Biiiig leap there Rory
My beef has probably been subsumed here. I'll lay it out.
A contract is between two legal entities. If you're happy with your contract - fine & dandy with me. I, however, make sure that I get paid for what I'm selling, like in any business transaction. If the contract is too onerous on one side it's up to you if you take it. Just remember when you're sitting there getting bollocked/disciplined for being 20 mins late that your employer won't even remember the extra 120 hours work you did - FOR FREE - last/this year/quarter/month. I've seen it happen, shit, it's even happened to me.
Employers are no longer philanthropists in stovepipe hats building orphanages and throwing sixpences out of their carriage windows. They are the customers of your time and skills. As with any customer, treat them as well as you can afford but don't let them steal from you.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Tue 14 Aug 2012, 12:43, 1 reply, 12 years ago)

Dunno, that' a crap attitude that has held you back from promotions and caused your redundancy in the past
Comparing heavily regulated employment in a G20 member of the European Union to slavery is pretty pathetic.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Tue 14 Aug 2012, 13:01, Reply)

You may think it's a crap attitude but it's just business
Businesses work that way, why shouldn't employees? I reiterate, it's a sale. You selling your skills and time to someone for money. They then sell the proceeds/product of your skills and time for profit. I'm not adversarial with employers, I'm honest. If the contract doesn't suit either of us we're free to walk away*, no hard feelings.
Never lose sight of the fact that, if you give something for free, the recipient places no value on it. If you give your time for free, your employer places no value on it and may/will come top expect his/her extra 20% for free. What you give away devalues what you sell, if you're selling your heartbeats you're devaluing your own life.

*Just done that
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Tue 14 Aug 2012, 13:12, Reply)

Right, I'm off to the pub.

(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Tue 14 Aug 2012, 13:17, Reply)

I would have thought that being morbidly obese should really be your concern in terms of 'devaluing your own life'
Forever thinking that your employer is getting one over on you doesn't sound like it's particularly conducive to you being productive, happy, or liked at work.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Tue 14 Aug 2012, 13:18, Reply)