Posted on 08/06/2013 7:43:08 PM PDT by Enza Ferreri
I remember that Paola Cavalieri, the editor of the Italian journal Etica e Animali, once said to me: "If human beings have privileges at the expense of nonhuman animal suffering, it would be best if none of them existed: at least we would all be equal".
There is a deep truth in that: egalitarianism, taken to its extreme consequences, would lead to total destruction of all sentient life. Being dead is the only state in which we are all equal. Life is diversity itself.
I was reminded of that when I heard on the radio a discussion about zero-hours contracts, under which an employee must be available for work as needed, will only be paid for the hours worked, and has no guaranteed hours each month.
The recent concerns expressed arise from the emerging of new figures indicating that there could be as many as four times more people than previously thought in zero-hours jobs. The research suggests a million people could be working under them.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development surveyed 1,000 firms and found that up to 4% of the UK workforce were on such contracts.
Zero-hours contracts are on the rise, and is predicted that they will continue to increase, because employers more and more try to find cost-effective ways to meet short-term staffing needs.
Fast-food, catering, hotel, shop-assistant jobs are the most common occupations under these contracts, and also some NHS jobs.
Business Secretary Vince Cable is now concerned that, he said, there is "some exploitation" of staff on these contracts, and he started a review into the state of zero-hours contracts.
A ban on this hiring method is unlikely because many workers actually prefer it, like flexible hours and want to work only occasionally, around existing commitments, but we may see the usual government meddling, restrictions and regulations.
But why on earth should anyone want to force businesses to employ on a regular contract people they don't need or more people they can afford?
This can only lead to potential employers being increasingly wary of hiring, and to a rise in unemployment.
Don't they see that overregulating and interfering is a recipe for more destructive economic outcomes? The labour market must be subject to the same economic (not political) laws of the market as everything else. This is the only way that a modern society can be productive: call it capitalism if you like. The alternative, socialism, makes everybody poor.
But maybe that's what egalitarians really want. As Paola Cavalieri, they prefer everybody to have nothing, which is the only sure way to erase all income disparities.
I'll get back to you on that...LOL
I'll read the rest later. I need sleeeep.
Excellent.
What’s the difference between a zero-hour contract and the current state of IT contracting?
I only get paid when I work, hours are subject to change at any time, projects can end suddenly, zero to little benefts. My last gig was from 12pm to 12am Mon-Thurs. A month in we get a call at 10pm to send us all home and to be back at 7am. Our project totally changed and we were worked in shifts round the clock and weekends for 4 weeks. If we didnt like it we could hit the door. They approved overtime but it wasn’t until we got our paychecks that it was straight time. Nobody bothered to inform us of their definition of “over time”. While I was happy to be working, the instability was difficult, especially with a newborn and a wife with hormones returning to normal post pregnancy.
Business complains at the lack of skilled labor but they simply refuse to invest in people. It’s like a bad relationship where you are told to give you all while getting the bare minimum in return. They bring in Mercenaries then complain when they aren’t loyal.
It wouldn’t shock me to see the nature of our employment in this country move to a strictly contract basis. This presents a serious issue for people trying to work and grow. Many of the guys I worked with had been contracting for years. Few had any long term experience and many of their skillsets were very limited, basically desktop only and nothing outside of that. Certs and training dont give you the experience you need for ANY technical field, times does as well as earning trust and taking on new responsibilities. Contract work rarely grows and we could end up with a very limited workforce that is basically stagnant with no upward mobility.
Are we? How would she know?
Invest? Most college grads are not able, willing nor have any interest in working. They just want a paycheck. Invest?, it goes both ways.
In the early 1980s, I worked wit a Chilean refugee miner. He recommended communism because, while the people in Chile were in bad shape personally and economically under the commies, “it was better because things were fair for all”.
The point is investment isnt going either way.
Wrong!
Some will be more remembered than others.
Deal with it!
Of course it is...It's going to India. ;)
When you are dead it is indifferent to you if you are remembered or not. It makes a difference to the living, but not the dead.
How do I know? This is the best of our scientific knowledge.
Scientific knowledge is a fine thing. Though I trust God to be God, and hope someday I’ll learn a little of how He does it.
This idea for fast food restaurants has a lot of merit. Seniors would be great for this to be available at peak times, especially in resort areas.
India’s economy has slowed down considerably recently.
That seems endemic worldwide. (Excepting Texas and Nort Dakota, gee I wonder why?)
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