How to handle reduced guaranteed hours at Firestone?

If you’re asking the question, then you already know the answer.

If you’re good enough for lead tech it’s time to leave find somewhere that vaules your skills and time I’m sorry I’m not work 55hr and getting paid for 30 just ain’t no way.

I was also at Firestone. I saw a shop that was heavily profitable with our B tech making 80 hours with plenty left over for our Lead and A tech to equally make about 70 hours go to a shop where they can’t even turn over 50 some weeks with just a manager change.

Don’t do what I did and mouth off and get fired, but definitely do consider other, more efficient locations.

Dude this market is begging for tech talent, get you a good recruiter. Tell them folks to kick rocks. If I work 50hrs you gonna pay me for 40 plus 10hr overtime. Don’t settle for peanuts, get all you can get while you’re young. I’m mean, begging for techs. Then, tool boxes can roll on a truck just as easy as rolling off. There’s companies out there will relocate give you sign on bonus tool allowance. Don’t let unappreciated companies run over you. Talk down to you. Nor disrespect you. Get you a good recruiter an keep them go to the money.

My only question is (sincerely, not trying to be a jerk) why haven’t you quit yet? I know you want to provide for your family and that’s great, but other shops will still let you do that without stealing your family time away from you. Lead tech or not, this Firestone you’re at sounds like an awful place to work. There are lots of places that will treat you better and give you more opportunities to grow your skills.

I did time at Firestone in the late 80’s.

Every day I had to discuss with the manager how I was missing time from each of my jobs. It all added up and sometimes would be up to 2 hours.

Don’t allow them to steal from you!

Look for a municipality job, no flat rate, and they care about your family.

Minus the lead tech, I had the exact same issue. On top of that, they would sell shit without proper diag. They sold an intake leak in a late 90s 3.1 gm. Could hear the piston slap when it was drove in. The head coolant ports were completely eroded. Told the advisor it needed an engine. They said no way, they were not even going to try and sell it. The next week when it came back on a tow truck, I used the same tow truck to load my toolbox. When the company you work for depends more on selling credit cards than customer service, GTFO!

The only way to make more in this industry is force it. Go down the road, collect a couple offers. Go with the highest and give your 2 weeks. If they value you, they will counteroffer to keep you. If not, you now know how little they value you. Don’t be afraid to move around. The only ones you owe anything to is yourself and your family.

Bridgestone Area Management & the numbers game. I was at both Firestone & Wheel Works for a total of 9 years. I saw alot of techs come & go so much I lost count. I did ok & averaged over 70k a year working my ass off. Got tired of the BS & pressure, so I went to an hourly shop after my Wheel Works manager left. He was great & we always had each other’s back. I now make more an hourly but less hours & I’m ok with that.

I’m not sure about labor laws in your state, but this is Texas. Texas Specifics: The Texas Workforce Commission (.gov) states that employers must ensure employees are paid at least the minimum wage, and if the flat-rate pay, when divided by the hours worked, falls below the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.

If there was work, and you were only flagging 25 I would understand the managers decision, you suck lol so keep you clocked as much as possible. But if y’all have no work, and he’s keeping you there for 55 to twiddle your thumbs, it makes no sense.

Sounds like you two need to have a sit down and then make your decision.