Thanks for the advice; unfortunately, I’m not the one who has much to do with payment. I did, however, boot it uphill to those who do have that authority, and are also sick of the contractor’s antics. They’ve been adequate in the past, and actually do a pretty good job on some other things, but the straw is piling up on this camel’s back.
Mithril, I’ve been pretty much on my own in this field. I’ve never had very many women to work with, and I’ve never heard the stories first hand. I’m not a big one on solidarity based solely on gender - some of the few women I’ve worked with have abused that, and expected me to give them a break because of it. I won’t do that, but I think I did give this one woman a chance or two more than I ordinarily would have before she bit me in the ass. I won’t be making that mistake again; if they (whoever) prove to me that they know their jobs, then wonderful. If not; watch out.
I’ve been treated very well by most of the men, who value competence, and it’s from them that I picked up the competence above all else attitude. Yes, I’ve had to come down on incompetent men before too, and that was a poor choice of words on my part.