[Djuna]

68vette, glad to hear the atmosphere has changed at FAHC as I'm in the process of applying for an RN position there. Which department do you work in?

[arel]

Originally Posted by 68vette

Arel , your right about employers taking advantage of it's employees. I work at FAHC and about 8 years ago we had a manager who was not nice to the employees(this person no longer works there, thank god). I'll give you an example of how life was working in our department at the time. The pay at the time wasn't good and several employees mentioned that they would have to look for work elsewhere. The response given was go ahead and look elsewhere, but we are the only show in town(meaning that the hospital was the only one within about 40-50 miles). I don't want to discourage potential employees from FAHC because things are 100% better now, but I'm sure this mentality happens elsewhere.

If that's the case at a large facility in Burlington, then I wonder what it is like at smaller facilities and smaller businesses in smaller towns. In some ways the situation could be worse, but it some ways it could be better.

Maybe in smaller towns, people who live there care more about their neighbors, or at least have to face them and care about their reputations. If so, and that translates into better treatment of employees, then that's a good thing.

Maybe in smaller businesses, the entire staff is smaller and more cohesive. Again, that's a good thing.

Maybe in smaller businesses in smaller towns, staffs are small and harder to join. That is not a good thing.

Maybe in smaller towns and smaller businesses, they are more exclusive and favor natives over transplants. If so, that is not a good thing.

I don't know about other towns, but in Brattleboro, there are lots of transplants.

Maybe the solution is to have a profession with transferable skills. An accountant, for example, may specialize in a certain area, but accountants are needed in all sorts of businesses. Where can someone who is, say, an X-ray technician, go, apart from a hospital, large clinic or imaging center? Where can a tertiary medical care specialist go, apart from a major medical center?

I guess another solution is to have your own small business. That way you are not dependent on one employer. And you are your own boss. The downside is that every client is your employer, and, in a sense, your boss, but you have a lot of them. Although you have ethical and legal accountabiity, and have to meet your' clients' needs, you are not controlled by any one individual. Another downside is the lack of a steady, predictable and even secure income, but who's to say a job income is going to be secure?

Maybe another solution is to have a job that is widely needed. Almost everyone gets their hair cut. Almost everyone goes to the doctor or dentist. Everyone has to eat, so food production and distribution is marketable. Approximately half the population has animals, at least pets, so an animal-related business has potential.

Versatility is important, in terms of your profession and in terms of your particular skill set. A photographer, for example, can work in journalism, magazine publishing, recreation, marketing, industry, forensics or anywhere else photograhs are needed. A photographer can work as an employee and/or freelance. As another example, a social worker can work in a shool, a clinic, a hospital, a child welfare faciity or organization, an early intervention program, a prison, a nursing home, a home care agency, an employee assistance program, etc. etc. A social worker can work as an independent contractor with several agencies. A social worker can also have a private practice, which is a small business. A social worker can also transfer skills - such as interviewing, de-escalating angry people, working with groups, etc. - to other industries and activities. (Unfortunately, though, sales isn't usually one of them. I tried, thinking I could make a lot more money, but I hated it and was not effective. Sales requires a different skill set, and, more importantly, a different mentality, atitude and, often, a different set of ethical values and boundaries.)

When I was a child thinking of what I would do when I grew up, I mostly thought in terms of interests, activities and mission. As a child of my culture, I also thought in terms of intellectual prestige. But, sadly, I never thought in terms of economic survival, e.g. finding a job and getting properly paid.

Even as a child, I dreamed of moving to New England. But I never thought in terms of economic survival there.

Those things I had to learn as an adult.

[GypsySoul22]

One thing I have found here is finding out information (laws) is quite simple. Things that would take weeks to sort out in NY or discover are easier here. For example, I had to apply for medical for my son. It's called Medicaid/Dr. Dinosaur. Our appointment was done in a week and we were taking care of within a week or two.

The office was EMPTY. I don't usually hang around 'social services' but in NY I am sure it would be filled with milling people of all shapes, sizes, races and languages. (I've dealt with government places such as immigration (for my husband), Social Security (for applying for SS card) so you know those places.
They look us on time. Everyone spoke English..(amazing...).

We also have had to look online for laws pertaining to renting and employment since being hear. Clear information was given online AND when we called "rental rights." (the lady from rental rights called back within the hour!!)

I think you can find bad organizations (as well as good) in any state. I would not paint everyone with the same brush. I had some very bad employers in NY, especially in 'smaller' companies. I stated this in another post. The woman made us 'beg' for our pay EVERY week.

Remember I told you, Arel, about my 'one day job' here? I have had to email the guy to 'remind him' to send me my check. He should have sent it last week and according to Vermont law, he's breaking it by NOT sending it within 48 hours of me 'quitting.'

I am not going to hate EVERY employer because this guy is jerking me around. However, I will keep all the legal pages stored on my computer and would not hesitate to point out (should my check not arrive by next Tuesday) he is breaking the law.

I hope someday to work in a good place with 'mutual respect.' I think I have probably only done that one other time (found a fair, decent company).

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Vermont is like Mexico.
Employers go there because they have a captive work force they
can take advantage of. From a semantical standpoint, there is
no reason to do business in Vermont if you are a manufacturer or
mover of tangible goods. The cost of getting there is expensive and
most companies want a full truck on the way back, too. That leaves
only the 'taking advatage' factor. I worked many jobs from Rutland to
Manchester and they all wouldnt have been open for week down south
because no one would work in those conditions for no money or benes.
Even the 'good'(?) jobs 'where we take care of good employees' were an
absolute joke. I could go on but for the sake of brevity Ill mercifully end it .
Some good did come out of it, though. I can take anything. There is
nowhere else we would ever live that is that bad employment wise.
My new co-workers think Im on Prozac...My new employer thinks Im
the happiest employee in the place. I am, too.....cuz Im not getting
soul crushed by Rutland area employer anymore.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by Djuna

68vette, glad to hear the atmosphere has changed at FAHC as I'm in the process of applying for an RN position there. Which department do you work in?

I work as a Respiratory Therapist in ICUs. My wife is a RN here in the SICU/PICU and things are much better in nursing than when she first came here 12 years ago.

[GypsySoul22]

My husband is working a temp job (while interviewing for others). At this job he says the people work far too hard. I don't know if that's because it is 'employee owned' or they just 'work very hard' here (for low pay, too).

In NY we know how to work but why kill yourself for junk wages? Fortunately we have NH over the border so if we worked there, it's not so 'insane.' We have more options.

I don't plan on being stuck as a hamster in a maze--I think the best way to survive (if we stayed in VT) is to own a business/work for yourself.

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

My husband is working a temp job (while interviewing for others). At this job he says the people work far too hard.

That is not a good attitude.

[GypsySoul22]

Originally Posted by Lilybeans

That is not a good attitude.

His attitude is fine. His bosses like his work but he will leave if he gets a job paying more money. What sane person wouldn't?

What needs to change in this state is paying the people fair and livable wages instead of expecting them to work 2 jobs. The only people who disagree the wages are not too low must have excellent jobs or be funded by out of state money.

Wait--is that too radical an idea? How dare anyone 'rock the boat' and suggest 'better pay for hard work?'

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

His attitude is fine. His bosses like his work but he will leave if he gets a job paying more money. What sane person wouldn't? What is a fair and liveable wage? Where is the employers supposed to get more money?

What needs to change in this state is paying the people fair and livable wages instead of expecting them to work 2 jobs. The only people who disagree the wages are not too low must have excellent jobs or be funded by out of state money.

Wait--is that too radical an idea? How dare anyone 'rock the boat' and suggest 'better pay for hard work?'

What is hard work?

Maybe you are used to overpayment for not working hard. No offense, but I expect my employees to do the work they are paid to do. Should someone at a job be paid less for not working hard? Is there some kind of sliding scale for work vs pay?

Wages for some jobs are inflated in some states.

Now if someone wants to leave for better pay, then great, they should be able to do so. All the best to them.

If you really want to be in charge of your income, then you should work for yourself.

[GypsySoul22]

Lilly,
You've been kind to me on this forum so I don't want a flaming war.
Seriously I personally have never been overpaid. Neither has my husband. I've done work for as low as $6.50 an hour (preschool teacher) which meant I was personally in charge of 15 kids while the boss (owner) was raking in a good fee for them.

Trickling down to the worker would be nice sometimes, that's all I am saying.