service tech 4day rota (or whatever our title is these days)

21-05-2010, 20:55

Hi guys

In Glasgow and a few other areas (not exactly sure, but mostly Scotland i think) we have been on this new 4 day rota for a few months.
Well now the powers that be have told us to fill in a survey saying how we feel about it.

Do u prefer it over a 5 day rota? would u recommend it? do u have enough time to recharge your battery's etc etc etc

Initially i loved the idea!

But the truth is you get 16 jobs each day and i never seem to have a lunch break and never seem to get finished before 19:30/20:00, i am permanently stressed out and the pressure you are asked to work under is intolerable

I cant speak for everyone, but i was wondering if other techs would be willing to say how they like/dislike the new rota?

I am only posting because as you all know! We are asked to work under these trials, then we get the survey, then we are told the majority liked it and it is implemented.......................but we never get to see the results.

Any opinions or views appreciated

jb66 · 22-05-2010, 11:06

I like the rota 3 days off but they need to take a 12-4 job off of us for a start. If it takes till 12 to do 6 jobs then how can you do another 6 with an hour less if you take your lunch? At the start I was not making my last job and going home but now i just put in for overtime so dont mind staying on a bit. Just make sure you put all your overtime down. Also when your area swaps cards it will get easier, folk putting them in upside down etc means you can actually get home a little early or get some upsells

looper35uk · 22-05-2010, 17:39

This is not really a good place to discuss this topic (forums being public). More appropriate place for discussion would be in the union forums, BECTU or CWU, these forums are close and only available to union members.

speedfreak · 22-05-2010, 17:41

Whats an upsell?

looper35uk · 22-05-2010, 17:44

When we sell you extra products.

speedfreak · 22-05-2010, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by looper35uk

When we sell you extra products.

I know I might have sounded daft but I wanted to be sure, only Ive never had a tech try to sell me anything, always thought it was odd as techs are the best people to sell stuff I would have thought. I dont see why you'd have to go private discussing work hours and conditions, might make us customers see how hard you have it

Didnt know you had to do so many a day, no wonder one of my techs were peeved getting an ongoing broadband fault with a modem swap and a V+ box swap to do at my house

looper35uk · 22-05-2010, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreak

I know I might have sounded daft but I wanted to be sure, only Ive never had a tech try to sell me anything, always thought it was odd as techs are the best people to sell stuff I would have thought.

I believe up-selling's a pretty good thing from a customers point of view and a techs for that matter. If a customer wants any extra services while a technician is present, then it's pretty straight forward to get those services added, and if the job isn't to time consuming it will be done there and then. Win win situation for both parties.

speedfreak · 22-05-2010, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by looper35uk

I believe up-selling's a pretty good thing from a customers point of view and a techs for that matter. If a customer wants any extra services while a technician is present, then it's pretty straight forward to get those services added, and if the job isn't to time consuming it will be done there and then. Win win situation for both parties.

I agree, much the same in my job

I hope they reward you but like I said no techs have ever tried with me and Ive had at least 9 visits in the last 4 months, one of which with the area manager here

Anyway sorry for going off topic

Back on topic, all big service companies seem to be the same, I do my mornings work then when Im ready to take dinner two 12-2pm slot jobs drop down on me, Ive given up trying to please evryone and I just send the jobs back, guess you guys cant do that so it must be hard

Dave_ · 22-05-2010, 23:23

Its pretty hard going. The stretch where you work 8 days over 9 is the worst. I filled in the survey pretty negativley as did any of the other techs i asked so if any notice is taken we might be back to a lates/earlys.

jb66 · 23-05-2010, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_

Its pretty hard going. The stretch where you work 8 days over 9 is the worst. I filled in the survey pretty negativley as did any of the other techs i asked so if any notice is taken we might be back to a lates/earlys.

I was the opposite, even though its tougher i still like the 3 days off, so voted in favour. Whats best for us and the customers is to have the 4 day rota and take one 12-4 job off. This means there are more popular slots 8-12 and 4-7 for our customers.

Sirius · 23-05-2010, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by looper35uk

This is not really a good place to discuss this topic (forums being public). More appropriate place for discussion would be in the union forums, BECTU or CWU, these forums are close and only available to union members.

Thats ok for those that trust the union and are members. I don't trust the cwu as far as i can throw them that's why i have cancelled my membership with them. Any survey that goes the wrong way will be buried pretty quick. Look at how the heartbeat results are given out.

Dave_ · 23-05-2010, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb66

I was the opposite, even though its tougher i still like the 3 days off, so voted in favour. Whats best for us and the customers is to have the 4 day rota and take one 12-4 job off. This means there are more popular slots 8-12 and 4-7 for our customers.

Take a 12-4 off hahaha.

Our current is 7 , 6 and 5 on a full 10hrs. They could take 2 off each slot and then we might get our hour lunch and be able to do the "must dos" but thats an argument for another thread

jb66 · 23-05-2010, 23:18

No comment lol

piggy · 24-05-2010, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_

Take a 12-4 off hahaha.

Our current is 7 , 6 and 5 on a full 10hrs. They could take 2 off each slot and then we might get our hour lunch and be able to do the "must dos" but thats an argument for another thread

coventry do 5, 5 and 3

Dave_ · 25-05-2010, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggy

coventry do 5, 5 and 3

How do you guys find that? What kind of fault rate do the managers aim for?

I left the house at 7.40 to be at my 1st job today for 8 , walked in the front door at 7.45 having not stopped for my lunch. The manager gave me a hard time for not attempting to fix a NDT when the customer wasnt in