The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess • Hacker News Board

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#441

Post by ptero » Fri, Mar 24, 2017, 11:14 PM UTC

mcguire wrote: post #403

ptero wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are pros and cons to both models, e.g. I think recent french experiment with mandated 35hrs (I think) work week backfired pretty badly. I live in the US and know more than one person working a 6/6 cycle (6 month of work, 6 month of rest and travel) which they would never be able to do with old, rigid work arrangement. I think for skilled workers with skills in demand flexible work options can offer huge benefit…

Where are they and who are they working for? Outside of teaching, I don't know of any jobs that would permit that, and it sounds great.

They consult on 6-month long projects. After 4-5 months of rest they start looking for next gig. At worst they have to look longer than they plan, but it works. But you must be willing to move to wherever next job site is, SV, Boston, DC, etc.

I also have several friends who work 3 day a week (24 hrs) by choice so they have more free time.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#442

Post by namlem » Sat, Mar 25, 2017, 6:09 PM UTC

J-dawg wrote: post #73

rmc wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And many of them think that people in Europe have it worse. That the economy would just collapse into African-levels of poverty if there was mandatory paid holidays. This is a danger of American TV shows and movie studios remaking shows for the American audiences. They don't get to see that Europe is mostly a developed place.

Not to disagree with the parent comment (because overall I prefer the European way) but we do have it worse in some ways. Salaries for professionals are markedly lower, we live in much smaller houses etc. I get the feeling that when you're winning at life in America, you're really winning. But when you're losing you're really losing. In Europe the ups and downs of life are more smoothed out.

Rent is also lower in Europe, and house size has pretty rapidly diminishing returns.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#443

Post by ssalazar » Sat, Mar 25, 2017, 10:02 PM UTC

conanbatt wrote: post #437

mpweiher wrote: post #432

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was in the US working first at Apple and later at Livescribe, I was essentially breaking even on salary vs. cost of living. Moving back to Berlin, I went part time because it was sufficient.

Break-even with an apple eng salary in the us? I cant believe that is true.

Not sure about break-even, but Apple notoriously underpays relative to the rest of SV and the caliber of work/time expected.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#444

Post by scottishfiction » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 8:15 AM UTC

alkonaut wrote: post #277

scottishfiction wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While we're correcting misconceptions... it is most definitely 'free' in Scotland.

Even though I'm swedish I did go to Scotish uni (Strathclyde!) for a while. It was probably paid for by magical EU funds though. I do remember registering and my peers talking about student loans but I thought they were like my student loans (which were for rent, food and books) and thought almost all tuitions were paid by govt. grants, not loans. I know at least a part of my friends had grants, not loans, paying the…

I also went to Strathclyde :)

In Scotland at least, student loans are only used for living expenses, similar to your experience. Tuition fees are paid by the Scottish Government, as education is a devolved power [1].

In England, tuition fees are paid by the student, usually through a student loan, and are capped at £9k/year.

[Warning: political] I couldn't answer on Labour's priorities. They're becoming increasingly irrelevant north of the border, and increasingly impotent south of the border.

1. http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/12506.aspx

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#445

Post by scottishfiction » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 8:22 AM UTC

J-dawg wrote: post #300

scottishfiction wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While we're correcting misconceptions... it is most definitely 'free' in Scotland.

How could I forget! Thanks for pointing this out. Personally I'm surprised that there isn't a lot more anger from English taxpayers about this. It would be very interesting to see whether an independent Scotland could continue this policy.

I hope they are angry; at their own leaders for failing to provide the same, and not based in some misguided theory on Scottish subsidies, which is a far more complex issue than many tabloids would have their readers believe.

Stats here paint are more nuanced picture: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/are-the-s...