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Because unemployment is high, finding a new job is tough, living without one while you look eats your savings if you have any, and it's extremely unlikely that
by cauterized 12y ago
Because unemployment is high, finding a new job is tough, living without one while you look eats your savings if you have any, and it's extremely unlikely that the next employer would be any better. If your boss frowns and accuses you of not being a team player because you leave the office before 7, if you have a family to support, and you're not in a high-demand profession, well, do you have that much of a choice? Even if you're not risking a firing, you're probably risking your next raise or promotion. The incentives aren't nearly as well balanced as you suggest.
- err4nt 12y agoFinding a new job is a simple as creating one! Find something you do that provides value to others and market it. No boss, no hours, no office. Who is holding you back (but you?)
- cauterized 12y agoAnd yet, just like the guy looking for a new job and unable to find one, you have to find someone to pay you for the work. Except now you have to do it constantly instead of once every few years. For most people, that's not an improvement. Even if all skills were suitable for freelancing (which they're not), not everyone is cut out to freelance. It's high risk, the income is uneven, you have to pay unemployment insurance but are ineligible to receive it, and you have to market yourself (which is difficult and eats up your time) and do collections (which also eats up a lot of time and is too often unsuccessful). You also take a hit on self-employment taxes. In the US you're also screwed on healthcare, which is a big deal if you have a family. It's very easy to end up working longer days as a freelancer and taking home significantly less pay than a full time employee would for the same type of work.