I’d like to point out a few differences between our service and services like oDesk since those differences could influence your satisfaction and earnings.

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Working with a new buyer on a Pay-for-Deliverables project:
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A new buyer doesn’t know yet that you’re productive, and won’t run up a huge bill with fluff hours via pay-for-time projects. To help you establish that trust, both Odesk and Rent A Coder let you work with them by bidding a fixed price for the final deliverables (called pay-for-deliverables). However, oDesk doesn’t offer safety features (escrowing and arbitration) to be able to guarantee payment to you.

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Working with a buyer you know on a Pay-for-Time project:
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Once a buyer trusts that you won’t bill them for unproductive hours, you can bill them by the hour (called pay-for-time). This has many advantages over pay-for-deliverables including cheaper fees, flexibility (you don’t have to define all the requirements in advance to start working) and less risk (under-estimates are no longer your responsibility to bear). However there are important differences in how oDesk and Rent A Coder provide this service.

1) Fees.
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Rent A Coder charges 10%-35% less than oDesk (9% for one-on-one auctions to as low as 6.5%). The less you pay, the more savings you can pocket yourself, pass on to the buyer, or split. oDesk charges a higher flat fee of 10%. As a result, you have less money to pocket, pass on to the buyer, or split.

2) Guaranteed Work Payments.
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When working hard to meet a buyer’s deadline, you may find yourself working long hours. Odesk does not guarantee payment past the first eight hours in a day. Rent A Coder guarantees payment for all work done.

3) Mental Tasks.
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When working for a buyer, you may find yourself doing mental work that should not be interrupted (such as reading, planning or writing at your desk). Odesk requires that you simultaneously remember to move your mouse every minute or so, and if you don’t, you are not guaranteed payment. So you can choose to be constantly interrupted (and perhaps distracted and frustrated), or forgo the payment guarantee. Rent A Coder does not require you to make this choice, and guarantees payment for mental work.

There are other differences as well. I invite everyone to compare the 7 major services through this link to learn even more: http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/DotNet/misc/CompetitorInformation/WhyRentACoder_ForSellers.aspx (Short version: http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/DotNet/misc/CompetitorInformation/OneOnOneComparisons/oDeskVersusVWorker_ForSellers.aspx)

If you have any questions, please let me know. You can also call in to talk to a facilitator 7 days a week, or email us (see http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/misc/Feedback.asp).

Nicole
www.rentacoder.com

Please, your help to understand.

Thank you.

Many companies offer a private "group insurance" plan, that provides additional coverage that would not normally be provided by the universal health care from the government. The cost per employee is usually a few dollars per paycheck, but offers peace of mind.

For example, my company has a private plan that offers:

Life Insurance
- Pays for your funeral and gives money to your surviving widow or children

Long Term Disability
- Pays you a salary if you cannot work for an extended period.

Visioncare
- Pays for new prescription glasses annually or bi-annually, up to certain amount of $$.

Drug Benefits
- Pays all or most of cost for prescription drugs that may not be covered by universal healthcare.

Dental Insurance
- Pays for cleaning, xrays, root canal, etc. which are not covered by the government.

Emergency services
- Pays for ambulance, wheelchair rental, crutches

Other services
- Rehabilitation fees, physiotherapy treatments, in-home nurse
- private or semi-private room, TV service in hospital
- hearing aids
- wigs for hair loss, such as for chemotherapy patients.
- hotel lodging and transportation related to treatment of an injury or disease.

All of the things I mentioned are not covered or only have limited coverage under the universal health care plan. But they are offered by private insurance companies through group plans at your work, if they are available.

You should consider a company that offers a "group insurance plan" as offering additional incentive and added benefit to working there. Keep in mind that MOST Canadian companies of 50 or more employees offer these plans, so it is not something exclusive. And some plans are better than others, such as covering 100% of medical expenses with a small deductible, instead of only 50-80% and a larger annual deductible per family member.