This weeks COTH

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=danceronice;7699293]
How many hours a week, though? I suspect saying 40 is underestimating. Time on the road? Health insurance? If it’s not included they have to buy it now (I’m looking now because my new employer only has two full-time employees and group isn’t feasible, and independent care has more than doubled in price since I had it two years ago.) How about paid time off? What does the “farm labor” include? Holidays? If accommodations are included, what exactly does that involve? Quality? What sort of utilities? $10/hour isn’t much to start with in most areas where these high-end barns are located. And if they’re importing workers for the better jobs, is there really that much chance for upward mobility? Even if you like a job or the work environment most people aren’t going to stick around indefinitely at $10-12 hour doing heavy labor with limited time off and benefits, especially when you see your employer bringing in ‘better qualified’ people for the top positions. Lack of promotion potential and backhanded “appreciation” like a nice card while they’re doing the barn work while you’re on Christmas vacation can sour a lot of people.[/QUOTE]

All of those things depend on the job. Some are good some are not…like all jobs.

When I worked those jobs, housing was decent. All utilities were covered including basic cable TV. At my own farm, I cover internet as well. Most had paid vacations of 1-3 weeks depending on how long you worked for someone.

Most are 40-45 hour work weeks. When travelling for shows, we were paid more.

Don’t get me wrong…it is hard work. But when I was a 20 something, I was more than able to live on it. Had travel paid for…had a good time. But would it be a job that I wanted to raise a family on…depends. There are some jobs where the benefits do work out that you could. But it certainly isn’t the life style for everyone.

ETA: I am a subscriber to COTH…and will continue to be. Nice that it is available online to many but I LIKE getting my hard copy and when done with it…bring it to the barn. Others read it without paying for it…but doesn’t really bother me.

[jen-s]

I am not currently a subscriber. However, after getting to look through the digital format, I will be subscribing. The new COTH is not the COTH that I remember and I like what I saw.

[Blugal]

I too am a subscriber and frankly I don’t read the online version because I hate trying to read magazines in online format. All the scrolling and not being able to flip from section to section easily is frustrating for me. I like the hard copy and throw it in my purse to read at lunch or in the horse trailer when I go to a show. Sometimes the articles are “old” because I already know the information (e.g. show results) but I still like the interviews with riders and trainers, and reading about some other sports that I am not as familiar with.

[anon68314200]

Well, if the USEF wants members, then maybe they could think about ways to encourage the hiring, and fair pay, of American citizens. Few barn managers or grooms make $600/week. And few are NOT worked to death.

My sympathy for FEI riders who cannot find (cheap enough) foreign help is about zero. But this issue really has nothing to do with the horse industry. It is a problem top to bottom in our culture.

[KayBee]

[QUOTE=Isabeau Z Solace;7701862]
My sympathy for FEI riders who cannot find (cheap enough) foreign help is about zero. But this issue really has nothing to do with the horse industry. It is a problem top to bottom in our culture.[/QUOTE]

I doubt FEI riders who have hired European grooms are paying them bad wages. I don’t think that the Europeans would take the job here in that case; the benefits in Europe are so much better.

I agree, though, that the desire to hire and get a lot for a very little is endemic in this economy.