I know I should be grateful but...

[yungatart]

I noticed a job advertised in our local paper today...shop assistant at a roadside fruit and vegetable stall, stocking the bins, dealing with customers etc for 60 hours per week. Hourly rate between 18 and 20 dollars, depending on experience.

I compared that to my own job, dealing with special needs students for 26 hours per week. I am responsible for their academic education, personal cares, teaching life skills, socialisation, their safety and wellbeing and teaching acceptable behaviours.
I liaise with their parents, teachers and outside agencies.

How well I do my job can have a profound effect on them for the rest of their lives. I have a tertiary diploma in Teacher Aide studies and I undertake professional and personal development courses each year. I have ten years experience, and I am extremely effective in my role.

For this I am paid $16 per hour!! Forty weeks of the year, plus four weeks annual leave...the rest of the year I am unpaid!

Why the feck do I bother? I could earn more as a shop assistant....who cares about job satisfaction...

Today, I feel really worthless.
Pissed off? You bet!

[Number One]

J. You know where I am coming from with this so please hear me when I say - people that do what you do are a an absolute god send. I totally get how draining this type of work is and given what you have said I also believe you are not paid nearly enough for it. You are just the kind of person that special kids are lost without, you have strength, are firm and fair, you are committed and you care. You are not worthless and the work you do (though clearly undervalued by the employer) is really priceless

[yungatart]

Thanks #1.
It is the "being totally undervalued" bit that really gets to me. It is not however, the fault of my employer...it is the system that undervalues me (and others like me...nurses, caregivers etc)

It is NOT the kind of job/career you choose for the money...and my job satisfaction is huge. But job satisfaction doesn't pay my mortgage. When I see the hourly rates for "monkey jobs" it is just a slap in the face.

[Number One]

When I see the hourly rates for "monkey jobs" it is just a slap in the face.

Yeah I understand on behalf of other parents out there that have people like you in their childrens lives...

THANKYOU SO VERY VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR BABIES

[FROSTY:Me]

YT--keep in mind the 20 an hour is for about 6 weeks -till end of season.

[yungatart]

Nah, Frosty, this is a permanent roadside stall.
We don't have winter in HB, things grow all year round!

[Stickchick]

Thanks #1.
It is the "being totally undervalued" bit that really gets to me. It is not however, the fault of my employer...it is the system that undervalues me (and others like me...nurses, caregivers etc)

It is NOT the kind of job/career you choose for the money...and my job satisfaction is huge. But job satisfaction doesn't pay my mortgage. When I see the hourly rates for "monkey jobs" it is just a slap in the face.

I hear what you are saying tart, my sister is cargiver in Wellington for the Oldies, and she was told her maximum wage would be about $13.50ph.

That's complete shit when I can sit in an office all day and do very little in the way of physical work and just look pretty for twice that!!! I'm disgusted at it. How can the system justify it? What would schools, homes, hospital etc be like without people like yourself that like the satisfaction more than the money but yet struggle on a day to day basis monetary wise.

I for one, definitely don't understand it.

[MyGSXF:Me]

"To the World.. you are one person..

To one person.. you are the World "

I understand it is unjust what you are being paid, money comes in handy.. but it isn't everything. What matters is that YOU are making a big difference in this World J.. your students need you & they are blessed to have such a dedicated, caring person in their lives. Stand tall & hold your head high hun.. be proud of who you are & what you do.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around"

(Leo Buscaglia)

for you xxxx

[jrandom]

I compared that to my own job, dealing with special needs students for 26 hours per week.

Like the others said, thank you. Sincerely. Without the likes of you, society wouldn't work.

I'd happily pay more tax in an instant if it could go straight to our teachers.

Today, I feel really worthless.

Don't.

Money isn't everything. It really isn't, so long as you have enough to eat, clothes to wear and a roof over your head.

What would you do with twice the hourly rate? Buy a few new appliances? Upgrade your bike? Eat out more often?

When you're retired and looking back over your life, I suspect that you'll feel a far greater sense of satisfaction as a result of your current path.

Good on you.

[MSTRS:Me]

What would you do with twice the hourly rate? Buy a few new appliances? Upgrade your bike? Eat out more often?

Yep! Its called 'standard of living' and why should some of the frills be denied because of her career choice? The pay rates in this type of job are nothing less than criminal/slave labour.

[yungatart]

What would you do with twice the hourly rate? Buy a few new appliances? Upgrade your bike? Eat out more often?

Probably not actually...but I might buy a new pair of sandals rather than repair the ones I have, and maybe a few new clothes for work...

[jrandom]

Yep! Its called 'standard of living' and why should some of the frills be denied because of her career choice? The pay rates in this type of job are nothing less than criminal/slave labour.

Well, yes, but she shouldn't feel 'worthless' because of it.

Um, I dunno, man, what's to say? If it really isn't enough money to live on happily, I guess you gotta do something else instead, or find someone who wants to pay more for the same job. Private tuition contracts, perhaps?

[Lucy]

I noticed a job advertised in our local paper today...shop assistant at a roadside fruit and vegetable stall, stocking the bins, dealing with customers etc for 60 hours per week. Hourly rate between 18 and 20 dollars, depending on experience.


Today, I feel really worthless.
Pissed off? You bet!

That's amazing. I almost don't believe it. (Not that your pay is crap - hubby was a caregiver for intellectually handicapped adults for a while for $11ph), but that the fruit stall job pays that much. Is it true? Monkey jobs around here (of which I have several) get monkey pay.

As the others have said THANK YOU for doing your job.

I don't suppose if you said you were going to quit and work at the fruit stall they would give you a pay rise???

[MSTRS:Me]

Yes. There may be other options. But in the current economic climate, where there is yet to be mass layoffs, the last in will be first out (as a rule). So to stay there is a form of security.
Her real problem is that for someone with the level of skill and inclination to do her sort of job to be paid so little, compared to a 'monkey job. is grossly unfair. To say nothing of soul destroying when the 20yo till operator next door can afford a new car every other year (for eg) when we still drive an 11 yo Holden and can't afford to update.
Yes, we could choose to keep that car if the tables were turned. The point is, we do not have the choice,

[gatch]

Why the feck do I bother? I could earn more as a shop assistant....who cares about job satisfaction...

Today, I feel really worthless.
Pissed off? You bet!

Well I hope this isn't enough to sway your current career path, the world needs more like yourself..

For what its worth I know how you feel, I'm in a totally different industry but still don't think what I'm getting is enough, in fact I used to earn more $$ shelling mussels and filleting hoki..

Keep up the good work