2nd September 2008, 01:49 PM
The simple and plain truth is... we allow companies like this to carry on operating. We will gripe, whinge and moan on vox-pop cyber-sites, but then then settle back in the office chair and then get on with another other internet trawl (or maybe even some work). Our dismay about system may result in a polite email to the IFA... they will look at it, ponder it for a while and then (just like us) get back to the day-job or even trawling the internet. Unfortunately... through a combination of not wanting to upset the archaeological applecart, not wanting to lose a job, trying to cling to whatever scrap of security there is and yes, sorry, general apathy (on behalf of ourselves and our supposed regulatory body) archaeology is in a poor state and has been for some time. Sometimes I think we are sheep in sheeps clothing, managed and run (on the whole) by sheep. Yet there is the odd place where the wolves live. Even a few managerial types still think that archaeology is a vocation, not a job... we (as employees) should be happy with our lot. "If you wanted proper wages and proper conditions, you should have become accountants or lawyers."
On the whole, the people that run these units fall into four broad camps. I've experienced them all:
1. have the interests of some (if not all) of their staff at heart, but the company is struggling and the money just ain't coming in like it used to. "Sorry, for some of you (generally supervisors/project officers and above) we just have to cut corners and give you sh*t pay and conditions... it's the way things are at the moment" - cue whatever excuse is prevalent at the time (the latest is Credit Crunch). We'll carry on doing this until there is an upturn in the market. "Unfortunately, for the rest of you (digging staff) the general rule is those last-in are those first-out... so so-long, thanks for your contribution and good luck". We moan, we gripe, but we don't really mind because we accept it... 'tis the way things are. We'll just move on to the next unit / employer hoping that things will be better next time.
2. out to make as much as they (personally) can from what is a generally non-profitable sector and don't really care about their staff (except for mates and those that bring the jobs in... "Oooh, corporate lifestyle... I'm gonna get a Range Rover!"). They'll cut every corner and bend every rule (except those stipulated in stone by those nasty government types... Minimum Pay, Statutory Sick Pay... Bah Humbug!). They may be nice people on the inside but, hey, business is business. I'm all right Jack, shame about you. We moan, we gripe, but we don't do anything about them because we are timorous sheep and they are proto- or fully fledged wolves.
3. just plain apathetic. We gripe, we moan... but whatever.
4. incompetent. We moan, we gripe but we can't do anything against blind stupidity.
The IFA - composed of mostly camp 1, a few (increasing?) camp 2, a sizeable proportion of camp 3 and, yes (sigh), the odd camp 4. Things may be different in the IFA, but nothing has changed.
Back to work!
On the whole, the people that run these units fall into four broad camps. I've experienced them all:
1. have the interests of some (if not all) of their staff at heart, but the company is struggling and the money just ain't coming in like it used to. "Sorry, for some of you (generally supervisors/project officers and above) we just have to cut corners and give you sh*t pay and conditions... it's the way things are at the moment" - cue whatever excuse is prevalent at the time (the latest is Credit Crunch). We'll carry on doing this until there is an upturn in the market. "Unfortunately, for the rest of you (digging staff) the general rule is those last-in are those first-out... so so-long, thanks for your contribution and good luck". We moan, we gripe, but we don't really mind because we accept it... 'tis the way things are. We'll just move on to the next unit / employer hoping that things will be better next time.
2. out to make as much as they (personally) can from what is a generally non-profitable sector and don't really care about their staff (except for mates and those that bring the jobs in... "Oooh, corporate lifestyle... I'm gonna get a Range Rover!"). They'll cut every corner and bend every rule (except those stipulated in stone by those nasty government types... Minimum Pay, Statutory Sick Pay... Bah Humbug!). They may be nice people on the inside but, hey, business is business. I'm all right Jack, shame about you. We moan, we gripe, but we don't do anything about them because we are timorous sheep and they are proto- or fully fledged wolves.
3. just plain apathetic. We gripe, we moan... but whatever.
4. incompetent. We moan, we gripe but we can't do anything against blind stupidity.
The IFA - composed of mostly camp 1, a few (increasing?) camp 2, a sizeable proportion of camp 3 and, yes (sigh), the odd camp 4. Things may be different in the IFA, but nothing has changed.
Back to work!