[SunRescue] Rant on industry employment practices, was RE: 16 MB memory module for Voyager

[Peter L. Wargo]

on 1/7/01 3:37, ed at the7thbeer.com at ed at the7thbeer.com wrote:

> Hate to say it, but (at least in this state, in Silicon valley), there
> fabled "employee-employer relationship" doesn't exist.  It's something
> more of a "ho-pimp relationship".  Each side tries to take what they need
> or what they want at the best possible selling price.  Scruples?  What are
> those...

Agreed.  Of the 5 places I've worked since college, only 2 of them have been
loyal to their employees.  The one I work for now, and one back about 5
years ago.  That particular one not only sent me a bonus *after* I left to
work for a customer, they also offered to hire me back and let me stay in
New Mexico (the whole reason we left was to move there) after the SOBs I
worked for laid me and my staff and a bunch of other people off after I'd
been there 3 months.

When I worked for Enable Software (a long time ago!), I watched all sorts of
layoffs, including the "let's not fire the managers, lets get rid of the
most senior employee in each department" trick.  Amazingly stupid people.

I left my most recent job after we moved into our new site.  I was so
disgusted that while I was being forced to cut costs on the computer room
(which was the mainstay of the business), they went out and spent a fuckload
of $$ on a new board room, including $19,000 for a table.  Now I hear they
are cutting service contracts again on the E10000.  How about a new CEO?
(We had 6 in 4 years.)

Thankfully, current employer has a reputation for not being too stupid, and
the work environment is great.  So what if I have to live in San Diego?
(Like it's really hard to be able to ride my motorcycle to work every
day...)

-Pete