Immigration, a different twist
I just wanted to put a different spin on the immigration issue.
As I've stated before, I work for one of the largest companies in the world and I work with people from all over the world.
Lots of people here have been laid off due to work being transferred to other countries, mainly India and Brazil. All the helpdesks that I know of have all been transferred to Canada.
The language barrier this has created is over-whelming. Sometimes, I have to pass the phone to someone else because I'm clueless as to what is being said. If it wasn't for IMing, nothing would get accomplished. The company may think it saves money but if time is money, I hardly see how that is true. Problems take 3 and 4 times longer to resolve because it's hard to get a clear picture of what the problem is.
I am sad for those who lose their jobs here. I also find it frustrating that those who were given the job can not perform it as well as we can. It's plain and simply because of the language barrier. I find myself torn because considering the extreme poverty in some of these places, it's good these people are able to find work. India is finally starting to have a middle class.
The location where I work also has a lot of foreign workers. People mainly come from India and China, although I'm sure lots of other countries are represented. Many of them come here for graduate school and then stay afterwards to work. I believe they are allowed to work here for 1 year after graduation before they have to go back.
Now the people who come here for graduate school are not poor. Their parents have a lot of money, otherwise, they would have never found their way here. I hear all about the chauffuers and maids and how these people never had to do anything until they came here to America.
Most of these people try their best to stay here in America after graduation. The company has to sponsor them, which costs over $1,000 a month. There are certain restrictions which I won't bother to get into plus I'm sure I don't know the half of it anyway.
These foreigner workers frequently get promotioned and transferred to better departments even though they may not be able stay in this country for an extended period of time. Many of them can hardly speak a lick of English. I try to not let it upset me when American-born workers are passed over for them. Not only can I not do anything about it because I also figure this is one world and they have one life and why not let them live and work wherever they want. These workers, btw, aren't any more intelligent nor do they work any harder than the rest of us.
Another way this has affected me is salary-wise. One year, we were given a breakdown of the expenses the company had to pay for us. Included was the immigration sponsorship fees. I asked why they hired these people if they need to pay this money. The response was that Americans won't work these crazy hours. Firstly, I don't believe that and secondly, it shouldn't be included in those of us with whom they do not need to pay a fee.
One thing this company excels at (although I'm sure it's an outside contractor) is clearing the snow in the winter. It's deceiving when you look out and see the parking lot cleared and then make it onto the main roads and see the difference. I used to work 3rd shift so I know that all through the night, these people would plow and shovel continuously. The workers who I've seen shovel the walkways appear to be of Mexican origin. These people work in the coldest, nastiest weather. I never see them stop to talk or take a break. They are hard workers.
Are these workers legal? Beats me, of course. I have to tell you though, I feel better about those who shovel the snow than I do about the high tech workers that stick around here knowing they could be living this life of luxury back home.
In light of the war in Iraq and the state of the world, I do not believe that immigration should be on the front burner. My grandparents came over here from Italy at a time when the immigration laws were not as strict. If the laws had been stricter, who's to say they wouldn't have come anyway. The term WOP, a derogatory term for an Italian, stems from the large number of immigrants that came to America without papers. That's what was written next to their names. W.O.P. which stands for 'without papers'.
The point I am trying to make is that legal immigrants take just as many jobs away, right here in America, as illegal aliens do. The argument that they are doing it legally is valid. However, these people are not in the same dire straits as the illegals are.
As I stated in a previous posting, what I don't understand is why the U.S. does not demand changes within Mexico to advance their economy so that people will not need to flee to America.
As I've stated before, I work for one of the largest companies in the world and I work with people from all over the world.
Lots of people here have been laid off due to work being transferred to other countries, mainly India and Brazil. All the helpdesks that I know of have all been transferred to Canada.
The language barrier this has created is over-whelming. Sometimes, I have to pass the phone to someone else because I'm clueless as to what is being said. If it wasn't for IMing, nothing would get accomplished. The company may think it saves money but if time is money, I hardly see how that is true. Problems take 3 and 4 times longer to resolve because it's hard to get a clear picture of what the problem is.
I am sad for those who lose their jobs here. I also find it frustrating that those who were given the job can not perform it as well as we can. It's plain and simply because of the language barrier. I find myself torn because considering the extreme poverty in some of these places, it's good these people are able to find work. India is finally starting to have a middle class.
The location where I work also has a lot of foreign workers. People mainly come from India and China, although I'm sure lots of other countries are represented. Many of them come here for graduate school and then stay afterwards to work. I believe they are allowed to work here for 1 year after graduation before they have to go back.
Now the people who come here for graduate school are not poor. Their parents have a lot of money, otherwise, they would have never found their way here. I hear all about the chauffuers and maids and how these people never had to do anything until they came here to America.
Most of these people try their best to stay here in America after graduation. The company has to sponsor them, which costs over $1,000 a month. There are certain restrictions which I won't bother to get into plus I'm sure I don't know the half of it anyway.
These foreigner workers frequently get promotioned and transferred to better departments even though they may not be able stay in this country for an extended period of time. Many of them can hardly speak a lick of English. I try to not let it upset me when American-born workers are passed over for them. Not only can I not do anything about it because I also figure this is one world and they have one life and why not let them live and work wherever they want. These workers, btw, aren't any more intelligent nor do they work any harder than the rest of us.
Another way this has affected me is salary-wise. One year, we were given a breakdown of the expenses the company had to pay for us. Included was the immigration sponsorship fees. I asked why they hired these people if they need to pay this money. The response was that Americans won't work these crazy hours. Firstly, I don't believe that and secondly, it shouldn't be included in those of us with whom they do not need to pay a fee.
One thing this company excels at (although I'm sure it's an outside contractor) is clearing the snow in the winter. It's deceiving when you look out and see the parking lot cleared and then make it onto the main roads and see the difference. I used to work 3rd shift so I know that all through the night, these people would plow and shovel continuously. The workers who I've seen shovel the walkways appear to be of Mexican origin. These people work in the coldest, nastiest weather. I never see them stop to talk or take a break. They are hard workers.
Are these workers legal? Beats me, of course. I have to tell you though, I feel better about those who shovel the snow than I do about the high tech workers that stick around here knowing they could be living this life of luxury back home.
In light of the war in Iraq and the state of the world, I do not believe that immigration should be on the front burner. My grandparents came over here from Italy at a time when the immigration laws were not as strict. If the laws had been stricter, who's to say they wouldn't have come anyway. The term WOP, a derogatory term for an Italian, stems from the large number of immigrants that came to America without papers. That's what was written next to their names. W.O.P. which stands for 'without papers'.
The point I am trying to make is that legal immigrants take just as many jobs away, right here in America, as illegal aliens do. The argument that they are doing it legally is valid. However, these people are not in the same dire straits as the illegals are.
As I stated in a previous posting, what I don't understand is why the U.S. does not demand changes within Mexico to advance their economy so that people will not need to flee to America.
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