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Subject:Re: Should I Bill for Time Reading? From:"Campbell, Art" <artc -at- NORTHCHURCH -dot- NET> Date:Tue, 22 Jun 1999 15:58:28 -0400
If the job requires learning a new skill, this was acknowledged on both
sides when you were hired, and you're reading the books to acquire that
skill... Yes, bill for it.
But read fast. ;-)
If you perhaps overstated your management qualifications in the interview
cycle and you're reading frantically to play catch-up, No.
Art
Art Campbell
Technical Publications
Northchurch Communications
Five Corporate Drive
Andover, MA 01810
978 691-6344
-----Original Message-----
From: Anonymous Poster [mailto:anonfwd -at- RAYCOMM -dot- COM]
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 1999 4:07 PM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: FWD: Should I Bill for Time Reading?
TECHWR-Lers,
I recently started working for a small software company as manager of
their Publications group. This is my first management experience, and I
would like to spend some time reading two or three good books on the
subject of management. (Yes, Hackos' *Managing Your Documentation
Projects* is on the list.)
When this company made their offer, they let me choose between a
full-time, permanent position at a low salary and a 6-month
contract-to-hire position at a reasonable hourly rate. I went for the
contract arrangement for several reasons. My manager (president of the
company) talks and behaves as though I'm here permanently, and I assume
the same.
My question is: Is it ethical to bill the company for time I spend reading
these books on management? In most contracting situations, I would think
not. But in this situation, it seems like it might be legitimate.