How Do You Feel About Techs Moonlighting?

[Joe Marconi]

Moonlighting, side jobs, side-hustle. It's all the same.  Many techs work after hours to earn more money. How do you feel about that? Does it interfere with the job you employ them for?  Do you feel it lowers the professionalism of our industry? Other comments and opinions? 

 

[southendautocare]

This has been a good question that has been asked since before I started my business 35 years ago. I as a technician, moonlighted with side jobs for many years, and I believe it was the only way I could make enough additional income to do certain things like go snow skiing, buy toys, and most of all start my business with the additional income and small customer base. We all hope we can pay our techs enough where they don't "have to" for income. I actually enjoyed it (and had the energy when I was younger!).  I don't think younger techs today are as interested or have a place or resources as much, and older techs (average tech age in our area 50 plus years old) want to or have energy to.  Seems like such a small percentage, I'm not concerned it hurts the industry. 

[Transmission Repair]

I've had employees moonlight before.  It was a negative for me because transmission parts I stocked would come up missing.  I then switched gears and didn't allow it for fear of parts coming up missing again. 😞

[Joe Marconi]

28 minutes ago, southendautocare said:

This has been a good question that has been asked since before I started my business 35 years ago. I as a technician, moonlighted with side jobs for many years, and I believe it was the only way I could make enough additional income to do certain things like go snow skiing, buy toys, and most of all start my business with the additional income and small customer base. We all hope we can pay our techs enough where they don't "have to" for income. I actually enjoyed it (and had the energy when I was younger!).  I don't think younger techs today are as interested or have a place or resources as much, and older techs (average tech age in our area 50 plus years old) want to or have energy to.  Seems like such a small percentage, I'm not concerned it hurts the industry. 

Great points! I too, before I went into business, did side work to earn additional money.  I also work for a tow company on Sat and Sundays.  I also know techs that make a great income but still have their side-work lined up.  This topic does have a lot of twists and turns.