Adam
Ft. Lauderdale,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, March 09, 2008
It's amazing how they really manipulate the job applicant (through Fear of Loss, Indifference, Greed & Sense of Urgency). I have mixed feelings about Eddie and Lisa who own the ICL named Niko-Laos in Hollywood, Florida. Eddie is obviously very driven and will do whatever it takes to keep the business going. It's hard not to like Lisa - - but how can she be so complicit in using & misleading people (common Lisa, you did not learn that in the mid-west). Their business practices leave a lot to be desired. Their operation really misrepresents the true demands (unreasonable) of their business: 12 hour days, uncompensated mileage, lack of benefits, false promises of promotion. As well as the de-facto slave wages... It's effectively a modern day sweatshop only you get to burn your own gas and time as you go from location to location selling whatever it is (BellSouth, AT&T service, etc.) I feel bad for the guys & gals that fall for their pitch....I know I did. Ridiculous...working such crazy hours for such little pay... Oh by the way...they never really put down (or record) the real overtime hours you put in......did someone say LABOR VIOLATION ??? Hmmmm......it would be bad if they got audited....I mean some of these posters might have an ax to grind and might welcome a call from the Department of Labor about Niko-Laos violating overtime policies......the penalties could be huge (Eddie Sardinah if you're reading this)... It took me several weeks to figure that the promises of "fast-track to management" was bogus........high turnover.....unwise expansion into so-called "new markets" where they send you to try to make money in other cities to take over failed ICL's. If you go to one of their conventions you'll really see how little you mean to them.....you ain't nothing but a number....they know the vast majority of you fail....it's not because you can't sell but rather the ridiculously low commissions...and commodity product they're selling makes it tough to make a decent living. By "decent living" I mean for the rank and file and not the owners of Niko-Laos. I don't really want to dwell on the negative stuff I discovered when I worked for them, but there was just so much of it. Example: You can forget about having a decent social life if you work for Niko-Laos because you're working 12 hours Monday thru Friday plus several more hours on Saturday. (Maybe that's why the guys and gals end up having limited dating choices - - it's usually people they work with ---- an let me tell you the pickings ain't great.) I mean no malice here...no venom...just the truth. TO EDDIE & LISA SARDINHA: I think you guys are good people STUCK WITH A BAD BUSINESS MODEL. I know you need to make a living but do you ever think about the young guys and gals that you disillusion? How do you feel about that? Why not tell them EXACTLY the hours, the turnover, etc? Integrity is key here guys. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE KNOWN AS OPERATING THIS KIND OF A "BUSINESS?" You guys know better. IF YOU'RE THINKING FOR WORKING FOR NIKO-LAOS: Think twice....learn from our mistake....if you choose to proceed...lots of luck to you.....