Got laid off, Rant,,

[pred]

I understand that the economy basically sucks right now, I have worked for a small HVAC company for the past 15 years, We install high effeciency HVAC equipment in bulk,,, I just finished 292 complete installs in occupied housing for McGuire AFB, It was a couple million dollar job and it took 1 year from start to finish,,,
I've been running all the high dollar jobs for the past 10 years...
We still are working, But only about 6 out of 30 guys. The issue lies in the fact that there are two owners of the company and one of the owners is starting to retire and has his 34 year old kid taking over,,,,,,,,
This kid is one lazy guy who is driving the Co. into the grave, But Dad wants to give the Kid the opportunity to take the company over allowing him to make any decision he feels like...
This Kid has been one of the guys I had under me working the jobs, and one fateful day about 6 years ago I was renting an apartment to him, And I needed to evict him due to his resistance to clean up his dogs waste all over my front yard...
It appeared to blow over since Dad was buying him a house,,,,
Well when the layoffs started, I was the First to go! I was aware that he was talking down about me to everyone that would listen,,,, I caught min in lies concerning me as of lately and exposed him to the other owner because I cant work like that, Secrets bury good companies,
I have been looking for a good job for about 1 year without making a lifestyle of it,,,
I was called into the office for a meeting 3 weeks ago,,, And found it was about laying me off,,, He wanted me fired, But the other owner sees no issue with me and would like me to be working full time right now,,, But this little lazy punk really wants me gone! He didnt even attend the meeting. I also have been with the Co. the longest besides the owners. I've been the right hand man. I think that this kid is really threatened by me so much he just cant stand it!
So I have been laid off, I still have insurance and may be called back soon enough, BUT I cant see myself being under this punk.
I have been looking for about 2 weeks now, Collecting unemployment, But that's not me.
I am 43 and have worked since I was 14, I dont know how not to work,,,
All my guns are really clean, Cars cleaned and all repairs done, I am doing some odd jobs to keep busy, Still getting up at 5-6 am.
So there it is,,, No more gun shop runs for a while,,,
Lots of home cooking and household maintenance.
What really bothers me is that I have bought this company up from a 5 guy crew to what it is now, Competing for million dollar jobs several times a year, And I have to watch it being handled by such a lazy guy and seeing it faultering in a big way,,, There was even a big client that wanted a quote for a big job a month ago,,,, But under his condition, This Kid would not be allowed to be on the job, Owner didnt even want to see his face and specifically asked for me to run it if we wanted the job,,, Well what do you know????
I hope that this is not happening to any of you good folks here! ! !
Thanks for listening to my rant!
Anyone here have any issues with their HVAC or boilers, Please feel free to Email me with your # and mabey we can walk through it over the phone. I usually check emails once a day or more depending how busy I am.
Peter.

 

[pred]

I understand that the economy basically sucks right now, I have worked for a small HVAC company for the past 15 years, We install high effeciency HVAC equipment in bulk,,, I just finished 292 complete installs in occupied housing for McGuire AFB, It was a couple million dollar job and it took 1 year from start to finish,,,
I've been running all the high dollar jobs for the past 10 years...
We still are working, But only about 6 out of 30 guys. The issue lies in the fact that there are two owners of the company and one of the owners is starting to retire and has his 34 year old kid taking over,,,,,,,,
This kid is one lazy guy who is driving the Co. into the grave, But Dad wants to give the Kid the opportunity to take the company over allowing him to make any decision he feels like...
This Kid has been one of the guys I had under me working the jobs, and one fateful day about 6 years ago I was renting an apartment to him, And I needed to evict him due to his resistance to clean up his dogs waste all over my front yard...
It appeared to blow over since Dad was buying him a house,,,,
Well when the layoffs started, I was the First to go! I was aware that he was talking down about me to everyone that would listen,,,, I caught min in lies concerning me as of lately and exposed him to the other owner because I cant work like that, Secrets bury good companies,
I have been looking for a good job for about 1 year without making a lifestyle of it,,,
I was called into the office for a meeting 3 weeks ago,,, And found it was about laying me off,,, He wanted me fired, But the other owner sees no issue with me and would like me to be working full time right now,,, But this little lazy punk really wants me gone! He didnt even attend the meeting. I also have been with the Co. the longest besides the owners. I've been the right hand man. I think that this kid is really threatened by me so much he just cant stand it!
So I have been laid off, I still have insurance and may be called back soon enough, BUT I cant see myself being under this punk.
I have been looking for about 2 weeks now, Collecting unemployment, But that's not me.
I am 43 and have worked since I was 14, I dont know how not to work,,,
All my guns are really clean, Cars cleaned and all repairs done, I am doing some odd jobs to keep busy, Still getting up at 5-6 am.
So there it is,,, No more gun shop runs for a while,,,
Lots of home cooking and household maintenance.
What really bothers me is that I have bought this company up from a 5 guy crew to what it is now, Competing for million dollar jobs several times a year, And I have to watch it being handled by such a lazy guy and seeing it faultering in a big way,,, There was even a big client that wanted a quote for a big job a month ago,,,, But under his condition, This Kid would not be allowed to be on the job, Owner didnt even want to see his face and specifically asked for me to run it if we wanted the job,,, Well what do you know????
I hope that this is not happening to any of you good folks here! ! !
Thanks for listening to my rant!
Anyone here have any issues with their HVAC or boilers, Please feel free to Email me with your # and mabey we can walk through it over the phone. I usually check emails once a day or more depending how busy I am.
Peter.

 

[Frizzman]

My father-in-law had a very similar experience twice. He is an automotive electrician and worked for a local company many years. He was the senior man and was instrumental in helping the owner to make a go of it. When the owner finally retired to go off in his big motorhome, Junior took over and George was quickly fired by Junior. George had always acted like a second father to Junior. Junior was, of course, a spoiled jerk. George had been a loyal employee for over 35 years. He left with nothing.

An old friend of his who had a wrecking company hired him after that to service their equipment at a decent wage. He did that a few years. He worked a whole day once even after having chest pain which later turned out to have been a heart attack! He never took time off and went to work sick often. When his old friend died of cancer, the son-in-law took over and George got the axe again.

I guess the moral is that one can never be 100% secure in a job and sometimes good people get screwed through no fault of their own. Try not to let it get you down too much. I always figured if I felt too bad then the bastards win. I was unfairly fired from a job once. I was so furious that I made myself sick. I thought it was the end of the world. It wasn't and later I was glad to be out of that stinking job. Good luck and it will work out I am sure. I wouldn't go back there though.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by pred:
There was even a big client that wanted a quote for a big job a month ago,,,, But under his condition, This Kid would not be allowed to be on the job, Owner didnt even want to see his face and specifically asked for me to run it if we wanted the job,,,
Peter.

Why don't you go see this guy, talk to your banker and bid the job yourself? Takes Balls, but nothing ventured nothing gained. 43 years old with 15 years of HVAC experience seems like good qualifications to start up your own company. Scary-you bet-sleepless nights-you bet but whare are you right now?? Give it a thought.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

When you work for a family business and you are not part of the family, you are spare equipment. Start your own HVAC business and hire the bosses kid after he loses the current business then fire him.

 

[cmort666]

Got laid off in February.

We'd already survived several big hits, including my predecessor, who stole close to $300,000 (that we can document), a supplier in China who used our raw material money for something else, and a customer who's trying to pull a $50,000 fast one.

The thief got us locked into one big customer, and one supplier. The supplier was a Homer Simpson grade nitwit, whom I'm sure was picked for his ability to be hoodwinked (Think of Ralph the retarded kid on The Simpsons, only Indian), rather than his ability to deliver good parts on time.

When the recession hit, our main customer's own sales dropped by 40%. They cut ALL of our orders, dropping our business by about 90%. No orders, no work, so with only two of us, the boss laid me off. If things don't pick up soon, he'll have to lay himself off.

Things are tough all over.

 

[okie john]

You're a man of principle. That has a lot of value, but it can make enemies. Unfortunately, they'll be enemies like this kid, and they'll wait as long as it takes to even the score without a face-to-face confrontation. Once people in your industry see that you're available, you'll probably get scooped up in no time. Until then, just hang on, be patient and know that God and the universe will eventually catch up with the kid.

I'll keep you in my prayers.


Okie John

 

[gunnut44]

Suck A#@ and kinfolk work when times are tough, Are you Union? If not maybe you should go down to the local Pipe Fitters union hall and see if you can get in on permit.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Start your own company and put him under yourself.
If he's lazy he won't even know how to prevent it and with your experience and skill not to mention contacts you could have a business of you own.

 

[venomballistics]

Originally posted by HOUSTON RICK:
When you work for a family business and you are not part of the family, you are spare equipment. Start your own HVAC business and hire the bosses kid after he loses the current business then fire him.

exactly ....
+10 .... the man behind CreepingdeathRC.com is currently waiting and virtualy begging to get laid off so that he can fully pop the clutch on CD.
you can do better without a traditional job, even on a shoestring budget if you can think out the road map. thats really all it takes. Cook it up and do it.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Get your license and bonds and put the jerk out in the cold, plus call the one owener that likes you and ask him to go in with you!!!! You should know man-hours and add to cost of the equipment and hire away the workers that do thier work and hit this butthead head on

and the billfold.

 

[truckemup97]

I think the consensus is that you should start your own company. It ain't easy, but for me, it was worth it. Good luck! BTW, the only way I've found good luck is through lots of hard work.

Sounds like you're up to the task, though.

 

[RGAmos]

I think in a couple of years you will be thanking the young jerk for his decision to let you go.

 

[Racegunner]

I was laid off in January. Now I'm starting my own company. I just bought some equipment and I'm ready to go. I have the potential of tripling my previous salary and I'm my own boss (and biller, salesman & janitor!). Similar situation, son inherits biz, doesn't know how to attract new biz, won't take risks, tries to hang on to his inheritance and watches Rome burn around him.
GO FOR THE GUSTO! If you know how to deal with the people side of the biz you will be in good shape. With most of my jobs, after about 1 month I can do the boss's job, but they can't seem to do mine. Grab one of those million dollar accounts for yourself and good luck.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by Racegunner:
I was laid off in January. Now I'm starting my own company. I just bought some equipment and I'm ready to go. I have the potential of tripling my previous salary and I'm my own boss (and biller, salesman & janitor!). Similar situation, son inherits biz, doesn't know how to attract new biz, won't take risks, tries to hang on to his inheritance and watches Rome burn around him.
GO FOR THE GUSTO! If you know how to deal with the people side of the biz you will be in good shape. With most of my jobs, after about 1 month I can do the boss's job, but they can't seem to do mine. Grab one of those million dollar accounts for yourself and good luck.

He's right you know. The worst that cn happen is you fail and then you're in the same position that you are in now. Just remember there is no difference between not being able to pay back 100k or a million.

In all seriousness though, the only real failure is not trying-what we are trying to say is Hike up your shorts, lock in the boys, and go for it

 

[Racegunner]

Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

 

[pred]

You guys have a good point.
1 million of insurance is about 600 bucks, I have a pick up truck and all the tools to start something.
Tomorrow is another day
... And ,, I DO NOT intend to go back, But still having health insurance and 6 months of unemployment seems like a safety net for the time being, Making this a better time to get out on my own.
Thank you guys..... I have been looking at a HVAC job in the local school district that is union rate job with tones of benifits. I am waiting for their reply. Out on my own or a good union rate... Now I wonder which is better.
Either way, I believe that the Kid will drive the Co. under in the next couple years,,,, And then Dad will give him a million so he can start another business.
OH Well, He will never appreciate the $$$$ He has till he actually has to work for it.
Peter

 

[7003006]

Originally posted by Racegunner:
Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Hope that German part is a joke.

 

[straightshooter1]

I'M sure he's joking. How could any adult male in this country not know it was the Mexicans.

Bob

 

[truckemup97]

Originally posted by 7003006:

Originally posted by Racegunner:
Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Hope that German part is a joke.

You guys need to road trip down to Caj's and watch Animal House with him.

Take lots of beer or he might not let you in the front door.