I flew on a plane to New York City, and was talking to the guy next to me on the plane. I asked him what he did for a living, he replied he flew around the country every week making people mad. After pressing further he flew around the country installing GPS systems on fleet vehicles.

My feelings is if you do not trust your technicians you may as well get rid of them. You should know as an employer what technicians you can trust to do your work for you.

In my instance I know how much I goof off every week some of its work related some of its not. I figure I always owe an honest 40 hour work week so whatever time I feel I need to compensate for I stay late, I come in early, or work the weekends. I usually feel that I work more hours every week than I put on my time card.

On the other hand you have some technicians that do not seem to pull their weight and as an employer I could see where it would be a tool to keep their nose to the grindstone or ammunition if you want to get rid of them.

I can see where it would be a tough decision as an employer. Personaly I would feel cramped in like I had big brother looking over my shoulder all the time.

You know, I sit here and read these posts, and at times I am completely baffled ( which is a fairly common occurance) and then I read this one and I am struck by a thought....
If you aren't doing anything wrong, you've got NOTHING to hide. Go ahead an watch me drive from call to call, stop at Sonic for a frosty cold drink around 3:00, we are allowed breaks y'know. I just thought that 'WE' were the upper shelf of techs, and that 'WE' were the ones that always tried to do a little extra when it came to field work, and in come cases 'WE' are "big brother" right? I dunno it just seem we are making moutains out of mole hills on this one, I say "go ahead watch me work, but when you see I am not goofing off how about you drop a few more $'s in my paycheck".

Seeing both sides of the coin, this is my opinion.
In a dwindling economy, any dealership that spends money to install GPS tracking on vehicles is looking to spend money in the wrong place.
Initial startup could go to raises or something else more effective. Throw your technicians a party or grill out one Friday afternoon.

People work much better under those conditions are are far more willing to give extra if they enjoy their work atmosphere.

With that said, GPS on cell phones is entirely different. There is a cheap solution HOWEVER, technicians that are lazy will find a way to bypass the system. Funny how the lazy ones will find the will and stamina to find a solution to what irritates them. As I have always said, "It's easier to be busy than to look busy!".

I agree with robscopyr, if you are where you are supposed to be, when you say you are, what's the problem. Technicians are creatures of habit, any DECENT service manager that will do spot visits, 1st call and last call checks and simple periodic tailing will find the offenders! OMD has reports that will help catch technicians that close calls out from home, so I really feel that GPS is an effective way to make service managers lazy!

Something else to be aware of since we are on the big brother topic. Facebook and myspace are the top 2 ways to find out what your employees are up to, be careful what you say, once in cyberspace always in cyberspace! And yes I know an employer that monitors his staffs accounts, wrong as it may be!

Funny how this thread has evolved.


Z

We use personal car, gas card and $140 for wear and tear. About those PM boxes, I consolidate drum,fuser developer in one box (generally the drum box), so I can carry 4 PM kits instead of one.

California

They actually gave you guys gas cards? Didn't see that one coming...