Post #17,433
11/8/01 11:10:20 PM
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The New Developer Team at work
We just had a big meeting today. Zero tolerance towards negativity, and they want more out of us. The annual review is being changed to include things like working 40 hours a week is only average and working more will get a better rating. We got a new batch of policies and guidelines everyone must follow now. They say there will be no more favoritism, or bias, etc, and everyone will be part of one big group/team, etc. They said that speaking negative about the management is a no-no and we should only tell our boss about anything negative. Also that we will be given thing to do by management that will not be in our job descriptions and that we must do them.
The dawn of a new age? I hope so. I am going to be doing what I can and only say positive things about the others. I am going to be more productive, be more proactive, and give it all I got. What the heck.
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #17,460
11/9/01 5:53:38 AM
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Wow.
you need to work somewhere else for a while if you think that this is "good".
However, I'm not blind to the fact that compared to recent history, this is something of an improvement...
I'd get out while you've still got yer sanity, hair and own teeth...
Peter
Shill For Hire
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
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Post #17,770
11/11/01 3:28:11 PM
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Easier said than done
STL is a small IS shop, and the DotCom Busts and massive Tech Layoffs have flooded the market with IS Workers, even in the STL area. Every place I apply at tells me that they get 30 IS resumes a week or more. So only the cream of the crop gets hired. Plus many are willing to work for less than the average on salary surveys.
I could go the Al Bundy route, and sell shoes, but then I wouldn't make enough money to pay off the house payments. $1200 a month for a house payment would be almost my entire shoe salesman salary.
Things I can do:
Write computer programs. (Visual BASIC, Active Server Pages)
Build custom computer systems. (AT or ATX form factors)
Design web pages and manage a web site.
Manage small Windows NT/2000 Networks.
I am willing to learn other stuff, like programming in Java/C++/OOP, etc. But most jobs want experts in those other areas.
I'll keep looking, thanks for thinking about me.
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #17,504
11/9/01 1:08:10 PM
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News Flash...
Indentured servitude hasn't been legal for some time now. Are you sure these guys are really lawyers?
Keep the job hunt going as top priority.
You really need to get out of there.
Best of luck,
Hugh
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Post #17,523
11/9/01 2:12:47 PM
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the beatings will continue...
until morale improves. -- Dilbert
Have fun,
Carl Forde
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Post #17,528
11/9/01 2:31:10 PM
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I read it the same way... :-(
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Post #17,605
11/9/01 6:10:23 PM
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Bingo! :(
Alex
Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. -- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
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Post #17,534
11/9/01 2:46:48 PM
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Run Away!
Some of this is perhaps good. Bad attitude employees bring everybody down - they should best be helped to a position of happiness by removing them from what causes their discontent - specifically their jobs.
OTOH, extra hours requirements are lame. If 40 is average, then be average. They can't fire you for being average. Only below average.
As far as things outside your job description - its a small place right? Thats not such a big deal within limits.
Fun example - the top guys at UPS were discussing their company culture and they have a tradition of having every single employee help out in the sorting room around X-mas. It makes sense when you think about it. They were telling a story of some new VP who complained about it being beneath him and as a result, they readjusted his attitude by dragging him down to sort all day every day for a week - reporting to some shift leader.
OTOH, I wouldn't put up with being told to wash the cars or anything.
It sounds like their management sucks if they've let things get to the point of needing this meeting. I'd bail at earliest opportunity.
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Post #17,577
11/9/01 5:02:51 PM
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Agreed
Corporate culture is not established by fiat.
If the management is so clueless as to think they can, then that is a bad news place to be.
Cheers,
Ben
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Post #17,824
11/12/01 1:57:31 AM
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Untrue
They can't fire you for being average. Only below average. Most definitely not true. IIRC, Missouri is a state covered by much the same employment laws (as respects hiring and firing anyway) as Illinois. I believe they're called "at-will" states. You remain at your job at both your will and your employer's will. You can be fired without notice, and you can quit to go work for another company without notice (two weeks is NOT required; merely customary and usual.) And, believe me, you can get fired in Illinois even if you're a great employee. Employers don't need any reason to fire you. -YendorMike
"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by the skeptics or the cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need people who dream of things that never were." - John F. Kennedy
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Post #17,837
11/12/01 6:20:57 AM
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That is their policy
that the firm management can terminate employment for any reason. it says so in their policies.
They did talk about hiring on two more programmers if they can budget it in. They want a higher level of developer. But if they cannot get the budget, who is to say they can't lay off two existing developers and then hire two higher skilled developers to take their place?
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #17,918
11/12/01 2:40:34 PM
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If thats true
you're toast regardless of whether you work 40 or 60 hours per week.
So work 40 and hope not to be toast.
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Post #18,182
11/13/01 11:20:30 PM
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Toast no matter what?
Or if I work 50 to 60 hours a week, would they change their mind and keep me?
If I am toast no matter what, why the probation when they could have easily fired me? I think it is one set of managers that wants me gone, and another that wants me to stay. In July it will be my 5th year anniversary and I get that extra week of vacation and higher profit sharing. The other programmer analysts have less years than me, so I have seniority. Too bad I cannot please all the managers, but that's life. Maybe things will change with the new policies?
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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Post #18,257
11/14/01 12:13:55 PM
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Fat chance.
The probation is known in legal circles as "covering your ass." My wife found out about this the hard way - an unsubstantiated (read: she didn't do it, but we know who made up the rumor) rumor made it's way to her boss. Bammo, she goes on "probation" for two weeks, with strict rules supposedly to shape her behavior. She pulls it off without a hitch. They bring up a whole host of "new" things that were not mentioned before as further excuse to fire her ass, so they don't get slapped with unemployment claims.
This happened about two years ago, and I wish I could have talked her into suing the bastards. They didn't really prove themselves in their claims, but she was too much of a wimp.
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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Post #18,325
11/14/01 6:35:51 PM
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Yep
What he said.
Even "at will" states have various issues. Denial of unemployment insurance is one -- you may not be able to collect if you resign, or if you're fired "with cause". There's also the issue of opening up a lawsuit against your employer. It's going to be more expensive for them to fight than to settle, in most cases. The "probationary period" may strengthen their case.
Again: I'd talk to an employment issues lawyer. Sounds like you're going to need it. A mental anguish case might be well founded, given what you've presented here.
--
Karsten M. Self [link|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com|kmself@ix.netcom.com]
What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?
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Post #17,583
11/9/01 5:19:16 PM
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Find yourself a workers' rights lawyer
I'm not sure the conditions you're describing are legal.
I know they're not sane. You know the tune, I'll say it again: bail with what sanity you've got left. A career move to something more tolerable might also be in order. I'd suggest career counseling and/or an interest inventory (Strong Campbell is a pretty good one).
--
Karsten M. Self [link|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com|kmself@ix.netcom.com]
What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?
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Post #17,595
11/9/01 5:38:37 PM
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Get out.
It really is just that simple. Sell shoes if you have to, but get the hell out of that cesspit. From the various descriptions you've given of the work environment there, it appears obvious to me that the spawn of satan has taken over that company. Why Bill Gates wants to own a law firm, I'll never know.
What do you call two lawyers lost in the middle of the ocean?
A good start.
How to mangle the truth;
Have it reported by any major U.S. media outlet.
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Post #17,797
11/11/01 7:26:40 PM
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Just as long as...
...the new rules apply equally to everyone. That way it's stil bad, but at least it's not (as) demeaning. And of course, now you're back, could well be a good idea to document everything regarding your working conditions, requests made of you, comments said, etc... Just in case the worst does happen sometime in the future, best to get all the ammo in the meantime.
On and on and on and on,
and on and on and on goes John.
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Post #17,896
11/12/01 12:20:25 PM
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Fsck 'em.
Do what you have to do, survive first. This is a one-sided screwfest, so keep an eye out for anything else. Is there a teacher shortage in your area? How about the colleges? I'm sure they are looking for people...
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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Post #18,185
11/13/01 11:27:52 PM
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Colleges, a possibility
I worked for a local community college about 10 years ago and have some contacts there. If possible I could get a $25K - $30K job as a computer lab assistant (Teacher's Assistant that works in a computer lab). It would be a pay cut from my current job of almost a half. But classes would be paid for and I could get a degree. I'd join a teacher's union and have the ability to teach a class if I get good enough. But last I talked to them last month, they were talking about the college downsizing and had a hiring freeze.
There are other colleges to consider. I haven't checked them out yet, I have no contacts at the other colleges. Time to network.
Picking up the pieces of my broken life.
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