P
photoguy
Guest
What is the name of your state? PA
I am a photojournalist who works for 3 weekly newspapers, all belonging to the same parent company, in Pittsburgh PA. I have had this job for over 3 years now, and certain conditions/situations are becoming intolerable. It is not easy to find photojournalism jobs, so the simple solution of quitting and finding another job is not quite so simple. Let me describe my conditions.
I am given 34 hours a week, so I am considered part time, and recieve no benefits of any kind. This is not the problem however, I knew that coming in. I state it only to give an idea of the kind of place I work for--its almost like a full-time job but with no full time benefits or security of any kind.
I have 34 hours and I am not allowed to go over that amount. However, I am frequently assigned work that exceeds 34 hours total, as I am to generate enough material for these 3 weeklies. Attempts to go to my editors and request permission to drop this assignment or that so as to not go over is regularly met with hostility and non-cooperativeness. If I go and shoot such assignments and mark the accurate hours down on my time sheet, over the 34, I am threatened with termination. If I refuse to do the work that pushes me over the set in stone limit, that too is met with hostility and an unsaid feeling that if I dont do the shoot, I will be fired.
I'm no legal expert, but the upshot of it is that quite often I am working for free for this company, as I need my job. This has to violate some kind of labor law, and this company has had (before my time, unforunately, so I dont know the details) and lost labor disputes before.
I am damned if I do and damned if I don't here, it seems. And it is a matter of high stress and upset feelings, as I do good work, I take pride in it and get the job done time and time again, and I recieve no compensation or even simple "Thanks--good job" for it.
Please send your advice. I'll keep sending out resumes.
--Tim
I am a photojournalist who works for 3 weekly newspapers, all belonging to the same parent company, in Pittsburgh PA. I have had this job for over 3 years now, and certain conditions/situations are becoming intolerable. It is not easy to find photojournalism jobs, so the simple solution of quitting and finding another job is not quite so simple. Let me describe my conditions.
I am given 34 hours a week, so I am considered part time, and recieve no benefits of any kind. This is not the problem however, I knew that coming in. I state it only to give an idea of the kind of place I work for--its almost like a full-time job but with no full time benefits or security of any kind.
I have 34 hours and I am not allowed to go over that amount. However, I am frequently assigned work that exceeds 34 hours total, as I am to generate enough material for these 3 weeklies. Attempts to go to my editors and request permission to drop this assignment or that so as to not go over is regularly met with hostility and non-cooperativeness. If I go and shoot such assignments and mark the accurate hours down on my time sheet, over the 34, I am threatened with termination. If I refuse to do the work that pushes me over the set in stone limit, that too is met with hostility and an unsaid feeling that if I dont do the shoot, I will be fired.
I'm no legal expert, but the upshot of it is that quite often I am working for free for this company, as I need my job. This has to violate some kind of labor law, and this company has had (before my time, unforunately, so I dont know the details) and lost labor disputes before.
I am damned if I do and damned if I don't here, it seems. And it is a matter of high stress and upset feelings, as I do good work, I take pride in it and get the job done time and time again, and I recieve no compensation or even simple "Thanks--good job" for it.
Please send your advice. I'll keep sending out resumes.
--Tim