Employee or Subcontractor?
If they are not installed properly, even the highest ENERGY STAR qualified windows won’t perform as well as they are rated. Air leakage, warped frames and broken seals can all result from improper installation. Professional installation is critical to the performance of your new windows and doors…but are the installers true employees of the company or are they really subcontractors?
In Ontario, an employer must pay for Workers Compensation coverage for its employees. This protects you and the worker should an accident happen while working at your home. It also helps to ensure that the installers receive proper safety training, carry safety equipment, and use it while on the job! However, many window and door installation companies avoid paying for W.S.I.B. coverage by treating workers as subcontractors… and expecting them to have their own coverage. Along the way the company saves on the costs of Canada Pension Plan, Unemployment Insurance and Vacation pays!
But, with no employee/employer relationship, subcontractors tend to come and go depending on which company has the most work, so those companies rarely invest in training programs and the subcontractor has virtually no product knowledge. What can be just as bad for the homeowner is the fact that, as a subcontractor, the worker is expected to supply his own truck and tools and sometimes even caulking, insulation and other products used in the installation. When the subcontractor is paying for these from his own pocket, you can be sure they are often not up to the standards that a reputable employer, who is directly responsible for your warranty service, would provide. Ask for proof, ask to see a CURRENTLY dated Certificate of W.S.I.B. coverage in the company’s name and while you are at it, ask to see a Certificate for at least 3 Million Dollars Liability Insurance Coverage….just in case an accident happens in your home!
