Accept or Quit?

[chyam]

Pre-tax that is over $56,000 a year. What is the median income of the US? I'm sorry but I have a difficult time believing that these positions are worth $27 an hour plus benefits. NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

I have to agree with you, yes it does cost alot to live in the Northeast, but actually it is getting expensive everywhere! The price of houses in FL has gone up 37% in a year and most people that are just starting out are having a hard time paying those prices, it's the people who move here from the North that can afford the housing down here now. I am one income, own a home,(over 11 years ago when the housing was still affordable) and I only make 15.00 an hour!!! I cannot imagine making $27.00 an hour perhaps this is the reason that I cannot afford a new car every couple of years and yes I think it is ALOT of money for unskilled labor. But the bottom line is I don't think the government should let companies use foreign labor to the extent that they do! After all if Americans are forced out of work how are we supposed to pay our taxes! So we can support the other countries and all their projects!! And yes the unions have gone way over board...more more more, and this is why so many companies do go under. I am happy that I can at least make a decent living and have some pretty good benefits, but there are many who are only making $6.00 an hour so yes $27.00 an hour seems very ridiculous to me!

 

[WIcruizer]

But the bottom line is I don't think the government should let companies use foreign labor to the extent that they do!

What???? You want the United States government to pass laws dictating where companies can hire employees? We need to understand you can't control free markets. The economy can not grow if you impose artificial controls like this.

 

[DawnCt1]

Yeah but how many of us are making $27 an hour? It's these ridiculous union wages that are causing some of the problems. If some raises had not been given in the past then maybe a 65% cut would not be needed now. Perhaps if the union negotiated some other sort of pay/benefit reduction PRIOR to bankruptcy it wouldn't be taking such a hit now. The fact of the matter is that many bankruptcies occur so that the union contracts can be broken. If the unions were proactive and reopened up collective bargaining PRIOR to the bankruptcy some of this could be avoided.

Isn't Delphi part of the GM scenario? $1500 is tacked on to every car that rolls off of the assembly line just to pay for employee and retiree health benefits. The Unions killed the goose that laid the golden egg. They company made promises to the union that they can no longer keep.

 

[chyam]

What???? You want the United States government to pass laws dictating where companies can hire employees? We need to understand you can't control free markets. The economy can not grow if you impose artificial controls like this.

Maybe you misunderstood me or perhaps you didn't I just think we shouldn't let all of our jobs be outsourced to other countries, yes I do believe in free trade but I also believe that as Americans we too need jobs! IF we aren't working then we are on welfare and not paying taxes to support our OWN country, why is it everytime I call for tech service or customer service I am talking to some person in another country who can't hardly speak english?? That job should be kept here, we need to work too, but then if we weren't expecting $27.00 an hour perhaps we would be, we all need to make a decent living in order to keep buying and supporting others here.......it's just the way I feel, and I am not some highly educated economist, just someone who needs a job, without fear of thinking my company is looking overseas to replace me because it is so easy these days.

 

[Michelina]

why is it everytime I call for tech service or customer service I am talking to some person in another country who can't hardly speak english??

I work in a customer service department for a major company and make a very decent wage. Our jobs are probably going to be outsourced to India next year. Those workers will be making $2400.00 a year which is apparently a fortune there. They keep trying to make our department leaner and more efficicient but how can we even compete when they can pay them in a year what we make in a month?
I think it is so sad because we take pride in our jobs and provide excellent service to customers. When I'm helping out consumers these days I'm thinking about how it is going to be so different for them when they call back in 6 months or a year

 

[Cindy B]

Yup, being shipped overseas in a hurry. A lot of people who lost jobs in the 90's and retrained for programing jobs in the 00's are now facing lay offs and having to retrain for a 3rd career.

I swear, I'm going to make my kids be plumber's and electricians. Try outsourcing THOSE jobs!

Try call center /tech support jobs as well. They are getting outsourced left and right as well. That makes these tech guys go for network admin and that market gets saturated... and so on. Programming was the thing but not anymore. I know some very talented unemployed programmers!

Plumbers, electricians.. you have that right. Major job security.

 

[olena]

That's really a tough choice. My husband's profession, telecom network engineer, is also feeling the competitive pinch from Egypt and India. His plan was to return to school so he could change careers and we're deep in school loan debt, but it will be worth it for future job security at least.

 

[WIcruizer]

Plumbers, electricians.. you have that right. Major job security.

Exactly. There's a whole list of "trades" that have a hard time finding qualified employees. Trucking companies desperately need drivers. All these jobs provide a living wage. $40-50k and more. We all have to look at our current occupation and be realistic if our job will exist in the future. And that's not JUST due shipping jobs overseas. Maybe you work for a company with a product or service that will become obsolete. Newspapers are one current example.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Exactly. There's a whole list of "trades" that have a hard time finding qualified employees. Trucking companies desperately need drivers. All these jobs provide a living wage. $40-50k and more. We all have to look at our current occupation and be realistic if our job will exist in the future. And that's not JUST due shipping jobs overseas. Maybe you work for a company with a product or service that will become obsolete. Newspapers are one current example.

Another thing to think about...in one's current job situation, is there any other skill sets one can be learning? I have a degree in public relations, my current position in my organization is contracts administrator. However, I still use my PR skills, and I have also dabbled in HR, Operations, Security, Governmental Affairs, and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on. I have several fields now open to me because I asked to take on some additional duties. Yeah it can be a crazy balancing act, but I basically have created my own position and have moved up the food chain here. In addition, I feel that if anything should happen to my current position I have a unique skill set that sets me apart from others. It also shows my willingness to learn new things, and to take on new tasks. I think some people get in a rut at work, and that is what causes them to dislike their jobs.

 

[WIcruizer]

I have a degree in public relations

My degree is in PR as well, and I have never had a PR position. But guess what? As time has gone by, I am now using my PR and marketing skills with my current employer, even though it's not part of my "job description."

(I still secretly want a job in PR, journalism, etc. to this day..oh well)

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[Miss Jasmine]

My degree is in PR as well, and I have never had a PR position. But guess what? As time has gone by, I am now using my PR and marketing skills with my current employer, even though it's not part of my "job description."

(I still secretly want a job in PR, journalism, etc. to this day..oh well)

###

LOVE IT!!!!

Really, PR is a great degree because the skills learned can be used for so many different things. Most written documents pass through my office since my boss loves my proofreading and editing skills. I also attend Chamber functions to schmooze. I have never regretted earning my BS in BS.

Where did you go to school? My degree is from the University of Florida, which now has the largest PR program in the country!!! Go Gators!

###​

 

[LoraJ]

Pre-tax that is over $56,000 a year. What is the median income of the US? I'm sorry but I have a difficult time believing that these positions are worth $27 an hour plus benefits. NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

I can't imagine living off of that much money in my area with a family of 4 and one working parent.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I can't imagine living off of that much money in my area with a family of 4 and one working parent.

Hmm neither could I. That's why DH and I both work, as does DD and DS's mom (DH's ex). Like I said before, for the type of position talked about in the OP, $27 an hour plus benefits is really off the scale. And no where is it guaranteed that each household can have a stay at home parent.

 

[TerriP]

Exactly. There's a whole list of "trades" that have a hard time finding qualified employees. Trucking companies desperately need drivers. All these jobs provide a living wage. $40-50k and more. We all have to look at our current occupation and be realistic if our job will exist in the future. And that's not JUST due shipping jobs overseas. Maybe you work for a company with a product or service that will become obsolete. Newspapers are one current example.

I couldn't agree more. My DH is a member of the Plumbers and Pipfitter Union (even though he works in HVAC, not plumbing). He makes a very good living (more than you indicated above) but his company has been two men short for more than two years...there are no new employees coming into the trade. Young people out of a two-year trade school could start their jobs earning just over $20 an hour with *wonderful* benefits but there are no candidates!

And just this morning I heard on the news that the company that owns the Chicago Tribune, LA Times and one other paper (can't remember the name) will be having major layoffs soon. The internet and cable news networks are eating away at the newspaper's market.

 

[WIcruizer]

Where did you go to school? My degree is from the University of Florida

University of Wisconsin. A professor I really respected helped me decide to pursue a PR degree instead of business school. What she didn't tell me was PR jobs are hard to come by, and entry level jobs paid less that $20K at the time.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

University of Wisconsin. A professor I really respected helped me decide to pursue a PR degree instead of business school. What she didn't tell me was PR jobs are hard to come by, and entry level jobs paid less that $20K at the time.

Ahhhh I never had the intention to pursue a PR job. I was planning on going to law school and figured a degree that improved my writing skills would be the way to go. I actually started off as a journalism major, but decided there were other skills involved with PR that would be good in the court room as well. Also, I had a poly sci teacher in high school who made me promise I would earn a degree I could use even if I decided not to go to law school, which is what happened after working as a legal assistant right out of college.

 

[WIcruizer]

I still enjoy watching large, public companies bungle PR. I sit back and think, WOW I learned not to do that in PR 101.