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Licensed Locksmith Business - Employees Exploited!?

7/28/2012

6 Comments

 
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Should employees of licensed locksmith shops be paid prevailing wages?

One of the excuses from many who sought to impose licensing was to "raise the bar" of what they perceived as the need for greater professionalism and the ability to charge higher prices for services. However, the pay scale of the employees working for these people has not increased. Given the requirements an employee must now do to maintain or meet the criteria of a license to continue to work, the question as to why their salary has not been elevated to reflect prevailing wage has to be asked. In most cases when an employer services certain commercial work, public schools, local, state or federal buildings they are required by law to bid at prevailing wage to that of a carpenter or equivalent which is in the average range of $25+/- per hour. 

Are you as an employee receiving your fair wages with the licensing requirements you now have? 

Have you ever had your pay reflect such work in the past? 

The fact is that many hardworking locksmiths who are employed are being exploited. Those who have used the excuse of "raising the bar" are raising their prices, obtaining bids where their business is paid at prevailing wage, yet they continue to pay their employees sub-standard wages. 

If those who continue to force unwanted licensing upon the locksmith industry look upon it as improving conditions for their businesses or their image, then one would think that would also apply to the employees wages and standard of living.

The United States Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics provides some very compelling employment and wage information that all employees of licensed locksmith businesses should examine and bring back to their employers.  There are no provisions to indicate employment or wages that are regulated under a locksmith license. This new occupational requirement certainly adds more worth according to those promoting licensing, so why should that worth not translate into a benefit for the employee in a wage increase?

That fact is many locksmith employees are being exploited and are underpaid.  Although many businesses offer incentives or a sales bonus, many simply do not pay their employees to scale even when they are billing out at prevailing wage.  The employees who are now being forced to maintain an occupational license are being cheated and should see their wages increased immediately.

Rumor has it that one locksmith owner petitioned an industry trade magazine to stop posting help wanted ads that reflected the hourly wage being offered. He was upset that his staff was reading these want ads and seeing that other companies were offering far more then he was and he did not want these employees learning that they had better opportunities elsewhere.  If this person was actually paying a fair wage, he would not have to worry about his employees leaving his employment!

Compare your wage and post them here! You can send them to the SOPL and we can post it for you if you desire anonymity for fear of retaliation from your employer. 

Learn more about your rights from the National Labor Relations Board.

Do you think employees of a licensed locksmith business should receive higher wages or prevailing wage? 

Let's hear from you!

6 Comments
Bob
7/29/2012 09:13:15

Most Locksmiths that work for someone else in their jobs in Kansas City Missouri area are around $15 with little benefits. They justify this price by saying you are in training. Which in some cases is fine if your with somebody. But if your out on calls alone then that is a rip off. If your part of a Franchise you might get close to $20-$25 (Like the Dent Wizard Co. etc...). Some Companies call these jobs "Security Associates", "Security Professionals", Security Technicians" so it sounds better than they pay. Kinda like a "Landscape Technician". I've heard that some of them require you to sign a "no-compete" saying that you will not go work for yourself or the competition in that area for 2 yrs. The Maintenance Dept in the Factory I work in, pays $30 an hr, with benefits. But they consider me a Maintenance Mechanic who does Locksmithing. On my own in my personal Business I consider myself making $60 hr.

Reply
Bryan Patricks Locksmith
7/29/2012 17:16:48

This guys post was exactly my problem with Aloa changing their name to security professional. It lessons the locksmith as a Professional.

(Some Companies call these jobs "Security Associates", "Security Professionals", Security Technicians" so it sounds better than they pay. Kinda like a "Landscape Technician).

Reply
Lou Frascella link
7/30/2012 03:50:42

Every businessman deserves to make a good living, after all, they are the one who created the business in the first place.
However, if you are expecting your employee to be certified, licensed, and properly trained, be prepared to pay for that, if you do not, they will do as I did, go out on their own and, or, seek better employment.
Of course, no one will share the same passion for your business as you do. Maybe you feel that an employee(s) of yours is a bum and doesn't deserve a good wage? A smart businessman doesn't hire bums, (unless he thinks he can exploit them to maximize profits).

Reply
Joe link
7/30/2012 08:57:29

You mean to tell me Licensing only benifits the FAT CATS? Say it ain't so.
What a crock!
They make the little guy go out and get a license but it is ok for the big box stores to be exempt from it.
Just another excuse for the big locksmith companies to charge more and then feed lies to their workers about why they can't pay them more.

Reply
Bob
7/31/2012 15:57:09

Tom asked "Should Locksmiths be paid prevailing wage"?
I think if an employee meets the conditions ("journeyman") and they have satisfied the Lock Co. length of service/ payscale policy to be eligible for full rate of pay) then I think they should. The only way around it would be like they do in welding trades. In Welding there are different levels of welder classifications (Pipe Welder, Welders helper, Welder prep, Welder setup etc...) They are all in the welders trade, but the hardest technical job is being the Pipe welder. They would all get prevailing wage for their individual and or lower classifications.

Are all Locksmiths equal? Some Auto Locksmiths may not do Commercial, and some Commercial guys may not do Auto. I guess you have to see where you fall. The "FNG" (f'ing new guy), may not have the skillset or length of service to be considered a full Locksmith. I'm am in the Machinists Union myself (IAMAW) and I believe in prevailing wage. Among other things, it helps keep quality people in the industry. We have found that in most cases a $13 an hr weld is not near as good as a $25 an hr weld. When someone bids a job with us, we take the highest and the lowest and throw them out and take the best one in the middle. These are just my opinions.
[quote post in reply]

Reply
Open 24 Hours link
9/1/2013 21:31:30

Well, it is really pathetic that the locksmiths are not paid well, and they are not treated respectfully despite the fact that they perform tough and tiring job like all the other professionals that are into technical fields.

Reply

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  • Home Page
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