Re: FWD: Unpaid?

[Andrew Plato <aplato -at- EASYSTREET -dot- COM>]

>> I have worked for my present company for about 10 months. I do not
> have a technical writing degree, but I do have a college degree
> (B.A.,liberal arts). I work at home and thus do not have direct
> supervision (the home office is in another state). I live in
> Washington Sate. I write internal end user documentation (software).
> This includes using Word and FrontPage to create printed and
> intranet/Web docs. I make $10 an hour. Am I underpaid?


You are paid exactly what you were willing to take.  There is no set
salaries or wages for anyone in the US.  If someone offers you $10.00 an
hour and you take it -- that is what you are worth.

This is capitalism, friends.  All the salary surveys on the planet mean
absolutely zilch.  I know writers who are fantastic and highly skilled
making crap wages.  I also know writers who are beyond incompetent making
very good money.  I have found that salary surveys only give those that have
good paying jobs a feeling of security and those that don't a feeling that
they are getting screwed.

The only person screwing you is you.  If you accept $10.00 an hour - you
just screwed yourself. Companies will get as much out of people as they can
for the least they can pay.  This is not some evil plot, it is the way a
for-profit company is run.

If you think you are worth $25.00 an hour -- then demand it.  If the company
fires you -- blow them and look elsewhere.  Jobs are pretty plentiful in the
Seattle area.

Lastly, if you have a lot of fussy requirements to work, then you better get
used to making less money. I assure you walking into an interview with a
long list of demands (such as parking, working from home, time off, flexible
working hours, benefits, etc. etc.) is a sure-fire way to reduce your rate.
Why pay a contractor $50.00 an hour who has a long list of demands, when the
guy around the corner (like myself) is easy going and will accommodate most
anything?

--------Standard Disclaimer for all TECHWR-L Posts------------
These are only opinions, not facts.  Your well-constructed vision of the
universe may vary.  Any relation to technical writers alive, dead, or
coincidentally in the process of dying while reading this post are not the
responsibility of the company, creator, or clan.  Your mileage may vary.  90
days same as cash. I want to believe.  No technical  communications
professionals were physically traumatized in the production of this message.
No parking.  Exit to the rear.  The ideas expressed in this message are mine
and not yours, so there.  Contrary to published reports, technical writing
is not brain surgery. Thank you, come again.  The paranoids are out to get
me! The truth is out there, because it sure as hell isn't in here.