Talk about Bartlett

[RAD-GHOST]

Eric, they're baiting you in!

[Eric_Bartlett]

pssssst.....Eric......
You never answered Dream Tarheel's question...

I'll try and answer it now...

Question Eric, if you have a moment. Isn't it very easy to say you (as a company) are doing everything you can, every season............when in truth, while you have 90% of the Nuclear Power Plant contracts, and no reasonable competition, you really dont have to do anything, just say that you are.

Yes, it would be easy to just let things sit at the status quo and tell everyone we are doing everything possible to help you, but not really do anything - it would be extremley easy, but it would be counter productive to what keeps Bartlett in buisness - technicians.  You may take all I have to say with a grain of salt and heavy doubts, I dont expect any of you to believe what I have to say because A. I work for Bartlett and B. I am a Bartlett.  The reality of it is the lower a site pays, the harder it is to staff.  I for one like to make my job as easy as possible, part of that is consistantly going to our clients to increase the incentives, be it pay, diem, travel, bonuses, etc...

As far as having no reasonable competition, I would have to disagree.  Atlantic has proven to be a worthy competitor who is doing everything in it's power to become a major player in the Health Physics/Decontamination arena.  And as I've stated before competition is a good thing.

And since this is the WBN thread, here is a WBN question. How does a junior HP who lives 73 miles from WBN get classified as a local?

Good question - I for one dont know much about the TVA contract, from what I understand it is/was an old Numanco contract that rolled over to Bartlett with the purchase of Numanco.  Please correct me if I'm wrong, from what I've been able to gather originally there was no diem being paid for either longterm techs or short term outage techs.  Through the negotiations of Bartlett's field Manager for TVA we have been able to convince TVA that diem should be paid at least for the short term technicians.  Now as far as a JHP being classified as local when they live 73 miles away, I would have to know who the individual is and the circumstances concerning thier confirmation...Is the individual commuting from home? did they confirm for a position scheduled to last longer than an outage (due to anything longer than outage work goes in with no diem, TVA rules not Bartlett's)

pssssst.....Eric......
You never answered Dream Tarheel's question: Why would Bartlett, while they're "doing everything they can, in every season", not allow a junior the same benefits (per diem) you allow everyone else?  Or is it true that Jrs don't eat as much, drive as much, or spend as much on food and lodging as seniors?  Have you guys ever thought that you may need those juniors one day as the seniors dwindle away? 

Now as far as your question goes - I, as have all of the other recruiters and our management have never understood a Utilities philosophy for paying more diem for 1 classification than another - a JHP should recieve the same as a SHP who should recieve the same as a Decon tech who should recieve the same as a Mechanic who should recieve the same as an engineer - why certain utilities pay differant can be answered for only a few of the contracts awarded each year, that would be that differant contracts are bid differant ways, bid specs for some proposals are stipulated by the client, some arent.  Other than that I cant answer that question.  As previously stated it never made much sense to me.  As I said earlier, believe me if you will, or look upon this as just more dribble coming from a corporate mouthpiece, we (Bartlett), and I would presume other vendors in this industry, are always trying to get incentives increased, after all if we can pay higher than "Brand X" we'll have a better shot at a successful season, while "Brand X" would fail.  Even most utilities realize that it doesnt benefit anyone, not even themselves to underprice themselves right out of the market, especially at a time when position to technician ratios are so tight.  This isnt the days of pre-deregulation when there is an over abundance of technicians to positions.  Anyone that has been in the industry and associated with staffing, be it recruiters, techs, Utility Supvs, etc..., knows that todays decon tech is tomorrows JHP who is the next days SHP. 

Eric, they're baiting you in!

Yes, Yes they are (and they did a damned good job at it!    )

I hope I've been able to answer your questions.  Of course I would like you all to believe me, but when it comes down to it you all may have your pre-formed ideas and theories that most of you will stick too, no matter what I say, so tothose with thier pre-concieved notions I'll leave it at this - You believe what you want to believe, I'll know what I know.   

Hope you all had a good holiday weekend.

Eric Bartlett

[rjc4243]

   Very good response Eric.  you are correct that the utilities control everything.

They are trying to reduce the starting pay for new employees, so that their future costs are less.  They have reduced employees benifits, along with retirees.

They want to make more money for their board of directors.

[SloGlo]

They want to make more money for their board of directors.

duzant everybuddy?  when i had a full bored of directors, prior to judicial attrition and wing stretching, i alwaze kept expenses as low as possible and income as high as i cood get it.  now that my responsibilities have shrunk to 3; me, myself, and eye, i find that i am not as expense minimalizing and yet i want income maximized.  just goes to show, knot everybuddy can maintain consistent focus.   

[Roll Tide]

How does a junior HP who lives 73 miles from WBN get classified as a local?

73 miles sounds good, at first. But is it 73 miles by shortest drive or fastest? If it is under 73 miles zip code-to-zip code then it is harder to prove. Additionally, TVA sometimes looks at the distance from the county line for determining local.

[Dream Tar Heel]

If he puts his canoe in the Tenn river, it's like 69 miles.

[kaveman32]

Since we are on the bartlett subject. I have a question. Why cant services and nuclear pull their act together so that the tech that goes from outages(nuclear) and doe(services) doesnt have to have an act of god to get anything accomplished. Such as direct diposit, wich may be established with services but not with nuclear. Also 401k issuses, money owed and pay stubs dont accumulate earnings from both services and nuclesr the list goes on. Does any other tech have this same problem?

[Dream Tar Heel]

Constantly, and the reasons why never make sense. It's almost like "THE MAN" just wants to keeps us contractors down, so he can keep us coming back asking for more.

And Eric, I did like and understand your response. I am just glad you take enough ownership in what you do, to at least keep your ear to the heart beat of the people out there keeping you employed. Thanks from all of us.

[SloGlo]

Such as direct diposit, wich may be established with services but not with nuclear.

not having direct deposit is so last millenium.  it's not like it takes alot of work.  a company policy, a couple of faxes, maybe a couple of emails also, and it's a done deal.  a cupla mba types that i know tell me that the first part is the toughest.  they claim it takes about half an hour to do that phase.  of course, the other steps take a minute or two each time.  now when you have 4000 people in the field and they may want to turn over the direct deposit accout 4 times a year, well now you are covering 16000 minutes gratis for the employees warm 'n fuzzies.  'n that's 267 hours, or 6 work weeks plus 3 work days plus 2 work hours and 38 work minutes.  now, add in the breaks in the work day, the holidays the home office staff gets off, their vacation days and your talking serious time here.  so the small contractors can afford to do this for their employees, but the biggies won't. 

[vikingfan]

I know bartlett probably will never do this but there are some companies that will give the employee a debit card to have their per diem direct deposited into every week !!nothing better than leaving for a job say on a sunday and already have my perdiem in my hands before I leave the house !! also it is nice just go to a atm and withdraw what i need instead of trying to find a bank that will cash my check

[vikingfan]

wasn't trying to  any co. in particular but just wanted to show how some of the other companies operate ect ect..

[RRhoads]

ewww boy!!
I just got PRE!!  PRE!!  Approved for 3..... count em! 3!! Exelon outages in a row!!!
I can't believe it!!
Thought i had the olde black balls or................ was that black balled from em!
Funny i got pre approved for something i never put in fer!

[Rennhack]

We don't care what color your balls are.  But I suggest you see a doctor.

[Eric_Bartlett]

ewww boy!!
I just got PRE!!  PRE!!  Approved for 3..... count em! 3!! Exelon outages in a row!!!
I can't believe it!!
Thought i had the olde black balls or................ was that black balled from em!
Funny i got pre approved for something i never put in fer!

  Actually it is kinda funny that you dont understand  how it all works by now since you've been in the buisness all these years - work a system, get on thier pre-approval list cuz you are a returnee, not cuz ya put in for it - regrettably you'll stay on the list until you tell us you to take you off of it - be more than happy to take ya off the list, 1 less person to track down that isnt interested - give me more time to track down those that are interested - just give me a call - 800-225-0385 x1289 or shoot me a message via the nuke worker mail system. 

[RRhoads]

well... it has already been done..i did have the courtesy to decline your offer..just a little bustin going on ...you guys are big enough that you can take it!
believe me after working for you guys on & off over the last 15 years...i know how this whole thing works!
Mike..thx for the advice!!! know any Drs??

[Dave Warren]

Wow, I really wan't to dive right in and take a bite out of this thread, but until a certain company gets knocked off the totem pole, ya gotta watch your P's and Q's on the old nukeworker site.

Not that it has anything to do with Eric's last name, Rennhack's employer, or the co-sponsor of this website.....

Kinder and Gentler Left-Wing Liberal signing off.........That Karma thread really made me learn how to behave on this site....(sound of choking on purpose)

[RRhoads]

ahh, dave it should be OK....Bartlett is big & they like to make $$$
Just a little ribbin' anyway..A quick look around here & they know who i am & what iam up to now.
BTW hows it going...have seen you on here quite alot b4...i worked w/ you & Mitch at DC Cook in like '95 w/ ARC...

[Rennhack]

Dave, the same rules apply to Bartlett as they do to any other company on NukeWorker.  As long as you are not being liable, its reasonably open game.  In fact, if you read the many threads about Bartlett, you will see that they are the most talked about company on here.

[Dave Warren]

I know that, Mike. I was just playin'. I love all the recruiters and have worked for Bartlett numerous times. As a matter of fact, I still have an old white Bartlett jacket, that I treasure. Not to mention pens, cups, and other fine memorabilia. Hell, even Joe Worley works at a Bartlett-staffed site. You know times have changed.

[Eric_Bartlett]

...just a little bustin going on ...you guys are big enough that you can take it!...

Just a little bust'n right back - sorry if I came off as defensive or confrontational - after a long hot, busy day I can come accross as being a bit pissy  - no harm in a good ribb'n  - take it slow and keep the comments comming!   

Eric

[RRhoads]

well...all present & accounted for!
No offense taken here!
We are are all adults....
Have a hot one!

[illegalsmile]

So Eric, what's the new deal with per diem? I hear techs going to jobs will get their first pd when they get their first pay so they won't have any pd to pay back at lay-off time.

[vikingfan]

i have heard the same thing, actually was also told that bartlett will offer to advance techs i think it was 750$ and then have it deducted in equal increments from the techs perdiem checks. just a side note I know that several other companies also do not pay until the first paycheck, but that one co. in particular that i am aware of does also direct deposit both payroll and perdiem into your checking account.

[Dream Tar Heel]

Yea, but get this, I heard you get the $750.00 advance (if you ask for it), but they take it back as pay, not per diem. So that you have to pay taxes on your advance, because it's a loan, not per diem.

[Rennhack]

Yea, but get this, I heard you get the $750.00 advance (if you ask for it), but they take it back as pay, not per diem. So that you have to pay taxes on your advance, because it's a loan, not per diem.

$750 net, is $750 net.... right?  Or am I missing something?