IT Workers To Get Fewer Perks, No Free Coffee 620
dasButcher writes "While the economy is showing signs of recovery and tech stocks posted double- and triple-digit gains in 2009, IT workers are facing a less hospitable workplace in the coming year. Many employers say they're going to continue trimming budgets, particularly in human resources. Rather than giving up head count, they're planning to trim 401k contributions, eliminate bonuses, curtail travel and, dare we say, shut off the free coffee (it wasn't that good anyway)."
You kill the Joe... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I wish they would (Score:4, Funny)
Nasty instant Coffee?
That's nothing. Where I work, we have go outside, and chew the leaves and beans off coffee bushes ourselves.
Lucky sod! Your coffee's fresher than everyone's!
Re:I wish they would (Score:3, Funny)
Why do you have your own person to turn cows into orks in the next cubicle? Is that a big thing where you work?
Re:No Coffee = No Code (Score:3, Funny)
Re:No Coffee = No Code (Score:5, Funny)
If you need it to function, you have a problem and should cut back or quit.
I need oxygen to function, but I'm worried about cutting back or quitting. I'm told the withdrawal symptoms are pretty bad.
No worries about the coffee: (Score:5, Funny)
You can always fit a small refrigerator inside of a std. rack (lay a couple of 2x4's across the bottom to hold it up, and make sure the rack doors are on it, front and back). Put your own coffee maker on top of it, and you're set. Tape a few Dell server front panels to the inside of the rack door while you're at it. If you're really into disguises, wire up a few LED's to those panels.
Now if only there was a way to squeeze a big-screen TV in there... and no, not sideways.
Re:401k???? (Score:4, Funny)
No, no, no! They're just trying to help you by encouraging you to be responsible for your own future. In the past, the company was stealing your opportunity to be fully responsible for your retirement. Now, they feel bad about that, and are giving that responsibility back to you. It's time to celebrate!
Next month, they're going to stop stealing your opportunity to work twice as hard for half as much pay. It's a glorious future that your corporate masters have planned for you. Celebrate, slave, celebrate!
Re:Paging Mr. Vader - something slipping through (Score:3, Funny)
Re:the school district model (Score:4, Funny)
Nope, not a burger joint within two miles of here even if they did.
Do you get your bridge for free, perchance? Does it have a good goat throughput?
It's in the Constitiution (Score:3, Funny)
Re:the school district model (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Paging Mr. Vader - something slipping through (Score:5, Funny)
Please.
You are at work to work, you are not at work to read slashdot and gmail.
Mr. Pot, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Kettle.
Re:No worries about the coffee: (Score:5, Funny)
Vertical racks would work. Tell management that such an arrangement can increase downlink speeds by about 9.8 m/s^2
Re:It's An Employer's Market (Score:5, Funny)
And employers will replace them with 20-something go-getters with better attitudes and more up-to-date skills, and at half the salary.
I'd like to see how those 20-something will use their up-to-date skills when faced with my 80% cobol environment.
Well, in my day... (Score:5, Funny)
we mixed a little dirt in a cup of cold water and called it instant. If you wanted creamer, you added drop or two of Liquid Paper. Tasted like shit, but the extra chemicals and minerals kept you going.
Re:I wish they would (Score:2, Funny)
Re:No Coffee = No Code (Score:3, Funny)
Let's not stereotype all programmers.
I hear Mac coders prefer expensive herbal teas.
No more coffee? Finally! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Get a union. (Score:3, Funny)
More than ionized workers?
Re:the school district model (Score:2, Funny)
Wow u guys drink (or waste) a lot of coffee!!! I think its great that everyone took a little cutback to save another employees job, but $80k is seems to be too much to spend on coffee!
I have a coffeemaker ($40) a thermos ($20) and I drink over a liter of coffee a day, fair trade organic Bolivian full city roast mostly. Not counting the cost of running water or bicycling/driving to/from the coop where I get it, it costs me less than $5 /week.
and your handle is cmdr tofu You don't happen to live in San Fransisco do you?
Re:the school district model (Score:5, Funny)
Re:the school district model (Score:5, Funny)
Re:the school district model (Score:5, Funny)
Re:the school district model (Score:2, Funny)
the Cxx (COO, CFO, whatever) who made that decision should be beaten to death with his own intestines
Wow! That's a bit harsh just for a 0.1% loss of productivity!
Re:I wish they would (Score:3, Funny)
The pendulum... (Score:3, Funny)
The pendulum swings one way, then back the other...
Side 1: "If I can't wear sweat pants, bring my dog to work, have my own office, telecommute when I feel like it, and drink company-provided beer every day starting at 3:00, then I won't work here."
Side 2: "You're 35 and you haven't had a heart attack yet? Perhaps I should replace you with someone who actually works hard."
Re:the school district model (Score:5, Funny)
He pays dues. He gets no real benefit. And they tell him what he can and can't do.
Sounds like my home owner's association.
Re:Paging Mr. Vader - something slipping through (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Paging Mr. Vader - something slipping through (Score:4, Funny)
I used to think that way about my kills too. When you grow up, you'll realize that there are indeed people who know as much as (or *gasp* more!) than you do.
And here's another little tip: they'll do it for cheaper too. That's one of disadvantages of competing globally.
Is the global assassin's market really that cutthroat?