Commission, Salary, or Hourly?

[gmoney]

. . . so how do you earn your living? For me, it's been a long time since I had an hourly paying job. I've had several positions that paid commission which really drove me to give it all I could. Then I went to another level which paid a flat salary. I really liked that position with that company, and didn't mind putting in extra time when needed.

Now, I have a job with a base salary, plus commission. I do pretty well, but the company finds ways to "pick away" at the base salary for any little indiscretion that might and can occur with an employee.

I'm seriously looking for employment that will look at me for my contributions, and not look for any and every way they can shave my paycheck!

 

[justsimon]

I'm paid by the hour and I don't think I'd ever take a commission job. I dream of someday having a salary.

 

[landers]

I'd only take a commission job if it were on top of a base salary. I'd love to have a salaried job.

 

[Alpha1851]

^The problem w/ getting a salary is that there's no overtime pay. You end up working lots of extra hours for no additional pay. I'm certainly not complaining though I've never worked for a commission. I don't think I'd be good at it. It would be so hard to balance your financial budget that way.

Gmoney, I've never heard of a base salary plus commission where the employer was able to take away pay. What's that about?

 

[kevbo]

I work hourly right now... I'm sure I'll end up in a salary job someday.

 

[valis23]

I work strictly on contract. I base each client's contract on what their average support would earn me over the course of a year. That way it puts the onus on me to get my job done. I get paid the same whether I spend 2 hours at a client or 20 hours. The contract allows for extra billing for extraordinary circumstances.

 

[ronboy]

Teachers are paid by salary, ( and a rather frugal one at that...)

 

[gmoney]

Gmoney, I've never heard of a base salary plus commission where the employer was able to take away pay. What's that about?

They "expect" you to work at least 8 hours a day. Sometimes I get my clients serviced and make sales in less time. When I turn in my work and "time card", they deduct from my 'base' pay accordingly.

 

[Alpha1851]

Teachers are paid by salary, ( and a rather frugal one at that...)

You get lots of time off though. Don't hate me--my best friend teaches middle school resource kids so I know it's tough. I am a bit put off though when she complains about the pay but get's home by 4:00 most days and enjoys snow days, weekends off, Christmas break, and summer break.

 

[Alpha1851]

They "expect" you to work at least 8 hours a day. Sometimes I get my clients serviced and make sales in less time. When I turn in my work and "time card", they deduct from my 'base' pay accordingly.

Oh wow! You're basically getting punished for being efficient. You should take longer and sit in your car...earn those 8 hrs.

 

[hopnung]

Currently I'm unemployed. I quit my last job, which was salaried, because it wasn't enough.

I quit because the 3 hour total commuting time was killing me physically, I was working in excess of 60 hours a week and only getting paid for 40, and I was being made to do things that were not my responsibilities (some things my bosses were getting paid multiple thousands of dollars for, and would pawn the task off on me, yet I wouldn't see any of that money.) On top of that, I was disrespected by my bosses.

The only reasons I stayed there for 2 years were because I loved the people that I worked with and those that worked for me, I know more than my bosses so I was an asset to them, and I was pretty much trapped (because of the hours and the inability to take time off I wasn't able to schedule job interview).

So now, I'm looking for either hourly or salaried positions - to no avail for my qualifications. I'm either too qualified or not qualified enough (based on education or multiple years of experience).

Stupid economy.

 

[Johnny Yen]

I am paid salary plus override incentive - as a sales manager I am paid based on the success of my sales team.

 

[Croynan]

They "expect" you to work at least 8 hours a day. Sometimes I get my clients serviced and make sales in less time. When I turn in my work and "time card", they deduct from my 'base' pay accordingly.

that sure does not sound legal to me - but then again what do i know? i wonder what a labour attorney would say about that.

eM.

 

[bshane]

I am salary. I work 50 to 60 hours a week. Sometimes more. I get no overtime. I would do anything to get paid hourly!!!!!! I get paid well. However if you figure the typical extra hours I put in and divide that out. I don't get much at all.

 

[Huskerboy]

Salary... and a few perks like a company vehicle, clothing allowance, and annual bonus/profit sharing...

 

[cozmik]

Hourly plus commissions. I've been full commission before, don't ever want to go back, ugh.

 

[metta]

None of the above. Being self employed, I take out what I need when I need it. So it would not be commission, salary or hourly.

You get lots of time off though. Don't hate me--my best friend teaches middle school resource kids so I know it's tough. I am a bit put off though when she complains about the pay but get's home by 4:00 most days and enjoys snow days, weekends off, Christmas break, and summer break.

teachers also get good benefits and when they get tenor, they know that they have a secure stable job that most people don't have. Their pay is really pretty good when you consider how many hours they put in.

What I would like to know is what percentage of the employees at Southern California Edison get paid over $100k per year. Everyone that I have known that works for that company seems to get paid way more than that. And at the same time, I'm not so sure that the company has put enough resources to make sure there will be enough electricity for future growth.

 

[Aaron]

I'm on salary... so much better than hourly.

 

[Kyanimal]

I'm paid by the hour, but it's only a tenth of what my company charges our clients, per "System" hour!! And, still, they are doing everything they can to cut down on Overtime!! And, on top of the actual "production time", we have to spend (Who knows how many?) "unchargeable administration hours" documenting the time we've spent doing "real" work!

There was a time I was "salaried management", but I ended up putting in FAR more hours than I was actually getting paid for!

I've also worked on commission, and commission plus "base". I've decided that getting paid for the hours required, plus, time and a half, Overtime, is much more equitable!!

Still wishing I was born with a "Silver Spoon" in my mouth, though!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[Orlandude]

I work for myself now so it's a whole different world. I basically work on a retainer contract for so many hours per month for each client, paid a month in advance.

In the past, I have worked commission, hourly and salary and each has it's good and bad side. The best compromise was a base salary plus commission. I made a lot of money that way and never starved. Straight commission is tough but you CAN make incredible money if you are skilled in sales. You can also starve on straight commission if you get a "dry" spell where nobody is buying or there is an economic downturn (recession, etc...) Depends on what you are selling and how long the sales cycle goes. For example, if you are a realtor, it can take a few months to sell a house or you can luck out and sell it fast. If it takes a few months, how are you going to meet base expenses like FOOD and utilities and rent/mortgage payments?? Car payments?

I always hated straight salary. You are basically stuck at a fixed amount of money and you get no overtime pay and one annual raise, if you are lucky. They also expect you to work as many hours as it takes. You can LOSE money that way. Just as example if you get a $600/week salary and work 40 hours, you are making the equivalent of $15/hour. If they make you work 60 hours, you are making only $10/hour. Being on salary is handing them too much control. Yes, you have that regular paycheck coming in but if that's all you want to strive for, that's all you get. You will never get ahead.

Hourly is hourly. You can make overtime, yes, but most companies these days do ANYTHING so you DON'T get the overtime pay because they hate paying it! Some companies are offering "comp" time off with pay, rather than paying overtime. That is being challenged in the courts as illegal. In the U.S., wage/hour laws are clear. If you work more than 40 hours/week, you have to be paid time and a half per overtime hour or double-time on holidays. A lot of employers are looking for "creative" ways arround that so they don't have to pay. It's sad. If someone told these same employers to take LESS for their product or service, they would have a shit fit.

I like working for myself, on contract. As for the rest of the above, been there-done that and got the t-shirt. All of the other ways have too many downsides. If you are satisfied with that, that's cool. I want more control over my income rather than being dictated to about how much I can make. Besides that, there is NO MORE job security anymore and no employer/employee loyalty. These corporations will get rid of you in a minute if they think it will save them a dime. The days of staying with a company for "decades" is long over. They don't want to have to pay your retirement or pension. They will get rid of you long before that happens.