee pot perking ,that's what his reaction would be on his best day he is a chump!!! I truly feel sorry for the ELM ERs that think they have nowhere else to go it is sad to watch they have some Really good people and some that are a very bad joke,good luck Elm,ers YOU are going to need it,COME ON STAKE CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!

[walktheditches]

ELM has always had this policy on holidays. Many of the guys who wanted to get paid for it would have to take vaction time for one of those days in order to get the holiday pay. I don't know if they have changed that option or not this year, but if they can find a way to do it they will.

[Jared]

guess ELM management has had some meetings with there people all over the state and basically told them,no raises,holiday pay ,and the best part they could not care less if they stayed or left...
COME ON STAKE CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a pretty interesting, and likely exaggerated claim. Although I will not discuss private company HR policies on the internet, I will say that this is basically untrue. Employee retention is something we strive for, and statements like these would certainly be counterproductive to this goal. I have been getting reasonable raises approved for my crew all year.

Jared

[swagman]

Well Jared ,obviously you do not work in the ares that I cover ,I make it a point to talk to any ELMer that I see and go out of my way to introduce myself ,they all tell me pretty much the same thing about the company line ,and I have yet to meet one that is not looking for another job or is completely miserable,sorry to burst your bubble, son ,things must be good for you where you are at ,Congradulations and I hope for you and your crews sake that you can continue to get them raises and that things get better for you ,when I worked for Elm they were locating in 22 states ,I think you are down to 11 now,If Stake Center Would step up I Know for a fact that you ,or any other ELMer would not be in my work area,and that would put ELM out of 7 more states including your headquarters in Montana,you might want to get that resume of yours updated ,you may need it ,as far as my statement being untrue ,I talk to at least 3 Elmers everyday ,my information is correct ,as far as retention ,they are holding there locators that have been there the longest ,basically hostage ,they dont pay some of their locators drivetime to their first locate in some cases ,this could be as much as two hours,these locators are scared cause they cannot make what they are being paid at ELM anywhere else,and throw in benifits ,they have them by the shorties,that's why I feel so sorry for them ,if Stake Center Comes in they will be paid well and get benefits, let's hope your happy little bubble does not burst ,before you contradict me again talk to the Elmers in my area ,without telling them you are management for Elm ,you might find out I am right ,unless you are related to the owner in someway or you have some "pictures",of someone high up,your job is not safe good luck to you ,believe me you are going to need it.

[locator_smbk]

My company supposedly has this policy in place as well, but I have taken the friday before the holiday off (if the holiday is on Monday) and then taken vacation the remaining 4 days of the week following the holiday, and I still received holiday pay as usual...

Sounds like a loop hole companies have given themselvs to get out of the obligation of adeqautely compensating their employees like they promised..which is Standard Operating Procedure for a typical locating company....

[Jared]

First - I'd like to "congradulate" you on typing the world's longest ever run on sentence... yes folks, not a single period. Second - is this really your response to my short comment? Why did my comment cause the dam to burst, unleashing a flood of angry and negative comments? Did ELM wrong you in some former life? I don't intend to single you out, but when someone blatantly insults and criticizes the company I'm proud to work for, I will stand up and defend it. Also for the record, it is my understanding that ELM had contracts in 13 states at once at it's peak. Please don't take that as an accusation of exaggeration on your part.

You are correct saying that I do not work in your area. I was born and raised in Boise, ID and frequently visit family in the area. I work the bordering area immediately south, in southeast Idaho and northern Utah. The secretary that works in my office covers Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. I am on conference calls with the Idaho management nearly every week and frequently communicate with them via email. Our operations are in the same region, and therefore under the same vice president, meaning we are all under the same direct leadership. Our contract areas overlap between our offices and even utility company invoices are split between our two areas. We work as a team under our VP and are all on the same page policy-wise. I would consider myself "in the know" about all official policies and practices in Idaho, because I am on the calls when those policies are made. Next time you're involved in a regional management conference call, or attend an ELM crew meeting let me know. Until that point, I will continue to say that your accusation of ELM "holding its employees hostage" is a bold faced lie, even if that's what you've heard.

No, hearsay does not count as a meeting. I'm sorry your only exposure to ELM employees has been to those with less than stellar attitudes.

your job is not safe

You're wrong, sorry. Crap sinks, and cream floats. If I were a piece of crap employee with poor performance and a rotten attitude, I wouldn't feel like my job was safe no matter what company I worked for.

Now for my favorite part.

they cannot make what they are being paid at ELM anywhere else,and throw in benifits

Does that really sound like a bad thing? We're paying them better than they can get at any other job locally and offering them benefits. Sounds awful.

And finally...

On behalf of the company - I'd like to publicly, formally apologize for whatever horrific, life altering, rotten experience you've had with ELM in the past. I'm sure whatever terrible deeds that were done are long past and can be forgiven. I hope that in the future we can all respect each other as fellow locators rather than bitter enemies, and put any past bad experiences behind us. I, for one, am done with these debates and will not continue to have these bitter disputes with you about the merits of ELM vs. Stake Center. Work somewhere you can be proud of, and so will I.

Jared

[spray-n-pray]

I would just like to chime in and say that from what i hear, stake center is a joke. I have met many of their employees who claim the company lies to them. The have a reputation for not showing up to meets at all, terrible quality and a high turnover rate. They are a joke amongst contractors in wyoming. I have personally talked with their locaters who say stake center is getting me this or that, then months later that promise remains unfulfilled. I am not trying to get into an argument here, just thought I would put this out for the sake of those who think Stake Center is a good company. From what I have seen, I would never work for them. And I dont see how they could possibly compete with a company such as ELM or, much less put them out of business.

[underground quester]

My company supposedly has this policy in place as well, but I have taken the friday before the holiday off (if the holiday is on Monday) and then taken vacation the remaining 4 days of the week following the holiday, and I still received holiday pay as usual...

Sounds like a loop hole companies have given themselvs to get out of the obligation of adeqautely compensating their employees like they promised..which is Standard Operating Procedure for a typical locating company....

SMBK

The way it works here is if you work the day before and day after OR
are given approved time off, leave of absence, bereavement leave or vacation pay then you are paid for the stat holiday.
If you book off sick or just do not show up...basically an unexcused absence, you do not get paid for it.
The company can also choose to have you not work on a given Friday or Monday and not pay you...it is afterall their company...but it does not win them many friends.

Given the circumstances, and having owned my own company in the past, this is another way to cut "cost centers" when revenue may be short.

Not saying it is right, or the right (or wrong) thing to do.
Just stating the way it would work up here.

[sprayandpray]

I would just like to chime in and say that from what i hear, stake center is a joke. I have met many of their employees who claim the company lies to them. The have a reputation for not showing up to meets at all, terrible quality and a high turnover rate. They are a joke amongst contractors in wyoming. I have personally talked with their locaters who say stake center is getting me this or that, then months later that promise remains unfulfilled. I am not trying to get into an argument here, just thought I would put this out for the sake of those who think Stake Center is a good company. From what I have seen, I would never work for them. And I dont see how they could possibly compete with a company such as ELM or, much less put them out of business.

Disclaimer!!! Please be advised that the Original Sprayandpray did not approve of this comment nor give this impostor permission to try and cash in on my stellar reputation for timely and informative input to this forum!
I really can't believe that a newcomer could poach a long-standing member's alias like this. I guess I will have to change mine to The cable-vine, or 1USIC, or something like that

[ifinditunderground]

LMAO Spray, I had to look twice when I read the post earlier.