General Discussion

DesertFlower

(11,649 posts)

31. i worked as a temp from '79 to '88 at NY Telephone.

Sat Dec 7, 2013, 07:33 PM

Dec 2013

i started at $6.00 an hour -- within a few months i was up to $9.00 an hour. when i left i was making $18 an hour. the agency made $4.00 an hour for every hour i worked. i worked all the overtime i could get and made between $45 and $55,000 a year. i didn't need benefits -- had my husband's. the temp agency also gave 1 week vacation pay for every 1,000 hours worked.

WTF happened since then? my friend in NYC said you're lucky to get $25 an hour as a legal secretary, but most times they try to get away with $20-22 an hour. he has a steady job now as a legal secretary/paralegal and makes $63,000 a year with benefits. he works his ass off.

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42 replies

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"How much do we make here?" asked the temp six hours into his shift [View all] Nikia Dec 2013 OP

Something is better than nothing. Rod Beauvex Dec 2013 #1

While asking an employer does not make me insensitive, saying that to the temp Nikia Dec 2013 #2

Now you know. Gormy Cuss Dec 2013 #32

When I was in the job market, salary was almost always my first question. closeupready Dec 2013 #3

I don't think you were responsible wickerwoman Dec 2013 #4

It's entirely self serving Lordquinton Dec 2013 #16

This sounds like it was taken directly from the Plantation Owner's Handbook... jtuck004 Dec 2013 #18

Wow. wickerwoman Dec 2013 #29

You may feel differently if you found that the slacker with the same job title makes more than you. Gormy Cuss Dec 2013 #33

Now that you mention it... Orrex Dec 2013 #36

And plays into the hands of the plantation owner as if it were gift-wrapped. Americans are taught jtuck004 Dec 2013 #35

the great american economy in the 21th century - 'something is better than nothing' KG Dec 2013 #5

Check List... Blus4u Dec 2013 #12

Do not confuse Half-Century Man Dec 2013 #6

And we have our thread winner. Brigid Dec 2013 #11

Something is better than nothing is belittling to any employee, dmr Dec 2013 #7

Wait! yesterday we heard that the job market is completely healed, owing Doctor_J Dec 2013 #8

It's healed if you're an employer. Or a prison guard. nt Ace Acme Dec 2013 #9

I have a master's degree blur256 Dec 2013 #10

Would you have agreed to work at your jobs if you had no idea if it paid $12/hour or minimum? Nikia Dec 2013 #21

Honestly, blur256 Dec 2013 #23

as a temp though hfojvt Dec 2013 #24

And you can be sure that the employer pays a lot more to the agency than you get Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2013 #42

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #25

Welcome to the mstinamotorcity2 Dec 2013 #27

So sad blur256 Dec 2013 #34

Yes us Serfs and Waifs must mstinamotorcity2 Dec 2013 #38

What is your degree in? oberliner Dec 2013 #37

My undergrad blur256 Dec 2013 #39

Very interesting oberliner Dec 2013 #40

Thank you so much! blur256 Dec 2013 #41

We 99-percenters . . . Brigid Dec 2013 #13

Ever notice Republican NEVER claim the rich are doing well? Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #15

You got that right. Brigid Dec 2013 #17

There are a LOT of workers making $12 an hour that feel like they're doing great. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #14

I have been told that it is a bad idea in an interview to even ASK what a job pays... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #19

But it should be your question before you agree to take the job Nikia Dec 2013 #20

Nikia, apologize to that gal Skittles Dec 2013 #22

k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t Laelth Dec 2013 #26

don't feel bad. they should have asked the employer, period. unblock Dec 2013 #28

Why ask the question? Zo Zig Dec 2013 #30

i worked as a temp from '79 to '88 at NY Telephone. DesertFlower Dec 2013 #31