A couple questions...

[daneel]

I just got offered an alternate position today by email for the winter term 2010.

1. No salary has been mentioned yet. Are salaries negotiable with Raytheon?

...<snip>....

I presume that an offer letter is forthcoming. The offer letter will contain salary information. As to whether or not it's negotiable...I've had success in negotiating in the past. That said, before you think about going down that road, you should take pause and figure out the reason you want to go to Antarctica. You should also keep in mind that there is a completion bonus...the amount will depend on a few things, so you can positively influence your total pay. Also keep in mind that while you're on The Ice your housing, medical, transportation...on and on are paid for.

Talking to HR on the phone I was told the salary and the bonus info all the while thinking the reason why I wanted to go there and accepted the offer. I did'nt push the subject. It's still do-able but stilll have a mortgage, etc. As far as I'm concerned, the medical PQ's, transport, housing, meals and so on are a nil point; a cost of doing business on their part. Such things would have far more glimmer to them if I had no mortgage, etc. The hourly is still less that what I'm making now, but the 54 hour week and bonus at end of contract will still gross me more than what I make now. All in all, I spose there's no real complaints.

[MATKATAMIBA]

I received the link for the packet info today. It looks rather extensive and I'm somewhat surprised at the intensiveness of it all. I can understand the rationale behind it but wonder if there's just a little too much scrutiny involved.

It's a lot but I don't think it's too much. In the winter you are 1500 miles from a real hospital even if you could get there, which you can't. And if they do try heroic measures to get you out (or even air-drop medical supplies) many other people will be risking their lives for you - so no I don't think it's too much to ask that we be certifiably healthy. Although the tests are annoying and people complain, I suspect most feel better knowing that they have a good chance of surviving the winter. As has been said, "It's a harsh continent" and it doesn't care if you live or die.

As for the 54-hour work week - you will be paid by the week not by the hour, so the 54 hours doesn't get you any extra pay.

[MATKATAMIBA]

About bonuses.

Correct me if I am wrong, but are there three bonuses?

1. Completion Bonus: which you get when you have been on the ice for x weeks. Is this 5% of base pay?
2. Performance Bonus: which varies between 0 and 20% of base pay.
3. Winter Bonus: which goes to winter-overs. I think this is 5% of base pay but I don't know if it is only for Pole or if McMurdo w/o's get it too.

Do I have these right?

[daneel]

Only 1 bonus mentioned to me. A completion bonus of 16-20% of gross.

16% for first year contract.

[m0loch]

About bonuses.

Correct me if I am wrong, but are there three bonuses?

1. Completion Bonus: which you get when you have been on the ice for x weeks. Is this 5% of base pay?

Partially right, see my response to #3.

2. Performance Bonus: which varies between 0 and 20% of base pay.

yep, that's right. Your bonus potential goes up based on the number of contract years you have been on The Ice, and tops out at...I believe 28% for your third year...doesn't go up after that. 16% (first year, 18% 2nd year and 20% 3rd year and beyond) are pretty easy to attain by simply showing up, doing your job and not getting into trouble. You have to put in extra effort to get more...and not necessarily at your job.

3. Winter Bonus: which goes to winter-overs. I think this is 5% of base pay but I don't know if it is only for Pole or if McMurdo w/o's get it too.

Things change but the last time I worked on that side of the continent there was NO winter over bonus. There was, at the time, a "location" bonus for South Pole that was paid to everyone, including summer people, who work at Pole. You must be on station for 2 consecutive weeks before you become eligible for that one, then it was paid for every week afterwards. If one leaves station (for instance R&R for summer/winter people) then you must start over at 0 upon returning to Pole.

Prior to that, there did exist a "winterover" bonus, though it was more a long-duration bonus. I think it was a set dollar amount...it was different for Pole vs. McMurdo and it was paid to those who did a summer/winter. People who did winter only weren't eligible for that.

Do I have these right?

Probably not, and I probably don't have it right either....but what I posted above is at least somewhat current and I tried to make it correct.

[daneel]

So, I have to ask,

Is the internationally famous Mike Blachut still working at McMurdo doing the refrigeration? If so, then my knickers might untwist a bit.

[thepooles98]

Like almost everyone. Mike works on and off, taking time off when needed. Sometimes with the refridgeration crew and sometime running the power plant.

He has said for years that he won't be coming back and like many people who say that, keeps showing up.

You are sort of right on the completion bonus thing, but 1 and 2 slide together into one bonus. It's a variable performance bonus that you get after completing a season. The percentage increases each year. Technically one bonus.

By the time you've been here a few years, work towards an exceeds rating, and you get a bonus of almost 1/4th of everything you made for the year.

Another aspect to the pay is that a lot of things you would pay for at home are free here. Anything recreation related (except booze). All food is included. You have no utility bills or auto expenses.

We always would put our car insurance at home on fire only while we were away to drop the price. It's amazing with all those little things you don't pay for, your bank account goes up faster than it would at home.

Of course with all that money in your pocket and free airplane tickets home, you might be tempted to travel to places you never dreamed of and spend the money.

[daneel]

Like almost everyone. Mike works on and off, taking time off when needed. Sometimes with the refridgeration crew and sometime running the power plant.

He has said for years that he won't be coming back and like many people who say that, keeps showing up.

Thanx for the info. I ran into an article about him dated Feb '09. I figured if he was the primary again this year I could actually relax a bit. Long story real short, There's just a whole lot of "things hanging in the air" going on right now.

Interesting article and intersting fellow. Reminds me of a couple guys I've worked with before. Should like to meet him someday, tho. He's right about the ice cream machine. A fellows reputation either lives or dies by it.

http://www.litsite.org/index.cfm?section=PEER+WORK&page=NONFICTION&ContentId=2415&viewpost=2

You are sort of right on the completion bonus thing, but 1 and 2 slide together into one bonus. It's a variable performance bonus that you get after completing a season. The percentage increases each year. Technically one bonus.

By the time you've been here a few years, work towards an exceeds rating, and you get a bonus of almost 1/4th of everything you made for the year.

Another aspect to the pay is that a lot of things you would pay for at home are free here. Anything recreation related (except booze). All food is included. You have no utility bills or auto expenses.

We always would put our car insurance at home on fire only while we were away to drop the price. It's amazing with all those little things you don't pay for, your bank account goes up faster than it would at home.

I figured I'd save 1200.00 in gas just by not having to commute. ANd I reckon a 20.00 bill would not dissolve so quickly in my pocket down there compared to here. Yes, many little things, mostly yet unseen.

Of course with all that money in your pocket and free airplane tickets home, you might be tempted to travel to places you never dreamed of and spend the money.

Well, the money goes in the wifes checkbook way before it goes in me pockets. Still, I did plant a taperecorder under her pillow the other nite with a subliminal message of meeting me in NZ in October for a look-see...

[Iceman]

Mike's a character, he has about a trillion stories to tell ya. He's just a really nice person. He came down to Palmer in April of '08 to help fix one of our walk-in coolers, in the aquarium, that went down during the summer. He toured around South America for like 3 months after that then went to MacMurdo for the summer season '08-'09 (after he said he wasn't going back of course! ).

[ricochet]

How do the "store" and "post office" work? Is there a library of any sort? Is it possible to work in the kitchen/dining room and also in the store, post office or other side jobs like that?

I'm applying for October of 2011. I know it's a long way off, but I'm hoping that getting started now will give me a better chance of getting there then. Jan - Aug of 2011, I'm going to volunteer on the Africa Mercy Ship. I've volunteered for the kitchen/dining room specifically so that I can get experience at cooking for large numbers, hoping that will help me get the Polie job later that year. I would appreciate any suggestions (or corrections if I'm assuming things that should not be assumed). I really want to do this.