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Spinjector - I agree with OKCRadioGuy. I think you should look for another job, immediately. Your company seems to be in financial trouble. I've had to pay for things before, and was reimbursed quickly - but what happens that ONE time where they just can't meet payroll, or expenses for that matter?
The other things in life. Family, Wife, children, parents?
Does this place pay for part of your insurance? Are you making big bucks? How much do they ask you to cover? This is something I think you should note here. If it's $20 that's one thing. Over $100, well how much? Is this now and then for emergencies or is it everything the station buys?
As a contract engineer you will be expected to buy some things and get reimbursed as opposed to making two trips to a site when the parts arrive if they are small parts. Some guys say, buy fuses and let me know I'll be back. (Bill for two trips).
My father was frugal. When I moved out the landlord gave me credit to pay him down where my dad wouldn't cover any loan money for an apartment, gas, etc. I always looked at this as if my dad did this for a reason then i shouldn't try to break his model. My dad gave me a car adnd has helped me in many other ways but he made a point with money.
I have loaned people (good christian people) money and it was a payday is tomorrow, I'll get fired if I don't have gas, etc. and got burned the better the story.
The day the station had the electric company show up for disconnect I refused to cover this for my employer and you know, they got the money from corporate.
I worked pt contract for a station that reemed me because I didn't shut a door one day on a hot summer, transmitter off, overheated. Station equipment, and ALL OF IT, was a buy from several suppliers who offered 30 day credit. If doors were open the Sheriff could offer a legal request to show up, or worse, someone could get their equipment back.
A tower climber who often gave me cousin deals said one time and I quote because it's his language: "Cousin, them bastards burned me. Took me 2 months to get paid when they had an emergency. Once I responded in short time, dropped another paying job, got their work done, I was done. It wasn't an emergency anymore."
I have a renter (TV station) that left a 3 ton TV antenna and dropped liability insurance at the site I manage. This is moving to court. They are over 60k in rent arrears. They demanded access at late hours and literally made a nuisance. When they moved to a new frequency 40k to pull the antenna was too much to spend. They saved 40k. Because they are big they can.
I have to do this all the time-but always get paid within one pay cycle. Tell them that's what you are going to expect-if you have to front money then you expect to get it back within 10 days after you do your expense report.
Yes. I take back what I said. I thought they were your client. If I buy something for my 'real' radio job, I get a check the same day. I have a company card, too. The only time I use my own was like the other day, when I wanted SSD's for all of my Audiovault machines. Newegg had them on sale with a limit of 5. I needed 10, so I put 5 on the company & 5 on my card. Other than those occasions, I NEVER use my personal card at work. Only for contract stuff and only with a 15 day reimbursement.
Sometimes it amazes me what scumbags many broadcast stations can be. Is it because we are primarily managed by sales whores who have less then a thimblefull of class? I worked for a station once that built up over $7000.00 in arrears with me on a major build out. They simply REFUSED to pay me! Finally, they went off the air and called me in a panic-and I told them: "I'll drive the hour to your site, but if a check isn't waiting for me, I'm turning around and going home". It was there. We are broadcast engineers, NOT BANKS who (can) offer interest free loans to our clients. A friend of mine who worked for Dun and Bradstreet once told me that broadcast stations and welding shops are the WORST at paying teir bills of all. Why is that?
I'm not unreasonable-net 30 billing is fine-but even right now I have a client that I sold a Barix Exstreamer to whose 30 days were up at the beginning to October-and I have yet to get the money (which I fronted to Barix for the box). It's not a lot of money ($165.00) but I could use it at Christmas time with two small kids. When I do IT work, I'm always paid on time-how come radio can't do that?
Because you don't require it. If somebody wants terms, hand them a credit application.
It's the same thing with advertising clients. For some reason so many of them assume we'll grant them open account because they're "in business". Yet if we walk into their store to buy something, they require cash or credit card.
What might work well for contract engineers, but not for employees, would be setting up a merchant account and accepting credit cards for payment. Maybe some of you already do this. And if providing products and materials as a pass-through, a small surcharge (10%) would be in order. It is not uncommon, and it covers the merchant fees.
And if providing products and materials as a pass-through, a small surcharge (10%) would be in order. It is not uncommon, and it covers the merchant fees.
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