On Wed, 16 Jun 2010, Robert Hajime Lanning wrote: > I understand the want to use contract to hire, but I completely do not > like it from the hiree side. This is pretty much completely about > healthcare insurance for me.
I think this is an excellent point. I know this is a contentious issue in the US at the moment so I considered whether I was even going to reply :) I have lived in (and hold citizenship of) two countries: Australia & Canada. Both have universal healthcare systems[1] (aka socialised medicine). One of the reasons I believe this is so important is precisely the point that you bring up. I don't have any health issues but would not consider leaving myself without health insurance under any circumstances. Lack of guaranteed basic health care discourages people from taking on certain sorts of employment. By extension it reduces workforce mobility. Work force mobility is considered to be beneficial to a developed economy[2]. I'm really not trying to stir up a contentious issue but I think this is really important and wanted to highlight it. But all else being equal I think contract-to-hire is a good idea. You can learn so much more about the worker by working with them than in the artificial environment of the interview. I do think a lot of companies do use it now and I have no problem signing such an agreement, since the health insurance is already covered. [1] This covers the really expensive items. Companies may still offer additional insurance. That's fine too. [2] Tangentially, a review of the Australian taxation system recently proposed removing land transfer taxes (on sale of a house) and one of the main reasons given was that it would increase workforce mobility. Rob -- Email: rob...@timetraveller.org Linux counter ID #16440 IRC: Solver (OFTC & Freenode) Web: http://www.practicalsysadmin.com Open Source: The revolution that silently changed the world _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lopsa.org http://lopsa.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss This list provided by the League of Professional System Administrators http://lopsa.org/
