Sen. Blumenthal Demands Lifting of IT 'Gag' Order (computerworld.com) 220
dcblogs writes: U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the layoff and replacement of IT workers by foreign workers at a state energy utility. But he is also demanding that the utility, Eversource Energy, drop a particularly restrictive non-disparagement clause that laid off employees had to sign to receive their severance. This clause bars discussion "that would tend to disparage or discredit" the utility. [emphasis added] He wants the employees, who had to train foreign replacements, to be able to state "honestly what happened to them."
can't the state do something about this? (Score:3)
It's a state-regulated energy company. Is the DoJ really necessary here? Can't the state introduce some regulations about how its energy companies operate, e.g. regarding outsourcing or gag agreements?
Re:can't the state do something about this? (Score:5, Insightful)
Can't the state introduce some regulations
I'm pretty sure that the company (or any company faced with the same) will just cry "Muh interstate commerce!" and try to slide out from under any state regulations. Hence the feds.
Re: (Score:2)
Makes sense, but a state still has ultimate control over whether that company can do business within that state, correct? Otherwise, state regulation would be worthless and toothless.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Makes sense, but a state still has ultimate control over whether that company can do business within that state, correct? Otherwise, state regulation would be worthless and toothless.
The ability of states to regulate much of anything has been reduced through the years. It helps that the Federal Supreme court gets to decide what the Federal government can and cannot do. Do doubt if a state's Supreme Court was deciding things would be different.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It depends on the state and how they structure the sector, but they often have more leverage over utility companies than they would over a normal company. Utility companies typically have contracts with the state or with the state's utility districts, which at least in principle they could attach various requirements to.
Re: (Score:2)
States (utility commissions) generally regulate the relationship between the company and the customers (state residents). Things like utility rates, terms of service, etc. Everything on the back end (subcontractors, labor negotiations, etc.) works pretty much the same as any other private company doing business in that state or across state lines.
Re: (Score:3)
Re:can't the state do something about this? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
Does the state want to do something about this?
Check the donations from the utility to politicians in the state.
Re: (Score:2)
Eversource has a very large in-house legal team and an active Political Action Committee in Washington.
This was the line I took out of the article. Sounds like the company will get the Feds to write the rules that suits them best.
I have always assumed that's the point of a PAC.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
One particular email drew scrutiny Friday — a June 17, 2011, exchange between Clinton and adviser Jake Sullivan. In that email string, she tells Sullivan she did not receive the evening's talking points — typically specifics used to speak to the press and for briefings.
"They say they've had issues sending secure fax. They're working on it," he writes to Clinton. She responds, "If they can't, turn into nonpaper w no identifying heading and send nonsecure."
Re: (Score:2)
So, information that was going to be public (press talking points) was somehow classified? I don't know anything about the case, but I do know about working with classified information and for all I know, they are talking about the release mechanisms that they have at their disposal at that point in time. And that the tech isn't cooperating.
Re: (Score:2)
The next sentence reads:
Much of the email, including its subject line, were redacted, making it difficult to discern the topic and full context of the document.
Talking points are useless without context. The context could very well have been classified, and wouldnt have specifically been what would be shared with the press. State decided the information was sensitive enough to redact it before release, so it would not have been included in what was shared to the press at the time.
Time for unions! (Score:5, Insightful)
Time for unions! and time for enforce the H1-B laws.
Re: (Score:2)
What would a union do? Strikes don't happen at government-regulated utilities the same way they do at a wholly private company. Don't believe me? Look up PATCO [wikipedia.org] and see what happened. Of course, utilities are quasi-private and under state (not federal control), but it's still quite doable.
Re:Time for unions! (Score:5, Insightful)
What would a union do? Strikes don't happen at government-regulated utilities the same way they do at a wholly private company.
They would lobby politicians at state and federal levels so that strikes are unnecessary.
Another thing I imagine a union *could* do is negotiate with employers so that H1B visas are implemented more equitably. There maybe a genuine need for them however that shouldn't mean that young local talent should be denied opportunities to get a foot hold with their careers, a union *could* negotiate on their behalf. It could also anonymously by-pass gag orders such as these so that the truth about the conditions are know. It could also look at stale, but talented people and identify what training the need to secure new opportunities.
Whilst it has been unpopular to talk about IT unions it's probably time to step out of the outmoded thinking that suggests that any IT union would be the same as a union that deals with unskilled professionals. We are not, and I can't see IT professionals in a picket line. I can see them being smart enough to take a long view with issues and have an union defend their interests. Individually we have no power and the types of laws we are being subjected to suggest we are not taken seriously as other professionals who have organizations that look after their political interests.
I feel it's a little naive to think we are all so special and great that we don't need anyone arguing for us within the upper echelons of power. Taking the worst fears of what a union is and suggesting that is an argument for not having them is why we are in the situation we are now. We should be looking to the behaviors we want in a union and charter it so that's how it behaves. We either shape our future or have it shaped for us.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Without a union, management forces IT worker to train their H1B replacements. There is nothing that an IT worker can effectively do to stop it.
With a union: IT workers say: you pull that bullshit, and we *all* walk out right now. There would be nothing management could do, except stop the bullshit.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
The time for unions is long-since past. Even if there were unions, most people are missing the key point. The reasons for unions was "solidarity."
The time for a formal union has passed. The time for solidarity is now. The problem is, few are willing to risk what they have for the sake of what another is losing. (Oddly, they still wonder why nobody comes to their aid when it is their turn to be the loser and some are inclined to think they'll never be the loser.)
Now's the time for solidarity and that's just
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
And anyone who thinks the company is considering the output of the new employees as a
Re: (Score:2)
The reality is that often the whole paradigm will cost the company more money in the long-term, if only in the lost revenues from customers who refuse to by the garbage their product ha
Re:Time for unions! (Score:5, Insightful)
and yet the part saying that they can only be used if they can't find a US worker to do the job is abused and not enforced
Re: (Score:2)
I don't think it's being abused (Score:2)
This is what we get for pushing 40 years of pro-corporate politics since Reagan. The
Re: (Score:2)
The article says that so long as they pay the prevailing wage ($60k/yr in Connecticut, which IIRC is a pricey place to live) they can now legally replace you. Not sure when that changed (probably shortly after the pro-Corporate Republicans took the Senate) but assuming the article isn't lying there's no abuse. It's all nice and legal.
Well I always thought (Thank you, Schoolhouse Rock! [youtube.com]) that after Congress and the Senate get through drafting some bill or some such, there's this guy who has to sign it or veto it.
Don't you think he has to bear some of the responsibility as well?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
have to leave the country to renew the visa etc etc
But you only have to renew the visa if you leave the country.
Confused? The visa in the passport is not directly connected to being lawfully in the U.S. If your petition expires, the employer can file for an extension. If the petition is extended, the alien is legally present, despite having an expired visa. The visa is only relevant when applying for admission in a port of entry (read: when coming back to the U.S. from a foreign trip).
In short, if the alien is not planning any trips abroad, the visa exp
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Unions are not a solution to this. What are you going to do? Strike? You already lost the jobs.
Or maybe not. Unions are corporations and have the kind of assets that corporations can bring to bear - including hiring a lot of expensive legal help that would be unaffordable to individual employees trying to challenge the company one-against-many.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe, but $1500 is peanuts... (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Won't work. Companies will just find ways to incorporate outside the U.S. and its laws. It means they won't be able to rely on the U.S. justice system for other things, but then maybe not getting sued because some employed stabbed their finger with a mechanical pencil won't bother them.
Re: (Score:2)
But I don't want to have to depend on company altruism for these kinds of things to not happen. If they don't do it, their competitors will and they'll then be punished for NOT trying to make a buck. You'll be punishing the altruistic ones.
I'd rather see the law changed or clarified to make sure it does ONLY what it's supposed to do: fill actual labor shortages instead of fake shortages to save
Your simple solution doesn't work (Score:5, Interesting)
It's like Wargames (if you're old enough to know what that is): The only way to win is not to play. What you really want is tariffs and protectionism, but after 50 years of the right wing (economically speaking) press vilifying them nobody can bring themselves to say it. You will note that China and India both rely heavily on tariffs. They've worked for hundreds of years at their intended purpose of purpose.
Eliminate the H1-B program. For the few real geniuses we want have a lengthy peer review process to prevent the diploma mill graduate loophole. Raise taxes on import goods made with slave labor. Redistribute the wealth in the form of socialized medicine, free education, infrastructure programs and basic income. Lather, rinse repeat. These things work. That's why the 1% is frightened of them; and it's why they want you to be frightened too.
Re:Your simple solution doesn't work (Score:5, Insightful)
All potentially good ideas, but first we have to find a way to get the 99% to get out of the "temporarily embarrassed millionaire" mindset and get them to see how they're often being used to the benefit of the 1%.
Re: (Score:2)
One problem is that "small government" by design is about having too few people watching what is going on for any sort of regulation to work.
Re: (Score:2)
Bullshit. They BRIBED them to train their replacements by giving them a severance payment if they do so. There is a difference. How could "forcing" them possibly work?
You have to train some new people who are going to replace you.
Bullshit. You're firing me anyway; I refuse.
[Idiot employer stammers uselessly]
But the bribe works just fine.
You have to train some new people who are going to replace you - and if you do, you will get a severance payment; otherwis
Re: (Score:2)
Why not just make H1-B workers equal to US workers in terms of rights and costs? Remove the only incentives to hire them, other than if you really can't find a US worker to do the job. Same salary, same employment rights, no loss of visa to hang over their heads (you could mandate a fixed term visa, for example).
Re: (Score:2)
My idea on the whole issue is different and I am even willing to take the companies at their word. So:
1. The companies always claim that they can't find people who can do the work or can't train them in time so they have to bring in foreign workers.
2. This tells us two things. The first is that these are some very highly specialized skills that apparently no one in a country of about
Re:It's pretty obvious what happened to them (Score:5, Interesting)
Sure they would. In addition to the (illegal) discrepancies in pay that some companies implement, H-1Bs are perceived as more compliant - the employer can always hang the threat of cancelling their visa sponsorship over their heads, so they won't talk back and can't just leave for another U.S. company.
Here comes the new boss (Score:2)
Sadly, the industries that give to a politician are impacted the most by the committee(s) the Senator sits on.
It's the bit about H-1B visas that the tech companies were most rallying for. The idea is for companies to be able to attract more of the world's brightest minds in engineering and technology and allow these workers to stay in the U.S. (2013 Bill) The bill was written by a bipartisan group of senators called the "Gang of E
Vote left (Score:2)
Congressional Testimony (Score:2)
Re:Congressional Testimony (Score:5, Insightful)
Won't happen. Congressional hearings are for witch hunts against "Democrat Party" officials, not violations of labor law.
What violations? (Score:2)
Re:Congressional Testimony (Score:4, Insightful)
Where is the investigation into Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice's email servers?
Not to mention that at least 3 people on the Benghazi committee flat out stated the purpose was to sabotage Clinton's campain [DISCLAIMER: I am extremely unlikely to vote for Clinton]
Re: (Score:2)
In California, they complain that the vote was rigged and that illegal immigrants were bused in to the polls, then demand a recount over and over until they're hauled away by the people in the white jackets. A lot of politicians never learned how to lose gracefully while in little league.
How is gag order enforceable in the first place? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Congress passed a law (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Sue you into nothingness. Always blow the whistle anonymously if you don't want to be a martyr.
Re: (Score:2)
Once you've got your severance, can't you bitch about the company online, anonymously? Even if they find out, how are they going to get the money back?
They sue you and point to the non-disparage agreement you signed before leaving in court.
Seems to me the negative publicity generated by suing former employees would be worse than what a former employee (branded with the label "disgruntled") might say.
Re:How is gag order enforceable in the first place (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Utilities have lots of people doing PR to deflect negative publicity (*). And the general public will not pay attention to stuff like this anyway. They will sue until the former employee has nothing except a few followers sending consolation tweets.
(*) except for PG&E which seems to have the most incompetent PR ever. Their method of dealing with angry customers is to make them angry at something else (like asking to reduce the very light fine they were given for accidentally killing their customers)
Thank you, Senator Blumenthal (Score:2)
It's about damn time.
Ought to be Illegal (Score:4, Informative)
Look, I like capitalism as much as the next fella...however....
I find it really hard to believe that with all the universities in this country annually graduating hundreds of thousands (millions?) in disciplines ranging from engineering to mathematics, comp sci, physics, etc. that it is necessary to import tech labor. When you consider all the additional inefficiency introduced in the form of language difficulties and what I've often found to be poor training (every problem isn't one that can be solved by consultants by the pound excreting bad java code), I find it hard to believe that it's even worth the effort to game the system in the first place. Yet here we are with legions of billion dollar companies that exist solely to exploit loopholes in the US immigration system while taking advantage of citizen workers and taking fat chunks of income ostensibly paid to the poor saps that are being pimped out to line their pockets.
Frankly, I don't believe that a tech labor shortage exists. What exists is a market distortion that's perpetuated by a corrupt group of companies that line the pockets of politicians in order to siphon their share of guest worker salaries. Just say no.
Top H1B visa companies 2015 (Score:5, Informative)
Infosys Limited 4875
Ibm India Private Limited 2757
Wipro Limited 2008
Tata Consultancy Services Limited 1699
Ernst Young Us Llp 1268
Microsoft Corp 1222
Deloitte Consulting Lp 1161
Accenture 1043
Hcl America Inc 865
Ust Global Inc 600
Ibm 553
Larsen Toubro Infotech Limited 517
Igate Technologies Inc 491
Amazon Corporate Llc 447
Cognizant Technology Solutions U S 439
Marlabs Inc 374
Syntel Consulting Inc 367
Qualcomm Technologies 306
Tech Mahindra (Americas),inc. 305
Apple Inc 300
J P Morgan Chase 289
Oracle America Inc 282
Re: (Score:3)
The concern is that the outsourcing firms (incidentally, the top 4 on that list) are abusing the system by bringing in people on an H1B, then colluding with the management at client companies to replace existing employees. Some executives really should go to prison on this one.
campaign (Score:2)
Bernie Sanders, isn't this right up your alley? Why aren't you talking about this more?
I hate to break it to you conservatives & libertarians, free markets are NOT solving this problem. This is one area where govern
Re:Rajiv.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Nervous? Not really, just updated my resume'
Finding a new job while you're employed is much easier than finding a new job while unemployed.
Re:Rajiv.. (Score:5, Insightful)
In addition to what others have said, I would start keeping a detailed log. Be sure to note the day you were introduced to Rajiv and who specifically said "teach him everything you know".
It'll come in handy should you choose to file a grievance or sue, down the road.
File a grievance with who? (Score:2)
What I want to know is why the hell more
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
As an outsider looking in, retired but was very much involved for my entire career, I hate to say this but it's starting to look a bit like some of you are just plain fucked. No, I don't just rely on just Slashdot postings to make that observation. However, between things like the trend to train your replacements, H1-B visas being abused, and a belief that everyone should be trained to code by means of mandatory public education, it really doesn't look like the industry has a very healthy future.
I urged my
Re: (Score:2)
Really??
What will your kids being doing with that business degree? It will be a lousy $15/hr job living with you as you can't survive on that being an assistant manager at the local grocery store.
IT pays more than anything. Face it times have changed. In the old days a bachelors degree meant senior level management jobs making 70k fresh out of school when adjusted for inflation. Today a business or economics degree means being a secretary or answering phones at a real estate office somewhere oh the boss wan
Re: (Score:2)
However, between things like the trend to train your replacements, H1-B visas being abused, and a belief that everyone should be trained to code by means of mandatory public education, it really doesn't look like the industry has a very healthy future.
It's interesting to compare the 'coding' industry with other knowledge-based industries, like law, medicine, traditional engineering, or even allied health. The older professions have strong accrediting or credentialing systems that limit, either practically or legally, who and how many people can do certain tasks. In many cases, those professional organizations fought ruthlessly against the commoditization of their skills, usually using the fear of life-threatening incompetence as a lever. Just compare
Re: (Score:2)
Employers hate it because it makes it harder for them to suppress wages.
Re: (Score:3)
teach him everything you do.
Pretty much update my resume and line up interviews. Got that, Rajiv?
Name names (Score:3)
Post as AC, both you and all others who have experienced this, company names. I want to avoid companies that do that.
Re: (Score:2)
This is yet another reason I want to get out of the business.
Re:Rajiv.. (Score:5, Informative)
I think you are refering to Approximations https://xkcd.com/1047/ [xkcd.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Pi already has a well known approximation - 22/7 (1 in 800).
Re: (Score:2)
Never mind - Just found out 355/113 is also a well known approximation.
Re:Rajiv.. (Score:5, Insightful)
> If this is a real story, and your management team actually said that, they're either really, really stupid, or they really think that you can't get a new job on short notice.
I can verify that this happens. Awhile back my manager was replaced by an H1B manager, (true story!) in what might be described as a hostile takeover, and then new manager started replacing locals with H1B contractors, but more open about it -- stated in team meeting that he would concentrate on H1B contractors for all new hires for budgetary reasons -- only pulled from his country of origin, coincidentally. Shortly afterwards, we were all required to document our jobs in minute detail and start providing daily (!) status reports. I started interviewing immediately, but didn't get out in time, got laid off, but since I had started the process ahead of time, was only out of work for a couple weeks. I'd strongly suggest that OP do the same.
Someone else suggested giving incorrect information in the training -- I wouldn't go that far, hm, incomplete might be ok. But my experience, from an outsourcing that I happened to have survived (in a different role), is that, even if you make every good-faith effort to transfer complete knowledge on how to do the job, they'll find a way to screw themselves over. Because to a certain extent, you really do get what you pay for.
Re: (Score:3)
I've never yet worked anywhere big enough to have an official way to do things where at least some of them weren't at least sub-optimal if not downright wrong. Teach the new hire how to do everything "by the book," and let him find out the hard way, after you're gone, why that's not always a good idea.
Re: (Score:2)
Train him in everything I do... I'd ask what the budget it for training, how many years of graduate school to pay for, give him a list of subjects to learn, then wait for the person to get caught up. If one is in a position where a trained animal can do it then it's important to make sure you're an indispensible trained animal. Otherwise you'll be treated like a trained animal. Obtain incriminating evidence on the CEO and store it in escrow, shmooze with the COB, don't write down the passwords, and keep
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This is not an example of capitalism. In fact, we're not much of a capitalistic nation anymore.
Because that's what happens to capitalism. As soon as someone gets enough capital, they want to keep and increase it. A system acknowledged to be built on greed means without any controls, the greediest wins. And there is no limit. Then there may be a revolt.
Capitalism has the seeds of success, but just like a formula one engine, it needs help to keep it from blowing itself to bits. Do some research on the boom and bust nature of pure Capitalism, and notice how especially in earlier times in the US, ther
Re: (Score:2)
That's still a problem, though, because you have to establish a standard of "what works". Pragmatically, the current system works wonderfully for those with money and power, but not nearly as well for the average citizen.
Re:Capitalism! (Score:5, Interesting)
Except for pragmatism. Pragmatism only deals with things that work. That's still a problem, though, because you have to establish a standard of "what works". Pragmatically, the current system works wonderfully for those with money and power, but not nearly as well for the average citizen.
We can observe what happens in the world. I have observed that highly idealistic isms tend to fail, usually because of some fundamental mistakes in determining human nature, as well as ideology needing to become ever more "pure".
Communism does not allow for the inherent wish for humans to advance themselves.
Fundamentalist religion allows for no compromise, and it's need tor enemies and ever increasing purity eventually kills it.
Capitalism, which relies on the greed factor, if unchecked means that once enough capital is obtained, those who have attained it seek to destroy the free market. This should be self evident as the drive that produces the wealth will end up making the most greedy accumulating as much of the wealth as possible, and often by any means.
Socialism comes close, but only because it is the closest to pragmatism. Problem is, there are so many definitions of socialism these days, we have to evaaluate. on a case by case basis.
Libertarianism is another ism that is a little difficult at this point to evaluate, because what passes for modern libertarianism is just a quirky form of Republicanism. I'll note that the downfall of traditional Libertarianism is a miscalculation of human nature, assuming everyone is intelligent and law abiding. Perhaps they would stand a better chance if they didn't have to pander to the social conservative base of the party they choose to identify with. It's been sickening to watch Rand Paul try to pander to the religious right http://crooksandliars.com/2015... [crooksandliars.com], Play George Bush the third by doing the aircraft carrier tough guy biz http://dailycaller.com/2015/03... [dailycaller.com] - the only thing missing was the "Mission Accomplished banner! Then he forgot that there is no compromise, no room for anything that he is told that he has to believe, because if you do not do exactly that, this happens to you. http://teejaw.com/rand-paul-ju... [teejaw.com].
Actual Libertarianism is not compatible with the Republican party.
And if I'm tough on Paul, he deserves it. Libertarianism comes closest to pragmatism, as long as you remember that you can't run a pure ideology. So in my heretical pick and choose pragmatism, Capitalism with brakes to protect itself from itself, coupled with Libertarianism with it's willingness to respect the individual's rights and obligations (not what currently goes for Libertarianism, and progressive understanding that there are some things that should not be run for profit, and some that should. Banks and producing goods should always be run for profit - health care should not, makes for a pretty good version of pragmatism.
I also have this weird idea that a country becomes wealthy by having as many people have money as possible, not by concentrating it in the hands of a few. And this is not done by taking money from the wealthy at all, but by having as much of the populous enjoy the fruits of their labors by pecuniary renumeration as possible. People with money buy the stuff the job creators make. The present situation of making as many Americans as poor as possible, and having me the taxpayer make up for the shitty wages some industry wants to pay is a race to the bottom.
Pragmatism - its not just for breakfast any more.
Re: (Score:2)
DOJ: Explain again why you lobbed a nuclear weapon at your chief competitor's headquarters?
Corporation: It was a business decision necessary to appease the stock holders.
DOJ: Well, I guess that's ok, but we'll still have to fine you $1000 for for disrupting traffic.
Corporation: Fair enough.
Re: (Score:2)
The two week notice is not strictly necessary.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
True, but if you're getting the shaft on the way out do you really want to work the people that did that again?
Re: (Score:2)
Oh that's cute, he thinks that you'll always get paid more just for leaving an old job.
As an I.T. support contractor for the last ten years, I got paid more money with every new assignment. In fact, I had to turn down a job because a former coworker still worked at the company, made the same amount of money as I did when I worked with him nine years before, and my starting pay rate was 80% higher than his. Those 2% raises just don't add up over time. The job that I did accept paid $8 per hour more and provided a full benefit package.
Re: (Score:2)
That's standing up for what's right, and there's not enough of that in this country, which is how all this crap gets started in the first place
You want to play the hero, get fired and have a pity party, knock yourself out. My obligation tis to put food on the table by bringing home the money. That's capitalism, baby.
Re: (Score:2)
That's standing up for what's right, and there's not enough of that in this country, which is how all this crap gets started in the first place
You want to play the hero, get fired and have a pity party, knock yourself out. My obligation tis to put food on the table by bringing home the money. That's capitalism, baby.
I am glad to finally get hold of someone who has all of the answers, as well as has great clairvoyant powers.
What do you do, if the company replaces you and gives you the bum's rush escort by either security or the police? No notice, just 15 minutes to clear the desk and you are out on the street. Because its standard procedure these days.You must have a good resume to be hired in that 15 minutes.
Anyhow, your ideas are very interesting - I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Re: (Score:2)
What do you do, if the company replaces you and gives you the bum's rush escort by either security or the police? No notice, just 15 minutes to clear the desk and you are out on the street.
That personally has never happened to me. But I had a string of one-year contracts ended after nine months because I did my job too well.
You must have a good resume to be hired in that 15 minutes.
Hired in 15 minutes? No. Hired in less than 24 hours that the HR paperwork wasn't finalized yet? Yes. I do keep my resume updated and active on all the job search boards, and I typically get ~20 phone calls per day from recruiters. That's somewhat annoying considering that I now work for the government and my contract is fully funded for the next four years.
Anyhow, your ideas are very interesting - I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Thanks for the
Re: (Score:2)
What do you do, if the company replaces you and gives you the bum's rush escort by either security or the police? No notice, just 15 minutes to clear the desk and you are out on the street. Because its standard procedure these days.You must have a good resume to be hired in that 15 minutes.
Even this is more than you may get. Your boss (or HR) might intercept you coming back from lunch and point to your stuff (or most/some of it...) in a box on a cart and tell you to hit the bricks. I've seen that done.
Some places just cancel your badge, and you have to ask security why you can't get in. And then you find out. (This sounds even tougher but it actually fallible since your fellow co-workers will usually badge you in when you tell them you left yours on your desk.) I've seen this too.
Re: (Score:2)
Your boss (or HR) might intercept you coming back from lunch and point to your stuff (or most/some of it...) in a box on a cart and tell you to hit the bricks.
I worked at a video game company in Silicon Valley before the dot com bust that transferred a software tester to a development studio in Texas, shut down the studio a month later, and told the guy to hitchhike home if he wanted to come back to California. We took up a collection to get him a Greyhound bus ticket.
Re: (Score:2)
You libertarians drive me nuts sometimes, and you have to be one to call this the 'victim game'. You know what? When companies do illegal things they need to be held to account for it. That's not playing the victim game.
That's because present day libertarians are merely Republicans who are selfish pricks, who can't put up with anyone telling them what to do
Re: (Score:2)
That's because present day libertarians are merely Republicans who are selfish pricks, who can't put up with anyone telling them what to do
Eli the Computer Guy on YouTube has made the argument that I.T. workers need to be assholes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_YaNGzplbE [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Did you not see the word "or" right after the part about wage amount?
Re: (Score:2)
Doesn't really matter. I got laid off recently, and I had 125 thousand bucks in liquid assets, as well as about 200k~ in stocks and shit (probably 100k after this last week...fucking crash).
More than enough to pay for my mortgage and other expenses for quite a while. And if things got really dire, my condo's in a high demand area, so even now I could flip it for over a million and make quite a profit after paying off my mortgage.
YET EVEN WITH ALL THAT, saying no to my severance package would have been prett
Re: (Score:2)
Freedom isn't free. When you take your $70K/year out of college and blow it on a nice car, a party lifestyle, and expensive booze, you should not be surprised to find yourselves in shackles eventually.
Or have children and support a family, like normal people do. Right, nobody ever has a kid with leukemia that runs up huge bills and keeps you tied down just trying to keep her alive as long as you can. Financial disaster strikes nobody ever, its all just a big fucking party.
Asshole.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
They probably just make a severance pay package conditional on signing. Most people will take the money and sign.