On Feb 2, 2:38 am, Prometheus wrote:
On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:58:27 -0500, "J."

wrote:
Geez, I'd sure like to know what you actually do for a living that you
have so much free time on your hands as to be able (apparently) to use
the boss' machinery to fashion your own sets of custom tools on the
boss' dime.

I program and run an Amada laser cutter at a job shop, and do all the
secondary ops (tap, mill, countersink, cd weld, etc.) as well as run a
brake press from time to time when the regular guy is absent.

SNIP of intelligent reply

Sounds like you have a really good deal, the kind that is pretty rare
these days. You work for and respect your employer, and it sounds
like it is mutual.

I think it is a rare thing to find a relationship like that anymore.
I used to let my guys take home just about any of the unused materials
(half sheets of plywood, paint, sealers, 2Xs, etc.) that they wanted.
During lunch or break, I would help them build small cabinets, etc.
from the material, and even help them load it into their trucks. I
never let them have much time to build things during business hours,
after all, that is what we were on the job to do.

But they got my support and help as much as I could. Too many things
get in the way of having that kind of relationship anymore, and while
I still have that kind of thing going with a couple of my subs on a
rare basis, and I only have that kind of relationship with one of my
part time employees these days.

I have no more full time employees as it is easier to sub work out to
someone that really wants to be there and wants to work. When
employee relations work well it can be quite rewarding personally and
lucrative business wise. But a few bad apples (think the mantra of
the construction worker - "BFD - who cares, I was looking for a job
when I found this one") can really ruin both sides of the equation.

I would be thrilled to have someone work for/with me that took some
initiative to learn, explore and teach themselves something new when
they had a little free time. In the end (if it was task/field
related) I would certainly benefit from it, too.

Besides, I like reading about your science experiments. Keep it up!

Robert