I've been trained as a contractor with the course and time being covered by the employer.

I'm presently being paid 50% of my time to do my Masters and the course is covered. I can also do other courses - and as they are work-related rather than self-selected education, it's 100/100%

Interesting point, because I maintain that working as an employee for consultancy companies that book you out for client projects, is actually getting the worst deal of all. You don't get big company benefits such as generous training and you don't get the benefits of being self employed....but with all the downsides...

dave

The paid for my wine-tasting classes as well after work. But that was off the clock.

Precisely what I was referring to earlier in the Recruitment Agency thread.

The correct terminology is:

"Like I said, "

at this point, a looking-skyward smilie could be added for emphasis

dave

I have worked for 3 different small companies either full time or as a contractor in RSA and now first time in my career I moved to a large concern ABB.

Advantage was learning lots of interesting things and being jack of all trades which sort of like compensated for any aditional trainings instead. On contract bases there were better money and experience gained.

Disadvantage was working longer hours. I always had to negotiate my additional courses or during my part time PhD studies also would discuss who pays for what? company or myself for my prototype and etc....

In bigger companies the staff development courses are quite common and it is easier to motivate the line manager that you need one without thinking twice that obviously the company would cover the fees.... just might be an issue with time: during working hours or postcurricular?

In fact the Unbelievable Bank of Stupidity used to give you paid time for a week's course in anything legal. Anyone done anything exotic ...?

dave

sorry i should of remembered I was writting on a newsgroup.

I forgot to mention in passing that another advantage of working for large company is... long holidays, heck a lot of meetings (I always wonder who actually works) and plenty of coffe from the machines....