Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Fun With Employers

About a year and a half ago I quit a secure job with Intel and joined a small company that whores my services to the highest bidder. Yes, I'm a tech slut. I'm proud to prostitute my knowledge and skills to anyone willing to pay the price.

My first contract was a 6 month deal with a large company (call them XXX). As the 6 months neared completion XXX hadn't given any indications about whether they were going to extend my contract so my company started lining up new work. I'd expressed interest in teaching classes and something came along. I became a certified instructor for a company and started teaching classes. About the same time my original contract got extended. So I had the enviable problem of having two jobs at the same time. The only issue was that XXX didn't like sharing my time while I was teaching. After a little back and forth they agreed that I'd be allowed to teach one week out of each month.

Now, every other time I get ready to leave to teach a class they like work themselves up and complain that they can't afford to have me out of the office so much. This morning I got a call from my employer (my pimp, so to speak) that XXX was making a stink again and had said that I needed to decide if I wanted to work for them or wanted to teach but they were tired of sharing. The problem, for them, is that if forced to make a choice I'll terminate the contract with XXX so I can focus on growing the teaching related business. They don't seem to understand that I get paid 50% more to teach than to work for them. They also don't seem to realize that while they can't easily replace me, I can easily find another contract that would allow me to teach on the side. Further, any new contract would almost certainly pay a higher rate than what XXX is currently paying. It's hard for me to see why I would stay with XXX if they want to put their foot down.

I'm constantly amazed at the self-deluded world that many managers live in.

9 comments:

Rebecca said...

Tell them that. Better yet, send them an email with a link to this post. Then just raise your eyebrows as if saying to a disobedient child, "Well? What are you doing to do now? It's up to you."

Bull said...

Oh, we've been here already which is why it's funny that they're trying it again. Last time it was, "If Bull isn't here on Monday then we're going to enforce the contract (i.e. fire me)." We responded, "Well Allan won't be there on Monday so go for it." This was followed by rapid backpeddling and falling over backward to let us know that they really didn't mean it.

Bull said...

Ummmm. Work? Seriously, I'm a guy. What do you think is on my mind?

Cyn Bagley said...

LOL... love your tech slut pimp... what was this about??? I got stuck...

Sideon said...

From one data 'ho to another...

I salute you.

What's YOUR hourly rate? ;)

Bull said...

Ummm. Between $100-$150/hour depending on the job with my company picking up their half of social security and medicare.

So, how big is yours?

Sideon said...

Heh - similar. It can go as high as 250/hour doing direct contracts. When I do solo work, I'm in the 90/125 range - I'm not greedy, and I know they'll contact me again versus going through the vendor.

I'm not sure if I asked, but is it okay to add your link to my "outer blogness" section? I don't like to link folks without express permission. I am okay with "no", too :) Let me know.

Bull said...

No problem. Link away.

Sideon said...

Done deal.

Thanks :)