Temping

[bautiste at uswest.net]

Being a temp worker, I think there is a kind of gulf between those who temp
for clerical work, low paying mostly, and those who can temp for high-tech
stuff, mostly high-paying. In general, the lack of benefits is a big deal. In
the past, I have taken cash over benefits, others benefits and cash. The lack
of job security is of course disconcerting and probably worse for temp
workers. But then who has job security, except top management, who tend to
feed off the labors of others and end up with the nice golden parachute. For
family people, the lack of benefits is a real drag. The younger hot shots
will take the cash for a while.

Doug Henwood wrote:


> James Baird wrote:
>
> >I just saw a movie, "Clockwatchers" this weekend, about the temp scene -
> >not a great movie, but some funny bits.  It's interesting how differnet
> >sectors in the economy think different - I work as a "contractor" in
> >computer networking (I start at Schwab in downtown SF next week), which
> >means basically that I get paid an hourly rate, no benefits, etc.  The
> >funny thing is, the places I work, the "perms" are jelous of the "temps"
> >- because we make at least twice what they do.  I and my contractor
> >friends spend a great deal of time trying to avoid full-time work at all
> >costs - much to the dismay of our employers, who would rather have us
> >"join the team", etc.  I guess what goes around, comes around...
>
> Interesting. Lefitsh writers & agitators make a lot about how awful temp
> work is, but the BLS surveys show about half of contingent workers don't
> want noncontingent work, and then there's what James Baird says here. Is
> the problem with temp work its tempness or the lack of benefits?
>
> Doug

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