Shop Managers input needed

Hi, any input would be appreciated. I'm a "shop manager" at a privately owned shop. I use quotations because my I don't have authority to make any kind of managerial decisions. I work 65 hours a week and make $40/k a year gross with no commission and no benefits. I recently obtained my L1 and A9 certs. I received no pay raise or compensation for either of those. I'm the only tech in this shop; I have one other service writer. The owner sits in his office all day and doesn't contribute any effort to day to day operations. I feel overworked and burned out. I'm currently looking for a different job. I will even take a pay cut to gain some work/life balance. I've never been a manager before so is 40k/year average for managers w/ no bene's or commission? I just feel like I'm being ripped off. Thanks!

So you are the technician, just with a fancy title?

Not meaning this to insult you, but you're working 65 hours a week clock time? You're either not very good at your job or you are getting ripped off majorly. That's like $10/hr. Get the heck out of there

Something doesn't sound right there. How are you paid? Flat rate? Hourly? This is going to get tricky, but here we go.

Auto techs paid on an hourly rate must be paid OT at time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek and get at least min wage for all hours worked.

Auto techs at dealerships are exempt from OT but must get minimum wage for all hours worked.

Auto techs paid on a piece rate, flat rate, or commission are exempt from OT if more than 50% of their pay comes in from commission (or that incentive pay, whatever it is) AND the regular rate of pay is more than time and a half on top of minimum wage. You find the regular rate of pay by dividing the total amount of money made that week by number of hours worked.

All of this needs to be discussed and agreed upon prior to you starting the work. I know a lot of places don't follow these rules but if you are being screwed you can do something about it.

So what is the method you are being paid and about how many hours are you physically working each week.

One trick that a lot of places use that is illegal is to call someone a manager without the actual duties and pay them on a salary basis with no OT. This is not ok and totally screws the worker by working them to the bone without proper pay.

I'm not an attorney but I've spent the last 10 years as an employment law specialist and will definitely be glad to point anyone in the right direction on these topics, whether you are the employee or employer.

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EdTheTexan wrote: I'm the only tech in this shop; I have one other service writer.

Looking for some clarification here. By 'the only tech', are you referring to the technician/mechanic debate? Or, do you mean that you're the only person in the shop actually turning wrenches/fixing cars?

If it's the latter, then I feel like there's a fundamental imbalance at work in your shop. In my experience, no one tech can ever produce enough to pay the salaries for three people, AND keep the shop profitable. Unless the labor rate is sky high, it'll never work. You turning more hours won't fix this imbalance.

I honestly think a decent pay rate and a manageable work schedule is attainable - at the right shop. I'd suggest sitting the owner down and laying out your concerns. No need to be hostile, just honest.

"Fancy title" is an understatement; I don't have access to p/l reports, vendor information on reordering oil, filters etc. employee pay roll, time clock edits, hours etc. Owner does not allow me to have access to any of that information and says it's not my responsibility.

My body is physically at work 65 hours a week. No one gets paid flag, no one gets commission. The other employees are paid a low hourly rate, I'm paid a yearly salary. If I'm making 40k a year, no more, no less, I'm being cheated out of 25 hours a week of potentional overtime if I were on regulary hourly pay.

I am literally the only one who turns wrenches. The lube tech can't do anything other than LOF. I only get one day off a week; the service writer and lube tech get two.

Hence why I'm looking for a different job, particularly in a different field. This is my 10th shop job in the past 8 years. I'm either underpaid, overworked or both. I don't know if it's like this in other parts of the country, but here in Houston employers are cheap.

I appreciate the input!

This sounds a lot like you have been misclassified as an employee. You are entitled to overtime if you work over 40 hours a week. They can't just call you a manager to avoid that. There are duties requirements that have to be met such as overseeing the work of two or more full time employees and being a part of decisions that impact the bottom line of the company.

That's a lot of back pay you may have missed out on.

I'd do what Tyler suggested. It never goes well when you make demands. If he's a reasonable person, let him know how you're feeling and that you're getting burned out. Maybe have some helpful suggestions ready, but also let him know that you aren't sure if you're able to be paid they way you are currently.

Take a look at this resource.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j...FC90m6pFhqG4tDFA_ms-




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EdTheTexan wrote: "Fancy title" is an understatement; I don't have access to p/l reports, vendor information on reordering oil, filters etc. employee pay roll, time clock edits, hours etc. Owner does not allow me to have access to any of that information and says it's not my responsibility.

My body is physically at work 65 hours a week. No one gets paid flag, no one gets commission. The other employees are paid a low hourly rate, I'm paid a yearly salary. If I'm making 40k a year, no more, no less, I'm being cheated out of 25 hours a week of potentional overtime if I were on regulary hourly pay.

I am literally the only one who turns wrenches. The lube tech can't do anything other than LOF. I only get one day off a week; the service writer and lube tech get two.

Not cool. I don't know you or the shop, but I'm willing to bet that you're not the first person that's worked this position and come to the exact same conclusion. And, until the owner feels like changing things, you won't be the last. It's really unfortunate how some jobs become an elaborate revolving door, but they do.

Hence why I'm looking for a different job, particularly in a different field. This is my 10th shop job in the past 8 years. I'm either underpaid, overworked or both. I don't know if it's like this in other parts of the country, but here in Houston employers are cheap.

I appreciate the input!

Definitely know the feeling. Maybe have a good look at what's available, and polish up your resume. Those ASE certs are no joke, and definitely get employers attention. Interview the shop just as much as they're interviewing you.

Yea I have my resume on indeed. Only reason I'm still at this place is because it's literally within walking distance from my house; I don't like far commutes; Houston is a big ass city lol.

EdTheTexan wrote: I don't like far commutes; Houston is a big ass city lol.

Same! My last 3 jobs have been on the same street. Each one closer to home than the last.