TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
First of all, I sympathize with your plight and the feelings you must be experiencing right now. I hope this turns out well for you.
You didn't specifically ask for a list of possible cost-cutting measures that can be taken within the doc department, but I thought it was an interesting topic, so I'll post a few ideas.
- Go to online-only/PDF documentation (ship on CD and make available via web)
- Charge for a printed doc set
- Outsource editing tasks
- Outsource localization/translation tasks
As far as PT vs FT, I have some second-hand experience with the issues related to this.
1. Company's don't typically like the logistics problems of employing PT employees. It makes everything from scheduling meetings to determining pro-rated health costs difficult.
2. Being PT brings into question your ability to focus on the project at hand when you're only in there a coupla days a week.
3. PT employees often end up working FT hours. This generates resentment on their part as they feel they should be getting paid.
4. Companies lay off PT employees first, IME.
Matthew Horn
Sr. Technical Writer
< m a c r o m e d i a >
-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Carnall [mailto:jane -dot- carnall -at- digitalbridges -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 9:29 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Tuesday's news: cost-cutting measures
It's not really worth sending this ANONFWD...
Okay, I've just been told I'm "at risk of redundancy"... and unless I or the
company can think up some "cost-cutting measures" by Friday, I'll be
formally redundant.
Assuming that they mean it when they say "cost-cutting measures" - my first
thought is to offer to go part-time. Working two days (or three days) a week
would give me a safety net plus spare time to try and build-up freelance
technical writing/copyediting/indexing work, which is something I've been
thinking of doing for a while.
(My second thought is, of course, to go home, polish up the CV, start
URGENTLY sending it out to all and sundry. The two thoughts can, of course,
be carried out in parallel.)
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who's gone from full-time to part-time at
the same company, or any thoughts from people about how best to present the
plan of the company getting a part-time technical writer (and currently, I'm
the only one they have) instead of a full-time one.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out the new release of RoboDemo, our easy-to-use tutorial software.
Plus, buy RoboHelp Office in August and save $100 with our mail-in rebate.
Get details and download free trial versions at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
