Billing Electrician Trainee

My question was just whether this is really okay. I think at least the invoice can be discussed. I basically have nothing against an apprentice doing it. He has been with us for weeks anyway. Although I am convinced that he did many things, not all, optimally. Forgot cables, switches too close to doors, etc. He also confirmed to me that he did not understand electronics plans for the kitchen or heating.

Do you also ask the baker whether the bread was made by the master baker, a journeyman, or an apprentice? Or when buying a car? Or wherever else?
You ordered a piece of "electrical installation for price X." Did you receive the service you ordered? If yes, the previously agreed price is due.

Good examples.

What bothers me is the casual statement from the boss. Yes, he took twice as long.
I don’t find that optimal. As a customer, I’m supposed to pay the same amount for an employee who costs less but takes twice as long. For me, it’s also not beneficial that it takes twice as long.

For me, it is also not helpful that it takes twice as long.

Have you agreed on a time that he is allowed to take?

What bothers me is the casual statement from the boss.

I find his statement completely correct, what you wrote in the first #. I can imagine that some people react quite spontaneously wrong and aggressive there.

He gave us an offer in advance. So the price neither decreases nor increases because of that.

That is the "piece of work of the installation," no matter how long or by how many it was carried out. I trained as a photographer in a lab and made large posters. Or photographed things. What ultimately goes out to the customer counted, as in every craft – also here. Lean back relaxed and be happy about your light.

Hello,

I charge my trainee (he is already an ITA, now doing a 2nd training as an IT specialist with me) about 60% of my hourly wage in situations where I consider it appropriate. Where he completes the work in the same time as I would (e.g. simple routine tasks), I charge the same rate that I would take.

Regarding the electrical work, I don’t believe it is fundamentally appropriate to charge trainees the "master craftsman’s wage" if the quality is not the same. The OP has already provided examples above.

For example, I recently had most of the electrical work renewed in my old house by 2nd-year trainees (no one else wanted to do it... because it was very old electrical work, electricians looked inside, closed the door again... gone... that’s why...)

After they unfortunately left nothing labeled and did not complete an important supply line (even after several requests), I had an acquaintance (who is a master electrician) do it. He kindly “took pity” but only because I sometimes help him “like that.” The quality of the wiring in the cabinet was “worse” than what a journeyman/master would have done. That’s his opinion. Experience was simply missing. But I also didn’t pay a master’s wage and therefore am not allowed to complain. They probably also took twice as long as a journeyman with more experience?!

Here I think the result counts. If it is a bit worse:

.... Forgot cables, switches too close to doors, etc. He also confirmed to me that he hadn’t understood electronic plans for the kitchen or heating....

then it is impossible to demand the same price for that or to generally reduce the invoice because of the existing defects (if those are indeed “real” defects).
zapp

My question was only whether this is really okay. I think at least the invoice can be discussed. Basically, I have nothing against an apprentice doing it. He has already been working for weeks. Although I am convinced that he did many things not optimally. Forgot cables, switch too close to doors, etc. He confirmed to me that he did not understand electronic plans for the kitchen or heating.

You also learned once. Do you know if your company only charged 50%? And after that, after training. One day later he can do it better and justifies 100%? After all, his company also assumes liability. If he worked sloppily, the boss has to step in and make corrections.