Interesting topic that came up in Business Week I.E Autism

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http://www.businessweek.com/articles/20 ... n-to-india


Its a somewhat heated issue i.e Pay....I firmly like the idea. Some don't.

I found the article very interesting. I never made 15$ an hour at any of my jobs, and have a spotty work history due to my Asperger's and my other health problems. I am now on SS. The most I ever earned an hour was 11$ and that was for a three day temp assignment with a company that was big on wasting money, as the job didn't normally pay that rate with other companies. However it was a rush job, as someone there had goofed and overlooked two projects until just before they were due. Panic attack time, and call the temp agencies, so several of us got paid good to help get the project done in time.

The most I usually got paid towards the end of my working life was in the 7-8$ range, and rarely, assignments in the 9$ range. Although I wouldn't be any good in the job mentioned in the article, I would have been glad of a job that paid 15-20$ per hour. Yes, on the surface it does look exploitative, but remember, they have to keep the rate low enough to beat out outsourcing to places like India. Let's keep American work in America, and keep Americans working! Also, there are some added biz costs in making accommodations to the employee's disorder. And also, the man talked about including them in a profit sharing plan. That would be additional financial value for the employees. The income would be a big boon to the employees, and their families. It would also help the local economy, as these would be local employees, who would be spending money at local businesses, not in India. Over all, I think it is a good idea because there are far more pluses in it than negatives. I want more of us to have job opportunities, and not just in minimum wage jobs.

I like it. It sounds like they're setting up the company to be similar to a vocational program (training leading to real work), but with specific accommodations that make the place friendly to folks on the spectrum. That the wage is lower than the "going rate" for software testers is not taking into account the fact that they will be building in perks that have real value such as quiet rooms, providing headphones, and making other accommodations from the start. I expect that they will also have a decent policy that allows people to schedule for regular doctor's visits.

This doesn't look like exploiting people to me. It looks like a great marriage between skills and an employer. Some tribes have done the same thing - used their unemployed, but teachable workforce and turned it into a customer service center or support center that is cost-competitive with overseas. There wasn't a question of that being exploitative.

I think it sounds like a really good idea.