Beware of the worst types of employers that you may face.
ONE
Those that make it clear from the start that there is a 'caste system', with the management at the top, the permanent employees next, with the contractors being the 'untouchables'.
TWO
Those that say "I could never work just for money the way you guys do". Most companies and managers forget that contractors need to be motivated too. They don't work for money on a day-to-day basis. They take the job for money, just like the permanent employees. Managers are usually the biggest de-motivators of contractors, especially when they say things like, "You shouldn't need to be motivated when you earn the money you do".
THREE
Those that keep a beady eye on the people that work for them, to make sure that everyone is working every minute of every day. It increases the stress on workers who already have deadlines. Everyone needs to have a mental break every so often to be fully effective, so why should they have to hide this from their dumb employer?
FOUR
Those that ban contractors from any benefits, e.g. using the Sports & Social Club facilities, the Staff Canteen, or attending the Christmas Party. If they allow them to go to the Christmas Party, they charge them the full whack, making it clear that they resent the money that they are paying the contractors, when in fact they are paying no more or no less than market rates.
FIVE
The serial sackers - those that get a buzz from sacking a contractor every so often to prove their toughness. It has to be for a reasonably minor offence such as reading a newspaper five minutes after lunchtime ends, and it must be done 'on the spot' to encourage the others. The contractor is escorted off the site in order for the serial sacker to obtain full satisfaction, so that he doesn't need to do again it for a while.
SIX
Those that complain loudly about contractors leaving at five o'clock. He or she is, of course, unwilling to pay any overtime. Everybody wants something for nothing. You never meet any who let you leave early regularly when there is not enough work to do, and who still pay you your full rate for it. If they don't think it is worth paying for your time, they can't consider it that important, and you shouldn't either.
SEVEN
Those that tell you that your rate, as with that of the other contractors, will be cut by 10% from Monday, otherwise you will be out of a job. You could just imagine what would happen in boom times if contractors said that they would be, en masse, leaving their crucial project on Monday unless their rates were increased by 10% all round. You could imagine the weeping and gnashing of teeth if that happened. Even worse are the employers who have a second bite of the cherry and cut rates again by 10% just a few months after they previously cut them.
Gerry McLaughlin has fulfilled every role in Software Development from Trainee Programmer through Systems and Business Analysis, Project Leader and Manager, Systems Manager and Chief Information Officer with a department of 80 people.
Tens of thousands of IT Contractors visit http://www.itcontractor.com/ each month to keep themselves in touch with the market.
1 comment:
NEVER work for Ignite Technologies (content delivery software) in Frisco, TX. They are a privately held venture capital start up that's pinching pennies at the expense of quality individuals. Your engine must run at 100% capacity all day every day or you will either have to quit due to overwork or let them fire you for not working hard or effective enough. Sprinting (working) at full capacity every day is not humanly possible nor healthy but is expected none the less at this white collar sweat shop extrodinaire. They've entered a contractual agreement with McDonald's, Inc. to provide order and logistical support for the installation of training/hiring hardware for literally every McDonald's restaurant in the U.S. Unfortunately, the illustrious home grown Order Management System lacks the intelligence and user friendliness necessary to support the effort. The toll free number for order support is listed on the McDonald's employee/franchisee website and is accessible during regular business hours. Ok, a call center environment right ? Haa, not quite. There is ONE person behind this number.....yes, ONE. Her survival tactics include intentional disuasion and/or diversion of legitimate questions and concerns, deliberatly ignoring customer calls and taking full advantage of Ignite's state of the art voicemail system. Also, to top it off, she is expected to complete all monthly bookeeping duties relating to the account.
If there is such a thing as employee abuse, this place takes the Gold. Steer clear of Ignite if you value your mental and physical health.
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