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Uh, how about having an open conversation between employer and employee on how to foster the employee's growth within the company?

I've only worked for a few companies, but when I was hired as a full time employee, there was no expectation I'd be doing the same job forever. If anything, there was an expectation that I'd grow in role and responsibility.

Now, being a contractor is different--in that case you typically are hired to perform specific duties, and if the duties change, the contract should be updated to reflect that.

Some of the other issues I can see from following Rick's approach): * short termism, especially as you get to the end of your working period * loss of good people as they move on after you fire them * workforce ridigity ("I wasn't hired for that")

In short, I appreciate the provocative nature of the post, but see some real fundamental problems in his solution.

2 comments

It seems like many posts could be boiled down to that simple attitude: why not talk about it? If you're unhappy in your position with your employer, or vice versa, start a dialog to try to change things. Don't allow yourself to hate your work, or start slipping in quality, if you don't have to.

Having an open dialog with management could allow you to change positions, roles, or, if necessary, leave the company for another.

Totally agree. And I'll try to write some stuff about facilitating that communication in future posts.

I didn't mean to come off like a cranky passive aggressive ass. I mean, I am. I just didn't mean to come off that way ;)

This was just a hack at providing some definitive timelines to an often nebulous arrangement.

Totally agree that it's a very rough concept. And that it's full of flaws. But I hope that it's a bad idea that gets people thinking about better ones.

And it wasn't really coming from a place of a negative view of an employer. I'm sorry if it came off that way. I was more of the mind that it gave a target for employees as to determine "how much good can I do here before my time is up?"