RE: Tech Writer Lawsuit

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

I think that some of that stems from managers and other staff realizing that
technical writers have a lot of skills and abilities that they will gladly
use, but that technical writers cost less than other IT employees.  So now,
technical writers are being burdened by more work that requires strong
skills, but the writers are not getting more pay. 

The "push-back" mentality that you describe is something that technical
writers should adopt to avoid being misused by managers and SMEs.  

Technical writers are not the only people in the work world today who are
getting more work, this is a common trend.  I have friends who do no work in
IT and they are seeing an increase in the types of work they are asked to
do.  I think that this is a trend of companies trying to economize rather
than consider increasing their staff to accommodate more work.

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Gene Kim-Eng
> Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 1:46 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Re: Tech Writer Lawsuit
> 
> I have noticed over the years a definite tendency for
> technical writers to suffer from a martyr complex,
> ranging in severity from Dangerfieldesque "I don't
> get no respect" to a level of cringing I've only seen
> while working with abuse survivors (I won't go into
> the details of that here).  One of the recurring
> challenges of being a publications manager has
> been coaching writers to push back on unrealistic
> expectations from product managers and to stand
> their ground with uncooperative and disrespectful
> SMEs.  Many writers with years of experience seem
> utterly flabbergasted when they see me "take on"
> these people, when all I'm really doing is talking to
> them as if we're equals and I expect them to treat
> me as one.
> 
> Gene Kim-Eng
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Collin Turner" <straylightsghost -at- gmail -dot- com>
> > We (Tech Writers) are generally a quiet lot who just want 
> to get our 
> > jobs
> > done and don't care to rock the boat. We're not here to 
> create trouble 
> > or
> > rouse a riot. We complain to each other about how rough it is, but 
> > take the
> > lumps from the outside without raising hands to the outside world.
> >
> > In short? We can be rather cowardly bookworms when it comes 
> to finding 
> > a
> > voice.
> 
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