Am I wrong?

[mikebohio]

love that it bothers you hope it all works out

[texastrophies]

Let me try this again, I don't think I got my point across the first time.

What are the reasons for the bonuses? Probably because the company was profitable, right? That is probably the main reason they are a company, to turn a profit. I know that is the real purpose of most companies. And when they make that profit, they in turn share part of it with the managers i.e. bonuses.

Now, if the profits are instead turned into payroll for employees that are not being productive and bringing in sales, there won't be any profits and no bonuses. If that would continue, the company losing money, how long will it be before you have to tell your employees not that you are cutting their hours, but instead because the company is no longer profitable they are shutting down and laying all the employees off.

Responsible owners/managers have to make those hard decisions. Trust me, I doubt very seriously if they want to cut the hours back on these people, as that is a sign that business is slowing down. But by making those decisions, and keeping the company profitable, it may just happen to make it so they can actually remain employed.

I know from reading through this thread, that not many or any of you agree with me, because it is much easier to just take the side of the worker that is getting their hours cut and make the owner/managers look like the bad guy. I just think that is not looking at it from the companies point of view. The reason they are in business is to make a profit. Anybody that doesn't see that must have blinders on. If the employees get so upset about their hours being cut, maybe they should just jump out on the own and open up their own business and then they could pay all of their employees all the OT they want.

Dawg, don't get me wrong, it is good that you care about your people, but don't let that end up putting your career in jeopardy. Management has to make unpopular calls from time to time. Like Kyle mentioned about banking in the good times for the bad times. The best thing you can probably do is just warn your employees now of the upcoming cutbacks.

[redkneck]

In other words I was told I had to rob them out off their money in order to get mine. That is wrong.

You're not robbing anything Corey. I do understand you're point, but not sure I understand your company, lol. As we all know a lot of products/services are based on the job getting OT and are quoted that way (construction, oilfield etc) but for those that aren't, you usually loose out when working a lot of OT by paying the extra 50% premium and not getting any extra productivity. I don't quite understand why your company wants to make such a drastic cut without a big cut in orders unless they feel like you are way overstaffed, which you say you're not because everyone is busy, so that part is confusing me.

Every bonus is tied to OT. It's your job to get the most out of the workforce to turn a profit. Profitable companies expand and add jobs, wasteful ones shut down eventually (unless it's a gov't job lol).

Just remember why you come to work everyday, to bring a check back to your family. Do your best to get the most out of you're employess in a fair and respectful way. I'm with Jeff, it's easy to take the side of the worker, but you have to look at the bigger picture.

[Dawg]

People can barely make it on a regular 40 hr work week. They want us to cut them back to a 30 hr week. When I was told I had to do this or I wouldn't get my full bonus it hit me the wrong way. I feel like I am robbing them.

I understand what you are saying John and Jeff, I've been working for this company for 12 years so I know all too well what they have to do to turn profit. It doesn't make me feel any better about cutting these folks back to next to nothing hours.

[brownie65]

sounds to me like you need to voice your opinions to your colleagues and your bosses. then you can tell the guys you are in charge of that you tried. It means allot if you know a super went to bat for you, even if results weren't what you wanted. You can honestly say you tried. If you want tell them you will split whatever bonus you might get evenly among your guys.

[brownie65]

I lost my job due to a plant closing 14 months ago. Miss that job very much. There is no work where I live. Some jobs but very low pay. I took a job where I go all over the country. Lots of work but also gone allot. I havn't been home in 2 months now. Hopefully this job will be done in another 2 weeks or less. Then I plan on going home and taking July off, would like to spend some of the summer with my kids. When on the road I work 12 hours a day 7 days a week. If its a 30 day job, we work 30 days. yes it gets old but have to do what you have to do. As Kat said , have to learn to put money back. I basically live off my per diem on the road and pay the regular bills out of my check. Rest is sitting in the bank. Bad thing is it can go pretty fast when you get home..

[suro25]

Bonuses or not people shouldn't be mad if they get there hours cut. The company has to make money too. I'm sure when those personal got hired in they were told that they were going to work 8 hour days. But now they get the over time hour and pay then people over extend themselves and start to relie on those extra funds, then they are upset that they cut the over time when they should be thankful that they have a job in this economy. Just my opinion.

[brownie65]

suro25 I agree and disagree with you. I do believe people need to base their lifestyle/spending on a 40 hour week and try to put some ot money back. I also do not blame people for being upset with hours being cut. don't remember exactly what Dawg said in his post but thinking it said possibly cutting their hours to 6 a day. I understand if the work is not there, hours will be cut. yes, people should be thankfull for having a job right now. That being said lot of people have taken jobs that are not that great of jobs because they have had to. There are so many people looking for and needing jobs that wages are going down. I think this will continue to be a problem. If business A wants to hire 6 guys and only want to pay $10 an hour, all they have to do is start at top of the list of people they would like to hire. If 20 people turn them down they know they can and will still be able to hire people at the wage they want to pay. Jobs that used to pay $20 hour ,company would have no problem filling openings at $15 hour.Times are tough right now,for individuals and businesses. Businesses are taking advantage of the situation in my opinion.