Considering working for Hertz

[formerHLE]

What a surprise to see this site. I just may start one for Hertz...If anyone has any questions and/or concerns about working for Hertz in AZ, just ask...I was hired almost 9 yrs ago as a Station Manager at Sky Harbor airport. The pay sucked, but I came from an airline, so anything was better then the pay there. Although I started in "dispatch", the better word for it was exit gate keeper, at least at 1st. Basically, it was low end manager work in 120 degree heat.
I was talked into, or I say TRICKED into going to the 1st HLE in AZ located in Scottsdale. The person they hired to manage all HLE's was a former ERAC Branch Mgr, who I soon learned was FIRED from ERAC for low numbers. Things were great, I was the only girl in HLE for the most part except for a kiss ass office manager. Things progressed great, I was even promoted several times, by larger locations and salaries. I was making $75k after 3 years, not bad as I have no degree. I worked my butt off, literally. I lost 80lbs between 70plus work weeks and lack of staffing. But, I still loved my job. I was promoted to the largest off airport location and at a major high end car dealership. All was well, when I was working 80 hours a week by then, and mind you NEVER asking for anything in return. I was well liked and respected until my Manager was transfered to another state (yea, the same one that started HLE WITH ME, and had been fired from ERAC). I was the most qualified and was recommended by my former Manager, oh so he says after his sexual advances...But, the Area Manager hired a Fleet Manager from ERAC, the same manager that fired my former manager. If that wasn't a kick in the face, I then after years of trying got pregnant. After I told my Area Manager and my new "City" Manager, I began getting written up for nothing. Basically, not getting to the bank on time, 2 times. My location was renting over 500 cars a week and running 2 resorts along with insurance and dealership rentals. I was transfered back to a smaller location, one that I opened previously. Made less money becuz of the bonues. Then under the stress of looking over my shoulder, etc (I can go on forever about PHX managers and employees) I almost lost my baby at 4 months along. Iwas on bedrest the remaining 5 months. My Area Manager was only concerned with were they could pick up my company car.
Hertz, was a great company in the beginning. They didn't try and force coverages on customers, but still gave insentive to sell it making it important to employess. Now that they have ERAC managers and employees and some very un-quailifed managers, they have lost most of the market share they had taken from ERAC back when HLE started.
My message is beware.........They will work you to death and toss you aside as though you don't matter when or if you can not put your family/health aside to manage there EXTREMELY understaffed loactions.

[VSA Hellion]

Well I see that This thread is filled with former managers and more "lofty" experiences a more "corporate" aspect of things. Well I worked as a lowly V.S.A (Vehicle Service Attendant) and I must vent. I took the job as a supplemental income type of thing and it sucked to the highest level of "Sucktivity". I worked at a location on Long Island. I could have showed up naked with neon a dildo up my azz and still got hired for this gig. Even at this level they advertised small incentive type of things that they did not deliver..it was a joke. I was hired at all of $ 8.10 an hour. This was a very recent upgrade from there former attractive salary of $ 7.60. This new salary seemed to send shock waves through the ranks of all of 3 guys that currently worked there. They apparently had no clue that Hertz upgraded the starting salary. So as these guys went into some sort of self preservation mode with inquires to the "hire Ups" reguarding this matter, I forged ownward as a V.S.A. It was redundant and mindless work, I was so hard up for extra cash I stomached it. I had never worked for a salary that low in my life. I was in such a transition mode in that I had to do what I had to do. At this low rate of pay the V.S.A's (3) and mechanics (2) had a "Union" and a contract. What a joke 5 guys with a Union making a low rate of pay, unbelieveable! This is with the "initiaition fee" along with dues coming out of your checks as well as health and the regular Fed crap. I still believe that it was a Hertz "Kick Back", lol. Everyday I was micro managed shuffling between servicing "priority" cars and non priority ones. This position I came to find out was one the lowest leveled there and they treated you that way as well. They seem to quanitify your intelligence level as being just as low by defult. Half the time I found the managers amusing with there careful annunciations and baby-like talk when they would assign tasks. The other half was spent in ego mode feeling like, how dare you talk to me in this manner wanting to challenge them to an intellectual joust. I have nothing to prove and futhermost not to them. Most of the managers were "stepford-like" rarely showing who they really were, just "doing there jobs" and regurgitating Hertz doctrine and policy. The manager in charge of creating schedules would go so far as to tweak weekly the hours of my evening shift an hour backwards to stiff me on my .25 cent night differential, how laughfulable! I guess every little bit helps right! The working conditions were awful cleaning cars in the cold, no respect from any of the HLE location that would pilfer our supplies and drive into any empty bay at will. The Coda de grace, was when one day the city manger instantly made me a parttimer effective the next day with out any advanced notice. So I was suppose to go from from 40 hours to 24 hours just until "things picked up". Thats when I pickuped and left. It ultimatley was my fault, I was there to long all of 3 in a half months. I was apparently the first to stay like that in several years at that location how embarrassing. Only the old, students, hardups (like me), handicapped, or life drop outs is attracted to this type of gig, the turn over is so high, and I see why.

[formerHLE]

I'm glad to see someone is still reading this thread. 1st I have to say, as the former "lofty" I think you called it employee or mamager, it is not better at the management level either, at least Branch Manager. I cannot speak for the treatment in Long Island but I can tell you here in Phoenix, although there is a larger Union of VSA's, its not much better. Having been a manager at the airport and with HLE I agree the VSA's are treated like sh*t. But, as with any company with entry level employees and many different departments "Corporate" America is built on treating the so called "lesser" employees, ie:VSA's like they are nothing. It is few and far between to find manager who will treat you well and help you and also respect the job you are doing. It's the same with low level managers, as Branch Managers and Station Managers are, and since I spent 1 month as a Senior Station Manager, we too, are treated unfairly and as if we don't count. The reason I posted on this site is becuz I worked my way from entry level at other jobs to saying, what the hell, it says you have to have a degree, which I do not have(while my co-workers where getting there degree I was working and raising a daughter on my own) I guess I sold myself and had my chance for a while. I had nothing but respect and consideration for the VSA's that worked for me at the airport and when I went to HLE. When things were backed up, in any department, I feel, no matter who you are, you pitch in and help. Meaning, I washed and fueled and once or twice (on my own) changed oil or took a car to get an oil change so I could turn it so my branch would make money therefore me and my employees made money. Having been an entry level employee many times, I know what it's like to see managers and think there job is all easy. It's not. There are quite a few that are lazy and dictate to there employees to do the work for them. I have a clear mind and can say, I'm not that kind of manager and DAMN PROUD of it. I see us all as having been hired for a job to do and if we can help one another reach our goals or most of the time at least in car rental, get through the day, we do it. I cannot tell you how many days I was in heels and a skirt cleaning cars and putting gas in them. I can say with a clear head, it was a lot of my days. Then having to go inside, and here in PHX, after cleaning and gassing cars in 115degrees, going in to rent cars to get lines down (this was my HLE life as well with the busiest HLE in the country at United Auto Group) then having to get the ENDLESS reports, deposits(the only time I was written up was for a day late deposit more then once) and trying to get sales calls and employee relations in. Not to mention the meetings at the airport, and scheduling myself and employees for the endless, usless, Revenue Management Training. Its the reason I was at my office 15 plus hours a day 7 days a week. I can say, I was a few and far between manager, I put my employees and customers 1st, and then all the other things. I wish I didn't miss the whole thing so much. I think I made a difference considering many of my employees, from VSA to Asst. Mgr were promoted(making life hard for me too, but isn;t that one of the major roles of a good manager to have there employees move forward??). I can say, at Hertz and ERAC here in AZ, managers like me are rare and not employeed with a car rental company anyway. It's sad, cuz I love the industry and even with all the stress, loved my job at all the locations I was involved. I think SouthWest Airlines has the right management style and customer service. That is why it's so hard to get into there company. My former MT, then Asst. Mgr is now the VP over all the flight attendants. It's funny when I was told she was coming on bored(one of the few I didn't interview myself, with all my FREE TIME) my City mgr at the time told me "she used to work for Disney, she has a smile painted on her face". And she did, and she is now with a company that respects her and rewards good work, regardless of degrees. To bad all of us n this site cannot create our own car rental company based on real values and hard work, and sales, yes i agree that is key too. But not many companies can say they treat there employees with respect and dignaty and really mean it.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience in Long Island, if you had worked for me, I hope at least you would have felt different.

[Who me?]

Hertz sucks....

I worked For ERAC for two years and quit because I never got promoted from MT, I got in Contact with Hertz who hired me. As soon as I got out of training all I did all day was wash cars. In the Phoenix heat. Anyway one day I passed out from heat exhaustion. My Doctor gave me a note saying I had suffered heat related illness and that I could not work outside. My manager still made me wash the cars but he told me I could remove my shirt and tie but to leave my jacket on. Now I was shitless with a coat on. And one day while throwing up from the heat my Manager said "well its obvious you can't take the heat. He told me to come into his office he closed the door and said to remove my pants and face the wall. I did so and he began to beat me with a big wide leather belt. I started to scream, the manager poked his head out the door and told the lobby full of customers that he was spanking his child. He continued to beat me until I finally passed out from the pain. The next thing I know I wake up in Jail the Manger told them I assaulted him and the belt marks all over me were in self defense. I was finally let out after about 2 weeks in jail. And I went back to Hertz to get my personal belongings. They were all gone, the manager saw me there and told me to get out or he was calling the cops. I said I just came here to get my stuff, he whipped out a gun and took a shot at me. Wow Hertz does suck worse then ERAC

Was your Mangers name Steve? That SOB tried to do the same exact thing to me. But I took his belt away from him and started beating him with it. Well I got a little carried away and he accidentally died from the beating. I have been on the run ever since. I changed my name and went to work for ERAC in Mexico City where I make 3 pesos a day. I live over a whore house and I eat nothing but garbage thrown out by the restaurant next door. But it is still better then working for Hertz.

FUCK ALL MOTHERFUCKING RENTAL CAR COMPANIES, THE INDUSTRY IS SHADY AS FUCK! I'D HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR A PIMP OR DRUG DEALER THAN AN ERAC OR HERTZ EMPLOYEE!