Doomed....Google lays off contractors, founder says contractors expenses "really high

[BrilloPad]

Originally Posted by Mich the Tester

Contractors are made expensive by the purchasing departments of their clients, who will only deal with a short list of ‘preferred suppliers’; these preferred suppliers take a huge and often not transparent cut, while killing competition from those who could sell direct and save money for the client while earning more profit, or those agents who are prepared to take a smaller margin.

this is rubbish - at least at clientco and most big companies. to get on the PSL they must agree to a markup that is wafer thin.

[Mich the Tester]

Originally Posted by BrilloPad

this is rubbish - at least at clientco and most big companies. to get on the PSL they must agree to a markup that is wafer thin.

Maybe in the UK, but not where I'm sitting.

[d000hg]

Originally Posted by Purple Dalek

Oh do get real. You sound like some sort of HR loon. HR types like to promulgate such bizarre notions. The fact is there are vanishingly few people who are good and permie

I've never worked on a team where the majority of people weren't good, either due to luck or good hiring measures... I agree these are not always reliable. I only worked in dedicated software developer companies though.

I know a lot of developers at Google, and they are all extremely smart, talented people. They get to pick the very top people because so many people WANT to work for Google.

As for HR 'spin'... contractors are chosen through the same system of interviews as permies right? So by that logic contractors would be no better on average.

[expat]

Originally Posted by Purple Dalek

Oh do get real. You sound like some sort of HR loon. ....

[BlasterBates]

I enjoy the myth ....we're all contractors because we're highly paid, however we're cheap. I suppose a contractor is like a tardis, on the surface particularly with respect to the tax man, contractors hardly earn anything, but once you get inside that bank account.

[Purple Dalek]

Originally Posted by d000hg

As for HR 'spin'... contractors are chosen through the same system of interviews as permies right? So by that logic contractors would be no better on average.

For BOS contractors that's a given, but we're talking 'Good People'. 'Good people' are rarely hired via HR, more often it is personal introductions, and then a rubber stamp from HR, if anything.

[swamp]

Originally Posted by d000hg

I've never worked on a team where the majority of people weren't good, either due to luck or good hiring measures... I agree these are not always reliable. I only worked in dedicated software developer companies though.

I know a lot of developers at Google, and they are all extremely smart, talented people. They get to pick the very top people because so many people WANT to work for Google.

As for HR 'spin'... contractors are chosen through the same system of interviews as permies right? So by that logic contractors would be no better on average.

I've seen good permies at places similar to Google. You're right, people do want to work at such places and they are very talented. Problem is, after years of brownfield maintenance work, and worthless stock options, they eventually get jaded and consider becoming contractors.

[interested]

Originally Posted by Mich the Tester

Contractors are made expensive by the purchasing departments of their clients, who will only deal with a short list of ‘preferred suppliers’; these preferred suppliers take a huge and often not transparent cut, while killing competition from those who could sell direct and save money for the client while earning more profit, or those agents who are prepared to take a smaller margin.

Sorry but this is total rubbish. Preferred Suppliers only operate on transparent margins and mostly they are pretty slim.

[lilelvis2000]

Originally Posted by BrilloPad

this is rubbish - at least at clientco and most big companies. to get on the PSL they must agree to a markup that is wafer thin.

WHS. Some only charge a minimal timesheet admin charge.

[Mich the Tester]

Originally Posted by interested

Sorry but this is total rubbish. Preferred Suppliers only operate on transparent margins and mostly they are pretty slim.

As I said, maybe where you are that's the case, but not here.