Wouldn't It Be Wonderful If We Could Earn A "Living Wage" On The Internet?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
June 21, 2011 6:39pm CST
From what I can gather from the good people of MyLot is that we all try to do the best we can financially, don't we? Wherever we are in the world, the financial problems are the same..lost a job, can't get another job..or, in a job that pays poorly but it's the only job on offer and that's that. I looked online for the first time in a while, only to be disappointed by the lack of vacancies (if any) on offer. It makes 1982 look like a walk in the park lol.
I find it incredible that there is a lost market out there. Millions of people (typists,like me) are looking for non-existent jobs outside the home..and are getting nowhere so you would think that companies would search US out. After all, there is a worldwide shortage of staff now. My brother works outside in the fresh air but, due to loads of people being sacked he is working longer hours now than he's ever done..but the difference now is..it doesn't matter how stretched his job becomes the staff lost will never be replaced (certainly in the short-term). That will be happening worldwide, I would think and it doesn't matter if it's the Public or Private Sector, this scenario is identical.
So, why don't companies outsource? I know there are websites that have people posting jobs for others to bid for BUT they tend to pay peanuts. Surely, if a living wage was the alternative..more workers would sign up and then it would expand even more as word gets round really fast in the internet world about fair sites we can all join. This is how I learned about MyLot, for example.
Rather than millions (excluding me) wasting time on Facebook and Twitter why aren't they headhunted?
Is this the future, do you think? Towns and cities will be desolate places and workers that would normally be in offices are "employed" at home?
4 people like this
10 responses
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
22 Jun 11
Janey,
I do believe that's where we're headed, slowly 
My past job was home-based, and for the current job, I don't have to go to the office, everything can be done entirely by e-mail. The main problem with these jobs is that they're not paid enough - and by this I mean the employer should add to our salaries some things he's saving - such as the cost of renting an office, the cost of electricity and - most importantly - the taxes he's avoiding - because now we, the employees (or freelancers), are paying for most of these things out of our pockets.
There's also the little discipline factor to consider for those working from home... when an order is overdue, I can stay in the office and work for 20 hours straight to make it happen. But at home, the bed is half a meter away from the computer, and the TV's in my room, and so many books I want to read, and I could be making some pancakes (hmph, now I want pancakes )
Anyway, my point after all these is that most people should input 5-10 years in a regular office to learn the ropes and the working discipline, before considering a work from home job. Many work from home opportunistic are ruined because of workers who mess up jobs at home or don't deliver on time, or don't pay their taxes, and in the long run, that hurts everybody.
My past job was home-based, and for the current job, I don't have to go to the office, everything can be done entirely by e-mail. The main problem with these jobs is that they're not paid enough - and by this I mean the employer should add to our salaries some things he's saving - such as the cost of renting an office, the cost of electricity and - most importantly - the taxes he's avoiding - because now we, the employees (or freelancers), are paying for most of these things out of our pockets.
There's also the little discipline factor to consider for those working from home... when an order is overdue, I can stay in the office and work for 20 hours straight to make it happen. But at home, the bed is half a meter away from the computer, and the TV's in my room, and so many books I want to read, and I could be making some pancakes (hmph, now I want pancakes )
Anyway, my point after all these is that most people should input 5-10 years in a regular office to learn the ropes and the working discipline, before considering a work from home job. Many work from home opportunistic are ruined because of workers who mess up jobs at home or don't deliver on time, or don't pay their taxes, and in the long run, that hurts everybody. 1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
I can tell you know what you are talking about and it's very interesting, I must say, thank you.
Yes, there is a young guy at John's work that has taken this lazy aspect into the workplace so he wouldn't get much work done online, that's for sure.
It's a shame that people in my age group (40s) have worked in offices for most of their lives but cannot get a job because the youngsters get in there first and are paid less. It's all to do with the minimum wage..it's less for 16-18 year olds. The skills of the older workers are being used on sites like MyLot but they could be utilised on behalf of companies that want to outsource..but, like you say they don't want to pay - even the going rate. The freelance sites..well, they're a joke and I don't want anything to do with them. It's nothing short of slave labour in my opinion.
Yes, there is a young guy at John's work that has taken this lazy aspect into the workplace so he wouldn't get much work done online, that's for sure.
It's a shame that people in my age group (40s) have worked in offices for most of their lives but cannot get a job because the youngsters get in there first and are paid less. It's all to do with the minimum wage..it's less for 16-18 year olds. The skills of the older workers are being used on sites like MyLot but they could be utilised on behalf of companies that want to outsource..but, like you say they don't want to pay - even the going rate. The freelance sites..well, they're a joke and I don't want anything to do with them. It's nothing short of slave labour in my opinion.1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
At least that's encouraging for those of us yet to take the plunge. Thanks for that.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
22 Jun 11
Agree with you completely about the age group problems... especially as experience is not valued today as it should be. And even worse, those kids pick up technology as an amazing pace. Grrr.
Yes and no about the freelancing sites, however. You have to take into account that you're competing with an international workforce there, and in some places, the money made on such sites are enough to live on. In between jobs I once survived for 4 months on Elance. And you don't have to take any stupid low-paid job that's available. Once a company was looking for some info in my mother tongue, and coincidentally in my area of expertise. They paid $300 for a list that took me less than an hour to compile. Doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
22 Jun 11
i too want to earn something well online. like $400 a month would be good enough. but i don't think that is big enough though to consider it a living wage. but it would be difficult enough for me to achieve that though.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Ironically, I can survive on very little money now, even if it was £20 (or about $35) a week, I'd be happy with that as it would allow me to save some of it.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16750)
• China
22 Jun 11
There is a worldwide growing unemployment now.Prices are going up.I get what you said.You haven't got a job but you make money on line instead of totally living off your hubby.I admire you for that you never bow to difficulties.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Even getting paid by MyLot gives me a buzz because it's me that has earned the money and got pleasure out of using the site, all at the same time. Just wish there were more sites like these, I really do.
2 people like this
@Mzee2tu (30)
• Kenya
23 Jun 11
Companies do outsource their work. But with outsourcing comes competition, the amount you would take as your minimum sometimes is higher than what others prefer to take. I am a member at scriptlance and sometimes I watch the amount freelancers offer for completed work and I am like, this is too little. So, I don't bid on some works.
Therefore, outsourcing is not the solution, the solution lies in companies offering incentives to employees and governments getting taxes equivalent to what they offer citizens.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
22 Jun 11
I think there are some jobs out there but you have to bid for them. I don't remember the name of the sites.. there are a couple of sites that you bid for jobs, and if you win the bid you get the job. I don't bother with any of that stuff.. but wish that I could make a living wage doing what I do. I do manage to supplement my social security with writing for the web.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Elance is one of them and there is another one I can't remember the name of either lol. I don't bother with them..like you. Bidding for work just doesn't appeal to me. Surely the person willing to do it for the cheapest rate wins every time?
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
24 Jun 11
We can earn a wage on the internet! As you know I do this and it is really awesome.
I feel that there are plenty of opportunities out their for work and money. The reality that I experience here is nothing like what I am hearing from those in the USA or the UK. There is work everywhere here if you want it, but I do know what you are saying. Some of those jobs that used to be around in the days before technology, are no longer around, or they are being outsourced to countries like India and China where the labour is cheap.
I do know of quite a few people whoo are now working from home rather than having to go into an office as they just communicate via internet and phone with offices around Australia while they are there anyway, so there is no need for them to go to an actual office every day. 
I feel that there are plenty of opportunities out their for work and money. The reality that I experience here is nothing like what I am hearing from those in the USA or the UK. There is work everywhere here if you want it, but I do know what you are saying. Some of those jobs that used to be around in the days before technology, are no longer around, or they are being outsourced to countries like India and China where the labour is cheap.
I do know of quite a few people whoo are now working from home rather than having to go into an office as they just communicate via internet and phone with offices around Australia while they are there anyway, so there is no need for them to go to an actual office every day. @RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
25 Jun 11
Perth and most of WA are different again to the rest of Australia. I have never been there but it is so far away from the rest of the cities that it might as well be another country. They have been booming over there due to the mining industry for a long time. I think that they were hit a bit by the economic downturn a few years back, but it is still going pretty well over there as far as I know. It is apparently a great city. We have a lot of customers in Perth and WA and our industry is very strong over there.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
26 Jun 11
We have never seriously considered travelling to Perth for a holiday, but we have talked about maybe visiting there one day. It is cheaper (and closer) from here to actually go international to New Zealand than it is to go to Perth! We are thinking of maybe taking a South Pacific island cruise this year at Christmas time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Jun 11
Years ago I used to text a guy in Perth (he worked for the telecomms industry and would go up poles in the middle of nowhere) and I had to time it right due to the time difference. He was from the UK originally but never regretted emigrating and he kept winding me up, going on about the beaches and seeing wild dolphins up close. I guess you forget how huge Australia is when you live in the same country and have never been there..I reckon you should visit on holiday or something. Have you ever considered it?
He was from the UK originally but never regretted emigrating and he kept winding me up, going on about the beaches and seeing wild dolphins up close. I guess you forget how huge Australia is when you live in the same country and have never been there..I reckon you should visit on holiday or something. Have you ever considered it?
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
22 Jun 11
It sure would be nice for many like us as I too have been unemployed for over a year. I am getting either nothing available at the moment and or I am way too overqualified when I seek anything under what I normally do.
Therefore, it sure would be nice to be able to get some online work at least this way one can try and pay bills. Sadly lots of companies are hiring very young people and new people in the field as the benefits and pay are much lower these days. Most companies do not like to outsource as they feel they are paying way higher then they would for regular employees. But then they are not aware of online type of offer jobs where so many of us are so well experienced and perhaps not earn as much as they would pay their regular employees yet do perhaps a better job.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
And being it home is less stressful than being at work. However, if I did work at home for - say, the standard 37 hours a week on a regular basis, then I'd have to nag John for a new computer chair. This one's ok but not good for long periods.
1 person likes this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
23 Jun 11
I think the world is moving in the direction of a more informational, entrepreneurial age. I do think that most people will need to change their mindset from a traditional living wage from waiting, needing and having high expectations from an employer and hustle up and create a business/work life for themselves. This can be either a very scary notion or a wonderful adventure. There are a plethora of opportunities as well as shysters (I don't think that's spelled right.....lol) on the internet right now. There are work at home companies like Lionsbridge and such but my view is that some of the keys are lying within us and those ideas and concepts will lead us to think about recognizing our strengths and thinking about what we would really like to do for money and figuring out a way to monetize those ideas both on and off-line......my 2 cents....
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Jun 11
And a very well thought-out 2 cents too..thanks very much.
1 person likes this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
24 Jun 11
This is a topic my friends and I ponder and talk about all of the time, this shift that is happening in the world as well as a transition in consciousness, which is a totally different subject altogether, but I do believe there is a connection. Thanks for the FA.
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
25 Jun 11
You just explained the joblessness here in the United States. Everything you wrote here is totally true, sadly. I have been out of work for almost three years now. I was collecting unemployment for the last 2 years. Now I have no income and cannot find a job. New York happens to be the worst place right now to find work. I am not young anymore so doing a labor job is out of the question, beside, I have a bad arm. I also have boon looking online for some kind of work, but like you said, they pay peanuts. I do think that in the future there will be more and more real jobs online. Lets face the facts, The corporate machine does not want to hire anyone. Here in the U.S. most jobs that people can do from home are outsourced to India and other countries. It's a sad world economy. And here in the U.S., they are blaming Obama for the worlds problems. Man, no one can get a break, not even the president.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Jun 11
It's quite scary what is happening isn't it? And happening quick as well. I can see China and India being the new world economies in future..they've already taken over our automobile industry..it was the only way our guys could keep producing cars.
The thing is that investment could be withdrawn at any time and where will the workers be then? No Brits to take over, that's for sure.
