I would like to add something to the discussion. Last week, a scheduler assigned me a shop with a very nice bonus, in a town I was going to. However, on the scheduled day, we had high winds (60 mph+) and pouring rain. I e-mailed him it was impossible. He cancelled the shop. He e-mailed me, and his disappointment was
very apparent. He asked me if I could do the shop on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, to meet the deadline.
All the other shops on my route were already cancelled; no way could I afford 180 mile round trip for a $22
bonus! So I regretfully told him it just wasn't possible: I had to cancel the route, weather stank, etc.
Woke up Tuesday to a perfect day -- no wind, no rain. I felt so bad about disappointing this scheduler! I checked the job board, and there the shop was -- no bonus, base rate. I called some other schedulers, picked up an additional shop, and off I went. I self-assigned this shop, at base rate (two things I NEVER do -- take a shop at base rate, and self-assign!). After I got home and completed the report, I sent him an e-mail that at least he wouldn't have to worry about the March rotation, as I had self-assigned and completed the shop. I told him that where I live, if you get a clear day in March, you use it -- because you might very well be snowed in the
next day!
I still hardly believe what happened. He issued me a hero citation (to cancel the first "flake" on the initial shop), then issued ANOTHER hero citation to put my record right. He then went in and added the bonus back to the shop I had self-assigned at base rate! Without my asking for it! The report went in with a 10, the shop actually was easy (10 minutes or so), the report was easy (less than 20 minutes, for sure), I'm on his "go to" list of
shoppers -- and he is DEFINITELY on my list of schedulers that I will bend over backwards for! Frankly, it's so
rare as "self employed independent contractors" that we receive any indication at all that our work is
appreciated that, yes, I will bend over backwards to help this scheduler out next time he needs it!