Employee misrepresenting as Surveyor and/or owner

I think you're worrying about nothing.?ÿ It wouldn't bother me a bit.

Embrace that fact that there is some other foil between you and John Q. Public. You may want to have an in house pow-wow so that he knows that he should direct difficult questions or situations to you.?ÿ

Donƒ??t worry about that....way too many other things to be concerned with.

I wouldn't worry about it but Bob needs to understand that it's the team that makes the dream work and he couldn't do it without the others. Not sure how to gently remind him of that other than buying him a beer and explaining the situation to him.
My $0.02

This is an interesting discussion that comes up in some state ethics/standards seminars - just how much can an unlicensed employee do and how much supervision needs to occur from the licensee in situations like these.

If "Bob" has been with the company a long time and it is a small shop, he has probably worked with all of the clients and may have become the "face" of the company.?ÿ If "Joe" prefers field work to dealing with the public, he probably allowed this dynamic to develop.?ÿ The question becomes is "Joe" in responsible charge of the aspects of the job he is supposed to be covering?

This must not be condoned. ?ÿDo you want the receptionist at your doctor's office pretending to be the big cahuna?

Never encourage non-license holders to overstate their position.

I could argue both sides almost equally well but it sorta sounds like the PLS is allowing it to happen because he does not have the best people skills and the "Old Hand" gladly stepped up and took that ball and ran with it. Yeah it may be technical violation but if the owner allows it and he writes the check.........?

The bigger issue is you and it is obvious that it is a huge problem for you. You have worked hard to get where you are and you have some pride.

Unless you are willing to have a serious sit down with the boss man and get the issue settled I would just say, Let it go and know that there is one more level of separation between you and a pissed off client.

It being that I do not know anyone in that company at all, I do not want to rile anyone there or anywhere else.

That being said, clients get accustomed to talking to the person answering the phone,especially when that person answers all their questions and represents the company as the go to guy.

I have worked for companies that would not transfer calls to me, the licensed surveyor they relied upon.

I considered these people my clients because they followed me where I worked, even as I moved from company to company.

I even considered many other clients as my own because it was me they talked to at their property and did all the work from first hub to final drawing, even though I did not seal or sign the papers.

The whole situation can cause tension among the company team and egos can get rubbed over and over again.

Business cards are cheap and it is always a good thing for everyone to have their own personal card to hand out so people can call you directly on your cell if they really want to talk to you.

goodluck

In NY any person using the title Land Surveyor, who is not licensed, is in violation of the law and the penalty is a Class E Felony.

When I was under similar circumstances to 'Bob' I tried very hard to not give the impression I was in responsible charge, and my boss at the time told me to stop. Customers don't care to understand the license/field/office workflow associated with our product.?ÿ They just want our product, ASAP.?ÿ

Steve

I agree with Steve, no one gives a rat's rear end what your hierarchy is. As long as "Bob" isn't purposefully representing himself as a licensed surveyor or the person in responsible charge this is a non issue. Are your clients happy? If "Bob" is the face of the firm to the public is he a big part of WHY your clients are happy?? If so then be thankful you have him.

It sounds to me as if "Joe" is living the dream... he owns a successful firm, does what he loves, and has good employees who handle the day to day.

If you are unhappy with the current situation seek employment elsewhere, otherwise just roll with the flow.?ÿ ??ÿ

I used to work in a larger office, and would overhear a guy in the cube next to me talking to some of the bigger clients, using those similar kind of statements, "my surveyors", "my projects", etc.?ÿ I got a kick out of it, knowing that he was playing the big man.?ÿ But I also know that I mostly hate talking on the phone, so if he likes doing it, so be it.

I'm definitely more like Joe, and would rather be in the field.

Same this here. Construction technician telling contractors on the phone that he would have "his surveyors " come stake, as if he out ranked them. Well actually he did out rank them, surveyors are frequently slotted below drafters and construction techs.

When I've had experienced unlicensed staff working between me and field crews, I like to have them think in terms of "my crew". The worst employee, IMHO, is one with no sense of ownership in the projects or work flow. ?ÿ

I wish to approach this from a slightly different direction.?ÿ Yes, the person with a degree, certification, or license is in title, a land surveyor.?ÿ However, how many of you folks, especially in large shops, go to the field and do your own motions and acts of gathering the data, the surveying part of land surveying??ÿ I know many in here do, but I am sure you all agree you know many licensed surveyors who don't do field work.?ÿ So while the folks in the field may not have the license, they are still doing the survey work.?ÿ They actually are a very important part of the survey job, because if they are lazy, are lax in their methods, etc, the guy with the license is hung out to dry. So, at least in my view of things, someone who works all day surveying, whether or not they have sat an exam, are still doing survey work, and are therefore, surveyors.?ÿ You don't look at guys who sell cars and call them technicians, just because the manager approves all sale closings??ÿ No, they are still salesmen. They must know how to properly do their job or no sales ever reach the sales manager.?ÿ All businesses must depend on their bottom ranks, the ones who actually do work, to thrive.?ÿ Not calling a person by what they do for a living because they haven't passed an exam seems a bit strange to me.

There are reasons that certain titles are assigned to those who meet certain standards. ?ÿOne of those reasons is to alert the public that said person has met demanding standards. ?ÿCalling the custodian a "Sanitary Engineer" ?ÿis one example of the weak-minded demeaning the strong-minded.

Once upon a time I worked for a Government contractor. We had over 40 employees with a title that included the term "engineer". ?ÿSeven held a degree in some branch of engineering. ?ÿTwo had actually completed the requirements to become a Professional Engineer. ?ÿMost of the remainder had been lucky to complete high school and had no formal training in any technical subject. ?ÿIt was a means to pay certain employees at a rate higher than they would get if retained in their appropriate job titles. ?ÿThe company had a contract where the more they spent, the more they received in compensation from Uncle Sam. ?ÿJob inflation was a profit-maker for them.