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Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> RE: DBA - Job boundaries & perks
Great Points!!!
-----Original Message-----
From: root_at_fatcity.com [mailto:root_at_fatcity.com]On Behalf Of
Cherie_Machler_at_gelco.com
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 8:10 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
Subject: Re: DBA - Job boundaries & perks
Sean,
We had a client from the U.K. who had
their people on-site here in the U.S. One
of their software guys was surprised to
hear that we software people didn't have
unions. We don't really have much protection
for our working conditions the way that some
software and computer industry workers do
in the U.K. and in Europe.
It is possible for employers in the U.S. to
really overwork their employees if the
employees don't just stand put their foot
down and say no after a certain point.
This friend was amazed that we didn't
necessarily get paid overtime, didn't have
much for paid vacation, weren't guarenteed
certain bonuses and raises every year,
didn't have open knowledge of everyone's
rank and pay scale, etc. He was appalled
that we sometimes worked under rather
poor conditions like bad lighting, cold
and drafty offices, less than optimal equipment
and furniture, etc.
As an employee, we don't have things like
contracts spelling out the maximum number
of hours we can or will work or how we will
be compensated if we are asked to work
overtime, be on call, or carry a beeper.
I guess it's a whole different paradigm here.
As a contractor, I did sometimes have, and
know of other contractors and consultants
who had clauses specifying specific hourly
charges for being on call, responding to
calls, and carrying a beeper. Normally,
contractors are paid by the hour (or at least
bill the client by the hour) so the client is
much more reticent about requesting overtime
and off-hours support of them. When you
have to pay someone for the extra work,
it's amazing how much less extra work you
ask of them.
More experienced Oracle DBAs are lucky
because they realise how much in demand
they are and can pretty much define a lot
of their own terms. If things get too bad, most
everyone knows that they can walk.
Luckily, I'm not in too bad a situation right now
so don't have to resort to leaving. But the
option is there for most DBAs. You have to
keep that knowledge in the back of your
head when you're negotiating with your boss
and your users and colleagues on what is
reasonable and what is not.
Personally, I work unpaid overtime and extra off-hours when I feel it is critical and something important needs to be done. I don't like to do it just for the sake of getting something done that needs doing. There's always tomorrow for that. I'm also a great believe in asking for additional help (even part-time) if there is way too much work for a reasonably-skilled DBA to do.
I have three small children so my off-hours are important and necessary to me. I have to balance my family's needs with the needs of my employer.
My $.02
Cherie Machler
Gelco Information Network
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Author:
INET: Cherie_Machler_at_gelco.com
Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists --------------------------------------------------------------------To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may Received on Thu Dec 21 2000 - 08:21:26 CST
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