company supplied tools

[yunggun]

Im glad my employer buys me new tools if mine break while being used on his jobs. Now if i lose my tools im screwed. Thats something that all companys ive ever interviewed at or worked at did. If my tool breaks i dont have the money to replace how am i suppose to make the company any money?

[John Markl]

Im glad my employer buys me new tools if mine break while being used on his jobs. Now if i lose my tools im screwed. Thats something that all companys ive ever interviewed at or worked at did. If my tool breaks i dont have the money to replace how am i suppose to make the company any money?

How often do tools "break"....while being used for their intended purpose?

Tools typically break from abuse....using them in ways other than their intended purpose.

Why should an employer pay to replace an abused tool?

Who pays to replace MY tools when I break or lose them?

[yunggun]

When i say replace my broken tools im talking maybe one a year. For example my clamp on thermocouple broke. Boss had no problem buying a new one. My tools are never abused because im the one that bought them all and have respect for what I own. And im pretty sure the cost of all your tools are figured into the cost of running your buisness. When you get paid hourly how are you suppose to compensate for a loss. Side job?

[John Markl]

When i say replace my broken tools im talking maybe one a year. For example my clamp on thermocouple broke. Boss had no problem buying a new one. My tools are never abused because im the one that bought them all and have respect for what I own. And im pretty sure the cost of all your tools are figured into the cost of running your buisness. When you get paid hourly how are you suppose to compensate for a loss. Side job?

When I hire someone, one of the things that determines their pay rate is whether or not they provide their own tools.

A guy who has NO tools makes less than a guy who has SOME tools who makes less than a guy who has ALL tools.

We're tradesmen. Owning our own tools is a matter of professional pride. If you "can't afford" the tools of your trade, then the employer isn't the problem.

You bring me a broken clamp-on thermocouple that does not appear abused, and I'll replace it. But, I won't replace a crescent wrench that has obviously been used as a hammer.

[yunggun]

I couldnt agree more

[cavalieri85]

What about specialized tools.
Power analyzer, rotary drill etc
The high end tools that cost thousands.
I guess my belief is that employers should have the real big ticket items available for techs to use. Crescent wrenches and such are are not something employers should have to worry about.
Techs should own all there hand tools and some of the pricy stuff. But asking us to purchase things such as test and balance equipment would be uncalled for.
Anybody disagree?

[barbar]

I would expect a tech to have all general hand tools (spanners, screwdrivers, hammers and so on) and specialist hand tools flare, upto 1 5/8" tubbies.
An apprentice I supply all hand tools over his apprenticeship which becomes his as the end of his apprenticeship.
Any specialist tools, I supply, but if a tech has is own, then I will repair or replace if work related.
I supply all consumable tools, drills bits, blades, batteries (even cordless tools)
If a tech wants his own tools, I will purchase for him, as I get better tax right offs, I do pass on my right offs to the tech (win win, in my opinion)
I do expect tools to looked after, but I also know that tools are pushed in this trade and are misused to complete a job. How many times do we use tools in the wet, when we know really should not??.
I cover the insurance for tools that are in my vans or are used on my client sites. (regardless them who owns them)

[cool-in-cayman]

with the exception of ladders there is not one single company tool on my truck and thats how I like it. These are MY tools that I bought to work in my chosen profession. Ive had my boss repair tools over the years and Ive financed them thru the company but I like knowing the tools on my truck will work and be properly maintained. I did have a company ext. ladder stolen once because I didnt lock it to the rack. I got chewed out so bad It still hurts to sit on cold days. Cool in cayman FWIW I have reminded the office to charge me for tools. A pair of channel locks or something aren't worth losing your job

That's great that you have your own tools and when you do purchase something on the company account you remind the office to take it out of your check. Sadly most don't and this is part of the management of the tool equation that I am not interested in taking on.

The way I do it, I pay to use my employee's tools so I am still paying for the tools, the only difference is I am not responsible for the tools when they are lost or broken. The tech doesn't have to come to me for anything related to tools. They can lose them, abuse them, hock them, whatever they want and i don't have to get mad about it or question how it happened, it's not my problem. I don't have to go to a tech and say, hey you bought a new meter at johnstones two months ago on the company account and never said anything about it...
I don't want to manage tools, I would prefer to spend management resources on finding more work so my employees have a job to come to each day.

I have been on both sides of the equation and as a tech i would have been happier to have my boss pay me for me tools and let me manage them.
Even though it's silly, tools can cause friction between the boss and employee, my way of doing things eliminates that.

Having said all of that, there are certain shop tools that the company provides simply because they are not used as often and are much easier to keep track of and there are always exceptions to the policy on a case by case basis.