Good company - Machinist Collins Machine Works Employee Review

Collins machine works is a facility that you have room to grow in no matter the position you’re hired for. In order to grow you do have to put in the effort to learn an advance your skills. Collins does have a good apprenticeship program that they pay for and the pay when you’re finished with the apprenticeship is between $25 and $30 and hour from what I hear. The pay scale for non-apprenticeship employee is decent for what you’re doing, could maybe be a little better or more competitive, but it’s still okay. The benefits are decent and the cost is decent too. Most of the employees and managers are decent to great to work for and with, lots of employees seem willing to help. The owner is very caring and seems to always want to take the time to say hi and ask how you’re doing. Good Christmas parties, and luncheons every once in a while. The main managers always seem to work with you on problems if you put for the effort and show you are willing to work and learn to become better. Nobody ever really get fired or let go

Lack of communication throughout business. Stressed out overworked floor managers at times. No inflation pay raises like some other machining facilities, vacation scale is a little lacking (it takes 5 years of employment to get more than 1 week of vacation) pay raises are not as frequent as most companies in the same field. Shop where the majority of employees work is not fully climate controlled, no ac in the summer, does have heat in the winter though. Location sucks to get to for most that work at Collins because it’s in a bad part of town in Portsmouth and the nearest non $1,000,000 dollar neighborhoods take a $2-$4 a day toll to get to unless you want to travel 20 to 30 miles one way to get to work. The Syer road facility needs internal and external updates and some of the machine need or should be parted out or disposed of or even donated and written off. The company always wants you to work Saturday's, and that is sometimes on top of already working overtime during the week, which is great if you need the over time but not so great if you’re trying to help raise a family. Nobody ever really gets fired or let go.

Plenty of opportunities for work.

Go to employees were expected to work more than average hours. A lot of people would come in late and leave early.