WHY PIECE PAY
Piece pay exists because the work varies. Some jobs come together in six hours. Some take two days. A flat hourly rate fails to recognize the difference between a smooth single-zone replacement and a full ductwork overhaul in a tight attic in July.
The goal is a structure where the crew earns more when they produce more, GES stays financially healthy enough to keep everyone working year-round, and the compensation is transparent enough that there are no surprises on either side. Not every job will be a great piece pay job – the blend across a week, a month, and a year is what matters.
YOUR BASE HOURLY RATE
Every Installation Expert has a guaranteed base hourly rate. Hourly pay applies to all work that falls outside the piece pay schedule – meetings, warranty calls, ride-alongs, parts returns, and special assignments. The full list is in the Compensation Plan. Your base rate does not change based on job type or season.
SEASONAL REALITY
Austin’s HVAC market is seasonal. Summer drives the business. The work the install team does between May and October is what funds the company’s ability to keep a full crew employed through November to April.
Winter months will include more hourly work – trainings, ride-alongs, maintenance calls, and warehouse time. That is normal and expected. What GES asks for in return is consistency – showing up, doing the work right, and treating every job as a reflection of the company.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
Quality
Every job should be completed as if the crew is coming back to service it. Because sometimes they are. Rushed work, skipped steps, and sloppy installs create callbacks and damage the company’s reputation. The standard is: do it right the first time.
Warehouse and Vehicle Standards
Vans are to be restocked, cleaned, and organized at the end of each workweek. Unused materials are to be returned to the warehouse properly – not stacked near the door, not left in the van, not left on a shelf without being logged. Waste and packaging from jobs is to be disposed of promptly. Warehouse restocking, van organization, and material handling are considered part of the installer’s piece pay scope – they are not tracked or compensated separately. The expectation is that the warehouse and vehicles reflect a professional operation at all times.
Weekly Meeting
Installation Experts are compensated one hour per week at their base hourly rate covering attendance at the weekly team meeting and all associated warehouse and vehicle responsibilities. The hour is earned when all duties are current and complete. Attendance at the meeting alone does not qualify if warehouse and vehicle duties have not been fulfilled.
Weekly Time Sheets
The weekly piece pay summary is how the install team gets paid correctly and on time. Every error creates extra work for the office and may result in a hold on that job’s piece pay until the discrepancy is resolved. Each installer is responsible for completing the piece pay sheet accurately for every job in the pay period – correct job number, correct scope, correct invoiced amount. The Workiz job record is the authoritative source. If the sheet does not match Workiz, the sheet is wrong.
Common errors that cause holds: wrong job number, scope that does not match the invoice, line items combined that should be calculated separately, sheet submitted before the job is closed out and collected in Workiz. If a line item is unclear, ask management before submitting – not after.
Warranty Parts Documentation
Any job with warranty language on the invoice requires the part to be returned to the GES warehouse with the warranty sheet attached to the box. If the part is brought directly to the supply house, a photo of the warranty receipt must be uploaded to the job in Workiz. The lead installer is responsible for ensuring this is handled. Missing documentation may result in a hold on piece pay.
JOB DOCUMENTATION STANDARDS
Before Starting Work – review the invoice and scope before touching anything on site. If what is on the invoice does not match what is on site, call the office before proceeding.
During the Job – log any materials used that are not on the invoice. Note scope changes or field conditions before leaving the site. If a customer requests work not on the invoice, communicate it to management – do not begin it without a change order.
At Job Completion – every job must meet the following before it is complete in Workiz: all photos uploaded before, during, and after; job notes completed; invoice confirmed collected; job closed out in Workiz; warranty documentation attached if applicable.
On Hourly Jobs – clock in at first work location, clock out at last. Hourly pay is calculated from the Workiz time record.
Cover Your Ass – if a customer calls six months later claiming something was damaged or not completed, the photos and notes in Workiz are the only defense. No photos and no notes means no defense – for the crew and for GES. Take the pictures, write the notes, close the job.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE & JOB SITE STANDARDS
Customer Interaction
The install crew is often the last GES team member a customer sees after a significant investment in their home. Be respectful, be approachable, and walk the customer through what was done before leaving. If something unexpected came up, tell them. Customers who feel informed and respected leave five-star reviews – and those reviews are what keeps the phone ringing.
Cleanliness
The job is not done until the space is clean – packaging removed, work areas swept, attic access points closed, surfaces wiped down, tools and equipment out. The same standard applies to the shop, the warehouse, and the vans. A clean operation is a professional operation.
NON-BILLABLE TIME
Not every hour generates revenue. GES compensates non-billable time at the base hourly rate and expects it to be used productively. When no install job is scheduled there is always something that needs attention – the warehouse, the vans, training, or time with the service team. Persistent patterns of low productivity during non-billable hours may be addressed through a management conversation.
Non-Billable Hour Thresholds
| Season | Months | Max non-billable hrs (2-week period) |
| Summer | May – October | 8 hours |
| Winter | November – April | 16 hours |
Consistently exceeding these thresholds is not automatically an installer problem – it is a flag that something upstream needs attention. The thresholds exist to create visibility, not to penalize.
CALLBACKS AND WARRANTY WORK
Within 30 Days – any callback within 30 calendar days of job completion is considered part of the original scope of work regardless of cause. No additional compensation is paid for callbacks within this window.
After 30 Days – callbacks after 30 days are reviewed by management to determine cause. If related to the original scope, the installer may be compensated at their base hourly rate for time on site. If determined to be a new service event, it is handled under standard service guidelines.
Billable Warranty & Non-Warranty Box Replacements – pay the same flat rate as listed in the Compensation Plan. Before piece pay is released on any job with a warranty component: part returned to GES warehouse with warranty sheet attached, or photo of warranty receipt uploaded to Workiz if brought directly to the supply house; job closed out in Workiz with warranty documentation noted. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a hold on piece pay.
Non-Billable Warranty – GES Installed Systems – when a component fails under manufacturer warranty on a system GES installed, the call is compensated at base hourly rate regardless of the component. Before hourly pay is processed: management must be notified before the call is run; failed part returned to GES warehouse with warranty sheet attached; job closed out in Workiz with warranty documentation noted.
HOW WE HANDLE PROBLEMS
Damage to Property – if an installer causes damage to a customer’s property or GES equipment – including stepping through drywall, breaking fixtures, damaging finished surfaces, or mishandling materials – the net cost to GES after any recovery through insurance, customer payment, or resale may be deducted from the installer’s accumulated piece pay as outlined in the Compensation Plan. If GES tools are lost or broken, the installer is responsible for escalating to management immediately.
Scope Changes – the invoice is the scope of work. If a customer requests work not on the invoice, do not begin it – communicate to management and wait for a change order. When scope expands due to unforeseen field conditions, communicate to management before proceeding. Work performed based on verbal agreements with the customer that are not on the invoice may not qualify for additional piece pay.
Pricing and Discounts – piece pay is calculated on the final invoiced and collected amount after discounts. Work performed on jobs with unauthorized discounts or pricing outside the approved pricebook may be subject to adjusted compensation.
WHAT GOLD EAGLE PROVIDES
Gold Eagle Services invests significantly in each installer beyond the base hourly rate:
- Company vehicle for work use
- Company vehicle insurance
- Fuel card covering all work-related travel
- Tools and equipment required to perform the job
- Workers compensation coverage
- Vacation time
- Health insurance eligibility
- Manufacturer and distributor training
- Scheduled work – jobs are assigned, routed, and managed by the office
- Office support – permitting, communication, purchasing, and job documentation
This is a W-2 position with a guaranteed hourly floor. Work is consistent, overhead is covered, and the risk of slow periods is shared across the company – not carried by the individual.
THE TEAM
Installation is the hardest job at Gold Eagle Services. The crews work in tight attics, in Austin summer heat, on complex scopes that do not always go as planned. The goal is a team that trusts the structure, understands the expectations, and feels that the work they do is recognized. GES commits to the following:
The install team will be among the first to know about changes that affect their work, schedule, or compensation.
Jobs will be scoped as accurately as possible before the crew arrives.
The sales team will be held accountable for quotes that create avoidable problems in the field; when jobs go sideways due to factors outside the installer’s control, management will work to make it right.
Communication from the field will be taken seriously
PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
Gold Eagle Services reserves the right to audit, review, and adjust any piece pay calculation at any time if an error, discrepancy, or misclassification of scope is identified. Gold Eagle Services reserves the right to modify compensation terms prospectively with written advance notice to affected employees. Any modifications will be communicated in writing before taking effect.
