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Author Topic: Converting to Sony 4Ks in 2 weeks. How do you prepare for digital? Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-25-2013 01:01 AM                       I like what Dave is advising here, but you have to do it with a smile. Also, what does SFA mean? I can guess the two last letters but not the first.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2013 10:20 AM                        So, they are just dumping this equipment on you and expecting the regular operators to install it? At the very least, you will need a licensed electrician to add the circuits and wiring necessary for the projectors and automation and an HVAC contractor to install the exhaust system. And maybe a carpenter to cut new portholes and/or make any other necessary modifications to the building to accommodate the units. You would also want to at least be able to get in touch with an experienced installer by telephone to work out any issues that arise. If I were in this position, and there was no option to hire professional installers, I think that I would either quit (with notice) or demand a pay rate that is commensurate with the job responsibilities (installation technician). And I would quit immediately (and without notice) if my employer expected me to do something unsafe or illegal.  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 02-25-2013 10:27 AM                        From what I understand about the employment situation in the USA, "quitting immediately" may not be a viable option for many people.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2013 10:41 AM                     If you are an "employee at will" as most theater personnel are, you are not obliged to give notice, nor are they obliged to give you notice. Of course, proper etiquette says that you should give notice but there is no requirement. You are free to quit at any time, for any reason. They are free to tell you to go home at any time, for any reason. They don't have to give you a good reference if you quit. That could leave a gap in your resume/employment history which could be difficult to explain. If they release you without good reason such as willful misconduct or gross insubordination or if they can't show that your services are no longer needed, they could be in some legal hot water or at least, have to pay higher unemployment taxes. Maybe I didn't get all the legal points correct but the bottom line is that you don't have to keep working there, neither do they have to keep you. Judging by the way you talk about your employer's actions, the future at this company doesn't look good. You should try to be a good employee and do your job the best way you know how but, in my opinion, you need to cover your bases and prepare for a time when you need to find another job. I truly hope I am wrong but, judging from what I read above, I fear that time is coming sooner than you think. quote: Frank Cox From what I understand about the employment situation in the USA, "quitting immediately" may not be a viable option for many people. "Quitting immediately" could be interpreted as getting a part time job at Walmart, etc., to tide you over, then calling the theater the next day to quit. However, I agree that walking off the job should be reserved for only the most egregious situations.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-25-2013 12:55 PM                     quote: Randy Stankey If they release you without good reason such as willful misconduct or gross insubordination or if they can't show that your services are no longer needed, they could be in some legal hot water Except as you put it they are in an at-will situation, which means that no reason is needed. There's a difference between being fired and being merely "let go" or laid off.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2013 01:16 PM                     You're right but let me clarify. If you are "laid off" but they hire somebody else to do the same job a week later, that could spell trouble unless they can give a reason. If they had a reason, why didn't they just fire you? Another case would be discrimination but, in our situation, that probably doesn't apply. However, I agree. They can just say, "Goodbye," but so can you.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-25-2013 01:35 PM                       Chris says, "Except as you put it they are in an at-will situation, which means that no reason is needed. There's a difference between being fired and being merely "let go" or laid off." Actually, in the USA there is no real difference except to your feelings between being fired, laid off, deemed redundant, etc., unless you are fired for cause and the cause is named. Perhaps you left out a word?  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2013 01:54 PM                        Depending on your state laws, quitting instead of being fired may effect your ability to collect unemployment.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2013 03:12 PM                     In PA, it would not necessarily disqualify you but you would have some 'splaining to do.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-25-2013 07:58 PM                     quote: Sam D. Chavez Actually, in the USA there is no real difference except to your feelings between being fired, laid off, deemed redundant, etc., unless you are fired for cause and the cause is named. Perhaps you left out a word? I was meaning laid off as losing one's job through no fault of one's own as opposed to being fired meaning losing ones job because of poor performance or breaking policies, etc.  |  IP: Logged Jarod Reddig Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 513 From: Hays, Ks Registered: Jun 2011 posted 02-27-2013 01:15 AM                     In Kansas if you quit you will not receive unemployment. Also a requirement with many place I or my wife has worked at requires a "good" reference from past employers or they will not higher you. Anything from McDonalds to factory/assembly line work to X-Ray technition.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-27-2013 08:03 AM                        The employer should only give him a bad reference if he was a bad employee. If he is otherwise a good employee and quits with notice, regardless of the reason, there should be no problem. And if he quits without notice because he was, for example, asked to do something that by law should only be done by a licensed electrician, any potential employer should accept that as a good explanation for quitting, especially if he has co-workers or former managers who can say good things about him. Not to mention the dirty little secret of employment references: almost no one gives bad ones due to (a mostly unjustified) fear of lawsuits. At worst, an employer can simply confirm dates of employment and job titles. If the person doing the reference checks is good, he might be able to get more information out of a former employer, but most will just take that at face value.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-27-2013 10:05 AM                       Scott's point about employers refusing to provide anything other than confirming employment underscores my point that it makes no difference if you were fired, laid off, etc. It's all part of this "automated HR" that a lot of companies practice. Once it's clear the employee is leaving, an exit interview is scheduled, boxes are delivered to your desk, security is called. Even worse, some employes being "laid off" are notified at home not to come in, their smart cards are deactivated, essentially locked out. Severance is delivered by Fed Ex after you sign a release. Pretty cold. This happened to a good friend of mine at Oracle. In fact, a whole group.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-27-2013 05:26 PM                     There's a difference, though, between someone calling to confirm that you work history and calling the person that you listed as a reference. And lets say I hate my former employee and you call to ask if I would hire him again. Me saying "No" versus "Absolutely not" are legally the same but clearly give a different connotation and affect how likely you are to be employed.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-27-2013 06:26 PM                     I wonder if there would be a legal problem if one simply verified employment dates, but used mood/tone to imply the rest..? BTW, one employer would only VERIFY information -- meaning that the caller had to state the information that was provided by the former employee on the application or resume. We would then either say "that is accurate" or "that is not accurate." Those were the only two responses permitted. We would never volunteer anything. Not even a slight correction of something that was "mostly" accurate.  |  IP: Logged

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