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In my specific case, it was purely political. When my quality and level
of output was compared with that of the permies doing similar work, the
difference was very noticeable... and contractors can't show up the
permies!
<snip>
Shoot...I'm an equal-opportunity show-up...give me the chance and I'll try
to have my work show up ANYONE...if they can't keep up, "bummer, dude!"
Seriously...
Does this mean that I have to look for the lowest performing "permie" and
set my standard to be a notch below?
It's become a joke at my last two assignments...when we'd go out for a few
beers after work, the subject would always come up about contractor Vs perm
employee. When I'd mention I'm a contractor, someone would always slide in
"then you pickup the check cause you're rich!" However, not once did I feel
it meant, or take it as, an insult. it was just a fact of life. All else
being equal, contractors get paid more than perm employees. Everyone knows
it. They chose their way and I chose mine.
Maybe I've been lucky and have not experienced any them/us in ANY of my
contracts, but in the other hand, I don't work that way. I've gone out of
my way to act LIKE an employee...show up on time, work the full day, inform
my boss when I'm gonna be late or leave early, etc.
It's probably my imagination, but do I detect a bit of scorn and derision
when
Mr. Somers talks of "permies?" Perhaps I'm being oversensitive (yes, I'm
sure
that's it). I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that being a
contractor was a choice, motivated by high pay and flexibility. Heck, I'm
even
considering trading my cloistered and privileged "permie" status for the
hard,
cruel world of the contract for just those reasons. If there's a flaw in my
reasoning, please enlighten me.
There's no flaw. If you know the down side: if you take a day off or a
vacation, you don't get paid. You are expected to be up to speed at a new
job the day after you walk in. Your contract can end abruptly.
But seriously folks...I've worked with some great contract people and I've
worked with several losers. The same is true for permanent employees. At no
time
was there any "political" consideration or thought that we couldn't let the
"contract" show up the "permies." We expect the contract people to be top
drawer
None at any of my contracts either.
since we pay them top dollar. The bottom line is getting the best product
out
the door to our customers. The good news for Mr. Somers is the fact that he
gets
to leave at the end of his contract.
John Posada, Technical Writer (and proud of the title)
The world's premier Internet fax service company: The FaxSav Global Network
-work http://www.faxsav.com -personal http://www.tdandw.com
-work mailto:posada -at- faxsav -dot- com -personal mailto:john -at- tdandw -dot- com
-work phone: 732-906-2000 X2296 -home phone: 732-291-7811
My opinions are mine, and neither you nor my company can take credit for
them.
