I think something like SAG-AFTRA would be the perfect model. We already function as actors... We audition for coding roles... The recruiters are like managers... Most roles are for 1.5 years...
If the major FAANG companies had an association called the Software Development Industry... Programmers would join a Software Developers Guild... Annually the guild would negotiate with the Software Development Industry and create daily minimum rates, safe working conditions, and worker protections for software developers.
(what kind of protections... I think assuring workers can operate and compete freely... No anti competitive behaviors such as refraining from soliciting one another’s employees in order to avert a salary war)
If FAANG doesn't do it, I would not be surprised other firms push for it as a way to compete for talent.
Imagine, instead of figuring out cap tables and trying to prevent getting screwed by dilution... imagine if that task was delegated to the Guild and they could hire people to negotiate for that and monitor that on an ongoing basis.
Imagine if those options could be captured in a defined benefit plan or packaged in some other way where professionals could be hired to manage the risks inherent with taking options from a startup.
I think too many people think about dockworkers and construction workers when unions are discussed.
Please review the SAG agreements here:
If you are a great programmer you might charge 8x the daily minimum. No one is forcing you to accept the minimum, but you should not have to accept anything below the minimum.
If you could delegate tasks to the guild to monitor the financial health of your employer, manage your stock option negotiation, and negotiate a daily minimum each year... you could offload a lot complicated issues and at least focus on your work...
At a certain point a manager could assist with these tasks as well, especially if you are 8x the daily minimum.
The daily minimum is to make sure no one takes advantage of people (ie, young employees at startups)...
If the major FAANG companies had an association called the Software Development Industry... Programmers would join a Software Developers Guild... Annually the guild would negotiate with the Software Development Industry and create daily minimum rates, safe working conditions, and worker protections for software developers. (what kind of protections... I think assuring workers can operate and compete freely... No anti competitive behaviors such as refraining from soliciting one another’s employees in order to avert a salary war)
If FAANG doesn't do it, I would not be surprised other firms push for it as a way to compete for talent.
Imagine, instead of figuring out cap tables and trying to prevent getting screwed by dilution... imagine if that task was delegated to the Guild and they could hire people to negotiate for that and monitor that on an ongoing basis.
Imagine if those options could be captured in a defined benefit plan or packaged in some other way where professionals could be hired to manage the risks inherent with taking options from a startup.
I think too many people think about dockworkers and construction workers when unions are discussed. Please review the SAG agreements here:
https://www.sagaftra.org/files/20172020wagesTV.pdf
https://www.wrapbook.com/essential-guide-sag-rates/#SAG%20Te...
If you are a great programmer you might charge 8x the daily minimum. No one is forcing you to accept the minimum, but you should not have to accept anything below the minimum.
If you could delegate tasks to the guild to monitor the financial health of your employer, manage your stock option negotiation, and negotiate a daily minimum each year... you could offload a lot complicated issues and at least focus on your work... At a certain point a manager could assist with these tasks as well, especially if you are 8x the daily minimum.
The daily minimum is to make sure no one takes advantage of people (ie, young employees at startups)...