Need job advice!!!!?

Question

My husband has been working for a man remodeling mobile homes for his mobile home park. He found the job in the newspaper and it stated he needed basic tools. He had all items needed to remodel homes such as hammers, squares, drills, saws, etc. However, the owner now has decided he would make a very long list (37 items) of tools that my husband. Some are far from "basic" like Sledge Hammers, wood chisel, broom and dust pan, metric meters (my husband is not an electrician), crescent wrenches and pipe wrenches (my husband is not a plumber). He is a carpenter and that is what he applied for. It would cost about $2500 to buy all the items on the list he does not have. We can't afford it, and he wants him to sign a contract agreeing to have the items. If he doesn't he will deduct his pay by $2.00 an hour! Is this legal? Can he be fired and his pay legally cut if he doesn't sign it. The items are far from the basic tools he agreed to (he has worked for there for 6 months)

Answer 1

Organize and talk to the owner as a group with one spokesman. Contact the local union labor council.  This is just why unions are organized.  Employer abuse is way too common.  If the boss is out of money, then the job is short lived anyway.  Your husband and his co workers have many rights according to federal labor law.  Learn what those rights are and stand up for them.

Answer 2

Go to the nearest unemployment office and, tell them what's going on, they also deal in fair employment and, if his joker has been doing this to others and, there's a record of it, he could be left holding the bag.

       I understand that to work in this type of area, I did for many years, you have to have the tools but, if hubby signed for carpenter, then that's it but, if he doesn't have any carpenter jobs available at any time, he could get laid off. Even though he may not have enough time to file a claim. Whereas if he had the proper tools and could wield them, he might be able to scrimp by on plumbing or wiring, it beats the layoff line.

        If you listen to enough people, you can find out anything you want, including stories.

Answer 3

If you live in a "right to work" state then the boss may be in the right to demand this. I am not sure myself.

I live in a right to work state and every time I get a job I have to sign a contract that states that I can be fired any time for no reason at all.

it sux but what can ya do??

Answer 4

It sounds like basic tools for a handyman to me. I don't know what else is on the list but $2500 sounds a bit excessive to me.

An employer can require certain tools, there is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 5

As a former "Boss", I had a very serious problem with "lost tools". The rate of theft became such a burden that after awhile of trying to solve the problem, the only solution was to have the employees furnish their own tools. Surprise, surprise! All of a sudden many of the missing tools turned up in the employees "own" tools.

It seems to me, that everyone complains about the "Boss" and it never occurs to them that the boss is given no other choice.

Answer 6

Well,  those 'additional' tools you listed (sledgehammer etc) ARE basic tools, and I would certainly expect most folks to own them, if they were going to do any kind of work on homes, let alone mobile homes.

(Your husband is a 'carpenter' but doesnt own a chisel???)

Frankly I wouldnt work on any electrical WITHOUT a meter, whether it was required or not.

I also find it difficult to believe it would cost $2500 to finish out a tool set....  

This sounds suspicously like there is more going on that just a list of basic tools required on the job.

Yes, one could be fired ... for no reason at all, let alone for not having the tools required to do the job.

Yes, one could suffer a paycut... again... with or without cause.

In many states, an employer CAN require a contract in order to continue working, or one that affects pay grade.

If financial difficulty is really what is driving this owner.... I'd have to ask myself.... how secure is my job anyway?  Do I really want to work for someone who could be too broke to pay me next week?

I used to service new manufactured homes myself, and my list of tools is extensive.  But I own many that would not be required as a 'standard' set of tools.   Investing in my tools is something I did every month, because that was how I earned my living.  Still, I'd be hard put to dig up $2500 in receipts for basic hand tools, hehehe.

It would be unreasonable for the owner to specify 'Brands' of tooling, but it is NOT unreasonable for a list of tools to be required.  Anything more than that... you need to consult your states employment division, or a lawyer.

As I said, I used to service manufactured homes... very similar to what your husband is doing now.. and I owned the business.  My employees were required to have basic tools, and I provided the more expensive tools, and vehicle.  I paid more, if they invested in, and provided those more expensive items themselves.  

I would be very interested in seeing a list of those 'required' tools.  I could perhaps offer some advice on which are actually 'standard' or not, etc. for this line of work.

Just as a side note... if a business has 15 or more employees (full time), there are certain Federal guidelines and standards they have to meet, including minimum wage, unemployment insurance, workers comp, etc.  AND, even if fired, you could file a claim against the owner's unemployment, which he would have to fight, and prove he had 'just cause' for the termination.

Feel free to email that list to me, if you want an independent comparison.

Good Luck

Additional info -

Ive replied to your email, and just to repeat some of it here...

"Brand name" should be left up to the tool purchaser.

Specifications like 'titanium drill bits' and 'stainless steel scissors' are also things I would use, but not specify as required by my employees.  Drill bits and scissors? Yes... 'titanium coating', and 'stainless steel'? No

As to the whole list of 'power' tools, saws, air compressor, hopper, pneumatic tools etc... those go beyond a 'basic' hand tools list.  I would expect them in a contractor, but not an employee.  As a business owner and contractor, I provided those kinds of tools to my employees.  Yes, they are needed in the work, but should not be something a 'typical' employee would be expected to have in their inventory.

There should also be a 'reasonable' time factor for any 'existing' employee to purchase any additional tools, before it affects their pay, job description, or employability.

My advice would be to take this list and contract to the employment office, and/or lawyer.  And start job hunting, hehehe... because if they are being this unreasonable, things are getting dire.  Paychecks may end up being worthless pieces of paper, before you can get them to the bank.

Good Luck

Answer 7

Seems to me that the owner wants a jack of all trades . Not a remodeler  as he advertised . Why would he ask your husband to perform duties that are obviously  the work of tradesmen licensed to do such work . Your husband would be responsable for any injury or death if he worked on electric  and plumbing systems  and not licensed properly ,. i say the employer is trying to pressure your husband so he can save money on the "remodeling " of these mobile homes . I say the guy is a snake and would look  for work somewhere else .not sure of the legalities in your state but you should call your local employemnt office or department of consumer affairs for some advice . After 6 months he has changed the rules   ....that says it all