Contractors
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas, USA
Up until a few months ago (I went direct at a company), I was a contract mechanical engineer for about a dozen years within the aerospace/defense industry. I've worked for Lockheed Martin, Hughes Aircraft, Rockwell International and NASA, so I feel fairly well qualified to speak on the subject.
Businesses like to use contractors because it's easier, and cheaper. Even though we average much higher salaries than a direct, the company doesn't have to worry about benefit costs, which saves them quite a bit of money. It is also easier to reduce your work force when the project is finished and the extra labor is no longer needed. Contractors benefit because of the level of pay that they receive...sometimes as much as 50% higher than a direct and pay for overtime.
Yes, I have worked with people who are generally lazy or unqualified...or both. In my experience however, this has been the exception rather than the rule. I can't speak for other industries, but in mine, most folks I have worked with are well qualified and consciencious people who don't like "sitting around" and are there to get the job done. They resent another person taking advantage like that...it means all of us have to work harder to compensate for that person. And remember, if there is a contractor like that on the job, it isn't long before their lack of ability starts to show, and it is the company's responsibility to identify those individuals and terminate them.
It can be hard on the contractor too. Although we enjoy an exceptional rate of pay, jobs tend to last (on average) from 6 months to a year, and there is NO security. So that additional pay becomes a "safety net" so to speak. It is common for a person to be a "road shopper", going from place to place around the country wherever the jobs are. This can be especially hard if that person has a family.
IMHO, it doesn't really matter whether a person is contract or direct. That person is still working, still being productive, and not on government assistance. Not that there's anything wrong with government assistance or unemployment, but when employment is down, it's much healthier for the economy in general. I really loved my years as a contractor. I made incredible money and got to work on fascinating projects like the B1 Bomber, Patriot Missile, and the Space Shuttle. I am very proud to have had the opportunity to contibute to this country through my efforts on those projects.
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1999 F-150 4x4 SuperCab, Deep Wedgewood Blue, ORP, 4-Wheel ABS, Loaded, Flowmaster 50 series, K&N, Tint, Super-White headlights, Westin Nerf Bars, Toff Spray-On Bedliner, Pioneer DEH-P3000 and TS-A6815 speakers, ADS PQ/8 amp.
Businesses like to use contractors because it's easier, and cheaper. Even though we average much higher salaries than a direct, the company doesn't have to worry about benefit costs, which saves them quite a bit of money. It is also easier to reduce your work force when the project is finished and the extra labor is no longer needed. Contractors benefit because of the level of pay that they receive...sometimes as much as 50% higher than a direct and pay for overtime.
Yes, I have worked with people who are generally lazy or unqualified...or both. In my experience however, this has been the exception rather than the rule. I can't speak for other industries, but in mine, most folks I have worked with are well qualified and consciencious people who don't like "sitting around" and are there to get the job done. They resent another person taking advantage like that...it means all of us have to work harder to compensate for that person. And remember, if there is a contractor like that on the job, it isn't long before their lack of ability starts to show, and it is the company's responsibility to identify those individuals and terminate them.
It can be hard on the contractor too. Although we enjoy an exceptional rate of pay, jobs tend to last (on average) from 6 months to a year, and there is NO security. So that additional pay becomes a "safety net" so to speak. It is common for a person to be a "road shopper", going from place to place around the country wherever the jobs are. This can be especially hard if that person has a family.
IMHO, it doesn't really matter whether a person is contract or direct. That person is still working, still being productive, and not on government assistance. Not that there's anything wrong with government assistance or unemployment, but when employment is down, it's much healthier for the economy in general. I really loved my years as a contractor. I made incredible money and got to work on fascinating projects like the B1 Bomber, Patriot Missile, and the Space Shuttle. I am very proud to have had the opportunity to contibute to this country through my efforts on those projects.
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1999 F-150 4x4 SuperCab, Deep Wedgewood Blue, ORP, 4-Wheel ABS, Loaded, Flowmaster 50 series, K&N, Tint, Super-White headlights, Westin Nerf Bars, Toff Spray-On Bedliner, Pioneer DEH-P3000 and TS-A6815 speakers, ADS PQ/8 amp.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada (originally from Kearny, New Jersey)
I'm in the military and contracting services has becoming more and more the normal way of doing business. Kind of scary at times when you have to worry about job security while in the military. but it can make good business sense.
Most of the contractors I've dealt with are professional and do a top notch job (they know we're watching). But alot will do exactly only what the contract says, demanding more money even for menial tasks. And you can tell who the ex-military members are that work for the contractor, they ususally don't care and do whatever it takes to get the job done like in their past.
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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs
Most of the contractors I've dealt with are professional and do a top notch job (they know we're watching). But alot will do exactly only what the contract says, demanding more money even for menial tasks. And you can tell who the ex-military members are that work for the contractor, they ususally don't care and do whatever it takes to get the job done like in their past.
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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs
Banned
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: Shangri-La
In my experience, it has been with mixed results. Sometimes they'll come in and do very professional work. Other times, they're sloppy and just don't give a damn; they abuse equipment and just generally get on everyone's nerves. Some of the contractors, once they've been awarded the job, seem to hire the cheapest, most unskilled labor they can find in order to keep their costs down. For the most part, if the contractor is also the same individual(s) handling the job (not just bidding on it), they want repeat contracts so they'll complete the job according to spec. At any rate, those are my observations.
