[austechwriter] Re: Another one down - and almost out

No, we are not asking for exorbitant salaries, but $40/hr is probably the
minimum considering:
1.    40 hours per week
2.    Maybe 46 weeks a year (have to go on holiday and get sick every now
and then)
3.    Minus at least 9 % super
This leaves you with about $4050 a month if my tax calcs are correct, or
$24 an hour.  Take out of this, rent/mortgage, insurance, transport, a
new/second-hand car occasionally. plus the usual groceries and general
living expenses, two kids in high school with all their costs, and you
don't have much change over for that holiday.

In my current employment (due to end soon) I make a few cents more than the
above an hour, but they pay my super (9%) and I have a very good salary
continuance policy (which I don't pay for) and a reasonable amount of life
insurance (which I also don't pay for), and the company carries the public
liability.

I do have pity for the unemployed, and sometimes wonder how some people
make it on $15 - $20/hr, until now I have never really had to face up to
that situation.  But when managers are drawing upwards of $180,000 (and the
rest), us workers are drawing the short straw sometimes, methinks.

This of course assumes that you will be employed for 88% of the year.  I
used to work for $28/hr three years ago, and eventually gave it up out of
sheer exhaustion - 45 hours a week, plus 2.5 hours travelling (in good
conditions) 5 days a week for 18 months solid plus spending money to
maintain the unreliable piece of trash I was driving 'cos I couldn't afford
anything better, was not on.

regards

John




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Quoting Michael Edward Granat <megranat@xxxxxxxx>:
>
> The unrealistic job requirements, the $40.00 and less an hour offers and
> the unfunded relocation requirements that we have seen of late are just
an
> insult to our profession.
>

I think that $40 x 40hrs x 52weeks = $83200pa

Anyone who thinks that $83,200 p.a. is an unrealistically *low* salary will

probably remain uneployed for a considerable amount of time.  Most
employers
are not looking for The Ultimate Tech Writer, they are looking for someone
who
can do the job for a *realistic* salary.  If a writer applies for a job at
$25/hr, and can do the job - what employer is going to pay someone else
$40/hr
to do the same job?

I've noticed that most people who complain about low rates devaluing the
industry are hanging out for rates that get them laughed out of most jobs.
Be
thankful that I have a job, because I'd be happy to take on most tech
writing
tasks at $30/hr salary.

Michael, you may feel wounded by my comments, but expecting a salary so
high
when so many of your peers are unemployed is just as bad for the industry
as
asking $15/hr.

0.02c

Geoff



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