Wandering through a few chosen studios, I've come across heart-warming acts of charity. Allow me to share them with you ...
Apparently executives are asking special, laid-off employees to come in for work-related meetings that are "voluntary." And by voluntary they mean
We're ... uh ... not compensating you for the time you spend in the meeting. But, you know, you don't have to come (only if you're like, a good team player) ...
Now, you would think that, times being what they are and everybody struggling to rub two nickels together, that these employees would say: "Hey man! I'm unemployed right now! I don't have time to come in to do free work!"
But no!
These selfless animation folk, willing ... nay, eager to reach out a helping hand and provide the kind of charity for which American workers are justly famous (free overtime, that's out middle name, innit?) deserve our respect and thanks for a job well done.
So I stand and salute these generous souls who give unstintingly of their time so that our fine cartoon companies not only survive, but prosper.
Posts
16 comments:
Off-topic: anyone else having trouble loading the blog? When I go to the main TAG Blog home page, it doesn't load any of the links or info on the right-hand side, and it only loads through the beginning of the Bullwinkle post (April 9). This has been happening for several days. Thanks in advance to the webmaster for any fixes.
Could hiring unpaid interns to do production work be placed under this umbrella of patronage as well?
What was this meeting about? If the purpose of it was to contribute to the solving of production problems, then I agree; it was exploitation. If the purpose was to discuss the production schedule in the context of the future re-hiring of the attendees, then that is a meeting I would go to in a heartbeat.
Anyway, the least they could do is serve lunch.
Hmmm, I wonder if that is the same studio where they had another big meeting about cutting down its crew next season while expecting to keep the same quality of work and expecting the remaining crew to work faster?
NOT work faster, work SMARTER !
did you mean work SMARTER so writers can keep rewriting the script?
anyone else having trouble loading the blog? When I go to the main TAG Blog home page, it doesn't load any of the links or info on the right-hand side I have had this problem on my lap top two days ago ... but not today.
I have no idea why, but will attempt to find out.
Could hiring unpaid interns to do production work be placed under this umbrella of patronage as well? Yeah. Of course it's patently illegal, but yeah. It should be under the umbrella.
It happens.
Better yet---hire a bunch of human resource yahoos (and/or "consultants") to help "manage change." The "change" of course being WORK FASTER with LESS RESOURCES!
While the "writers" re-write. Again.
Oh yes all this is happening as we speak...Apparently the SMARTEST way to speed up production is to lay off the artists and hire more production staff. I haven't heard such a brilliant move since voluntary unpaid overtime!!
Interesting post Steve! My curiosity led me to this article about unpaid internships (if anyone is interested in reading more):
http://laborlaw.typepad.com/labor_and_employment_law_/2007/11/unpaid-internsh.html
Hey Steve, sort of off topic--
I don't know if you ever get over to Animation nation but they are talking about looking into forming an "alternative union", along the lines of the freelancers' union (guild?) in NY. This would help folks who are not covered under TAG get health bebenfits etc. It would be nice to have a TAG rep there for their discussion to offer any advice, or at least to foster goodwill among the animation community.
"animation nation"??!! Do any professionals even visit much less post there anymore. Last I heard Charles chased everyone away that didn't think he was King and toady up to him - not to mention his anti-Gay and prosletizing rhetoric.
Well I'm a professional and I still do. Charles isn't perfect by any means (hey, just like me-- and you!), but this particular cause seems like a good one.
Somebody call me and I'm there.
When I was an unpaid intern (although college credit was obtained) at an animation company (which resulted in my current job which I would not have gotten without it), I discovered that if I stayed late & did set up/tear down for the life drawing class (which I wanted to do anyway since it was free) I'd get PAID to do it. Wasn't much. Not enough to pay taxes on. But it helped pay the bills since I couldn't have a regular part time job 'cause I had the internship. It's all about knowing your options.
Post a Comment