July 22 2009: Social Work Versus Business
Filed under Politics & Uni/Work
I organised a seminar/dinner tonight in my new role in the not-for-profit disability sector, with a lecture on complex needs given by a highly lauded professor. It gave me a good chance to meet and greet some key players in Melbourne’s not for profit scene. I shan’t say much more about the actual seminar lest it give away my workplace, but one of the interesting topics brought up at my table during the dinner part of the evening was the discrepancy in pay between the social/disability work field, and a corporate environment.
For instance, a new university graduate with a social work degree could commandeer a starting salary of about $50,000AUD. A graduate with a business degree could commandeer about the same amount. Fast forward seven years, and while a social worker is now on perhaps a maximum salary of $80,000AUD, a business graduate is now on $200,000AUD.
I think it really says something about our society that we place more value in money and material goods (e.g. business) than in people and the welfare of society (e.g. social work). I know I’m a socialist in many ways, but come on. There’s something intrinsically wrong with this situation, I can’t be the only one who sees that. Why should material goods be prized over people? I honestly don’t understand it.
On a good note, the chairman of the board is very impressed with my work thus far – I apparently show a lot of initiative and have got the ball rolling on a million and one items on the agenda that they’ve not even considered yet. They’re doing interviews next week for the permanent position which will replace my temporary position, so shall my own interview for the permanent position go well, there’s every chance that I might be offered a more permanent role. Fingers crossed!
14 Responses to “Social Work Versus Business”
Leave a Reply
I reserve the right to edit or delete your comment as I see fit, though I only delete comments from anonymous commenters, or people with multiple aliases. Using a genuine name/email combination will ensure that your comment is approved.
Social workers are paid by the government, love, and they’re bloody cheap.
Stephanie on July 23 2009 #
That is unfortunately the way of the Western World and unfortunately the East is about to follow. Health, Medical and Educational Professionals are the most underpaid and under valued workers.
None of us do it for the money, but all of us have to live and at some point we just leave and I will too one day.
Michael on July 23 2009 #
I see the salary discrepancy but I don’t see what can be done about it, you know? Also, I’m going into business, so hopefully if anything happened it’d be a balancing of the salaries and not a reversal, lol.
I hope you do get the permanent position!
Shen-Shen on July 23 2009 #
I agree. I find it shameful that social workers and teachers seem to get the short end of the stick. Even firefighters and police make much less here. One would think that since these are all vital and necessary services, that we could raise their pay so that qualified people will be more likely to take these jobs versus ones in the business sector. Of course, that would mean raising taxes and I think we all know how people feel about that.
Erin on July 23 2009 #
Oh and good luck with finagling the position to permanent status!
Erin on July 23 2009 #
You sound like you’re doing an excellent job as a temporary worker, I cannot imagine why your company wouldn’t want you on a more permanent basis. And I agree that without raising taxes I am not sure how to increase the salaries of government paid services. The alternative would be to have these non-business positions become private and not government funded, but I’m not sure that would work out either.
Amanda on July 23 2009 #
Yeah, I agree. I think it’s somewhat silly but I guess that’s how the world goes everywhere.
Good luck on the permanent position! I hope it goes well. :D
Becky on July 23 2009 #
GIRL, I met a former cancer patient who would rather pay up the nose, she said it was something like $17,000 a year, for her current medical insurance than pay taxes so that OTHER people and herself could have a national health plan. Her biggest gripe was that she didn’t want to pay so much money just so other people would benefit.
I wanted to smack her upside the head.
noemi on July 23 2009 #
I completely agree and it’s absolutely horrible. The health sector, particularly NFPs are so under funded it’s ridiculous, yet everyone will need them at some point in their lives.
Good luck with the position!
Alexandra on July 23 2009 #
I just thought I’d point out that most corporate businesses seem to be incredibly removed from the concept of material goods (since when do bank loans count as “products”?).
Kieran on July 23 2009 #
It really is a shame that money is more important to most people than another human’s well being. It’s really saddening. Good luck with your position! I hope that he keeps loving your work!!
Caity on July 24 2009 #
Maybe you know better placed ppl than I do, but I doubt the majority of business grads after 7 years can get $200k. Maybe in banking/finance (before the GFC days) or if you’re overseas. But even say in Accounting, probably can’t get that until you’re the Financial Controller. And for large companies you will definitely need more experience.
But that’s not to say I don’t agree that there is a discrepancy between NFP employees and those in corporate. But some NFP employees (say working in public hospitals) can get other fringe benefits up to $30k, e.g. in a car, or have the employer pay for private expenses as part of their salary package, which also means they can pay less tax.
I don’t know whether it’s true or not, but working in NFP has the perception that you generally work less hours, have a better work/life balance, “feeling more satisfied with job” factors which some people might value more than just the cash alone.
kat on July 24 2009 #
Perhaps you have read this article? http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8348&page=0
The first part is really only figures to make you sick, but towards the end there is some interesting stuff on people being paid lots of money because their work is really worth it.
Julie on July 25 2009 #
[...] got the permanent position! I interviewed for it this morning, and was told by the afternoon that it was a no-brainer, [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » Overall Happy on July 31 2009 #