While the gist of your response is true -the poster got what he asked for, one statement is glaringly false. Because I see it frequently bandied about in any discussion of Free Enterprise it's starting to cause a Pavlovian response of frothing rage every time I see it, so let's get it fixed quickly here.
False Statement: "...he went in with no risk"
Perhaps this particular employee took few risks in accepting that job, but obligating yourself to someone else's company is actually more risky than working for yourself. It requires trust in someone else's ability, honesty, integrity, and commitment; all of which tend to get shaky at some stage in the relationship. Indeed, the longer an individual works for someone else, the greater the risk that one or more of those necessary components will be compromised.
It's important to realize that many, if not most of those who choose to be employees do so because they are far too undercapitalized to start their own business. As such, their economic fate becomes crucially tied to the company they offer their services and loyalty to.
One need not look far to realize that corporate lay-offs, outsourcing, bankruptcies, mergers, and downsizing rarely effect shareholders and CEOs with anywhere near the significance they have on employees. Yes, the former might lose billions of dollars -and be forced to live off the measly millions they retain. The latter lose their home -their one and only home, and find themselves back in a job market that values them less than when they accepted employment to begin with. Again, that harm, that risk, increases with time, whereas in general, the risk of an owner, CEO, or shareholder tends to decrease.
My recommendation to the original post: get a contract; one with terms you absolutely love. If the employer won't sign, don't work for them, there's something they aren't telling you. If you work in a field where such contracts aren't used (you poor sot) your best defense is to learn everything you can, keep close notes of every contact address/phone/email, and get ahold of some customer database information just in case. The day your boss whines about your paycheck, start your own business.
Slashdot Mirror
Oy, would that I had read such information at 18 (or 20 or 30)! Original poster should count self lucky to have lesson laid in lap early in career.
False Statement: "...he went in with no risk"
Perhaps this particular employee took few risks in accepting that job, but obligating yourself to someone else's company is actually more risky than working for yourself. It requires trust in someone else's ability, honesty, integrity, and commitment; all of which tend to get shaky at some stage in the relationship. Indeed, the longer an individual works for someone else, the greater the risk that one or more of those necessary components will be compromised.
It's important to realize that many, if not most of those who choose to be employees do so because they are far too undercapitalized to start their own business. As such, their economic fate becomes crucially tied to the company they offer their services and loyalty to. One need not look far to realize that corporate lay-offs, outsourcing, bankruptcies, mergers, and downsizing rarely effect shareholders and CEOs with anywhere near the significance they have on employees. Yes, the former might lose billions of dollars -and be forced to live off the measly millions they retain. The latter lose their home -their one and only home, and find themselves back in a job market that values them less than when they accepted employment to begin with. Again, that harm, that risk, increases with time , whereas in general, the risk of an owner, CEO, or shareholder tends to decrease.
My recommendation to the original post: get a contract; one with terms you absolutely love. If the employer won't sign, don't work for them, there's something they aren't telling you.
If you work in a field where such contracts aren't used (you poor sot) your best defense is to learn everything you can, keep close notes of every contact address/phone/email, and get ahold of some customer database information just in case. The day your boss whines about your paycheck, start your own business.