Making mistakes & fixing them on your own time? 12

[shacked]

First, this is most likely going to relate to structural engineers since that is the field that I work.

As I am sure most of you know, when a project is completed and sent out to the city or client, there are always going to be mistakes, but the job is to minimize the amount and size of mistakes.

Last year I was the project engineer for a small 2 story wood framed residence. At the time I don't think that the PE who was stamping the plans thoroughly reviewed it but he did review it and stamp the plans.

Well, now they are building the house and the contractor called with a question and it turns out that I specified the wrong joist hangers on a detail.

So my boss tells me to fix the problem on my own time and not bill him, basically work for free. I realize that I made a mistake, but the contractor installed ALL the hangers and didn't even think about how he was going to secure them to the steel beam. The second that he installed the 1st hanger he should have called me and asked, but he didn't. I realize that I did make a mistake, but I also think that for me to spend my own time working on this for free is not right.

 

[GregLocock]

That wasn't my tack. My employer hires me, warts and all. He hires my mistakes as well as my abilities.



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[KENAT]

Understood, I just hate making real clangers.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[TDAA]

Man, based on some of the responses, I am surprised some of you guys didn’t suggest puling the license of the OP (assuming he has one too). Perhaps be put to death to be sure this doesn’t happen again.

Standard of Care

It does allow for some mistakes.

 

[csd72]

TDAA,

A dead person cant fix their mistakes.

 

[KENAT]

Yep, death penalty has a zero re-offence rate.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[cedarbluffranch]

A couple months ago, the newspapers reported that one of the 787 Dreamliner fuselages had been damaged. A mechanic in South Carolina apparantly installed protruding head fasteners in holes that had been prepared for flush head fasteners. For non-fastener types out there, the flush head fastener holes are countersunk holes while the protruding head fastener holes are just straigth holes. This caused a 1 month delay on that particular fuselage while they did repairs.

What makes this interesting is the mechanic installed the fasteners in accordance with the drawing. The engineer who released the drawing specified the wrong kind of fastener.

Whose mistake was it? The mechanic or the engineer? Well, the company fired the mechanic. Company felt that the problem was obvious and the employee was negligent in not bringing it to managements attention. In any case, the engineer did not have to make the change on his/her own time.

My personal feel is the company doesn't have any say in what I do on my own time. Asking me to work off the clock is the same thing as telling me what to do in my free time. My free time is my free time.

Other thing to think about is you are getting paid as an employee rather than paid as a business partner. You take little risk as an employee and hence your pay is less than you'd make as a consulting engineer.