Some Time Off & H1B

I was given the opportunity to take off the next three weeks.  But alas, it appears my work here, is never done.  I'm at the house, and there are  fifty things I NEED to do!

However, like other goals, I made a list, and assigned a priority.  And to put business acumen into place, I created a matrix, and weighted the assigned tasks.  The delta - all tasks to be completed in 21 days. Ok. Not really.  I made a list, but you could certainly overdo something as simple as a list. It's easy to get carried away making plans without executing them.  That happens to people all the time - a bit of analysis paralysis.

Now, there are things I cannot-rather am better served by outsourcing.  I can lay tile, but it'd be better if I got someone else to do the detail work.  Same goes with caulking, painting, and finish carpentry.   So, I will use the skills of someone else, and pay for that privilege.  I will receive excellent service, and quality work, for a price I am willing to pay.

This brings me to outsourcing, or for that matter insourcing via H1B Visas.  Just last week I met  a gentleman on an international flight. We were seat mates for the better part of -almost 18 hours!  This gentleman was an engineer, who went on to get his Masters. He is making plans on getting his MBA.  He is stellar in his field, outshining many of his co-workers.   So much so, he is being recruited directly from a competitor.

I asked him a question I thought pertinent:  Did he ever face adversity or snide comments or rudeness because he was here on an H1B?  "Never" he said, "And I get asked that a lot from people."  And I related that in the IT field, that there seemed to be a stigma associated with those whom came to the US and worked on an H1B.  

Two days ago in Computer World there was a story on Microsoft's layoffs, and a congressman running an inquiry into whether or not Microsoft was laying off American workers at the expense of keeping H1B workers. Microsoft didn't answer the inquiry as of this writing.  I bring this point up for one reason.  In the many comments that people made almost all talked derrogitorily toward the H1B Visa holders, and that they were staying because they were paid less.

Now, the gentlemen I met who is an engineer related to me his salary and his bonus structure; it was apparent to me that he was being paid equally with what his American co-workers were being paid.  Now I'm not saying that all companies pay the same, nor if there are inequalities in pay between H1B and American employees. I don't have data on either.  I'm probably certain that most complainers aren't certain of it either. In fact they may be confusing offshoring with H1B's.  Be it known that there is obviously a defecit for well trained, educated employees.  So much so that Dr. Eric Schmidt (Google), and Steve Balmer (Microsoft) both are lobbying congress to enable more H1B's in the future, the current number of around 65,000 per year is not nearly enough.- according to the report I read in Computer World.

This gentlemen told me he is attempting to get his green card, but it is a long drawn out process. He also said, he opposed amnesty for those immigrants who were here illegally.  He had to pay the price and time for coming here.  I concurred, but told him, he wouldn't have to worry about any of them taking his position.  He is highly skilled, he has his Bachelors, his Masters, and will be knocking out his MBA within seven years.

This gentlemen is a force to be reckoned with. Not only is he adept, he is business savvy, he has sales skills, and an easy manner.  He is the top of his game.  He strives and acheives; and we all could take a lesson from this man-set goals; educational goals, business goals, personal goals.  I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Mathews will acheive everything he sets out to do.

Whether or not H1B's get paid more, or less, or are thought to be taking jobs from American's, I can't make any general statements.    Let it known, that if someone does what needs to be done, and strives at their very best,  and continues their education, and makes rash and tough decisions that are sometime uncomfortable to make; they will either be employed or employ others.