Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#41

Post by alain94040 » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 9:46 AM UTC

1. This is abuse. You know it (otherwise you wouldn't have asked). What you didn't realize is how bad it is. It's VERY bad.

2. Find another job. This boss is hopeless, you can't fix it.

3. If you want to have fun, quit and tell him that you want to reclassify all the 1099 income as salary. He'll be liable for all kinds of social security stuff, he'll be in deep trouble with the other devs... That would be a major threat to him.

I don't particularly recommend an actual lawsuit, because the money you'd gain from it is so small based on your salary anyway. Also be aware that making such a threat would be extremely disruptive to him, as it would sink his business. So he may resort to more illegal schemes to fight back. Therefore it's probably not worth it - move on!

And please blog about it. Other people in your situation need to know about this. Include specific numbers, it helps!

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#42

Post by dalore » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 9:51 AM UTC

As one of the key early employees who took a pay cut to make things work you really should get stock or stock options.

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#43

Post by dkersten » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 9:53 AM UTC

BobbyH wrote: post #34

datawalke wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do believe life is a good deal of weighing risks and taking them at a period of time. Jumping right off to freelancing would be too uncertain at the moment. Bills come to around $1,500/mo. Freelancing at the moment generates around $900-$1200/mo. But I currently only have the bandwidth to handle 1 or 2 projects per month. On the rebellion side I would not feel ethical doing so. I don't want this guy's business to c…

Why not convert your "1099 boss" into a real freelancer client? This involves a few simple steps: 1. Ask him to be "upgraded" to a real employee (he'll say no, as we suspect) 2. Tell him you understand his decision, and since he wants you to be freelance, you will work for him as a true freelancer, e.g. for a certain number of hours, at a certain hourly wage, at your own home, at the hours you choose. 3. He may "fire…

3.1) if he fires you and comes crawling back later, charge him double what you offered him at first ;-)

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#44

Post by _delirium » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 9:58 AM UTC

datawalke wrote: post #7

patio11 wrote: post #2

I realize that feelings of loyalty to an employer can skew one's perspective on things. (Oh boy, do I.) You need to hear someone say this, so I'll be a bit blunt: 1) You are being drastically underpaid relative to your market worth. 2) The fact of you being underpaid will cause material hardship for your wife and children. 3) Your boss is exploiting you. Illegally, to boot. 4) Your boss will not stop exploiting you.…

Thank you for the bluntness, at times -- especially now, I think it is needed. I have been in this position twice before where I have been debating what to do in terms of leaving/staying. However this time is different. I have never felt a depression like I have over the past two weeks. Mentally commiting myself is something I believe I can take hold of. My main issue and worry will be finding a new employer. The are…

Most companies will pay relocation expenses if they hire you, and will pay for transportation to/from an interview if they're interested enough to ask you to an in-person one, so lack of money to move shouldn't keep you from applying, if you know of a good opportunity.

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#45

Post by oceanician » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 10:10 AM UTC

Let people know which are of the world or states you are in, and perhaps they can provide employment for the whole of your team.

It sounds like you are very hard working, so anyone will be happy having you in their team.

Do you have equity in the company, that keeps you there?

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#46

Post by datawalke » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 10:17 AM UTC

oceanician wrote: post #45

Let people know which are of the world or states you are in, and perhaps they can provide employment for the whole of your team. It sounds like you are very hard working, so anyone will be happy having you in their team. Do you have equity in the company, that keeps you there?

No equity.

I am trying to keep this post fairly generic, however we are located in the Northeastern United States Lower than New York, Higher than Maryland ;)

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#47

Post by forinti » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 10:25 AM UTC

To put your salary in perspective, it would be reasonable (not great) in most of Brazil, but terrible in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.

So you definitely got a bad deal.

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#48

Post by sliverstorm » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 10:25 AM UTC

Just to give you an idea of where you stand pay-scale wise, I am a student employed part-time. I make about the same as you during breaks when I have the time to put in full-time hours.

You are making student money for professional hours.

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#49

Post by ojbyrne » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 10:26 AM UTC

datawalke wrote: post #12

jteo wrote: post #8

You're talented and hardworking. Stop taking this crap and ask him to meet your reasonable demands or leave. I'm sure someone on HN here would be more than glad to hire you for another startup.

Thank you for the kind words. If anyone on HN is hiring or looking to keep some extra talent in mind I would love to talk to you. I am very good at a select few things: UI Design, PHP (Specifically CakePHP), XHTML/CSS, and Problem Solving. I am also okay and very comfortable with Subversion and MySQL.I have a passion for the web and automation. You can contact me via HN or at: nowjobhunting@gmail.com

Where specifically are you located? Northern East Coast is a little vague.

Re: Ask HN: Typical Startup or Abuse?

#50

Post by sliverstorm » Sun, Jun 20, 2010, 10:29 AM UTC

jlgosse wrote: post #35

I'm sure you're great, but I'm sick of seeing: "I have been doing web work since I was nine." What's up with this? I was probably the most technology savvy kid to come out of my high school, and I'm still not even remotely close to saying something like this! I bet that when you were 9, you couldn't even do most advanced algebra, let alone real web work.

> I bet that when you were 9, you couldn't even do most advanced algebra

I'm confused. Are you suggesting that your average 3rd grader should have already finished linear algebra? You do realize this means they did calculus and integrals in 1st grade, trig in kindergarten, and algebra in preschool, and learned long division when they were 3, right? Many 3 year olds don't even know how to read yet, and some aren't even solid on English. Or wait, did they learn that in the womb?