Hacker News

Ask HN: why is my F500 employer okay with paying 5x to freelancers?

Hacker News - Sat, 04/19/2025 - 8:28am

I've changed some facts a bit. The story still stands.

This is definitely one of those times where I'm breaking my brain because something isn't logical and I haven't yet understand the cultural side of things, or hidden reasons I haven't identified yet. In almost all aspects of life, I don't have this issue anymore, but corporate life is new to me.

So could you please help me out?

I work in the Netherlands in a marketing department where we have a dire need for more IT skills. I happen to have been a software engineer currently turned data analyst which is why we're capable of launching technical projects fast. IT people are being hired as freelancers around 150 euro's per hour. I'm making 30 euro's per hour as an employee. I know that as an employee my 30 euro's is actually "more" due to vacation and pension, etc. but it's nowhere near 150 euro's. Also, these freelancers have been working here for years on a per hour basis.

They were asking me, among others, how we should manage our budget of half a million euro's. I asked them: "why don't you simply see if you can ask your current staff to work 20 hours more for 75 euro's per hour on a freelance basis?"

Manager: "We can't do that."

Me: "but you're cutting costs by 50% plus you minimize overhead because their freelance tasks are adjacent to their actual roles but given it's not their actual role, a freelance assignment is warranted."

Manager: "yea but then everyone wants to freelance in this department like that."

Me: "So you're telling me that I can go out and freelance for an additional 20 hours but just not with this company?"

Manager: "Yea sure as long as it's not a company in the same industry."

Me: "But that would create all kinds of overhead. Why don't I just freelance for you guys? You told me you want innovation and a strong focus on AI and I'm currently the only person in your department who can make good on that promise."

Manager: "That's just not how it works."

Can anyone tell me why not? It frustrates me that marketing managers from high up talking about AI and innovation. I actually listen, use my software engineering skills to use AI in novel ways by automating LLMs, new things do actually get done but then when it comes to doubling down on it, and I'm asking to work 20 hours more, they don't want to do that. But they would be totally fine to go to an external company and pay hundreds of thousands of euro's for something that I created in a month.

I feel frustrated and confused. If someone has some clarity on this and can tell me "how the business world works" that would be really nice. Because it doesn't make sense.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43735969

Points: 2

# Comments: 1

Categories: Hacker News

UK Colleges are a Joke

Hacker News - Sat, 04/19/2025 - 8:27am

So, we are going through the undergrad admissions for my kid. The way how they select their intake looks bizarre.

They need to complete their selection process by around May/June for the Sept admissions. But the 10+2 results won't come out until mid August though exams happen in June. A few colleges have their own assessment tests. But most colleges make offers based on "Predicted grades" given by the senior-school teacher.

This is ridiculous, given these colleges are places of innovation and centers of human progress. They could not find a way around their processing times. Why can't they have 10+2 exams in April, results in May and undergrad process begin after that? No. They break the dependency on 10+2 results by replacing it with predictions. How clever!

Also, they appear to be keen to make an offer if you are paying international fees. Once you disclose that you are eligible for the home fees, they are less keen. International fees are about 4 times the home fees.

Courses and teachers are another topic. The number of different courses available is almost comparable to the number of students. Same teacher works for many colleges. Teaching and student work has mostly moved online. College rankings appear rigged.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43735968

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

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