ike - you'd have to ask the bored lawyers, but isn't it illegal to have the microphone you're talking about? That is to say, Illinois has a laundry list of laws against recording conversations that extend well beyond phone calls .... they were using it via mission creep, so to speak, to disallow citizens recording cops, etc. Illinois is, I think, the most dickish state about these types of things.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Ike - This exact issue came up at my work place about 3 years ago. Out of the blue, we were told to start filling out sheets you described. In the end, it eventually boiled down to who did what and who didn't. The ones who "didn't" were layed off and/or eventually terminated. Granted, your shop is way smaller than we were but my guess is he is looking to let somebody go and wants to keep the guys that can pick up the extra work that will result in the termination.

Basically what happened to us was that management cut every department's manning in half and the "surviving" employees were expected to continue the same work output with half the manpower - the management's attitude was "don't complain about it - your lucky to have a job."

My guess is that somebody in your shop is going - the boss just wants to make certain he makes the choice that won't bite him in the ass later. At the very least, somebody's hours will be cut or they will go down to part time employment. I hope this isn't the case for you but that was my experience with newly created "time sheets". Good luck, bro. Let us know what happens.

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

i agree with this. thing is- its a 3 man shop! the boss (owner), me, and another tech on the other side of the room. we all work together sometimes to get things done. the one tech only works on certain things, so its easy to see what he did and didnt do- and as for me i work hand in hand with the boss all day long! so i just dont know what the fuck he is thinking, other then he is a lunatic.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

1st day of the new bullshit. i made it plenty obvious that i was not happy about something, but the boss didnt ask whats up so i guess he figured i just had an off day. one of these days he will understand.

today i just did a few long jobs, but there were plenty of interruptions. everything was documented, but its not totaled so someone has to go back over it now and add up whats there. some jobs start and pause throughout the day so there are multiple entries for each period i worked on it. it isnt confusing but it tells you basically nothing about how the job actually went. funny too, when the secretary asked me to help her with something, it really did take 15 minutes; so after we were done i asked her what the job number was for that. the look on her face was priceless. she couldnt believe i was logging that time down against her job LOL

so here it goes. passive aggressive wars just to get frivolous information in a 4 employee independent shop. my fuckin life man, i swear. i might say i put on an act in these forums but some days it really isnt.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Ike - just curious to see what has been going on in the last couple of weeks. Any new B.S. regarding the time sheets?

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

YES. news!

HE FUCKIN FIRED ME!! hahahahahaha im soooo happy! his words- "i know you dont like me so im going to let you go"

what a little bitch! guess what happened! seriously, guess what i did to cause the argument that made him realize i dont like him-

guess. ok time is up.

it was end of day on friday. no boss that day, i had to make decisions. this PAYING CUSTOMER calls back about a service call i did for him a few days ago. he paid $165 for me to hook up his entertainment system in his livingroom. when on the phone, i couldnt figure out why it wasnt working, so i told him i would stop by on my way home and check to see all the wires are still connected. no charge i told him, but if he keeps me there for more then 15min i would have to charge him. the bosses mom, who works there for free and still collects SS, agreed that i should go to that guys house no charge. she said it was VERY kind of me to do so.

when i got to the guys house, his video cable was halfway out. he admitted he did that. then, i told him that i noticed his tv was starting up hard, and it needed a new lightbulb. he bought one from me! $150 oem bulb! i thought the boss would be thrilled i went on my own time to sell a bulb for him, and to make a paying customer finally happy!

next day i come in, i dont even get a "good morning" from the boss. he is pissed. he said "we need to have a meeting". so we did, and i was lectured for going to that guys house on my own time. the bulb had no effect, he didnt care because i "wasnt supposed to be there and i was supposed to charge him $80 for the trip"

i of course, figuring this would happen (the boss has a problem with everything), got a little pissed. we argued a bit, but talked it through. the last thing he says was "i know im hard on you guys compared to the customers, but i always treat the customers really well. i have to". i quickly replied "that is the whole reason we are arguing, because i went out of my way to help the customer". he just grumbled and walked away. the next 8 hours we worked together just fine.

the next morning i get a call. "you know, after thinking about it all night, i know you dont like me and im going to let you go. i can do this stuff myself"

i just laughed! i said "seriously? you aked me to tell you the truth because you hate when the other guy just smiles and nods" he says "yeah ok ok, hope you find somewhere that can work with you" HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA i couldnt believe it! i havent even heard of such a thing! that was the first argument we ever had, i was there for 6 months!

this guy was a 100% class a pile of shit! i have never met such an idiot in my life! story gets better... im cooking pancakes right now..

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Just watch what happens when you file for unemployment - sounds like the type of guy who will fight the claim.

im guessing he will too. i have a review from january though, in writing signed by him, with all positive marks and a raise. not a single negative comment and i have never been reprimanded for anything.

if i dont qualify for ui, i dont know when i ever would.

he just told me two weeks ago too, how i got done everything he was planning in 4 months.... and he thought originally it would be a year.

so the best part of all this? i just talked to dad last week about this guy. he looked right at me and said "son, your father isnt that bright of a man yet i was able to run a business my whole life. you figure out what you need and i will loan you the money to get started. i will talk to grandpa too, and see if we can double what i can give you"

!!! my god, dad! for all the hard times, he has overall been an amazing father to have. so, with my new found time- business startup here i come. im going to do vehicle electronic repair, and on the side im going to fix tv's and electronics just to stick it to my exboss. i talked to the other tech that works there too, the guy whos been doing it for decades- he is going to jump ship to work with me! all i need to do right now is find a garage!

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Go get 'em Ike- like I said in the other thread, leave that piece of shit behind. Maybe BIGFAN knows a guy with a garage

in dirty chicago? no way LOLOLOLOL

im still up here in madison. i think ill find a garage in sun prarie, its like 20% cheaper up there and its just 5 minutes away.

i just want something big enough to get at least one car in.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

You should be able to legally collect UI for a time while you get the business going.

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yeah. i think basically, i continue on ui but any profit i make gets subtracted from the weekly benefit. so its just there in case no customers show up.

its only like $1100 a month though, so that would cover the garage itself. i might be living in it if i dont get customers right away

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

You'll be happy you tried.

I've learned far more from my mistakes than my successes.

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ok, i have been doing my own thing and havent even thought of this asshole, but i just got a text from the other tech.

as of today, he is no longer allowed to cosume any liquid of any kind unless its on his scheduled lunch or 10min break. not even a sip from the water fountain.

of course, the manager and boss can have food and drink anytime anywhere throughout the day.

example 12853 of why i wasnt exaggerating, guys. so happy to be out of there!

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

I'll have an order of Johnny cakes please

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um, those are already out my ass and down the toilet. i could probably use a drain snake and collect some remains from the trap. give me a min.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Wow - what an update. I kinda knew somebody was getting whacked when I heard the "Time Sheets" out of the blue thing. Like I said - that was exactly my experience a few years ago. Any way, good luck, Ike! Sounds like you may be on to bigger and brighter things! Seriously - "We're happy for ya!" Best of luck and keep us posted...

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

thanks man. definitely scary not knowing whats ahead, but its also refreshing to know i only have to make $100 or so a day to pay the bills. i mean really, im used to doing over $1000 a day in work for the $100 i bring home.... it shouldnt be that hard for me to stay afloat.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Ike,

Did he contest your unemployment claim?

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yes he did! what an a hole.

the state had me explain what happened, then they explained to me what the boss said. the boss didn't lie to them, which surprised me a bit, but I just confirmed what he said before I heard it, so it was obvious what actually happened.

Effect:

Benefits are allowed.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Glad to hear that you are getting paid Ike.

How's the new biz coming along?

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