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Based on how he's valuing his PTO, he's valuing his time at either $328, $218, or $447 per diem. I hope he's not valuing his PTO based on the salary he's getti

Based on how he's valuing his PTO, he's valuing his time at either $328, $218, or $447 per diem. I hope he's not valuing his PTO based on the salary he's getting. I'm a 24 year old with no college degree and I currently cost about $800 per day on contract. (Not hypothetical, billing at that rate right now.) I'd rather make twice as much money consulting, pick my own damn healthcare plan, go to whatever conferences I want without asking^H^H^H^H^H^Hbegging, and stash that much more money towards runway. I just left a YC company myself. I would only work for a YC company because it was time for me to learn, it no longer is. It's time for me to earn, so I'll contract until I get a business rolling. If you approach working at a YC company like a piker, you're going to be disappointed. It's an opportunity to build up a network and learn how startups work so that you can eventually do your own thing. (IMHO anyway) Employee equity is consistently pathetic. Not worth it. It also doesn't seem like he's asking for what he wants. Does he not know how to negotiate? Tell the YC founders what you want. People are really bad at getting what they want unless it's offered to them on a silver platter. Edit: The whole post, frankly, seems like an advertisement for his irrationality with regards to the expected value of perks.

ccarter84 14y ago
cool story bro'
- coolsunglasses 14y ago
  I know the point you're making, but let me make clearer the point I'm making: He thinks he's doing himself a favor and getting what he's "worth", but that doesn't seem to be the case.
  - ccarter84 14y ago
    Ah, agreed - congrats on getting out of the rat race and properly compensated yourself
fusiongyro 14y ago
Another way of looking at it is that he's trading ~$500 per day for less risk. You're in a position to soak risk, and he isn't. It doesn't make either of you irrational.
- coolsunglasses 14y ago
  That's a fair statement, but I'm trying to fight a different sort of risk than going without a paycheck.
  - fusiongyro 14y ago
    Care to elaborate?
    - coolsunglasses 14y ago
      I value independence and eventual ramen profitability far, far higher than the average person. A life spent working for other people instead of customers or fans is a huge risk and I'm running from it.
etchalon 14y ago
As a contractor, if you're taking in 800 dollars a day, and buying your own health insurance, you are not taking in 800 dollars a day. In fact, your take home pay is probably less than his (at least on the high-end of the per-diem). 1. You're paying a higher marginal tax rate on your earnings than he is on his salary. Self-employment tax is a real bitch. 2. If you're buying your own health insurance, the benefits you get for the price are undoubtable lower than the benefits he gets with his (paid for) package, or you're paying through the nose. "Group plans" are generally better, and cheaper, than individual plans. 3. Should something terrible happen to you, or should you fail to find work for awhile, you are not eligible for unemployment. I see lots of folks swear by "being a contractor" when they're young, only to start searching for a salaried position after a few bad experiences. When I took over my company, the absolute first thing I did was switch every "contractor" to a full-time employee. It's better for both parties.
- coolsunglasses 14y ago
  I've been contracting for a long time, I know the risks and it's not just about the money. It's about the self ownership. Of course it's better for the company, they want the ability to coerce the employee and hold their livelihood/healthcare hostage. With my arrangement, I keep the same healthcare plan no matter who I'm working for or what I'm doing.
  - etchalon 14y ago
    Huh? You can basically always keep your health insurance. You just have to pay a higher premium than your employer paid for it. They aren't "holding your health care hostage", they're given you a benefit of being a part of a group; a risk pool insurance companies are willing to give discounted rates to. Get fired, or quit? Just call the insurance company and ask what it'd cost to keep your coverage as is. There's generally ALWAYS an individual plan available with the exact same benefit levels. Health insurance used to be a hostage game due primarily to pre-existing conditions. That's becoming less of an issue thanks to new laws (and if you were employable, was never much of an issue anyway). However, I did not mean "just" insurance. Contractor arrangements are terrible for both the contractor and the company, in the long run.
hkmurakami 14y ago
Just FYI, insurance premiums can skyrocket one you get older or develop serious health issues (and such health issues really can come suddenly -- autoimmune diseases, etc). I think you've built a wonderful position for yourself, but I'd urge you to be mindful of thepotential pitfalls in the future.
- rdl 14y ago
  A lot of the health insurance risk is changing in 2014, though, so it's actually viable to have lower coverage insurance now and plan to upgrade IFF a major medical condition happens. (yes, this makes no sense from an insurance market perspective for the insurers)
  - hkmurakami 14y ago
    I presume this is one of the provisions in the Obama administration health care act (something along the lines of accepting people with previous known medical conditions, iirc). I'm not too knowledgeable on the exact scenarios and how much more (if any) such people with serious medical issues would pay, but I agree with you that this is something to be cognizant of.
  - vellum 14y ago
    You sure? Since 2014 is when no one can get denied and everyone has to have healthcare, I think there's some uncertainty in the market. If the system gets too many expensive cases, and not enough payees, premiums could skyrocket.

ccarter84 14y ago

cool story bro'

coolsunglasses 14y ago
I know the point you're making, but let me make clearer the point I'm making: He thinks he's doing himself a favor and getting what he's "worth", but that doesn't seem to be the case.
- ccarter84 14y ago
  Ah, agreed - congrats on getting out of the rat race and properly compensated yourself

fusiongyro 14y ago

Another way of looking at it is that he's trading ~$500 per day for less risk. You're in a position to soak risk, and he isn't. It doesn't make either of you irrational.

coolsunglasses 14y ago
That's a fair statement, but I'm trying to fight a different sort of risk than going without a paycheck.
- fusiongyro 14y ago
  Care to elaborate?
  - coolsunglasses 14y ago
    I value independence and eventual ramen profitability far, far higher than the average person. A life spent working for other people instead of customers or fans is a huge risk and I'm running from it.

etchalon 14y ago

As a contractor, if you're taking in 800 dollars a day, and buying your own health insurance, you are not taking in 800 dollars a day. In fact, your take home pay is probably less than his (at least on the high-end of the per-diem). 1. You're paying a higher marginal tax rate on your earnings than he is on his salary. Self-employment tax is a real bitch. 2. If you're buying your own health insurance, the benefits you get for the price are undoubtable lower than the benefits he gets with his (paid for) package, or you're paying through the nose. "Group plans" are generally better, and cheaper, than individual plans. 3. Should something terrible happen to you, or should you fail to find work for awhile, you are not eligible for unemployment. I see lots of folks swear by "being a contractor" when they're young, only to start searching for a salaried position after a few bad experiences. When I took over my company, the absolute first thing I did was switch every "contractor" to a full-time employee. It's better for both parties.

coolsunglasses 14y ago
I've been contracting for a long time, I know the risks and it's not just about the money. It's about the self ownership. Of course it's better for the company, they want the ability to coerce the employee and hold their livelihood/healthcare hostage. With my arrangement, I keep the same healthcare plan no matter who I'm working for or what I'm doing.
- etchalon 14y ago
  Huh? You can basically always keep your health insurance. You just have to pay a higher premium than your employer paid for it. They aren't "holding your health care hostage", they're given you a benefit of being a part of a group; a risk pool insurance companies are willing to give discounted rates to. Get fired, or quit? Just call the insurance company and ask what it'd cost to keep your coverage as is. There's generally ALWAYS an individual plan available with the exact same benefit levels. Health insurance used to be a hostage game due primarily to pre-existing conditions. That's becoming less of an issue thanks to new laws (and if you were employable, was never much of an issue anyway). However, I did not mean "just" insurance. Contractor arrangements are terrible for both the contractor and the company, in the long run.

hkmurakami 14y ago

Just FYI, insurance premiums can skyrocket one you get older or develop serious health issues (and such health issues really can come suddenly -- autoimmune diseases, etc). I think you've built a wonderful position for yourself, but I'd urge you to be mindful of thepotential pitfalls in the future.

rdl 14y ago
A lot of the health insurance risk is changing in 2014, though, so it's actually viable to have lower coverage insurance now and plan to upgrade IFF a major medical condition happens. (yes, this makes no sense from an insurance market perspective for the insurers)
- hkmurakami 14y ago
  I presume this is one of the provisions in the Obama administration health care act (something along the lines of accepting people with previous known medical conditions, iirc). I'm not too knowledgeable on the exact scenarios and how much more (if any) such people with serious medical issues would pay, but I agree with you that this is something to be cognizant of.
- vellum 14y ago
  You sure? Since 2014 is when no one can get denied and everyone has to have healthcare, I think there's some uncertainty in the market. If the system gets too many expensive cases, and not enough payees, premiums could skyrocket.