[Spliffdaddy]

Until the last year or so, I spent my life as an employee. Not once did it occur to me to thank my employer....quite the opposite, I felt as if *they* should thank *me* for my efforts. In retrospect, I was an idiot.

For the last year I've been an employer. A typical small business owner from which roughly 70% of employed Americans find a job. I'm here to tell you it's not what I expected. Sure, I'm my own boss. Which seems wonderful to the untrained eye. I can take the day off anytime I want....which is anytime I want to worry about what isn't gonna get done because I took the day off. Anytime I want to get a day behind. Anytime I want my competition to get a day ahead of me. Hell, I *can't* take a "day off" because I feel so bad about it that it's worse than just working.

I worry more about my employees than I do about my own well-being. Everyday I lecture them about "being safe" - while I do the dangerous jobs. See, if anybody gets hurt, they're *all* out of a job. Because I can't afford an increase in my workman's compensation insurance - and I can't stomache the thought of somebody getting hurt while doing me a favor by being my employee. So the next time your employer stresses the importance of "being safe" he/she ain't just whistling Dixie.

Ask your employer what it costs to have you as an employee. I mean, what it *really* costs them. Chances are good it cost them five thousand dollars in state unemployment insurance up front...PLUS 5-10% of your wages (and any other compensation) every week. Then, your employer must provide workman's compensation insurance (usually from a private insurer) in case you get hurt on the job. Depending on the nature of your job, this insurance can be outrageously expensive. The worst of the worst is anything construction-related. Yea! That's me. Can you say $1600/month per employee? I thought you could. If I owned a greeting card shop or some other retail-type endeavor, the insurance premiums would be one-tenth as much. Oh yeah, the premiums are payable quarterly - so the financial impact to me is significant. I could buy a nice Mercedes-Benz for less money. Understandably, I actually drive a 7 year-old compact pickup.

Everyone looks at me and thinks "He makes all kinds of money". I most certainly do. And I have to give nearly all of it to somebody else. There are times when my checking account reads in the six-figures. Looks damned impressive on an ATM receipt. Too bad I owe deep in the five figures.

I spend my day worrying about the folks that work for me. I see their wives and kids. How much they love their fathers. My employees. They depend on their fathers and their fathers depend on me. That's quite a huge load to carry. Most days I'd rather be an employee, like I used to be. Letting somebody else worry about the business. I used to go out after work and party and smoke pot and have agreat time. Now I can't do that. I can't get away from the job. Too much depends on me.

So thank your employer. It feels wonderful to be thanked. I was thanked today, and nothing ever made me feel so damned good in my life.

I gotta get back to work. Be safe, your job might depend on it.

[turtle777]

Thanks for the insight. Interesting read.

Why did you post in the PWL ?

-t

[Spliffdaddy]

I didn't know MacNN had other forums.

[turtle777]

-t

[andi*pandi]

Nice. How many employees do you have?

[RIRedinPA]

I use to have my own consulting business and though I didn't have employees and the worries they bring I can agree that owning your own is no piece of cake - how's working 14 hour days sound, how's being a slave for your clients who don't see you as having a personal life so that Saturday evening at 11 is a reasonable time to make a demand for Monday morning, how's paying 3-4 times what you shelled out as an employee for insurance, worrying about making the mortgage and other bills, and spending more than half the time marketing yourself, another quarter on admin task and only 1/4 the time on what you left to do and love to do.

It amazes me so many people are out there doing it.

[Troll]

That is an absolutely brilliant post. It should be published. Honestly. Send that in to a newspaper!

[Troll]

That is an absolutely brilliant post. It should be published. Honestly. Send that in to a newspaper!

[Railroader]

We thank each other by doing what was agreed. Nothing more. I do work with some people who should thank their employers though as they do not live up to the bargain.

Seriously, I could work for hundreds of employers in my state alone. I chose the one I did because of location, pay, benefits, and I like the company.

I would never thank my employer, but I am thanked often by my bosses for saving their necks in difficult situations.

I'm sorry your experience is so stressful spliffdaddy. I agree about the safety aspect being important. VERY important. My boss had to go to an employee's house and tell them their father/husband/son/uncle/nephew was killed once on the job. He only told that story once he said and it was to a couple of us that he shared it. He, and a few others in the meeting, were in tears after he told it. Nothing I would want to go through.

I know exactly how much my employer's cost is to employ me. They tell me every year. Down to the penny. This year; US$108,707,.67

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by Railroader

We thank each other by doing what was agreed. Nothing more.

Exactly.

Employment, especially in the US where it is mostly "at-will", is a business arrangement. Employees provides a skill-set needed by an employer at a price equitable to both parties and subject to and influenced by the laws of supply and demand. While there can be a more friendly atmosphere in a place of work I wouldn't suggest it become more personal: Work is work. Why get all touchy-feely about the issue? It's just a job, except your job happens to be on top in your business.

[James L]

Some employers do go above and beyond for their employees, and to them I definitely say thank you.

As to the employers who purposely screw their employees, well, I guess that's why there are unions.

Great post Spliffdaddy.

[Maflynn]

I don't think I'll be thanking my employer, they cut my bennies every chance they get, they lay more and more off and add on the work load. They call me (try to) while I'm on my vacation and generally their attitude is if you don't like it quit. The economy here in the North East isn't quite up to speed yet, its picking up and people are quitting, about 1 a week. No sweat off their nose as they want to reduce head counts.

Don't read between the lines thinking that there is a lot of "fat" in my company, years ago that might have been the case but now its too much work for too few employees.

Thank them for that stressfull environment I think not.

Oh did I mentioned that I have less benefits, like medical.

Mike

[Spliffdaddy]

I had an employer like that once.

When I grew tired of merely complaing and running my mouth - I did something about it.

Now my goal is to be a better employer than I used to have.

Still, I can't afford to buy my employees (all 3 of 'em) medical insurance nor fund 401K contributions. So, in that respect, I'm not quite as good as my old employer was.

I do all I can for them - and I treat them with respect. Maybe in the future I'll be able to do more.

If you know of any *decent* and reasonably priced major medical insurance companies, please let me know.

[Maflynn]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Still, I can't afford to buy my employees (all 3 of 'em) medical insurance nor fund 401K contributions. So, in that respect, I'm not quite as good as my old employer was.

I think the difference between my employer and you is that my company is a multi billion dollar corporation that pays its executives 6 figure bonuses. Pays their air travel on a weekly basis because they live out of state and the profit margin is quite large. Yet with all of that good news they tell us lowly employees we need worker harder for less.

Mike