4 ms·

This is just some weird anecdote. I work at an architecture firm where the employees have deliverables and bill to clients, we all work really really hard. I

This is just some weird anecdote. I work at an architecture firm where the employees have deliverables and bill to clients, we all work really really hard. I work between 45-50 hours a week of real work. One any given Saturday or Sunday you will find dozens of people in my firm working. They are not just pretending. I have worked at a job you describe where people do not do much, but I would hardly say that is the norm. Especially for people on the lower end of the pay scale. In my experience they typically work more than they are paid for (forced to work off the clock) than there are people just sitting around on facebook. That's great for you that your life is so comfortable but do not assume it applies universally. You really think the working poor in this country who have 2 or 3 jobs are just on facebook all day? This has to be one of the most out of touch comments I have ever read on HN.

hfhdnenen 9y ago
I’m leaving architecture proper (staying in the design field, but working independently) for this reason. My labour is billed to clients at three times my hourly rate, I receive no benefits as a contracted employee (paid as a consultant), and regularly work overtime to execute someone else’s concepts. The latter would not be an issue if the industry-wide quality of work were better here in Canada, but the overwhelming majority of medium to large firms (where one would receive benefits) produce cookie-cutter buildings the mercy of cheap developers and clients. Disregarding the quality of the work, the most obvious solution to the ubiquitous presence of overtime in the industry would be to hire more people, but there doesn’t seem to be enough money to go around - especially if you want to do something even slightly outside the norm.
- walshemj 9y ago
  That's why I don't understand the poor rates so called contractors get in the USA and Now Canada certain types of employers try this on in the UK but they wont get the best candidates by offering straight time for a 4-6 month contract - instead of 3x
sametmax 9y ago
> That's great for you that your life is so comfortable but do not assume it applies universally. I'm an independent contractor, I just go from company to company. I just witness it, it doesn't apply to my life. > I have worked at a job you describe where people do not do much, but I would hardly say that is the norm. You stay very long at the same company. I don't. My job involve dev and training, and hence I go from company to company. There is a trend in what I see.

hfhdnenen 9y ago

I’m leaving architecture proper (staying in the design field, but working independently) for this reason. My labour is billed to clients at three times my hourly rate, I receive no benefits as a contracted employee (paid as a consultant), and regularly work overtime to execute someone else’s concepts. The latter would not be an issue if the industry-wide quality of work were better here in Canada, but the overwhelming majority of medium to large firms (where one would receive benefits) produce cookie-cutter buildings the mercy of cheap developers and clients. Disregarding the quality of the work, the most obvious solution to the ubiquitous presence of overtime in the industry would be to hire more people, but there doesn’t seem to be enough money to go around - especially if you want to do something even slightly outside the norm.

walshemj 9y ago
That's why I don't understand the poor rates so called contractors get in the USA and Now Canada certain types of employers try this on in the UK but they wont get the best candidates by offering straight time for a 4-6 month contract - instead of 3x

sametmax 9y ago

> That's great for you that your life is so comfortable but do not assume it applies universally. I'm an independent contractor, I just go from company to company. I just witness it, it doesn't apply to my life. > I have worked at a job you describe where people do not do much, but I would hardly say that is the norm. You stay very long at the same company. I don't. My job involve dev and training, and hence I go from company to company. There is a trend in what I see.