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Subject:Re: The Worst Thing About Contracting From:Kevin McLauchlan <KMcLauchlan -at- CHRYSALIS-ITS -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 12 Apr 1999 12:06:52 -0400
Um, fairly obviously, the "fart without toting it up" comment
was a bit of exaggeration for effect. On the other hand,
I've met some lawyers for whom it is not, after all, an
exaggeration (I've also met others who would make even
Sharon look lax and unscrupulous by comparison, but
those highly ethical legal beagles don't serve the illustration
at hand). I believe I put it that way because of what
was suggested by one or two replies I got on the original
topic, suggesting that we "captives" don't get paid for all
our hours.
You, on the other hand, seem to suggest that many (most)
of our hours do not deserve payment.
I suspect there's truth to both views, but that "reality" lies
somewhere in between.
FWIW, I *read* techwr-l (and Framers) posts on company
time, because most of what I get out of these fora is of
benefit to my professional competence. All my company-time
web surfing is (at least vaguely) work-related.
I even reply/post briefly, if I have a minute. My long posts,
however (as well as personal replies) are done on my time,
including lunch hour and evenings, but are brought here
for posting, as this is the address by which I'm subscribed.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wally Glassett [SMTP:wallyg1 -at- PACBELL -dot- NET]
> Sent: Friday, April 09, 1999 5:39 PM
> Subject: Re: The Worst Thing About Contracting
>
> > And then you went...
> > |As an independent contractor, are you saying that you
> > |handle billable hours like a lawyer, and don't even fart
> > |without toting it up?
> > |
>
> Let me, then, ask if you believe that staff personnel (AKA "captives")
> should reimburse their employers when they spend time "farting" while on
> the
> job? Or talking about the weather, news, sports, lunch, spouses, children,
> and all the other non-productive, off task things that use time at work.
>
> If not, then why would you think contractors should behave or be treated
> differently? Almost every contractor I have been around is FAR more
> conscientious about her/his billable time than the vast majority of
> "captives."
>
> Flame away - on your employer's nickel, of course...
>
> PS. I'm not on the "clock" this afternoon.
>
> Wally Glassett
>