Electronics job opening - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 05:15:38 am
content: Hi,My employer has put me on a new max 6 month contract as an electronics engineer......my pay has also been reduced by 25%.....i am only here to hand over to the next guy....how can i help them speed up and get the next guy in so i can go, since i am finished here now.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 05:26:05 am
content: Documentation is good. Make notes of procedures, where to go for certain resources. That way, you won't have to answer questions like that over and over. Every time a question is asked or something comes to mind - document it. Be careful not to get lost in it, though.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 09:44:19 am
content: Are you contractually obliged to stay or can you go whenever you find a new position?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 09:56:06 am
content: Quote from: treez on July 30, 2018, 05:15:38 amAnd you signed that -25% contract ? Is it -25% hours ?I would have walked away, let them do it their selves.Reading all your previous topics I can not say that I am super surprised, that company is a terrible mess.It is time for you to cover your ass.Make sure you are not to be blamed for not properly handing things over that can not be handed over.What is the definition of done in your asignment?You can not hand "everything" over if it is not clearly defined what exactly should be transferred.Also make sure when you leave they have no rights for any information or time from you, that should be in the contract.Good luck, and already start looking out for new job and make sure it is a bit bigger company where there are enough people you can learn from.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 09:57:18 am
content: Quote from: treez on July 30, 2018, 05:15:38 amEr... why are you still there?

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 09:59:31 am
content: Your employer is a s--tshow. The sooner you get out of there, the better for your career. Give notice as soon as you get a confirmed job offer.However, if possible, you'll want to avoid burning any bridges if you ever want to be able to use them for a reference - though if their reputation is as bad as seems likely from the problems you have posted here, the sooner you can gloss over your involvement with them without lying on your C.V, the better.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 11:06:31 am
content: Quote from: treez on July 30, 2018, 05:15:38 amA contract involves an agreement between two or more parties.So, unless you agreed to this, you are not bound by it.Renegotiate your pay back to where it was plus 10% & agree to stay on for the next 6 months, or walk out on your next pay day.As you want to leave, you are the one in control.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 11:55:56 am
content: Quote from: DerekG on July 30, 2018, 11:06:31 amHi treez,I have known your internet persona for quite awhile -- both here and by another screen name, Flyback. You have impressed me as kind and always willing to help others. You are definitely competent. At times, though, it seems you have trouble seeing the forest from the trees, and that will be a problem for any employer.I suspect the negotiation went something like this, "We have decided not to renew your employment contract (i.e., you're fired). But, to help you as a bridge, we will keep you on here at a reduced salary for a maximum of 6 months, and your duties will be limited to training a replacement." Of course, only you know the context of that discussion.To me, it seems your current employer is being generous and is going beyond what is required. You have no obligation to stay for even a day. You do have an obligation to yourself to find another job or start being self-employed. Bringing that situation to social media and indirectly criticizing your employer is a mistake.Wishing you the very best.John

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 11:57:25 am
content: I agree with DerekG. If your employer really needs you around, but it's clear that you're also going to have to find a new job, then that's a reason for your rate of pay to go up, not down. They need to offer you an incentive not to quit early.If you've already signed something to accept a pay cut, then please treat that as an expensive lesson in what *not* to ever do - otherwise the answer should be a polite but firm "no".If they're offering you something of value in return - like, for example, not having to go into the office or do any work - then it's up to you if you choose to take their offer.Remember also that you can always be hired back as a consultant, on an hourly rate of your choosing. You might like to offer to do this, provided that doing so doesn't conflict with any contract you might have with a new employer. (Check this carefully; contracts often do have an exclusivity clause).Some companies will also try to insist that you sign things as part of the exit process. These are never in your interests, and you don't have to sign them, whatever the HR dept might say. You are bound by whatever terms already exist in your employment contract, and no others. Don't let anyone impose new restrictions or liabilities on you as you're leaving.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 03:23:11 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on July 30, 2018, 11:57:25 amI'm lead to believe they can, depending on the conditions, be of dubious to no value to the company who try to get you to sign them.I was once bound by a draconian non compete which was essentially unenforceable as I was lead to believe by qualified people that it would probably be thrown out of court if they tried to take action against me. I'm pleased I didn't have to find out the hard way though as the copany went into liquidation shortly after I left.Always seek *proper* legal advice and don't accept the opinions of internet lawyers.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 08:13:11 pm
content: lol 25% reductiongo steal some shit, thats horse shit and fucking embarrassing. I would rather get fired. I spit on those numbers. Granted it sounds like your employer is such a fuckin cheap skate that they don't have anything worthy. That's treating you like a desperate ho. "reduce your life by 25% and help us hire the next guy". YEA RIGHT**I would actually quit, I don't advocate stealing, it just seems their actions are criminal and you want to get retributionGetting less hours does not matter. It's hard to suddenly be able to make up 25% of your salary because you got 25% time off. Try like 5% if you manage to get a part time job at a grocer, if you are highly skilled at something like carpentry and have some lineups maybe you can make like 15% of an engineering salary, but its all inconvenient as fuck. You will probably be too rusty to efficiently work to make up 25% of a engineering salary with any side job that you suddenly pick up, even if you have tools and experience. You need to do all that high-pay trades shit regularly to stay efficient so you can make fat money. Plus you need to find jobs or even send applications to maintain your salary. I know how to use alot of equipment but if I went to a serious job site right now, even if I had connections, they would be like 'your slow as fuck'.There is basically no way you are not getting ass fucked right now. If you got 75% salary for 50% time it would be more reasonable to try to make some scratch.Be careful, this kind of pay reduction can eat into savings and choke you, if you decide to go through, especially if you are not efficient or have another job lined up.Biggest thing would be to check if you have serious bills you need to pay in the coming future, and try to find a better job before that, if you don't have a good buffer or can't psychologically tolerate low cash flow, you may find yourself in a pitiful psychological state if you suddenly need to cut back on recreation, cafe visits, etc... not everyone can turn into a hamster suddenly, those problems are very real but some people can just go into hibernation mode, which I find highly displeasing.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 08:53:30 pm
content: One of my lousy first employers in the late 80s had me make a high speed digital scale and with thumb-wheel setpoints and switchable between LB and KG without an MCU since he was too cheap for the PC and compiler resources needed, he even wanted to use home-made etched PCBs in the field. When I finally left, he tries to stop me from using any ADC knowledge gained, which I didn't gain it on his time since I was hired for my existing high speed ADC knowledge, then 9 months later he has the nerve to call me in to look at what he new employee did and shows me his new purchased a PC and microcontroler C compiler, PCB cad software and programmer at over 10K$ investment and had a MCU on the new board, which was done in a production house.... He tells me, why couldn't you work with such a compact MCU when he wouldn't spend a dime on such basic required equipment for the last 2.5 years when I was there. This doesn't also finally include the mechanical problems with his packaging machines which I told him about again and again, which once I left and he got his new technician, he finally addressed the issues too.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 08:59:12 pm
content: Well at least that's easy to answer, just tell him it's because he wouldn't purchase the basic tools and equipment you needed to do the job.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 10:53:41 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on July 30, 2018, 08:53:30 pmthese kinds of people will paint a tree stump black and sell it as a car tire

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2018, 11:05:27 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on July 30, 2018, 11:57:25 amThe incentive is getting money at all. You can leave cold turkey and get no money, or you can take a pay cut while looking.It's a very generous move, given what I know about the OP's history.Tim

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 12:28:42 am
content: I don't know what it's like in the UK, but in the US you normally can't collect unemployment benefits if you leave a position voluntarily. That means it's almost always better to take a pay cut and start looking, or get laid off than it is to just quit without having something else lined up.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 12:46:16 am
content: Quote from: james_s on July 31, 2018, 12:28:42 amUnder California "Work Share", you are eligible for unemployment for the hours missed if your employer signs up for the program. Basically, you would be unemployed for 10-60% of a week and unemployment would apply to those hours. I never collected unemployment in my life until I went to work at a semiconductor company that will remain nameless. They came up with the idea that we would have every other Friday off and those lost hours could be covered by "Work Share". A simple, and almost reasonable, 10% reduction.https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/FAQ_-_Work_Sharing_Information_For_Employees.htmHowever, on the off week, we didn't have 40 hours in when we were told to come in on Saturday so we didn't get time and a half for the day. Furthermore, it killed our Work Share because we didn't lose any straight time hours. As always, some employees get screwed - a limited number as it turns out.I collected just one check and never drew from the program again. It was demeaning!The company did try to do right by the employees (all 1100 of us) and EDD (unemployment agency) came to us for registration, we didn't have to go to their office. The objective for the company was to retain all the talent they could. So, we got the day off and our wages were somewhat reimbursed. The entry level people came out pretty much even, the high dollar engineers took a beating.As to whether you can quit and collect unemployment, I think you can under certain circumstances. It can't be a voluntary quit and voluntary is determined by who acted first. Getting notice that your job is terminated might not be considered voluntary. It is inevitable and the employee decided to use the time to find another job.https://www.employmentlawfirms.com/resources/employment/unemployment/acceptable-reasons-to-receive-unemployment-after-quittingIn theory, employers pay all the money into the unemployment insurance pool. They don't like it when their contributions get hit by claims but who cares what they like.Other countries will have different ideas.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2018, 01:49:32 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on July 30, 2018, 11:05:27 pmthe ops history is that he is either given impossible budgets or his company tries to enter a market place with ridiculously thin marginsI think his boss is looking for a magician or parts that don't exist.I tried business ventures of my own that basically had the requirement of being insane because the profit margin was so thin. Surely someone can do the same with a company. Not every market place is completely saturated or whatever term you want to use.