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.
I am one of those contractors who work through an
agency so I'm kind of half-way between a wage slave
and an independent contractor. This type of contracting
is really just temporary employment. There is more
freedom than being a salaried employee but not as
much as being independent. There is more security
than independent, but not as much as a salaried
employee. It all boils down to trade-offs and what you
are most comfortable with.
Most agencies and independent contractors only charge
straight time for overtime so it does not matter how many
hours in a week you work. In my current situation, I do
receive overtime. It is nice to get paid an absolutely ridiculous
rate for any time over 40 hours; however, it also means that
any overtime must be preapproved. Since this department is
on a tight budget, that is a big deal. So, if my project deadline
is tight, I still have to get it done in 40 hours/week if at all
possible.
Melonie R. Holliman
Technical Writer
CPD Marketing
Advanced Micro Devices
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin McLauchlan [SMTP:KMcLauchlan -at- CHRYSALIS-ITS -dot- COM]
>
> Do I understand correctly that most of you folks who
> are contractors are charging by-the-hour?
>
>