Re: Jobs Future for Technical Communication

[Laurie Rubin <lmr -at- SYL -dot- NJ -dot- NEC -dot- COM>]

I agree with you that working as a W-2 for a consulting firm is not all that
bad.  I don't have the time to market myself nor the wide variety of business
contacts compared to that of marketing or accounts reps in 30 different
consulting firms.

Since I work primarily in the office (especially now that my
husband needs to use the computer during the day), and look for contracts
close to home (currently, 10 minutes), I don't have very many deductions.
Plus, the one year I did go 1099, I also had to pay both ends of social
security (my own and the employer's), and that is a whopping 15% compared to
7.5%.  Plus, on a W-2 you don't have to deal with estimated taxes on a
quarterly basis.

I seem to go through a different consulting firm in New Jersey almost every
time
I change contracts, but all have been good about sticking with whatever
agreement we initially made and sending me my paychecks.

True, I am paid hourly, so no benefits, but at least a paycheck has been, in
general, consistently coming in every two weeks for many years.

Laurie


 suggest is a great idea for those who want to be
> independent, I think you're being too hard on agencies. My experience is
> that a good (and ethical) agency - particularly one that understands tech
> writers - can be an invaluable ally, particularly for those of us who hate
> marketing. An agency can ensure that you get paid by a slow-paying client,
> can negotiate difficult working conditions, and can help avoid long lapses
> between contracts by marketing you while you're still working.

> Even the W-2 you malign can be an advantage. Payment by W-2 is, in most
> cases, the only really legal way to go, because most of us are not really
> totally independent and don't fit the qualifications set up by the IRS. I'm
> a writer, not an accountant, and I'd just as soon taxes are withheld than
> deal with estimated taxes and all that stuff. W-2 employment also means that
> I'm covered by unemployment insurance - a nice benefit that I haven't had to
> use much, but keeps me from panicking between assignments.

> I grant that I've been lucky. I've found a couple of agencies I enjoy
> working with, who keep me busy,  and who pay me regularly and fairly. I've
> also found a couple of good contracts on my own. I make more money when
> working direct, but I'm not sure that it's enough to make up for the extra
> taxes and worries. (Yes, I know that you can deduct more stuff when you're
> direct, but there's a limit, and my couple of direct contracts a year seem
> to be sufficient to cover most of my reasonable deductions.)

> Marianne Adams
> marianne -at- boston -dot- handson -dot- com