see new Webinar announcements below

*******************

comments on employee benefits from Jan 31, 2014 

*******************

Ken

    My company has 5.5 employees.  We use a contract central station.  We offer:  medical, 7 days sick/personal time, 2-5 weeks vacation, Journeyman+ wages, bonuses, uniforms, trucks, education reimbursement including apprenticeship reimbursement on a sliding grade basis, pension.

    Our 2 bonuses in 2013 to each employee were $3,000.00 net, $2,500 gross.  Our pension plans guarantees 10% of your salary/wages.  Depending on company income we will add to that up to another 15%.   For the last 14 years we have paid 25% of everyone's wages into an account they control.  Our supervising electrician retired last year with $280,000 in his account.

anon

*********************

Ken

While not prudent,under NY State law vacation time is not a condition of employment and is left to the employer's discretion.

 Arnold

***************

Ken

One would think with all the people leaving nys, they would get the message.  200 a week.......

 Mike

*****************

Hi Ken,

We are also a small employer.  We have 4 employees.  What we offer is 80% contribution towards our full time employees health, life, disability, and dental coverage.  I don’t charge sick days.  I’m of the belief that family comes first so I am very flexible with time off.  In 12 years, this has not been abused.  We know each other’s calendars so vacations are scheduled around busy times.

anon

******************

Hi Ken,

As a small company ourselves we can only offer a reimbursement for health insurance. 50% up to $150 and it is for the employee only, not their family. Even though it is not much, it is something to try and help. I am hoping when we have enough employees that want to participate in a group plan, we will get one in place.

Anon

******************

Ken

We are a company of 10, up from 6 two years ago.  We pay (this will change with Obamacare) 80% of medical/dental/vision coverage plus 50% for the children. No spouse. 1-3 weeks per year Paid Time Off (PTO) that may be used for anything including sick days.  6 major holidays plus an extra day after Thanksgiving are paid off.

Anon

*******************

Question - does no contract mean no contract?

*******************

Ken,

    We do a lot of month to month monitoring.  Basically customer buys the equipment up front and we then monitor it with no contract?  Or so the marketing lingo would infer. Similar to tmobiles no contract service.   Reading the CE Pro article about using the right contract for the right job. I began wondering, we still need an agreement with that customer.     

    We usually think of an agreement or contract as what requires customer to pay for 36 months and help finance their install and equipment.   We don't need a contract to protect us against early termination.  But we probably still need one to protect us from certain liabilities as the alarm installer. As well as outline conditions of non payment and termination?

    So two questions.  

1)  How do we rework your standard security contract to be a month to month contract and still protect our liability as an installer?

2)  How do we best market or advertise a no-contract solution like T-Mobile when there is a contract to cover items outside of terms?

Thanks,

G

*********************

Answer

*********************

    No contract certainly does not mean "no contract".  It means "no long term contract that you are locked in to."  All of the common carrier communication companies require a contract, including those that permit cancellation at any time without penalty.  Why?  For the same reason you figured out, to protect against liability.

    Modifying the Standard Form Contracts to provide for month to month, cancelable at will, is easy, just just add that language.  You can omit the long term provision and the "collection" terms in the legal paragraph, but a handwritten notation that the contract is cancelable at any time will supersede the printed form.  

    To market yourself as a "no contract" company I suggest you use an asterisk to help define the "no contract" to mean that it's a contract that is cancelable at will.  Or you can advertise just that -"no long term contracts - you can cancel any time without penalty".  

    BTY, you figured out how to turn a contract worth 40 times its RMR to being worth 18, maybe.  What to build a profitable company with lots of RMR, stick with the Standard All in One contracts.

**************************

TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REPLY TO THIS EMAIL OR EMAIL Ken@Kirschenbaumesq.com.  Most comments and questions get circulated.

**************************
WEBINARS

*******************************

Topic:  Analysis of the Residential All in One and the Commercial All in One security contracts.  This will be a comprehensive review and comparison of the Residential and Commercial contract forms. 

 

When:  February 20, 2014 at 12 noon to 1 PM EST.  This webinar will not be recorded

 Register herehttps://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8748425151461332994

 Presenter:  Ken Kirschenbaum, Esq.

 Who should attend:  alarm company owners, office managers and license compliance officers 

******************************

Topic:  Analysis of the Commerical Fire All in One and the Fire Suppression All in One.   This will be a comprehensive review and comparison of the Fire Alarm and Fire Suppression contract forms. 

 When:   Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 12 noon to 1 PM EST.  This webinar will not be recorded

 Register herehttps://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8188883684086152194

 Presenter:  Ken Kirschenbaum, Esq.

 Who should attend:  alarm company owners, office managers and license compliance officers 

******************************