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- 7:45am — May 18, 2013
nonprofit local independent online news
The ongoing national debate about the employment practices of U.S. companies and private equity firms abroad features two phrases that confuse rather than clarify the issues: offshoring and outsourcing. For most Americans, the phrases are interchangeable.... Read more»
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2 comments on this story
Offshoring borders on treason, but outsourcing is bad, too. Often, when a firm outsources a job, it is performed not by a full-time employee who is fairly compensated with a good benefit package, but by an “independent contractor” who is typically otherwise unemployed and takes the contract work because there is noting else available. I know this because during my horribly long phase of unemployment (which happened to me when times were allegedly good), to keep eating I would take these outsourced tasks.
Who, while outsourcing doesn’t always export a job, I feel it should count toward the unemployment rate here because an outsourced job is rarely a stable, dependable job.
Agree, Mr. Linden. Not even unions and guilds can bargain in good faith, when industries threaten to pick up their toys and go somewhere else. As much as I would like to believe that the rugged individual has total control over his/her own fate and success…I know it cannot be true, unless the government ensures a level playing field. Unfortunately, to some degree, this requires enforcing “preferences.” Which I think sucks…but then, reality often does suck.