3 ms·
I haven't yet read the article, but just from the name it brings to mind something I've been seriously considering lately: I've been thinking about leaving my
by rosseloh 7y ago
I haven't yet read the article, but just from the name it brings to mind something I've been seriously considering lately:
I've been thinking about leaving my job fixing computers, networks, and servers at an MSP-like business, and getting a basic factory job.
Why? Because in my town, factory workers are making more per hour than I do, they get overtime, and they get full benefits and good vacation packages. Meanwhile I'm overtime exempt for a decent wage (but compared to what these "simple" factory jobs are paying, it's peanuts), no benefits at all except a small stipend to help with health insurance, and a shitty vacation policy (normal-ish by american standards, however).
Sure, they work 12 hour shifts, yeah that sounds hard. But: I work 10 hour shifts so it's not that big of a difference.... and they also work four days a week where I work my ten hours M-F plus an extra 5 every other Saturday (running a storefront with a small number of employees sucks). The exception is when they're in crunch mode and working overtime, but they're getting beaucoup bucks for those overtime hours where I get zilch extra.
The kicker here is that this is all something I could do without leaving where I live. To get a better paying IT job, I'd have to move, which at this exact moment, I'm not able to do.
- ladberg 7y agoWould you mind letting us know where you are? I just curious what area has that level of imbalance between factory and IT workers.
- rosseloh 7y agoRural South Dakota; not one of the small farming towns but not a huge city, either (one of the larger ones in the state, but that doesn't mean much). That's about as detailed as I'd like to go at the moment.
- non-entity 7y agoI'd guess smaller or even larger towns that are isolated from any metropolitan area
- jpgleeson 7y agoThis really just sounds like you need to unionise. The conditions of the factory workers were hard fought for and they display an understanding of the value that they bring to their company. This is absolutely something IT workers around the world need to recognise and begin to organise for for when the market isn't quite so good for IT workers.
- Bootwizard 7y agoWhy not just move?
- rosseloh 7y agoMy family are all in this town, I like it here, cost of living is cheap(ish). And because of my own bad decisions regarding student debt, credit cards, and just generally not being good with money ten years ago, I'm still working off my debts - the end result is that I'd have to already have a good job lined up in order to move (I couldn't afford it otherwise), but I have never heard back from any companies out of state, when I applied using my current address.
- Bootwizard 7y agoHave you ever tried applying to remote jobs? You don't necessarily have to move to get paid well!
- rosseloh 7y agoI've considered it and done some digging, but haven't found anything within my skillset that even has remote work as an option. My dad does full time remote with a bunch of travel around the world, to boot; the lucky bastard. ;)