first thyssenkrupp interview (Mobile, Grant: purchases, oil, vacations)

[Reliant]

I appreciate your explanations on the incentive part of the pay system, it truly helps to have comments from recent hires on here. At 16% that is not too bad given the current state of the installation/startup. Is some of the equipment in actual operation yet, or still just in check-out phase? If 6% of possible 10% is based on productivity, just curious as to how that component is being calculated right now prior to full production. As to the shift schedule; is it going to be 4 day shifts, 4 off, 4 night shifts, 4 off??? The reason I asked is my last 12 hr. shift job was 2 days (6a to 6p), 2 nights (6p to 6a), then 4 off. Again thanks for sharing from a recently hired point of view!!!

[Rott Weil]

Also Mike, is that 20% multiplied by the $17.68? If so, then 16% would yield $2.83 for an hourly total of $20.51. Do I have the variable pay understood correctly?

Second: I read that the stainless mill might be delayed for as much as an additional two years. What's the scoop on that and is that real?


Thank you!

[alabamaphil]

Thanks Mike. How long did you wait from your last interview to your hire date?

[alabamaphil]

Mike, scratch the last post, I see where it was about 3 months.

[Steel waiting]

Yeah, how do you edit a post? I just noticed I spelled mechanical wrong on an previous post.

[ticks-n-leeches]

Originally Posted by Reliant

If 6% of possible 10% is based on productivity, just curious as to how that component is being calculated right now prior to full production. As to the shift schedule; is it going to be 4 day shifts, 4 off, 4 night shifts, 4 off??? The reason I asked is my last 12 hr. shift job was 2 days (6a to 6p), 2 nights (6p to 6a), then 4 off. Again thanks for sharing from a recently hired point of view!!!

It's 4 day shifts, 4 days off, 4 night shifts, 4 days off.

I'm not sure how they are coming up with the actual 6% figure.

Originally Posted by Rott Weil

Also Mike, is that 20% multiplied by the $17.68? If so, then 16% would yield $2.83 for an hourly total of $20.51. Do I have the variable pay understood correctly?

Second: I read that the stainless mill might be delayed for as much as an additional two years. What's the scoop on that and is that real?


Thank you!

Yes the 20% is calculated on your base pay. Overtime hours do not apply. The way I understand it is that it will be calculated on your base hourly wage at 40 hours per week. This may change when we go into production. We where told that there are going to be some pay plan changes made in January.

We are being told that Stainless is about 1 year behind Carbon start up. The cold mill should start running coils in late spring and the hot mill will start up a few months after that. I've heard we will be in full production as late as August. TK has ordered coils to run through the cold mill before hot mill is running. I've heard as little as 80 coils and as much as 800.


This is such a huge project it's hard to imagine. You can't really get an idea of how big it is without seeing it. Its very impressive to see. It looks like a city with thousands of people working all the time. It's truley amazing. It can be frustrating at times though. You get lots of conflicting information because there are so many people involved. Also there are times when you are not doing much but sitting around waiting on other people. It's very exciting though, to be a part of something this big.

I wish all of you who applied good luck. They are hiring a lot more people so be patiant. I've heard that they are going to hire another large group in January. It seems like some of the people I know are getting through the AIDT training process quicker than I did. It seems like a sign that they are about to ramp up hiring. Hang in there. They still need hundreds if not thousands of employees.

Mike

[Rott Weil]

Mike, I wanted to be the first to step up and say, "Thank you" for providing the information many have been wanting. If you'll provide your contact information in some way (cell, text, email), then the next time I'm in Mobile, I'm buying you a pint or two of the beer of your choosing.

Rott Weil
Can receive text messages at: 734-787-0674

[Rott Weil]

Hiring a large group in January makes sense, from a company perspective.

• Blue Cross, CVS, and other benefits are usually paid on the first of each month. If an employee is hired on the 25th, then an unused 25 days worth of insurance may have to be paid for. In the benefits area, I don't think they pro-rate.
• Often, vacation time is calculated by how many years of employment a person has 'as of an effective date', such as January 1st. In my last job, I was hired on January 2nd, so I didn't get the extra week of vacation at the end of my second year. I had to wait two years and 364 days.
• New years and new quarters usually mean new budgets.
• Hiring in January would allow several months for people to train in Germany before the mill actually starts up in March without the expense of having untrained employees hanging around an unfinished mill.

[ticks-n-leeches]

Hey Rott,
No problem. Just wanted to say something on the vacation comment. Every employee starts with 2 weeks vacation prorated depending on hire date. I got 2 days when I started on oct 5. Everyone will have 2 weeks on January 1st. It's a pretty good deal. You will get 3 weeks after a few years. I can't remember exactly how many right now. I'll look it up later, but 3 weeks is max.

Since my schedule is made out for the year I can schedule my vacation for my scheduled work weeks between my weeks off and could potentially have a month off with with normal pay. Thats if I choose to do it this way.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Mike

[alabamaphil]

Mike, Let me second Rott's thanks to you. This is some of the best information I've seen to date. Rott, your analysis of the justifications for hiring in January is both spot-on and inspiring in that it gives some logical reasons for hope.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Phil