Hacker News Reader

Comment by dkokelley | Hacker News Reader

I dislike the implication that external contractors are basically second-class employees that are being exploited by the hiring company. Google has no idea what this person makes. Google hired a security company to perform a service. Event/site security is not Google's core competency.

I am well aware of the external contractor dynamic. I work at a small company that provides services to $Fortune_500_company. My access badge is a different color than $Fortune_500_company employees, and I am not allowed to partake in certain employee perks. In fact, $Fortune_500_company is very clear that despite working on their computer, having their email address, having an assigned seat at their campus, and being on their phone system, I am not an employee of theirs. I am OK with this.

There are plenty of ways to be screwed in your career. Your contractor/staff status should be considered an unrelated byproduct.

View on HN

> Google has no idea what this person makes.

They can certainly find out. Just like ethically sourced coffee beans are a thing; ethically sourced menial labour can be a thing. It's hip and cool to use ethically sourced labor that isn't toxic to the society you live in. :-)

How would you define an ethical wage for menial labor?

How about a wage that was at least a decent amount above the federal poverty level?

Why?

1. Federal poverty level isn't a term [1]... >The poverty guidelines are sometimes loosely referred to as the “federal poverty level” (FPL), but that phrase is ambiguous and should be avoided, especially in situations (e.g., legislative or administrative) where precision is important.

2. Government instructing market isn't in the constitution, nor is it in Free Market Capitalism, nor the concept of a Democratic Republic...

[1] http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm

By most measures the man in question does earn a rate higher than the "federal poverty level". It seems like the issue is that he doesn't work enough hours.

The federal poverty level isn't particularly relevant if you are in a place that is considerably more expensive than average. Also, its not that he does not want to work enough hours, his employer doesn't allow him to work more. Plus, by that token, I could argue $7/hour is a livable wage, as long as you work 100 hours a week.

Enough to live with dignity; within walking/biking/transit distance of the job.

With dignity implies; not starving, not being housing insecure, not being unable to afford health care.

Note that it does not imply that you can afford a vehicle, television or an internet connection; although the latter might be worth adding to the former.

I personally think that companies that deliberately structure employment relationships to deny workers full-time status should be pursued as tax evaders.

It sounds like his job could easily be replaced by a computer program and camera. I have a feeling left to Google they would get rid of the job completely.

"Google hired a security company to perform a service."

That's kind of a cop out. Like saying Apple isn't responsible for the treatment of the workers in Foxconn in any way (though I am sure there are some people who agree with that point of view).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com