Is it normal for a new hire to ask for home utility reimbursement?

That sounds like a classic hazing ritual, but if he was actually serious, you've got a massive **red flag** on your hands. Usually when a new guy comes out with somethig that ridiculous, the older hands have put him up to it just to see how you'll react. But if he really took that twenty bucks with a straight face, he's either incredibly dense or he's looking for every possible way to nickel and dime the company before he's even proven he can swing a hammer. You're spot on about the math. An M18 5.0Ah battery holds about 90 watt-hours. Even if he's cycling four of those a day, which is a lot of trigger time, it’s less than half a kilowatt-hour. At national average rates, he's looking at maybe eight cents a day. The fact that he’s frustrated over literal pennies suggests he’s going to be a nightmare when it comes to tracking hours or complaining about wear and tear on his personal gear.

Handing over the cash might have ended the awkwardness in the moment, but you basically just rewarded a **nuisance request**. Now he knows that if he makes a big enough stink about something trivial, you might just reach into your pocket to shut him up. You should probably expect him to ask about wear and tear on his phone screen for looking at digital blueprints or maybe the cost of water to wash his work clothes next week.

If I were you, I’d keep a very close eye on his production for the next two weeks. Guys who focus on these tiny perceived losses usually aren't the ones pulling thier weight when it's time to hump materials or stay ten minutes late to get a pour finished. If he doesn't turn out to be a top-tier lead, cut him loose early. This kind of attitude usually spreads and starts making the rest of the crew wonder why they aren't getting extra cash too.

Whoa, that is a wild story for my first day on the board!! I can't beleive he actualy took the twenty bucks, that is hilarious. It makes me wonder though, does anyone here actually use those solar panels on thier tool trailers to keep things topped up? I’ve been looking at a setup for my own rig but I’m worried about the glass breaking during transport. Is it even worth the hassle or shold I just keep plugging into the job site power like a normal person?

Man, that's wild. I once had a helper ask for a 'cell phone allowance' 'cause he used his flashlight app for five minutes in a crawlspace. Some guys just don't get how this works. By givin' him that twenty, you might've just started a 'petty cash' fund you didn't want. I'd bet money he's gonna ask about his boot tread or truck tires next. Just tell him if he's that worried, he can leave 'em in the gang box and use 'em dead the next day. Problem solved.

Update: That 'petty cash' warning was spot on. Giving him the twenty kept him quiet about the batteries, but now he’s asking about 'boot depreciation.' It’s defintely a massive red flag like you guys said. I’m worried I’ve set a bad precedent for the whole crew. Has anyone ever successfully turned around a guy who nickels and dimes the company like this?