Different workload between business parners
Different workload between business parners
(OP)
There was a similar tread recently, but I need an advice on slightly different case.
We are two partners (equal share) running small engineering company. We are both engineers, but my partner is more specialized in commercial activities and dealing with external subcontractors. My part is design department and commissioning works. My partner works mostly in the office, including some (but not so much) overtimes. From other hand, big part of my workload is on commissioning works, sometimes in the country, sometimes abroad. Commissioning is never strictly limited to 8 hours working time - usually deadline is "for yesterday" and very often I must work 10-12 hours, far from the family and without weekends for 2 or 3 weeks. For such work we pay normally overtime to our personnel.
My question is: should I insist to receive additional money for these periods? Looking from engineering point of view payment should be equal to the workload. But how from ethical point? What is your experience in similar cases?
Any suggestions will be highly appreciated!
We are two partners (equal share) running small engineering company. We are both engineers, but my partner is more specialized in commercial activities and dealing with external subcontractors. My part is design department and commissioning works. My partner works mostly in the office, including some (but not so much) overtimes. From other hand, big part of my workload is on commissioning works, sometimes in the country, sometimes abroad. Commissioning is never strictly limited to 8 hours working time - usually deadline is "for yesterday" and very often I must work 10-12 hours, far from the family and without weekends for 2 or 3 weeks. For such work we pay normally overtime to our personnel.
My question is: should I insist to receive additional money for these periods? Looking from engineering point of view payment should be equal to the workload. But how from ethical point? What is your experience in similar cases?
Any suggestions will be highly appreciated!
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It may be like this in theory and practice, but in real life it is completely different.
The favourite sentence of my army sergeant





RE: Different workload between business parners
If things aren't balanced or fair, the two of you should be able to work something out that will make it fair - extra pay for you, or extra time off to make up for the hours you've put in.
If this is an ongoing problem, the answer may be to find another engineer willing to help on a casual or part-time basis.
RE: Different workload between business parners
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It may be like this in theory and practice, but in real life it is completely different.
The favourite sentence of my army sergeant
RE: Different workload between business parners
if the answer is no, maybe you could accept the situation...
if the answer is yes, you should prepare yourself to potential end of partnership and than gently raise the question
RE: Different workload between business parners
When I went into business with a partner we were advised to have a partners agreement, a legally binding document, the way it was put to us is a business partnership is like a marriage, you do not go into it thinking you will fall out and possibility hate each other in the future but it can and does happen, this covers both parties without favouring either.
There are many scenarios that may crop up, what happens if one of you is unable to work for a period of time? One of you wants to grow the company, but one is happy as things stand? One of you say inherits some money and only wants to work part time. The more things you cover the better. Most people are happy as long as they perceive things as fair; it is easier to determine what is fair before something happens.
Good luck I hope you resolve this soon.
RE: Different workload between business parners
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Different workload between business parners
Actually according to me we both are doing our best for the company, everybody in the area where he is better. I think it will not be a good idea for us to separate, as my partner is much better than me in negotiations (generally I don't like this part, excluding rare cases when negotiated some souvenirs on a market in Africa
The problem is that my family relations suffer from my field work and I wonder whether it is ethical to ask for some compensation.
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It may be like this in theory and practice, but in real life it is completely different.
The favourite sentence of my army sergeant
RE: Different workload between business parners
Iz5pl I think you need to sit back and look at where you are, at least in the early days surely getting the company off to a solid start is more important than personal gain? Your problem seems to be you are unhappy with the time you spend away from your family, will extra money really change that?
RE: Different workload between business parners
It's called growth.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering