Comments on: The Toll of Being an Employee http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:16:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Scott Jackson http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/#comment-13 Scott Jackson Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:44:47 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/?p=5#comment-13 Well you need a stable, steady stream of inputs into the system, which in many jobs you don't have. Well you need a stable, steady stream of inputs into the system, which in many jobs you don’t have.

]]> By: Mike http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/#comment-11 Mike Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:06:33 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/?p=5#comment-11 Agreed completely. I feel that any job where there is an output of some sort a pay-by-effort system might be a nice incentive for workers. It would give them a sense of connection between what they do and what they earn. I think some white-collar jobs could be tailored to fit that system too. But certainly it doesn't always work. Agreed completely. I feel that any job where there is an output of some sort a pay-by-effort system might be a nice incentive for workers. It would give them a sense of connection between what they do and what they earn. I think some white-collar jobs could be tailored to fit that system too. But certainly it doesn’t always work.

]]> By: Scott Jackson http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/#comment-7 Scott Jackson Sun, 29 Jul 2007 23:08:10 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/?p=5#comment-7 I don't see how pay based on output would be practical at a white collar job. In blue collar many times it's fine, since you have something to measure (widgets made, or whatever). But in white collar jobs a lot of the work isn't scheduled and it varies. For example sometimes I will have lots of projects to work on, while sometimes there will be little to none. So sometimes there just isn't enough work to fill the time. If we paid based on output I would be punished for something I have no control over! I don’t see how pay based on output would be practical at a white collar job. In blue collar many times it’s fine, since you have something to measure (widgets made, or whatever). But in white collar jobs a lot of the work isn’t scheduled and it varies.

For example sometimes I will have lots of projects to work on, while sometimes there will be little to none. So sometimes there just isn’t enough work to fill the time. If we paid based on output I would be punished for something I have no control over!

]]> By: Mike http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/#comment-6 Mike Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:51:35 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/?p=5#comment-6 Hi Scott, One of the biggest adjustments people who go from being an employee to self-employed have to make is living with irregular pay. Many entrepreneurs will start out having to deal with low earnings none, or sometimes take a loss with the knowledge and promise of future gains. I read somewhere that people in white-collar jobs actually only "work" for 30% of the time they are on the clock. Imagine what could be getting done if those workers were doing something productive with their time (like a different venture.) It's a good arguement for pay based on output rather than hours. Totally agree on the "vacation" pay comment. It's really hard to make changes in this sort of environment unless someone is willing to put their neck on the line! Hi Scott,

One of the biggest adjustments people who go from being an employee to self-employed have to make is living with irregular pay. Many entrepreneurs will start out having to deal with low earnings none, or sometimes take a loss with the knowledge and promise of future gains.

I read somewhere that people in white-collar jobs actually only “work” for 30% of the time they are on the clock. Imagine what could be getting done if those workers were doing something productive with their time (like a different venture.) It’s a good arguement for pay based on output rather than hours.

Totally agree on the “vacation” pay comment. It’s really hard to make changes in this sort of environment unless someone is willing to put their neck on the line!

]]> By: Scott Jackson http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/#comment-5 Scott Jackson Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:14:43 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/?p=5#comment-5 I should add the presence of a collective action problem, a lot of workers want the same changes made (more vacation, more sick days, option to have a 35 hour work week for example), but it's too each individual's benefit not to ask for these things as he/she would risk being terminated or would be treated with a lot of hostility. I should add the presence of a collective action problem, a lot of workers want the same changes made (more vacation, more sick days, option to have a 35 hour work week for example), but it’s too each individual’s benefit not to ask for these things as he/she would risk being terminated or would be treated with a lot of hostility.

]]> By: Scott Jackson http://thegreatofficeescape.com/the-toll-of-being-an-employee/#comment-4 Scott Jackson Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:12:32 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/?p=5#comment-4 Good post, however most people probably like being paid the same whether they do a lot of work in one day or not. A lot of a workers' time, especially in white collar work like I do is spent not really doing much work, but just relaxing of socializing. Capitalism is generally demoralizing though, I agree, especially in the US. Other countries have regulated it for better labor conditions. Good post, however most people probably like being paid the same whether they do a lot of work in one day or not. A lot of a workers’ time, especially in white collar work like I do is spent not really doing much work, but just relaxing of socializing.

Capitalism is generally demoralizing though, I agree, especially in the US. Other countries have regulated it for better labor conditions.

]]>