Re: Re[2]: Reduce page count WAS Re: secretary's day

[John Gilger <JohnG -at- MIKOHN -dot- COM>]

I believe that the correct term is "slave," as in "wage slave," rather
than "permie."

Contractors take their benefits in cash.  Slaves take theirs as "golden
handcuffs."

Keep smilin'

John

-----Original Message-----
From: John Posada [mailto:posada -at- FAXSAV -dot- COM]
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 1998 6:18 PM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Reduce page count WAS Re: secretary's day


<snip>

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
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them.

~~~