This type of predicament/situation is not isolated to immigrants. No it isn't, it's the law of the Jungle my friends. The workplace economic jungle that is.
Do you think this kind of underselling, stealing, back-stabbing, unethical, economy/industry hurting behavior or the like does not go on in, say, the world of professional services: engineers, architects, surveyors, lawyers, etc? It does. I've been in the civil-engineering business for last 20+ years of my life and what you've described is a common occurrence. Every time an engineer hires an employee (A US CITIZEN): CADD-tech, inspector, surveyor, party-chief, EIT, he runs the risk of training his competition. Why? Because no matter who you hire - if they don't work for you until they're dead and buried in the ground, that employee who is learning, making contacts, understanding the business a little more each day - may not work for you in the near future. He might either open his own business or after you've trained him work for your more; or most; robust competitor.
Here is a real life example: I offer surveying services on engineering projects for land developers. My employee leaves and offers those services to anyone, as an unlicensed sub-contractor, technically by FLA. statutes this is against the law, but what am I supposed to do turn around and involve my client in a legal dispute for using a low bidder sub? Not if I want to maintain my relationship with the industry (clients). Also, this same (former employee) un-licensed sub-contractor will work as a sub for engineering/surveying competitors - driving down the cost to were even break-even business margins can not be met.
It is an utterly common thing from my perspective/experience, (without even any illegal immigrant involvement) and yes it sucks.
It sucks because they ultimately hurt the industry. Most of my professional services are one-time deals. What we design & help build will usually never ever end up back on the design table. If we don't make the money now (the necessary %) - we never will. Employees that do this, over time, contribute to the following:
1.) An overall reduction in the pay scale, within the industry, for all employees.
2.) Reduction of benefits for all employees, within the industry (i.e. 401K, health, dental, profit sharing, etc).
3.) A reduction in the overall quality of service.
4.) A further reduction in professional service fees as your clients turn to more unlicensed subs. And, this can happen indirectly, say a developer, places the burden of service acquisition on another sub (say the engineering contractor installing underground utilities).
5.) The image of the professional is also tarnished by these industry accepted practices (as clients year by year treat you with less respect and greater disdain).
They only reason why I've managed over the years was due to two things: 1.) an industry contraction in fees resulted in a contraction of the employee base which meant a higher volume of work for lower fees. 2.) Computers made it possible to accommodate the higher volume (with: CADD, GPS, total station integration, etc).
I could go on, but you sort of get the picture. No? I remember having problems like this back in my home town and a lot of people I once knew saying "damn Spiks, Wetbacks" etc - "they're always undercutting/working under the table they should go back to where the came from." Only thing was they we're talking about American citizens (mostly 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation) and not illegals.
I totally sympathize with your predicament, but I am not so sure it couldn't have happened, anyways, with American citizens as your employees. Just as you have suggested you'll work for cash and circumvent the law (taxes). So could a former employee (U.S. citizen) now competing directly against you; circumvent the law (taxes) - for the very same services you offer, in this sad but true contracting economic environment.
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PS: I am not trying to make a political case here. I am just trying to let you know - I understand and sympathize with your predicament. As such things have happened to me numerous times. As the loyalty issue is a true heart breaker especially when you truly give to an employee as best you can. In fact at one point I was the employee - who left his employer and became the competition. I'd be a hypocrite to not acknowledge that fact.
Last edited by topal63 (2008-02-07 07:13:18)
