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Subject:Re: Bad Employers/Clients List??? From:Linda Merrifield <MerrLJ -at- CITA -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 2 May 1997 10:59:00 -0500
My preference would be a site of good employers. I like to focus on the
positive. People could even put comments regarding their personal
experiences with the companies listed there.
I also like the suggestion of just posting to this list a question about
a possible new employer. Then, people could respond to you personally,
yeah or nay.
Linda Merrifield
Senior Technical Writer
Citation Computer Systems
merrilj -at- cita -dot- com
314-579-7900, ext. 4961
>----------
>From: Mitch Berg[SMTP:mberg -at- IS -dot- COM]
>Sent: Friday, May 02, 1997 9:59 AM
>To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>Subject: Bad Employers/Clients List???
>
>Caveat: I'm just brainstorming here. I don't know how serious I am
>about this yet.
>
>Note to listadmin: I think this idea, while "out there", might
>definitely make techwriting a better career - so I think it's a valid
>topic for this list. If you disagree, I'll respect that and withdraw
>the topic.
>
>I've spent most of my career as a contractor/consultant/freelancer.
>Like many of you, I've been stiffed or otherwise treated rather badly by
>a few clients. Trolling the local tech writer rumor mill, I've noticed
>that other techwhirlies have been burned too - some by the same
>companies. Most clients are obviously fine. But there's that 2% that
>spoils it all. I notice many techwhirlers consistently having bad
>experiences with some of the same companies, year in, year out...
>
>So - what if some intrepid soul were to put up an informational website,
>essentially a techwhirlers' "blacklist" of companies with a record of
>shabby treatment of techwriters? A sort of "Better Clients/Employers
>Bureau", if you will, where a job-searching techwhirler could look for
>any references to a potential employer or client.
>
>Ethically, I think it'd be a sort of journalism - which has its purpose
>and its rules. It'd be no different, IMO, than restaurant or theater
>reviews.
>
>Legally, I think that as long as the list had no business connection
>with anyone it'd be safe enough.
>
>We're not unionized. We don't have a PAC in the beltway. If we don't
>look out for each other, who will?
>
>Comments?
>
>Donning flame-resistant underwear, I am
>Mitch Berg
>
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