"professional" work week

[happythoughts 0]

Talked to a recruiter today. At JP Morgan/Chase, they are defining the work day as a "professional work day" (8-10 hours). Up to 10 hours, you only get paid for the first 8. If you work for 11, then you get paid for 9.

Is this even legal? I am a hourly worker on contract, not an employee.

I told the contracting firm that I like to get paid for all 11. They told me Citicorp is trying to do this with their contract people also.

[kallend 2,151]

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Talked to a recruiter today. At JP Morgan/Chase, they are defining the work day as a "professional work day" (8-10 hours). Up to 10 hours, you only get paid for the first 8. If you work for 11, then you get paid for 9.

Is this even legal? I am a hourly worker on contract, not an employee.

I told the contracting firm that I like to get paid for all 11. They told me Citicorp is trying to do this with their contract people also.

That's the sort of thing that happens when workers have no collective bargaining power.

Pissing all over the unions will come back to haunt the middle classes.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gawain 0]

There is probably some fine print. The job you're interviewing for is likely an "exempt" position. If that's the case, the employer doesn't even need to pay beyond "8 hours" because you'd be on a salary.

Some companies provide additional benefits for extended hours in lieu of pay (8 hours vacation for every 16 OT worked, etc).

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[jimbarry 0]

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Is this even legal? I am a hourly worker on contract, not an employee.

Since you're a contract employee, it would depend on the terms of your contract.

If you were a regular employee, then it would depend on your employment status, often referred to as Exempt and Non-Exempt.

Non-exempts are those who by law must be paid 1.5 their hourly rate for each hour per week worked over 40. Some employers deal with non-exempts by prohibiting them from access to overtime at all.

Exempts are those on a monthly or annual salary, typically professional or technical staff. Employers do not have to pay them overtime, but some do anyway in some form, half time, comp time, etc.

If JP Morgan/Chase considers your position to be "professional", then I suppose you're lucky they offer to pay for extra time worked at all. They probably consider the position to be "Exempt".

[happythoughts 0]

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There is probably some fine print. The job you're interviewing for is likely an "exempt" position. If that's the case, the employer doesn't even need to pay beyond "8 hours" because you'd be on a salary.

Some companies provide additional benefits for extended hours in lieu of pay (8 hours vacation for every 16 OT worked, etc).

Been there, done that. When I was an employee, I got a salary, pension, benefits, and comp time. This is not the same.

I am a hourly consultant working for a customer, not an employee of the customer.

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

You could just wait for those new overtime rules to get reapproved and you wouldn't have to worry about any of that.

btw - that sort of thing is decided on a state by state basis Bill.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[happythoughts 0]

My last contracts were Verizon, ATT, Equifax, Bell Atlantic. I was paid for every hour that I worked, even those over 8 per day.

This is a new scam. The "we'll treat them like swine and see what happens" rule.

If you work 10 hours a day for 8 hours pay, you've just given yourself a hefty paycut.

[rehmwa 2]

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Pissing all over the unions will come back to haunt the middle classes.

Many unions brought it on themselves by getting shifty and corrupt over time. So a 'good' union which is formed due to poor management practices (situational - not just automatic like many liberals believe) starts out at a disadvantage due to crooked union leaders, not just business leaders (crooked or not).

I really didn't think was such a black and white issue with you.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Gawain 0]

If you're working with recruiters to secure your next "contract" jobs, then they aren't looking out for you too well. If you do your job well, and have the past experience and references, use that to maintain that you, as a contract employee, are to be paid for each hour of work. I would start broadening my recruiter contacts.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

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My last contracts were Verizon, ATT, Equifax, Bell Atlantic. I was paid for every hour that I worked, even those over 8 per day.

This is a new scam. The "we'll treat them like swine and see what happens" rule.

If you work 10 hours a day for 8 hours pay, you've just given yourself a hefty paycut.

Have you seen the stories of companies not giving out benefits for full time employment as well? Add to that the desire of the administration to change overtime rules to screw most workers.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[happythoughts 0]

Most recruiters have an "in" with a single company. Recruiting companies hire a former employee (director level) to be their rep because of all their contacts within the target company.

The second limiting factor is the rate. There are a few companies that I don't have an interest in working for.

All the target companies are defining their 2005 budgets, so I am going to take off November and maybe a little more. Wait and see.

There are advantages and disadvantages to being a consultant or an employee.
Consultant - more short term money, no pension or benefits.
Employee - beepers, salary, poor treatment and headgames.

I see a nasty trend in this country. Verizon spent $1.5 billion on early retirement and pension buyout plans in Nov 2003 for 21,000 employees. They will recoup the money in 24 months.

Less employees, more contracts, but the contractors being treated like employees.

[Gawain 0]

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I see a nasty trend in this country. Verizon spent $1.5 billion on early retirement and pension buyout plans in Nov 2003 for 21,000 employees. They will recoup the money in 24 months.

Less employees, more contracts, but the contractors being treated like employees.

I saw that trend developing years ago. I used to work for Verizon too. When my old component existed (GTE), it was an outstanding company to work for. Chuck Lee sold out and Seidenberg is grinding the company into the ground.

Alas, I don't work in corporate anymore...thank God...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[storm1977 0]

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Quote

Talked to a recruiter today. At JP Morgan/Chase, they are defining the work day as a "professional work day" (8-10 hours). Up to 10 hours, you only get paid for the first 8. If you work for 11, then you get paid for 9.

Is this even legal? I am a hourly worker on contract, not an employee.

I told the contracting firm that I like to get paid for all 11. They told me Citicorp is trying to do this with their contract people also.

That's the sort of thing that happens when workers have no collective bargaining power.

Pissing all over the unions will come back to haunt the middle classes.

Don't listen to Kallend.... You don't want a Union.... In the long run that union will probably cost you more in dues than the missing hours would anyway. Then do you want you union dues to be going to political parties that your union supports???

Unions are legalized crime bosses that bread laziness in their ranks... Word in a union for years and worked in management supervising union employees for 2 years.... BAD NEWS!!! (teamsters BTW)

-----------------------------------------------------
Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty

[PhillyKev 0]

If you're an independent contractor then you are working for yourself, and you, as a business entity have an agreement with the company you are working for. In other words, you aren't their employee so labor laws don't apply.

[kallend 2,151]

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Talked to a recruiter today. At JP Morgan/Chase, they are defining the work day as a "professional work day" (8-10 hours). Up to 10 hours, you only get paid for the first 8. If you work for 11, then you get paid for 9.

Is this even legal? I am a hourly worker on contract, not an employee.

I told the contracting firm that I like to get paid for all 11. They told me Citicorp is trying to do this with their contract people also.

That's the sort of thing that happens when workers have no collective bargaining power.

Pissing all over the unions will come back to haunt the middle classes.

Don't listen to Kallend.... You don't want a Union.... In the long run that union will probably cost you more in dues than the missing hours would anyway. Then do you want you union dues to be going to political parties that your union supports???

Unions are legalized crime bosses that bread laziness in their ranks... Word in a union for years and worked in management supervising union employees for 2 years.... BAD NEWS!!! (teamsters BTW)

Yeah yeah, all unions are crime havens, all women are sluts, all Christians are right wing zealots, all Republicans are closet Nazis, all gun owners are paranoid schizos, all professors are commies, all skydivers have a death wish...

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[PhillyKev 0]

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Yeah yeah, all unions are crime havens, all women are sluts, all Christians are right wing zealots, all Republicans are closet Nazis, all gun owners are paranoid schizos, all professors are commies, all skydivers have a death wish...

Dude...I think you've got it. We can now close SC, everything's been covered.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Talked to a recruiter today. At JP Morgan/Chase, they are defining the work day as a "professional work day" (8-10 hours). Up to 10 hours, you only get paid for the first 8. If you work for 11, then you get paid for 9.

Is this even legal? I am a hourly worker on contract, not an employee.

I told the contracting firm that I like to get paid for all 11. They told me Citicorp is trying to do this with their contract people also.

That's the sort of thing that happens when workers have no collective bargaining power.

Pissing all over the unions will come back to haunt the middle classes.

Don't listen to Kallend.... You don't want a Union.... In the long run that union will probably cost you more in dues than the missing hours would anyway. Then do you want you union dues to be going to political parties that your union supports???

Unions are legalized crime bosses that bread laziness in their ranks... Word in a union for years and worked in management supervising union employees for 2 years.... BAD NEWS!!! (teamsters BTW)

Yeah yeah, all unions are crime havens, all women are sluts, all Christians are right wing zealots, all Republicans are closet Nazis, all gun owners are paranoid schizos, all professors are commies, all skydivers have a death wish...

And all businesses are out to screw you.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Fuck the unions

[kallend 2,151]

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Yeah yeah, all unions are crime havens, all women are sluts, all Christians are right wing zealots, all Republicans are closet Nazis, all gun owners are paranoid schizos, all professors are commies, all skydivers have a death wish...

And all businesses are out to screw you.

[happythoughts 0]

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Hey, we've hardly got started yet. There's lawyers and physicians and politicians and journalists and car salesmen...

Two lawyers have been stranded on an island for over a year. One morning they discover that a beatiful, nude woman has washed ashore, unconscious.

One lawyer asks the other, "Do you think we should...you know...screw her?"

The other answers, "Out of what?"

[skydiver30960 0]

Sorry to hear you're getting the hairy shaft.

I agree with somebody else's post about needing to expand your recruiter base. Remember these guys are NOT your friends, they need you in order make their money, and don't get a dime unless you take the job. Make them earn their cut.

The only other question I had was how much you could afford to live without the job. If you don't NEED it then tell them that if you're only being paid for eight, you're only gonna work for eight, and stroll out the FRONT door at the appropriate time each day and see what they do. Worst case scenario you'll get lots of attention.

Oh yea, and my usual disclaimer regarding my posts in employment-related threads: myself, I am now firmly into my eleventh month of unemployment.

Elvisio "need a job, out of money" Rodriguez

[Guest]

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Yeah yeah, all unions are crime havens, all women are sluts, all Christians are right wing zealots, all Republicans are closet Nazis, all gun owners are paranoid schizos, all professors are commies, all skydivers have a death wish...

Dude...I think you've got it. We can now close SC, everything's been covered.

hehehe - good one, Kev

mh

.

[jdhill 0]

If you are a contractor, the only rules that apply are what your contact says... If you don't want to accept those terms, don't sign the contract... it is supply and demand though... if there is someone out there that is willing to do the same work for those terms, than that becomes the market rate. The companies are going to try to pay as little as the can for their contractors...

A professional contractor should cost a firm the same or more than an employee on an hourly basis, especially if they are using a recruiting firm or temp agency to get the contractors... They may not have to pay benifits, but the contractor's rate should be marked up to provide that for themselves.

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke