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Free Market Economics was RE: "Underpaid...and not Well Understoo d"



"We see frequently that people get paid not necessarily by the importance of
their job but how much money they generate for their employer."

Actually it is more a case of supply and demand (jump in when you are ready
Steve!). There is only one Derek Jeter if several teams want him, they will
offer him an amount of money, he will review the amount (and associated
bennies) and decide what is the better deal.

Now lets look at archives. If an archives is offering x dollars for a
position and no one respond to the ad, the natural course would be to raise
the amount ie offer a better salary or more benefits. Once you have received
a sufficient number of applicants you now know what the natural salary level
is for that position. Conversely if an archives places an advert for a
position for a ridiculously low salary and they receive numerous
well-qualified responses then that the is the natural true salary level.

A real world example: I worked part-time at a chain bookstore for a number
of years (at night) for several reasons. The majority of the staff were
college students. Several complained one day that they didn't think they
were being paid enough and that the store should pay them more. I explained
that wouldn't happen for a couple of reasons the prime one being that we had
over two inches worth of one page applications from people willing to work
there for just over minimum wage (we also received 30% discount on all
purchases). So they could be easily replaced and none of them had any
special skills.

so finally want to have higher salaries in archives?
1. don't apply for a position with a ridiculously low salary.

2. decrease the supply of archivists

3. Create a demand for archivists by showing the value of having an
archivist -- think in terms of profitability, cost efficiencies, etc. That
is what the top dog is going to be thinking of.
To put it in simpler terms how are you going to show increased usage of the
facility. How are you going to create demand from the public for the
archives.

4. promote your archives, create demand.

5. Expand your horizons

that's enough for now from the dark side :-)

Peter A. Kurilecz CRM, CA
Manager, Records Management Group
Woodside Summit Group Inc
Midlothian, Virginia
Office: 804-744-1247 x23
Fax: 804-744-4947
mailto:peter.kurilecz@woodsidesummitgroup.com

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