NukeWorker Forum

Career Path => Nuclear Operator => Topic started by: Cycoticpenguin on Dec 09, 2010, 05:04

Title: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Cycoticpenguin on Dec 09, 2010, 05:04
Me and my father had an interesting conversation. He was wondering if plants over hire for positions (i.e. they hire 12 expecting 10 to stay/pass)  or do they hire what they need and hope for the best?  Just curious is all.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: co60slr on Dec 09, 2010, 05:49
Me and my father had an interesting conversation. He was wondering if plants over hire for positions (i.e. they hire 12 expecting 10 to stay/pass)  or do they hire what they need and hope for the best?  Just curious is all.
My father and I....
(Sorry, I couldn't let that go).

The answer is more complex.   Everyone (even in the Navy) has predicted attriction rates based on variables (e.g., average age of the workforce).   12 vs 10 isn't very significant and is probably more driven by people leaving/retirements.

If a plant has a 30% attrition rate from their program and hire 13 when only 10 are needed, then hopefully they're also working on why they can't qualify all 13...since they'll probably have 3 more people retire/quit.

In short...it depends on many variables unique to each plant/site.   HR Hiring strategy.  There isn't one answer, I don't think.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: MacGyver on Dec 09, 2010, 06:02

Me and my father had an interesting conversation. He was wondering if plants over hire for positions (i.e. they hire 12 expecting 10 to stay/pass)  or do they hire what they need and hope for the best?  Just curious is all.

The short answer is it depends.  The longer answer is my plant does not nor do they intend too anytime soon.  Yes we are chronically short in ops.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 09, 2010, 06:33
I've hired more than a few times and so far as I know the answer is no. It's too expensive.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Cycoticpenguin on Dec 09, 2010, 09:08
I've hired more than a few times and so far as I know the answer is no. It's too expensive.

This was my thinking honestly. Something tells me you guys dont hire people that wont make it through.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 09, 2010, 09:56
Usually you tell the company how many you want, they then tend to cut it down some but not always. The utilities try to get the best candidates and
in cases where the candidates are close enough will hire a somewhat weaker on the surface person if he is local. But no they don't hire based on saying we need 10, we'll hire 15 just in case.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Marlin on Dec 10, 2010, 08:22
   If you heard that from someone it probably applied to the contract/construction side of the business, it does happen there. I doubt it happens as much now but I have seen a layoff in the first month for RadTechs on a long term project and the first 20 craft to the "Brass shacks" laid off early in a major modification project at a plant. Much different enviroment on that side of the street.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: redline on Dec 10, 2010, 02:06
My employer will allocate slots for the next year based on anticipated attrition. It doesn't matter what happens between now and then, those slots are generally locked. We recently had one fail to gain unescorted access after accepting an offer. That position was lost until they allocate for next year...maybe forever!
In this business, the type of folks who make those hiring decisions don't sweat the individual numbers. If a manger comes up short he can request increased numbers next year. In case of an emergency shortage there's always contract help.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: MacGyver on Dec 11, 2010, 03:40

My employer will allocate slots for the next year based on anticipated attrition. It doesn't matter what happens between now and then, those slots are generally locked. We recently had one fail to gain unescorted access after accepting an offer. That position was lost until they allocate for next year...maybe forever!
In this business, the type of folks who make those hiring decisions don't sweat the individual numbers. If a manger comes up short he can request increased numbers next year. In case of an emergency shortage there's always contract help.

Though I do not disagree with your overall premise (due to it being your plant); I must disagree with the "In case of an emergency shortage there's always contract help."

I do not know of a contract OPS employee (i.e. SO/RO/SRO/SS/SM/etc) at any plant.  So, maybe in other departments but not in OPS.  At least from what I have witnessed.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 11, 2010, 03:58
TVA has Contract SROs, former TVA SROs who retired then immediately came back as a contractor. In fact I have one on my shift.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: MacGyver on Dec 11, 2010, 04:03

TVA has Contract SROs, former TVA SROs who retired then immediately came back as a contractor. In fact I have one on my shift.

Well then there you go.  Contract OPS do exist.  I reserve the right to be wrong again in the future.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 11, 2010, 04:12
IIRC until about 2 or 3 years ago no one had contract ops. TVA had to ensure the NRC was good with it. Contract Unit Supervisors are ok, Contract SMs are not.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: thenuttyneutron on Dec 11, 2010, 07:41
IIRC until about 2 or 3 years ago no one had contract ops. TVA had to ensure the NRC was good with it. Contract Unit Supervisors are ok, Contract SMs are not.

Do they have to pay for the training and for the biennial written exam?
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 11, 2010, 09:57
They do everything every other licensed operator does. They attend training and requal and get paid during those periods.
When they take vacation they do not get paid.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: redline on Dec 13, 2010, 12:56
We do have some contract Ops people. We also have dozens and dozens of licenses sitting on the shelf collecting dust. Those could be reinstated pretty quickly in an emergency (months rather than years) but licensed folks should never be a problem here, the pipline is always full!
We would be more concerned with technical folks; RP, Chemistry, engineering etc. those pipelines often run dry, but get well supplemented with vendors.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 13, 2010, 01:07
We do have some contract Ops people. We also have dozens and dozens of licenses sitting on the shelf collecting dust. Those could be reinstated pretty quickly in an emergency (months rather than years) but licensed folks should never be a problem here, the pipline is always full!
We would be more concerned with technical folks; RP, Chemistry, engineering etc. those pipelines often run dry, but get well supplemented with vendors.


Do these licenses still attend requal?
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: IPREGEN on Dec 14, 2010, 12:38
The answer is it depends. I would actually talk the recruiter if it was someone that had never been at the station before and ask about their history. If we staffed with all reliable returnees we would not "overhire" if there were new folks or returnees with a history, then yes, would would add a couple more. That was a while ago.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 14, 2010, 04:42
I don't think he's talking about contracters. I think he's talking plant staff.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 14, 2010, 05:01
Me and my father had an interesting conversation. He was wondering if plants over hire for positions (i.e. they hire 12 expecting 10 to stay/pass)  or do they hire what they need and hope for the best?  Just curious is all.


Look at it this way. Say you're an Instant SRO hired in from the Navy. If you hire 12 guys, thinking only 10 will get through by the end of the 3 year training period you've wasted nearly 700,000 dollars on personnel just to get your 10. No utility has that kind of money to burn. At on time TVA had 3 SRO classes going on at SQN.
Using the 12 for 10 question you just asked over a period of about 45 years we'd have thrown away 2.2 Million Dollars which is righly 6 to 7 % of a refueling outage budget.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: HydroDave63 on Dec 14, 2010, 06:07

Look at it this way. Say you're an Instant SRO hired in from the Navy. If you hire 12 guys, thinking only 10 will get through by the end of the 3 year training period you've wasted nearly 700,000 dollars on personnel just to get your 10. No utility has that kind of money to burn. At on time TVA had 3 SRO classes going on at SQN.
Using the 12 for 10 question you just asked over a period of about 45 years we'd have thrown away 2.2 Million Dollars which is righly 6 to 7 % of a refueling outage budget.

45 years? That would be more than a full career! You really DO plan ahead!  or is it just a "righly" rough estimate? ;)
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 14, 2010, 09:20
DANG 4.5 years!
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: retired nuke on Dec 15, 2010, 12:07
DANG 4.5 years!

Janitor... don't you know spelling, punctuation and DECIMAL POINTS count....

been dying to fire that shot... [hijack] [devious] ROFL [whistle]
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 15, 2010, 03:14
Janitor... don't you know spelling, punctuation and DECIMAL POINTS count....

been dying to fire that shot... [hijack] [devious] ROFL [whistle]

Touche'

Back to my mop.
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: co60slr on Dec 15, 2010, 08:36
Touche'
Touché

So close.  -0.25 pts for trying to use an apostrophe (i.e., e') instead of the é.  I would have recommend -0.50pts; however, the NW Spell Checker wants to change it, so I can see how one could be led astray.

Wow...quite the dissertation on this subject here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89
I'm not sure I gained or lost IQ points on that Wiki search.

How are we doing here Marssim?   Have we sufficiently diverged from topic?  Time to move on? 

:)

Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Fermi2 on Dec 15, 2010, 09:20
I couldn't get the proper e. My computer kept changing it.!

 
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: JustinHEMI05 on Dec 15, 2010, 09:38
You canceled out the desire for the proper e with the ! following the.. :P
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Cycoticpenguin on Dec 16, 2010, 02:36
Touché

So close.  -0.25 pts for trying to use an apostrophe (i.e., e') instead of the é.  I would have recommend -0.50pts; however, the NW Spell Checker wants to change it, so I can see how one could be led astray.

Wow...quite the dissertation on this subject here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89
I'm not sure I gained or lost IQ points on that Wiki search.

How are we doing here Marssim?   Have we sufficiently diverged from topic?  Time to move on? 

:)


I couldn't get the proper e. My computer kept changing it.!

 
You canceled out the desire for the proper e with the ! following the.. :P




I just....   

(http://reaction.ralfvandenboom.nl/img/DyAGninpXv.gif)
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: co60slr on Dec 16, 2010, 07:01
I couldn't get the proper e. My computer kept changing it.!
Broadzilla , υπάρχουν πολλοί online εργαλεία για μετατρέπω αλφάβητο χαρακτήρας.
εδώ is έναs σύνδεσμος σε έναs του αυτούς :
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Insert-a-special-character-into-a-document-ASCII-codes

ελπίδα this βρίσκω you καλά.

δικό σου φίλοι σε Nukeworker ,

Co60Slr
(I'm going to be chuckling about this one all day).  +K to the first translator.  ;)
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: tselby on Dec 16, 2010, 07:24
Broadzilla , υπάρχουν πολλοί online εργαλεία για μετατρέπω αλφάβητο χαρακτήρας.
εδώ is έναs σύνδεσμος σε έναs του αυτούς : There are many online tools for Greek alphabet nature.
Here ideal some links for thesehttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Insert-a-special-character-into-a-document-ASCII-codes

ελπίδα this βρίσκω you καλά. I hope this finds you well

δικό σου φίλοι σε Nukeworker , Your friends in Nukeworker

Co60Slr
(I'm going to be chuckling about this one all day).  +K to the first translator.  ;)


My Greek is a little rusty but I did my best
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: co60slr on Dec 16, 2010, 07:50

My Greek is a little rusty but I did my best
Wow...+K +K +K +K +K.  

Мой Друг, Поздравления на вашем достижении Судьбы.

:)
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: tselby on Dec 16, 2010, 08:06
Wow...+K +K +K +K +K.  

Мой Друг, Поздравления на вашем достижении Судьбы.

:)

this is a little more like it,,,, My firend congratulations on your achievement of destiny
Title: Re: Do plants overhire?
Post by: Cycoticpenguin on Dec 16, 2010, 02:23
Totally erroneous, but cool nonetheless.


http://translate.google.com/#


Ова е очигледно македонски

это Россия является

これが日本です

Its a cool site.