uWork4.com

Employment is increasingly being seen as similar to the free agent model is used in professional athletics. There is much written on the fact that we have much more tenuous links with our employers. This is often framed as employee’s having greater options and limited commitments. While this is true, there is often a failure to recognize that employer’s through outsourcing and downsizing plus pension reforms have contributed to this psyche. To dub this new paradigm as free agency led by employees is overstating the case.

Free agent model
Free agents work in a closed system, professional football or baseball. When under contract the athlete is ‘owned by the team’. He can be traded, sent to the minors, get lots or little game time. These decisions are the coach’s. When a professional hockey player’s contract expires he becomes a free agent. He can choose his own destiny; this is most often described as offering his services to the highest bidder.

The media often reports on the incredible salaries made by professional athletes creating the impression its all– ‘Show me the money’. This is a rather narrow view; athletes are no different than you and I, and they base their career a host of goals. Some examples of non-monetary goals are:

• Work in a high profile market to improve endorsement options,
• work for a great coach who will improve the skills
• Live in a specific area of the country
• desire to enhance or maintain a fan base
• Work for a team with strong chances to win the Stanley Cup or super bowl
• The possibility to be named captain,
Depending on the goals of the athlete his free agency gives him options to grow his personal goals and his net worth.

Does free agency truly describe the situation you and I?
I believe not; most of us do not work in a closed system. We not only have many industries to choose from but also many companies in those industries.
Choice is generally considered positive. When you are shopping for detergent you can examine each box, find right one for the combination of cloths, washing machine and stains at a given price an presto you have your ideal detergent.
The key difference with free agency and purchasing detergent is the completeness of the information available to an employee.

As professional basketball player you would know:

• the salary of all players in the league
• team salary budget
• which players are leaving
• other players strengths and weakness
• coaches
• owners
• winning statistics
Unlike the isle at the grocery store it is very difficult examine each company one by one to determine the right combination of attributes to meet your needs.

I have interviewed hundreds of people for various roles I have been repeatedly asked, “what is it like to work here..” “Your website says you believe in training and empowerment is that true?” Unfortunately the interview will not generally yield accurate insight into the organizational culture or working conditions.
I have been an interviewee for jobs were the job description bares little resemblance to the job you accept.
I have seen many senior managers in an interview for in a new company, only to have the interview abruptly ended when both parties realize salary expectations are out of sorts.

Clearly free agency does not exist for employees yet. Information is the key limitation employee’s have. You do not know if you are working for a career you are looking for or just an average one.

My goal is to collect and disseminate information that will help you make better employment choices. These are choices which align with your personality, interests, and goals.

My goal is to balance the information base to the benefit of job seekers and employees