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Antiwork

A year ago a friend approached me to help his business with something.

He explained that his father's company (that he was VP of) was experiencing difficulties with their software being slow due to an ever expanding database of information. Upon inspection, I discovered their database was a mess and their software was garbage. I explained that I would build a new app and rebuild the database from scratch. I did this all the while having a full-time job at a dealership. I should also add that it was “tire season” at the time. This is the time of the year is when we swap winter tires for summer tires. I was the one who pulled tires from storage and put tires back into storage. In a season, we have roughly 220 tire appointments. Basically double that number and that's how many sets of tires I have to deal with in the span of about 2-3 months. Suffice to say, getting home from…


He explained that his father's company (that he was VP of) was experiencing difficulties with their software being slow due to an ever expanding database of information.

Upon inspection, I discovered their database was a mess and their software was garbage. I explained that I would build a new app and rebuild the database from scratch.

I did this all the while having a full-time job at a dealership. I should also add that it was “tire season” at the time. This is the time of the year is when we swap winter tires for summer tires. I was the one who pulled tires from storage and put tires back into storage. In a season, we have roughly 220 tire appointments. Basically double that number and that's how many sets of tires I have to deal with in the span of about 2-3 months.

Suffice to say, getting home from work this time of the year, I'm exhausted. Yet, I still managed to do what was asked. During the week, I'd code for 4-6 hours a night and weekends would be roughly 20 hours more. This went on for 3 months. I should also add that 3 months was the timeframe/deadline. I managed to finish everything with 4 days remaining.

With how well I performed, they kept me around basically as a database administrator and to add more features to the app. Not nearly as strenuous as the initial 3 months, but some days did have a heavy work load after work.

Eventually they fired a data analyst and asked me if I wanted a shot at helping out. I love working with excel and spreadsheets, so I agreed. I did this in hopes they would hire me full-time eventually.

2 months went by where I was basically a database administrator, software engineer, and data analyst. All the while only getting paid $20/hour, I might add. I tried negotiating the pay at the beginning but my “friend” said that's their rate for outside help. Looking back, I should have walked away.

Anyway, as it felt less and less likely that they'd actually hire me as their official data analyst, I just couldn't do it anymore on top of my Dealership job. I looked at the agreement I signed and looked at the termination section. It said either party could terminate the agreement without notice or cause. So I did exactly this. I said my mental and physical health were suffering and basically went “byeeeeee!”.

This was 4 months ago. A couple days ago their lead data analyst (who was a sweetheart, btw) approached me and asked to see if I would come back to help with the software and database but with a much less expectation for work output.

This was my response

It's now been 3 days and I never received a response for mine.

I should add that this subreddit gave me the insight to know my worth and to stand up for myself.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

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