I visited this site more often than I call my grandparents. I've been agency (purchased services) at Ford Design for 28 years. Every year, I'm offered (threatened) with the "opportunity" of going direct, and each year, I called their bluff and politely declined. Didn't receive a call this weekend, so it looks like I made the cut again. But so many long time friends and coworkers have been let go over the years, beginning with the Visteon / ACH debacle. Getting survivor's remorse.
5 replies (most recent on top)
"Take This Job and Shove It" (Johnny Paycheck)
I did the contractor gig for about two decades and it all depends on the agency you use. Some are incompetent & greedy, others are efficient and don't believe they're entitled to half or more of the billing rate. Most of the time my benefits weren't any worse, 401k there or through OEM is a wash, and I actually had a higher rate than my direct hire colleagues. Less vacation time though, however that was because I chose to not have the agency hold x% of my billing rate to pay for my vacations and set it aside myself instead.
During that time I didn't have to deal with PR's, arbitrary training on the latest non-relevant corporate silver bullet, nor have to play the Friends & Family Ladder Climber game.
“Another One Bites the Dust” (Queen)
You have up 28 years of performance bonuses, better benefits, more vacation time, more paid holidays, and a retirement plan? Why?
After awhile you become numb to the cuts and don’t realize how stressful it all really is, until you step off the merry go round