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this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2024
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
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The trick is don't work for an outsourcing company?
That feels like saying "the trick is don't sell on Amazon." Unless people already know you, where else can they find you? The market might not be there yet, but eventually, saturation is saturation.
Don't be a contractor. Unless you're unusually skilled or have a very exotic and rare niche that you're an expert in then being a contractor is a step down for most people in the software field imo. Look for direct hire.
Yes. Assuming that you can actually find clients and that those clients don't have policies against hiring contractors directly (a lot of the big ones do). Those seem like low barriers to entry but the majority of developers don't meet them (I used to be one, and most of my friend circle still is), much as LinkedIn would have us believe otherwise.
Solutions for individuals tend not to work for large groups (I got lucky, you might just be that good). These changes point to a systemic shift which could work out for the better but I really don't think it will.
The truth is, except for niche requirements and expertise, one US engineer is not as good as 4 Eastern European devs (and I could get you those for the same price while making a hefty margin). Only the best are needed, the rest are competing in a market that doesn't even cover their living expenses, and they can't even negotiate as hard because they don't have as many local jobs as alternatives. Moving down the value chain is never a good sign. Eventually you capture less profit no matter how you slice it.