need everyone honest opinion

[CB Technologies]

I currently have a few clients under my belt under contract. However I work a full time job. Here where I need an opinion, I was hired about 8 years ago to do there edi/operations side of the business, never no talks about me being their tech also, the company had a guy that they would call to troubleshoot their computers and network. But over the years I have didn't want to have to wait on this guy to come around to troubleshoot/fix something I have the same experience to do, so I did everything myself so I wouldn't have to wait for the down time. Today I approached them with being with a contract proposal for me to be their tech and they thought something was wrong with me. My question is was it wrong to do this after years of service working on regular pay (basically offering my services for free, with no benefit), or was this the right move. Just looking for opinions, other Colleagues have said it was the right move. Whats your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[cmonova]

I currently have a few clients under my belt under contract. However I work a full time job. Here where I need an opinion, I was hired about 8 years ago to do there edi/operations side of the business, never no talks about me being their tech also, the company had a guy that they would call to troubleshoot their computers and network. But over the years I have didn't want to have to wait on this guy to come around to troubleshoot/fix something I have the same experience to do, so I did everything myself so I wouldn't have to wait for the down time. Today I approached them with being with a contract proposal for me to be their tech and they thought something was wrong with me. My question is was it wrong to do this after years of service working on regular pay (basically offering my services for free, with no benefit), or was this the right move. Just looking for opinions, other Colleagues have said it was the right move. Whats your thoughts.

Thanks

In theory right move, realistically proably not going to happen. You unfortunetely fell into the trap of being that employee that goes above and beyond and apparently work for a company that does not appreciate your efforts.

An example would be I have 10 guys on a govt contract everything from network admins, programmers, engineers, and help desk. Now I tell them from day one they can do everything I do not care if an engineer has to do a help desk ticket becuase it's a team. Now the one that benefits most is the help desk group because they can learn daily from the others. A year from now one of them comes to me and says "you know i've been doing x, y and z and it's really not my responsibility based on job description I was hired for. The guy is completely right. He also is wrong if he things i'll pony up more money becasue of it. In my eyes he helped himself and if he is that marketable then he better be prepared to walk and take advantage of it.

If you are in a position to walk then I would do it. In theory the company would pay you and not have to pay the other person but who knows what some people are thinking.

 

[Xander]

I had a job years ago where I was paid to do one job but they'd constantly ask me to do tech stuff. When they'd hired me, they knew I had just started the business on the side. Bit by bit, they'd backed off of their original agreements (raise after a trial period and so on).

A few months later, I quit and billed them for the tech hours (less wage received). They paid.

 

[MrUnknown]

So, there are two stories to this...

It was the wrong move, to them. They were saving money without having to call this other dude and you spoiled them. You then proposed that they actually pay you for the work you're doing that is above and beyond your actual job commitments, costing them more money.

However, you let it carry on for way too long before stepping in and telling them it isn't your job. So, in their eyes, it became your job. You acquired that commitment and in their eyes, it was your job. Why would they pay someone else to do it?

I work at nights, and the culture there is pretty neat. They pretty much live by "You make your own commitments." If someone asks you to do something and you can do it but don't want to always do it, you need to make that clear either before you do what they ask or as soon as possible. Otherwise you acquired the commitment. I was actually warned to not be so helpful in little ways because I would acquire those responsibilities and they weren't really mine or expected of me. An odd example being that I somehow acquired the commitment to make sure this one particular water cooler always had water. If it runs out, they ask me about it instead of getting it themselves which is what they are supposed to do. I eventually set it straight but it was my problem for way too long.

You got yourself in an odd position, but I personally believe you did the right decision. The bad thing is you risk losing your job if you get on their nerves too much.

I need more details, how did they react? Did they accept the offer? Have you stopped doing the extra work?

 

[NeutronTech]

I don't think there was anything wrong with what you did. Basically the company got used to paying you your wages and expecting your tech services as well. They would never pay you as a company. It's sort of like being the "friend zone". Although your qualified, your never getting out.

 

[CB Technologies]

Thanks for all the honest comments. Yes I feel that I waited to long to bring this up, but on the other hand I also feel that I made the right decision in order for me to grow my own company I can't keep giving out freebies.

@ Mr. Unknown: They didn't get back to me on the proposal and I don't they will, So I just took it as it is, but one of my colleagues had to meet the owner somewhere today and he asked him If I had a problem or something, so I guess they were shocked at that proposal. As far as doing the extra work, no I stopped that as of today since I see that they don't really appreciate all I have done for their company.

 

[maclaptech]

It was a right move. At least they should give you a raise or something if nothing else. They are being stupid.

 

[ICEinLAVA]

Honest opinion

I personally think it was the wrong thing to do and i would suggest that you withdraw your proposal. But i don't think your job will hire your company to do any work as long as your employed there. it can create a conflict of interest, not only for them but for you too.

if your currently working your job and they have an issue, they might question why they have to pay your invoice when they are paying your wages.

reselling items and equipment from your own business to your job company could get very questionable. will they see that your reselling around the market rate or are they highly inflated because your telling them to buy from your business as an employee.

Because your also an employee, your may expect more from you as a company, or a discounted rate for hiring you.

Overall, i would suggest one of two things after you withdraw your contract proposal. And better yet, you could offer the choices to your employer/manager.
1. You stop working on their computer/network issues and you continue to with your normal job duties.
2. You request a raise in pay for the additional job duties you would be talking on. As it might make more sense to have a tech in house that to problem solve issues as they occur.

They are going to wonder why they should pay you a few dollars more an hour, when they wont need your skills all the time, and they could just pay another tech to come in and fix the issue for a flat fee. Well if it is just you, then it makes sense to continue with the other tech, but in a bigger office with more employees, it would create more down time that would cost the company more money.

It was a right move. At least they should give you a raise or something if nothing else. They are being stupid.

I wouldn't expect the employer to approach me with the option of a raise, they might request that you fix the issues though. The employers job is to get the work done efficently for the least amount of money possible. The employee's job is to get the job done for the most amount of money. the issue is that most employees don't see this concept and need to think of themselves as a business, and therefore never request to be compensated for extra work. "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

 

[itmike]

Well on reference to the cow, you could always stop giving the milk away. I would have it done a lot sooner. Though I don't think you should withdraw the offer, just leave it on the table. After the milk dries up and downtime goes up, they will miss it. After all your job description probably does not include tech services. One good thing about you doing it so long for them is that it will make what you did stand out that much more. IE. Hey remember when these things just got fixed without a call?

 

[NeutronTech]

Yeah, just stop doing tech stuff for them. If they ask you to do something, tell them it is a conflict of interest with your other job. If they need your services to call 555-555-5555.

 

[Alan22]

I personally think it was the wrong thing to do and i would suggest that you withdraw your proposal. But i don't think your job will hire your company to do any work as long as your employed there. it can create a conflict of interest, not only for them but for you too.

if your currently working your job and they have an issue, they might question why they have to pay your invoice when they are paying your wages.

I agree with this.

In general, if someone is hired to do a job and they take it upon themselves to go above and beyond their job responsibilities, good for them. In my eyes they are a valuable asset to the company. But, don't go asking to get paid separately for that extra work when it's not a job requirement. It's the employee that created the "overworked, underpaid" environment for themselves. However, I think it can be used as a bargaining chip when the employee is due for a raise.

 

[Screwloose]

We have a saying where I work "If you touch it, you own it" .... I have known many people who do things that are not in their job description and never received any compensation... sure it sucks but for the most part they did it either because no one else was or they did it so they could get their part done. The company doesnt care as long as the work is done and meets whatever guidelines they have. Looks like you need to stop doing the extra work and when they ask why something isnt done you explain you are waiting on the guy that should be doing it to complete his part.

If they are ok with that then you have what you have. If not they might revisit your proposal.

 

[RogueTech]

It comes down to a few things.

First, if you are performing tech work outside the scope of your job description you've spoiled them. Outlining a proposal to do tech work for them is the right move but you went about it the wrong way. I'm assuming you did not specify that you would perform the work outside of normal business hours because if you did not, you are losing productivity during the day fixing these issues. That's a negative...at least to them.

What you should of done was initially sent a letter to your supervisor. Explain to him/her/them that you own a side business doing tech services. You have been performing these services at a no charge basis in an attempt to go "above and beyond". However, being that these services are on a consistent basis and you don't want to affect your day to day productivity, you cannot afford to continue doing them. You would however like to offer your services off business hours through a seperate contract. Explain the pros of going through your company versus their current.

Now if they bite for the off-business hours contract you're golden. If not, then negotiate for a raise as long as they don't mind your loss of day to day productivity. If they value your tech work as much as your actual responsibilities then they should recognize and reward based on that. If all else fails, go cold turkey on the tech work. At this point they should now recognize your invaluable work and realize they have been getting away cheap.

Good luck!

EDIT: I forgot to mention that you cannot have a contract for performing tech work during business hours. It's a conflict of interest. They can only give you a raise and the 'ok' to perform multiple duties. Contracting you during business hours is like paying you for doing 2 things at once...when you can only do 1 at a time.

 

[NeutronTech]

EDIT: I forgot to mention that you cannot have a contract for performing tech work during business hours. It's a conflict of interest. They can only give you a raise and the 'ok' to perform multiple duties. Contracting you during business hours is like paying you for doing 2 things at once...when you can only do 1 at a time.

Not if he clocks out before performing repairs

 

[RogueTech]

Not if he clocks out before performing repairs

True but he's in a business environment, so usually there are no punch cards. He's definitely on a salary (vs hourly) rate as well so the whole punching out to do a repair then punching back in seems like a hassle.

 

[bagellad]

Logically it makes sense but from a human standpoint it doesn't work that way. Businesses are just a collection of people and procedures so it is really just about dealing with people.. your employer thought "Oh isnt that employee going the extra mile!" not "we should be paying him extra!" so while during your normal time you are kind of screwed, if they are wanting you to stay after work and do tech work that is different.

 

[keeperofthecode]

I worked for a newspaper in advertising for a few years and our tech was terrible. I cam ein one day to find our entire server was lost. Total data loss, and he was sitting around scratching his head saying "I don't know why the backup wasn't working." I took over tech duties from that point on because I wasn't going through that again. Few years of giving free tech support and when my business was up enough to put my notice in with them I just waited. About a month later they called me and now they are one of my top ten clients. If you play your cards right you'll make up fo rall that free support you gave them.