The statute of limitations on claims like these runs for 10 years in many states, so even ancient history can come back to haunt you sometimes.
From: Af [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cameron Crum via Af Sent: Friday, October 24, 2014 9:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Employee damaging equipment Maybe, but of course this was between 11 and 5 years ago. On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 5:57 AM, Hass, Douglas A. via Af <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Cameron--When you owned your WISP, you dodged a bullet. Your installers were quite likely employees, not contractors. ☺ Quick note for everyone on this list: if you have ANYONE that you’re paying on a contract basis to do work for your business (cash, 1099, etc.) and NOT as an employee, hit me up off list. You’re quite likely betting your company’s future existence on it. Some rolls of the dice come out o.k., as with Cameron’s situation. Many times they don’t. If you get a claim, you could lose your WISP. Wage and hour mistakes are that serious. From: Af [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of Cameron Crum via Af Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 10:21 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Employee damaging equipment When I owned a wisp my installers were contractors so I made them bring their own tools. I figured they'd take better care if them. Then, while changing a radio on a customers house I found a Dewalt cordless drill on top of the chimney. I asked the owner if it was his, and he said no. I asked my installer the next day. Turns out he left it there almost a year earlier. Go figure. On Oct 23, 2014 10:14 PM, "That One Guy via Af" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: I lost a ladder (pretty sure i left it behind a house after a loong full day install) I replaced it, had I not, I would have expected my employer to fire me. I fried a 500 dollar switch because I pulled an old radio off a tower but never disconnected the POE, it shorted out. I offered to pay but the boss wrote it off, I didnt turn in the equivalent amount of overtime to offset the cost. I was not happy I wasnt held accountable. I lost a surveillance camera, so I had them order a replacement and deduct it from my pay, after it arrived, I found the first one on the shelf in the van where I looked three times, I now have a camera, I should have been fired at this point, three substantial items in under 5 years. I had a #10 wrench slide off a roof into the snow never to be seen again, I didnt like that wrench anyway so i went to the hardware store and bough a ratchet wrench on the bosses dime. There is expected loss, the occasional hand tool, broken drill bits, zip ties, etc. but pretty much anything over 50 bucks, unless its a pretty valid reason should be the employees responsibility. You owners pay us to do a job, as with any job the things you provide cost you real money, youre not paying us to spend that money needlessly, when we waste your money we are accountable for the consequences, either financial or job applications. Not holding us accountable creates a dangerous dynamic in a workplace. You let us slide on a 300 dollar ladder, how careful will we be with a 2500 dollar trencher or 5k radio? On Thu, Oct 23, 2014 at 9:50 PM, Jeremy via Af <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Well I extremely appreciate the specific FLSA laws on this matter and the creative ways of dealing with the solution (for those employees who are not our brothers). Thanks Josh and Travis. On Thu, Oct 23, 2014 at 8:05 PM, Glen Waldrop via Af <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: I'm not going to screw him over or anything. He offered to pay for the ladder on his own, just the way we were raised. You break it, you bought it. ----- Original Message ----- From: Tyson Burris @ Internet Comm. Inc via Af<mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 8:51 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Employee damaging equipment He said it was his brother right ? Who cares! Your brother is your blood. Sh!t happens Sent from my iPhone On Oct 23, 2014, at 8:47 PM, Josh Reynolds via Af <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Federal labor law says you can't hold employees financial responsible for broken/lost tools. (from my understanding) Josh Reynolds, Chief Information Officer SPITwSPOTS, www.spitwspots.com<http://www.spitwspots.com> On 10/23/2014 04:22 PM, Glen Waldrop via Af wrote: How do you guys handle it when an employee damages or loses equipment? This is my baby brother's first job. He tied the ladder and it fell out of the truck, no where to be found. He said he's going to either get me one or pay me back, just curious how everyone else handles this. I've never run into it yet. � -- All parts should go together without forcing. You must remember that the parts you are reassembling were disassembled by you. Therefore, if you can't get them together again, there must be a reason. By all means, do not use a hammer. -- IBM maintenance manual, 1925 Douglas A. Hass Associate 312.786.6502<tel:312.786.6502> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Franczek Radelet P.C. 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