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universeofdesign t1_ixnzmjy wrote

My ex-wife, a nurse, sees the same situation and blames the union for not being negotiable. Ex-wife.

Her plan is to move out of state and get a job as a traveling nurse, for as long as possible without them realizing that she bought a place in town. Despite the obviously limited nature of that plan's viability, that's as far into the future as she has planned.

What's gonna happen when they realize she lives locally and has a mortgage?

Again, ex-wife.

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LustGumby t1_ixov8i2 wrote

It won't matter. She can live anywhere she wants, get hired anywhere she's able, where her home address is is irrelevant to the places taking on these high dollar contracts.

My mom's been a traveler for over 20 years, often for different UPMC hospitals. They will give her a stipend for rent in the area while a contract is going, let's say for example the stipend is for $2500 a month rent, she will go find herself an apartment for cheaper or a short term rental & pocket any difference. She's from PA so often she's taken stipends & lived at home. These companies are gonna give that money to a different contract regardless, they couldn't care less.

Someone said about using these contracts as a bandaid until "situation gets back to normal," well I agree - it's never going back. Sure, they don't get long term benefits like healthcare etc (unless they stay put with the same recruiter sometimes but that's besides the point), but at $75+ base rate per hour, plus contracted on-call, OT, a meal & housing stipend that's easily manipulated to have a lot of it go right in their pockets & more that I could go on about (for instance, I did my mom's taxes a few years back - she wrote off a new car & gas all year as business expenses & it was approved.) If you can learn to use the system to your advantage & more than make up for what you miss out on in traditional benefits I think most people would disregard other traditionally based workers & how it hurts them & their ability to bargain for better work conditions. People are self serving, not serving of the broader good of the people.

My mom's went 20 plus years without getting a 401k, health benefits, etc - but she goes to the dentist more than anyone I know, has a bigger retirement account than my grandmother who worked in the same factory for 42 years with full benefits, and writes off (I'm assuming bc of the one time...lol) a new vehicle every 3 years or so. I could keep going but I kind of look at it like this -- if youre selfish enough to go to work everyday knowing that everyone you're working with is not only being screwed by you, but also by their company taking you on, go for it - you'll be fine. It's def not for everyone, it's a shady ass game & I didn't even mention how bloodthirsty & manipulating I've seen recruiters to be.

Good luck to your ex-wife but it sounds like she hasn't fully done her research. Long time travelers have jumped thru hoops to work the system to their advantage, jumping in thinking you'll best the system usually doesn't come out well but hey - that's why you stressed the Ex right? 😂

Oh & if you have younger children or a family don't fkn do this travelling shit. Not just bc benefits are nonexistent basically but bc the life it affords will fuck your kids up forever - ask me how I know.

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DugganSC t1_ixqfhva wrote

> Oh & if you have younger children or a family don't fkn do this travelling shit. Not just bc benefits are nonexistent basically but bc the life it affords will fuck your kids up forever - ask me how I know.

In your mother's defense, this used to be the standard for a lot of men back in the day, out most of the week traveling for the company, maybe see the kids on weekends, c.f. the traveling salesman, truckers, or the Wichita Lineman. Admittedly, standards weren't white the same back then in terms of men being expected to have an emotional connection with their children.

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