holy smokes! some mech engineer is coming to work at my office for FREE!

vash · vash's Garage

i am stunned. i know the guy, he is very good friends with one of my coworkers. i helped him build a deck, for the deck building learning experience. he got laid off, with zero potential gigs on the horizon. his specialty is robotics. he got his foot in the door, buy volunteering to work on the devil's slide tunnel project. free labor. he knows he has zero construction mechanical experience and is willing to put in the time to get a leg up on his competition.

crazy times indeed. man, i am pulling for this guy! smart, PE with a masters.

Jim Sims · 04-13-2009, 02:26 PM

It's a race to the bottom.

Superman · 04-13-2009, 02:27 PM

the labor law swami should be consulted here. While I am a labor relations guy, I am not an attorney. Having said that, I know of few (they do exist, but they are specific exclusions) instances where a worker can perform regular work that benefits an employer, where the employer is aware that the work is being performed for them, and where the worker would not be entitled to compensation. I'm not saying this fellow is entitled to compensation, just that the legal eagles should weigh in on this carefully.

Zeke · 04-13-2009, 02:45 PM

At least minimum wage. By the time his paperwork gets into the system, he won't be free any longer. Can a consultant work for free?

Jims5543 · 04-13-2009, 02:46 PM

I believe it.

In 1986 when the Shuttle Challenger exploded it resulted in massive layoffs from the space center.

I happened to be in the market for a job as a drafter back then and it was impossible to land a job. Engineers and designers were willing to take a drafting job at a tad above minimum wage just to pay their bills.

It was hopeless for me to find anything in the mechanical drafting / design field.

That is how I got into land surveying. I began as an apprentice drafter ( I recon no Engineer thought to look in the surveying field for a job) and worked my way up the ladder quite quickly.

dmcummins · 04-13-2009, 02:53 PM

Do intern's or student teachers get paid?

gtc · gtc's Garage

Some do, some don't. In my experience, it often depends on the field.
My university wouldn't let students take unpaid internships (engineering).

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

There are countless interns working for free in Congressional offices. I did it for six mos.

Zeke · 04-13-2009, 03:37 PM

Yeah, but apparently this guy ain't no intern.

vash, aren't you civil service?

Stanley · 04-13-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmcummins

Do intern's or student teachers get paid?

Construction/engineering interns get paid very well. Usually between $15-$25 hr. I have worked as a project engineer intern for a couple of construction companies and my most recent job paid $23/hr while I was still in school.

dmcummins · 04-13-2009, 05:54 PM

I worked at a Highway and bridge construction company and we did pay our interns. But we did not pay them overtime and worked them hard. I'm just saying that if some dont have to pay, I would think that this guy is really just in the same boat.

What he is doing isn't that much different than an intern, he's just trying to get his foot in the door. Its sad that he has to go this route.

vash · vash's Garage

milt is correct. i am a state engineer. apparently there is a little used program for volunteers to get experience. they get the same treatment, and training. just no compensation, or bennies.

i hope the bottom gets here quick, so we can start the climb.

tcar · 04-14-2009, 04:35 PM

When I was in college, was looking for PT work as a draftsman. After many interviews, finally found a firm that said I could work there. 20 hr/week. (It was the 70's).

$1.50/hour... but... he wanted ME to pay HIM... for the experience.

Less than free. No thanks.

m21sniper · 04-14-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

i am stunned. i know the guy, he is very good friends with one of my coworkers. i helped him build a deck, for the deck building learning experience. he got laid off, with zero potential gigs on the horizon. his specialty is robotics. he got his foot in the door, buy volunteering to work on the devil's slide tunnel project. free labor. he knows he has zero construction mechanical experience and is willing to put in the time to get a leg up on his competition.

crazy times indeed. man, i am pulling for this guy! smart, PE with a masters.

Desperate, or just a moron?