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  • The real cost of another employee

    Just curious as to what the actual cost of adding another brewery employee is. I am refering to wages, workmans comp, health benefits and retirement. Is there anyone out there who can give a general idea. I know this is one of those questions that has a ton of variables but in my case specificaly the company provides Health, Dental, Vision, 401k matching and short term disability. The reason I ask is because at one point I gave up having an assistant to get a decent wage and I feel that I was not compensated fairly for saving the company money. They look at it as the assistant made x amount of dollars so we will give you an extra x amount of dollars based on a percent of the salary savings. I figure I am saving them a lot more than just the assistants salary. Now production has also increased so I am doing the assistants work and then some and I want some ammo when I go in for my next raise.And no I didnt let someone go to make more I just declined to fill a vacant position. Any info appreciated. Help another underpaid brewer survive!
    Big Willey
    "You are what you is." FZ

  • #2
    I'd figure another 30% over what his actual salary was. Sure would be nice to have all those benefits!
    Linus Hall
    Yazoo Brewing
    Nashville, TN
    www.yazoobrew.com

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    • #3
      BW good luck! If you are in a position of strength maybe you can negotiate. That means something to bargain with, which is usually only "well, I'll quit if you don't give me XYZ."

      Giving up an assistant is hard to do, but if it means keeping your job, well you have to suck it up.

      Your employer may take pity and toss you a bone if you break it down for them. If you don't have any leverage they can just as easily say No.

      On the other hand whats the worst that can happen after asking for a raise- no?

      Hope you convince them.
      B

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      • #4
        Get out

        Get out. I hate to dissapoint you, but you have shown your current employer that it is possible to make wort without an assistant...and if he/she doesn't understand the quality issues related to over-work just leave. Get a job with someone who understands. It has been my experience that owners like the ones you are talking about aren't trainable. It is unlikely that they will wake up one day and decide that you are a valuable employee and pay you accordingly.

        BTW my current employer offers all those benes plus more, I get an annual review (and it's good) and i am involved in the budget (including labor) and bonused on it. ie if labor is below a certain % I get cash.....


        good luck
        Larry Horwitz

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        • #5
          I agree with the ~30%.

          Try working out a bonus system with your employer based on volume increase produced or sold at the bar or net profit increase on beer sales etc. You will have to be inventive and sensitive to your company’s situation. In a perfect world build a “partnership” (not in the legal sense, or maybe?) with your employer saying I will deliver, and when or if I do, I would like to be compensated. A clause can be written to adjust if the need for an assistant arises. A bonus is still appropriate in this case and the owner is assured that with increased payment comes performance. Bonus can be support for education programs, conferences too.

          Hope this helps.

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          • #6
            Its not that the company is untrainable, but as a Casino Brewery which is apart of a much larger publicly traded corporation the brewery is an afterthought that no one but myself really understands or cares a whole hell of a lot about. They do get me what I need as far as equipment and materials. I dont get questioned on recipes or specials or even quality/expense of ingredients but when it comes to salary there is this notion that they cant spend much. Funny because I could probably get away with using the most expensive ingredients around and no one would notice but if I want a raise well then it is an uphill battle. Strange how large corporations operate sometimes especially since the beer is probably the most profitable if not the only really profitable thing we do besides the gaming revenue which dwarfs all else. Casinos look at everything else as a means to getting customers to stay and play, and they dont mind losing money on the rest. Yet the beer is profitable and i still struggle with the salary issue. The sad part is that I have fought just to get where I am! That is the problem with accepting a lowball offer to start with. But i was given the oportunity for my first head brewer job so I took it. Anyway there is always the choice to say goodbye. When I think about what I could be making now if I started in the Bartender trade here.....well its best not to think of such things (ha ha). I need to convince them that the brewer is the most important ingredient and then I would be fine. I think that we can all agree that a good brewer with the cheapest ingredients and equipment is preferable to a guy that is below average and has it all. I guess that is why I am slowly chipping away at a degree applicable to another career. I am well aware there are many out there in much worse situations than I so "Dont cry for me Argentina!"
            Big Willey
            "You are what you is." FZ

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            • #7
              BW-- Qwitcherbitchen!

              Remember there are many people out there that would undercut you right now too. I bet about 5 people even sent their resume's to your F&B Director/VP to ask for your job.

              There are pluses and minuses to your situation. The best part is you work for people who dont know whether your beer flows through tygon or fallopian tubes. You can use that to your advantage you know. I ask you, if you can use the most expensive indgredients, and brew whatever you want-- WHY DON'T YOU? You'll never get the opportunity again. Also, use the opening to buy whatever QC stuff you need, incubators, plating, media, a Gehaltemeter CO2 Meter (run your zahm over with a crusher), a Mettler DO meter, etc...buy a new filter while you are at it. You can easily convince your boss that you absolutely can't brew without out it!

              Have fun where you are at. For gosh sakes, go hit on a Cocktail Waitress, hang out by the pool for a day and take in the scenery. Use your juice at yours or another casino and have a nice dinner on the house. Work it while you got it. You live in Las Vegas, remember?????? its not like there isnt anything to do...

              By all means continue your degree and let your present situation be a lesson in "you get what you settle for" and remember "start out high and then bargain down."

              Good Luck! & have some fun will ya?

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              • #8
                Big Willy, your job sounds pretty darn good to me. Very few brew pub brewers get paid enough to live on much less save money, but a house raise beer babbys. Enjoy it while you got it. Brewing in a pub was the best job I have had by miles, money isn't everything in job hunting but it helps to not worry about money all the time.

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                • #9
                  Like I said "Dont cry for me Argentina", I realize its not so bad but you have to push for better or you will get the standard "cost of living" raise every year (2-3%). Actual increase in cost of living here is more like 10-15%. In case you haven't heard Vegas aint cheap anymore. Property values have doubled here and I am lucky to scrape by every month and the idea of getting out of the little town home into a real house is but a pipe dream at this point. When other guys in towwn are making a hell of a lot more it starts to sting (plus they get a keg monkey!) Five years ago I would have been doing well but this place has gone nuts in all aspects of cost of living and I was not lucky enough to move back in time to cash in. Pushing out over a thousand Bbls solo aint much fun either but we have all been there. When you guys come to town stop by and I'll comp you! Now if I could just comp my wife and I at the Steak house every friday......
                  Big Willey
                  "You are what you is." FZ

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                  • #10
                    Cost of living??

                    I feel your pain Big Willey, and I applaud your efforts to fight for what's yours, BUT I would love to see a 2-3% cost of living raise a year! 2 years and counting..... Brewing is awesome!
                    Matt Van Wyk
                    Brewmaster
                    Oakshire Brewing
                    Eugene Oregon

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