[PPS]

Our Driver since the last 8-9yrs left for a new job yesterday. We were paying him 18k per month, he used to get around 20k in total including overtime allowance. At his new job he's being paid 22k! Not sure what the average salaries are in Mumbai for drivers.

[zaks]

Originally Posted by PPS

Our Driver since the last 8-9yrs left for a new job yesterday. We were paying him 18k per month, he used to get around 20k in total including overtime allowance. At his new job he's being paid 22k! Not sure what the average salaries are in Mumbai for drivers.

I am not sure if these people really understand their market and think for long term, your driver left a well paying long standing job for just 10% increment, sounds illogical.

[sagarpadaki]

Originally Posted by PPS

Our Driver since the last 8-9yrs left for a new job yesterday. We were paying him 18k per month, he used to get around 20k in total including overtime allowance. At his new job he's being paid 22k! Not sure what the average salaries are in Mumbai for drivers.

My 2 cents.

For a person at that stratum of income, a 10% raise is big enough to switch jobs. For you and me, 2000 bucks/ month may not seem a big amount. A lunch at a decent restaurant would cost that much or more than that. But for them 2000 rupees extra a month is a big deal.

I experienced similar things recently; we had hired an Innova (Old model) for a 3 Day Road trip. The cost per km was Rs.15 and driver bata Rs.500/day. Minimum 300 kms per day. This translates to Rs.5000/day minimum.

I observed few things
1. He drove at 80kmph top speed whenever feasible. Rarely exceeded 90 kmph
2. He ate very frugally.
3. He preferred to sleep in the car even when the hotel we stayed that had a dorm facility for drivers for Rs.250/ day
4. Noticed couple of tyres worn out to almost TWI level and ride quality was not that great. He shared that shock absorber is weak at the front and he has been driving with that for more than 15K kms. And he replaces the tyres only when they are bald and keeps 36 PSI resulting in a harsh overall ride.

When discussing, he mentioned that he tries to save every penny whereever possible and the cost of living is pretty high in Bangalore. This makes him to extract the maximum from the vehicle and repair/replace only when critical.Then I realized how different I think compared to him.

Compared to him, I change parts preventively when required and do not mind spending some money on small repairs on the car to keep the car in overall good condition.

I just thanked God that nothing untoward happened to us during that trip. I am not painting all drivers with the same brush.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by zaks

I am not sure if these people really understand their market and think for long term, your driver left a well paying long standing job for just 10% increment, sounds illogical.

I feel leaving the job for a 10% increment is justified, especially for a driver. Our job entails driving for around 4hrs on most weekdays. Rest of the 6-7hrs the driver can simply sleep & chill. There is parking available in office & in court alongwith washroom. We had a driver some 15-17yrs ago who left our job because he was being paid Rs 300 more somewhere else! He eventually returned because he had to drive some 6-7hrs on an everyday basis from 1 place to another with parking constraints,etc.

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki

My 2 cents.For a person at that stratum of income, a 10% raise is big enough to switch jobs. For you and me, 2000 bucks/ month may not seem a big amount.

I think you've quoted the wrong person here. I'm ok with him leaving the job.