Company Tool Allowance Gwynn Oak MD

Danny Feig-Sandoval, owner, Small Carpenters At Large; Atlanta

No. We don't offer a tool allowance, but when an employee needs a tool, we will buy it and work out a reasonable payment schedule for paying for it as a payroll deduction. We have a lot of company tools, but I encourage everyone to have their own tools. Employees take better care of their own equipment. We take care of repairing everyone's tools and provide saw blades, drill bits, and other accessories.

Doug Nelson, owner, New Spaces; Burnsville, Minn.

Yes. I began offering a tool allowance five years ago when my own tools were worn out and tools were disappearing. A person will take better care of his own equipment than someone else's -- it's human nature. Many carpenters struggle when they are hired and can't afford to own tools. If they have better saws and better guns, they do a better job for us. The quality of the work is higher and productivity increases. New Spaces takes care of the wear parts such as saw blades and drill bits.

I decided on $42 per month, which comes to $500 per year. (It's accrued so a new employee won't buy a tool then quit.) You should be able to replace one significant tool once a year and have some fun money. My employees keep better track of this than any other benefit. They also shop for the best price because it's their own money.

Tim Sweeney, owner, Sweeney Construction Corp.; Madison, Wis.

No. We provide all power tools to our crews, so we're taking care

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