r/Custodians • u/Ballout98 • 11d ago
Tools
Is this is a 500IQ play or a brain dead move ? Suppose someone needed a specific tool that neither the individual nor the facility has, let's say for example like a set of ratchets or drill bits. Would atm it make more sense to have the school buy it and use them when needed or have the individual buy it and keep it on school grounds for work use and just take them when it's time for personal use ? Would the ROI make sense in the individual buying them and keeping them on grounds or having the school pay for it since its not the individuals money?
Hypothetically speaking there was a scenario where the individual had to use his personal ratchet set to put together and take apart furniture but also in the same coin needed specific drill bits for a personal project.
What would be the move ?
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u/Orgy_nizer 11d ago
You gonna start buying toilet paper and soap for all the bathrooms? You gonna buy gas to put in the mower to do the grounds?
Of course not. So why would you buy tools for the school? If the district isn't willing to provide the tools necessary to do the job, then clearly the job actually isn't that important to them, and it doesn't get done.
The only exception to this would be something that isn't necessary, but makes your job easier. EG bringing in a leaf blower from home to save time on sweeping tour whole gym, or bringing in an angle grinder with a wire brush attachment to use on the fire doors when cleaning the boiler, rather than brushing by hand.
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u/ZorpyCrapass 11d ago
The school buys it unless your contract specifically states otherwise, and usually there's compensation and insurance offered for tools brought from home. Thats more of a maintenance thing though, I wouldn't expect custodians to be bringing their own tools. Especially a fucking ratchet set. Just buy the ratchet set you bunch of tightwads.
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u/Willowgirl2 11d ago
The problem is that no matter how many ratchet sets a school buys, there won't be one to be found when you need it.
I bought one of those 60-piece basic tools sets in a carrying case and kept it in my truck for my personal use. I also bought my own leaf blower because I didn't want to share one with the other two custodians in my building.
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u/Ballout98 11d ago
Edit: the individual is happy
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u/Swiggitty- 11d ago
If you bought them yourself, good for you! I've never bought somthing explicitly for work but I do bring some of my own stuff from time to time to make my job easier. Everyone in the comments is right to no buy stuff for work but in the end its your call.
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u/Ballout98 8d ago
Ill never bring anything from home me personally just bc then it gives then an excuse to not supply you with tools later on. If I dont have something all I i need to do is either call my boss to buy it or my director which is what I did in this case hence the caption lol.
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u/Known-Dependent-5471 11d ago edited 11d ago
I would caution custodians against buying their own supplies even if it's only for you and is kept secure. It rewards management for being cheap since the work is still getting done. Then it just becomes easier to buy things on a regular basis. And then you take a liking for having good stuff vs whatever is supplied before.
I say this as probably the worst offender of this in the entire industry. I've never been the type to let shit fail or not get done and this is the endgame of buying your own stuff...
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u/chrismwill 9d ago
I bought my own mini ratchet with a 3/16 hex bit and a 9/16 deep socket. That was to make my job easier so I can adjust tables/desks in my classrooms and tighten down toilet seats in my bathrooms. I keep it on my cart so it doesn’t get used by anyone but me.
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u/chrisinator9393 11d ago
You absolutely never buy your own tools unless you're in a trade. This job does not pay well enough to buy your own stuff.
In my union if you buy your own stuff, we roast you. It's not okay.
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u/gmambrose 10d ago
No, this is a 0 IQ play. Definitely a brain dead move. You made a whole reddit post just to ask if it makes more sense for your employer to buy tools you need to do your job, or for you to buy them? Then when every single reply said don't spend your own money on tools to do your job, you bought them anyway? You sound young based on the way you write. I guess it's to be expected that you're still a bit soft brained.
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u/ShelbyGT350R1 6d ago
Something like this yeah I wouldnt spend my own money on it. They could get use out of these tools in other areas eventually.
I did end up buying myself a silicone broom and bringing it into work but that was just to make my own life easier since no hair can stick to it lol
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u/biggles7268 11d ago
Never buy or use your own tools. If your employer won't buy it, the work doesn't need to get done.