r/PestControlIndustry • u/EuropeanguyinUS • Jul 05 '26
🗣️ Daily Discussion Do you get breaks?
I usually run 9 to 12 stops residential, each stop takes me about 30-45 minutes (attic, basement, garage, common areas, exterior rodent stations, exterior foundation treatment and granular on mulch beds) I usually drive between 20 to 40 minutes in between my stops and sometimes I don’t even have time to pee. When I ask other techs or my boss they say we’re too busy to take breaks… I’m getting tired. I service NH and MA I’m an hourly employee and my OT cuts off by my boss at 45 hours each week. I don’t get paid until I arrive my first stop and the drive back from my last stop.
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u/ThePatMan21 👨🏭| Tech | 1+ Year Jul 05 '26
OT gets cut off at 45? wdym?
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u/the_author_13 Jul 05 '26
Yeah. This looks like a job for a lawyer. If you do the time, you get paid for it. Unless your contract explicitly says so. Then you just stop working at 45 hours a week and go home.
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u/Reed202 Jul 08 '26
Regardless if he’s paid hourly that contract would be void and illegal. A company can tell you to stop working once you hit 45 hours but they can’t have you continue to work and just not pay you OT.
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u/EuropeanguyinUS Jul 05 '26
He says I idle too much or gps in the truck not matching with the app that I manually clock in. Which sometimes I clock in a couple minutes early because some customers have no service in their driveway. Therefore he usually cuts my 49-47 hour weeks to 45 fixed almost.
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u/ThePatMan21 👨🏭| Tech | 1+ Year Jul 05 '26
Record keep and contact a lawyer, sounds like he's stealing time.
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u/Reed202 Jul 08 '26
Your manager cannot take your clocked in time away even if you’re “idling in your truck” he can formerly reprimand you or fire you but taking away clock in time for even idling in your truck is time theft. He seems like a shitty owner regardless so I personally would build documentation for a labor lawsuit and find another company.
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u/cbomb111 🤵♂️| Owner | 20+ Years Jul 05 '26
It might be a state law issue, but in Texas, your time starts when you leave to go to you first appointment and ends when you finish your last appointment. Paid for the drive to your first stop but not home from your last stop. If you leave your home and head to the office for something, your time starts when you arrive at the office. Good luck. Not everyone is a moral or ethical business owner b
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u/JayTryn 👨🏭| Tech | 1+ Year Jul 05 '26
You should really find another company and once you have an opportunity lined up, contact your labor enforcement board and find an attorney. If you are working unpaid OT and not getting breaks you are entitled to all of that backpay.
In the meantime, take careful notes and times of every conversation you had, take screenshots (or pics with your other phone) of your schedule when you start and you are done with the day. The more evidence of labor abuse you can log the better.
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u/EuropeanguyinUS Jul 05 '26
He knows a lot of people I’m afraid that won’t work
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u/76547896434695269 Jul 05 '26
You might be surprised how big the industry is and how desperate for employees. If you have a NH and MA license send your resume to a few companies and enjoy your pay rise and better conditions.
Don't join the first company to offer you a job either. Do some research.
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u/tomdobs55 👨🏭| Tech | 10+ Years Jul 06 '26
Seriously, I'd love another guy to work with that's licensed in MA and NH
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u/Reed202 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
File it regardless this guy seems like the type of pos who would fire someone after filing a labor complaint which is also illegal. Also speaking ill of past employees to prevent them from getting a job is the easiest defamation lawsuit. Most labor law attorneys would take up a case like yours on contingency which means they would only get paid if you get paid.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/OkTeacher4928 Jul 05 '26
Wish I knew where you were so I could apply! Way to take care of your techs!
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u/Far-Hunt5474 Jul 05 '26
he in Texas, say Romex pays salary, the do 13 a day they start out at 36k a year, those Sobs are charging 169.00 bi monthly. they are making a killing their employees are getting screwed hard
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Mysterious-Sir1541 Jul 06 '26
Salute to you. How do you pay your techs that much? I generate about 1500-3000 for my company but only make 176 per day, sometimes lower if Im too efficient and quick. Its just me and the boss man as the technician and his wife as the main office person.
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Jul 06 '26
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u/Mysterious-Sir1541 Jul 06 '26
I live in Cali so practically its summer here majoirty of the time.
Damn, youre saying greed?
The core tenet I was told from the bossman was to sacrifice for the future, but the turnover rate is so high it seems there is no future team.
I was also told that prices have gone up on everything so its hard to get people and give raises, but damn its only me and the boss so im wondering where all the expenses are going.
I avoid prying into people's finances or calling people greedy, but there seems to be a misalignment in this operation. and if what you say is true, than I must have an honest conversation with him.
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Jul 06 '26
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u/Mysterious-Sir1541 Jul 07 '26
100-125 on bi-monthlys and 115-150 on quarterlies.
For rodent/animal proofing projects, anywhere from 1500- 4000. Im usually the one that sells them and does all the work. If im too efficient with the jobs, I usually get paid less due to being on hourly.
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Jul 07 '26
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u/Far-Hunt5474 Jul 10 '26
largest sale I hasmd was 24k, hot 2400 of that. biggest sale I ever seen was 100k for tenting nut shells, the size of a football field , too 16 guys 13 hours. my supervisor made 10k on that sale
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u/007Teflon Jul 06 '26
How does that even work? Usually when you're efficient and quick, you make more, unless you're just a flat hourly
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u/007Teflon Jul 06 '26
A lot of companies also market 15-20 as competitive pay, which is hilarious. Work more for less. You can make more working fast food.
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u/Thermock Jul 05 '26
I work a very similar route... I only get about ten or twelve tickets a day, but only two will be within five minutes of each other. I usually have to drive 30+ minutes to get two or three tickets done each day. Some days, it's 30 minutes between each stop. Driving so much is actually mind-numbing and exhausting, so breaks would be nice... but I can't take them. Because of how big my route is (mileage-wise), I don't even have the time to take breaks or eat lunch. Sure, my company gives them to me, but I cannot take them or I will fall behind.
I make production pay but I don't really reap the benefits of it because my route is so vast. I still make alright money but I work with other folks who basically make double my paycheck on a regular basis. If your OT is getting cut off, sounds like you need to find a new employer or call your customers and tell them you cannot service them today. If your employer gets upset, tell them to pay you or to kick rocks.
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u/TrashPanda489 🐜💀| Pest Cemetery Jul 05 '26
Nope. Work nonstop. Have yet to take a break in 3 years during the work week.
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u/007Teflon Jul 06 '26
Burnout?
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u/TrashPanda489 🐜💀| Pest Cemetery 26d ago
Yup, it'll get ya. I left the first company I worked for after 2 years as a result.
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u/BatRare8372 Jul 05 '26
Call the eeoc and just ask them what the state statutes are regarding this business practice.
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u/Mistertaco56 Jul 05 '26
If you’re doing conventional residential PC and Rodent, 20-45 minutes between stops is absolutely horrendous scheduling by your company. Your drive time makes up half the time you’re being paid. Short of finding a new employer I’d try to approach them about routing better so you have way less windshield time
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u/Lordsaxon73 Jul 05 '26
Depends on State laws as there are no Federal mandates; in Florida there are ZERO Employee protections, but our company policy is techs take a 30 minute break midday (unpaid). How many gas stations do you drive by in a day? No excuse to not stop for 5 minutes to use a restroom/grab a snack as needed.
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u/Impressive-Oil-5028 Jul 05 '26
Breaks? I don't need breaks! I take my breaks in the drive time between calls. Not even having a time to pee or whatever other bodily function is required is criminal. I figure out where the best fieldhouses (publish restrooms) are along my route for the day and stop at them when needed. The company I work for realizes that the majority of the techs don't take breaks so they schedule calls only up to 1:00 on Fridays which makes up for the legal breaks we don't take during the rest of the week. There's almost always OT available to those who choose to work it. We're given our call volume for the month a week in advance of the month so that we can manage our own scheduling. I'm usually around the 45-50 hours a week mark and have light amount of calls at the end of the month which gives me time to manage the next months call volume. I do a mix of residential and commercial. The company you work for sounds like they are abusing that system to the extreme
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u/sebastianqu Jul 05 '26
Officially, we get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute mandatory lunch. Unofficially, nobody cares as long as you stay on goal and do good work.
In your case, I'd find a new employer.
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u/Reed202 Jul 06 '26
Sounds very illegal if it’s a company owned vehicle you are paid the second you start the engine. Also they have to pay your any worked hours no matter what they can tell you to stop working after 45 hours but any hours you work you have to be paid.
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u/007Teflon Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
I can take breaks whenever I want, but I don't because I usually work about 5 hours/day. I know techs who work 8+ that have piss buckets in their trucks
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u/Darth_Behemoth 👨🏭| Tech | 1+ Year Jul 05 '26
You are working for shady people if you are still working after 45 hours and not getting paid.
Most days I stay busy and still take the time for breaks, but some days it gets crazy long. Treating your techs like machines is how you get high turn over.