Task: Prepare aluminum straps by cutting strips from prepared length. 25 pieces of lumber, 12 foot long each. Mark at 18 inch intervals and "strap" each one on these marks by using nail gun. Two nails on top. Bend each side of metal, three nails on each side. The gauge of the strap is thick enough that you need some strength to bend it. The next step is time consuming: you bend each of the sides 90 degrees and use a flat bar to chip at its angles to make sure the bend is "tight." The end result of each strap over the lumber looks something like this:
****_
__[* ]__
So, each piece of lumber has about nine to ten straps. Got it?
Last task--when above task is completed, carry each length, weighing about 30-40 lbs, to the side of the roof and heave it up to the waiting roofer.
Got that?
WOMAN
Qualifications: certified state license, very experienced
Pay scale: a few dollars higher but the company doesn't need to pay for her liability insurance and workman's compensation.
Own all the required tools: nail gun, hose, tape measure, hammer, marking pen, flat bar, utility blade
Finished strapping 25 pieces of lumber in approximately 7 hours
MAN
Qualifications: roofing labor
Pay scale: labor rate, company has to pay for liability and WC
Doesn't own any tools: no nail gun, not even a tool belt. Has to borrow hammer and tape measure.
Finished strapping 6 pieces of lumber in approximately 6 hours
The roof needs 2000 pieces of lumber strapped this way.
Question: Who would you hire for this specific task after Day One?
The person hired: the man
This happens more than you think. That's why we are stronger. Faster. Better. (cue in Bionic Woman music)
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Thursday, February 05, 2009
What A Woman Is Up Against
Posted by Gennita at 9:26 PM
Labels: alpha female, roofing stories, things that might get into my writing one day
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4 comments:
Either the person is an idiot or they can't do the math. I'm guessing both. You get what you 'pay' for.
Jordan,
It's always a challenge to be kickass ;-).
GRRRRR. That makes me sooo angry. I don't know how you can stand it!!
Edith
Edith,
It's very normal in the construction way of life. One can only try to show that one's worth the money and more, but then, sometimes, that doesn't matter because the people in charge don't "see" the person.
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