I work from home so I'm getting a kick out of this thread already.

I'm about to get stuffed into a cubicle after having an office for 13+ years. So, errrr.

lordargent: I'm about to get stuffed into a cubicle after having an office for 13+ years. So, errrr.

Hopefully you're not getting stuffed into a cubicle like the ones we have where I work:







/Yes, those are actual cubicles where I work.

Man, fark these people.

/seriously

Wait, there are jobs that cover insurance? Why didn't anyone tell me this?

i know someone who would die on the job while slaving away at his computer while reading Fark and IM'ing people.


/Me.
//Hang out at the Yoga while the chicks do their thing!
///With a burrito in my hand.
//Not that burrito. Geesh.
/_{That'd be later!}

Are they in the gas business?

NeedleGuy:
Hopefully you're not getting stuffed into a cubicle like the ones we have where I work:
/Yes, those are actual cubicles where I work.

Does anyone actually work in that cubicle? If so, then the asshole is not doing anyone a favor by not quitting immediately.

The damn recession is more than over for skilled tech workers, don't let any dumbass HR person try to make you think different. Ask high, ask a lot. They've farked everyone else, but they need us, bigtime!

On-site yoga is against my religion! Where's my freedom of speech!?!??!

nicoffeine: On-site yoga is against my religion! Where's my freedom of speech!?!??!

U R teh dumb...

batcookie: Burritos. Wow. Yeah, that's a fair replacement for a decent salary and something for their future.

THIS. From the area, and while I am self-employed most of my friends work in places like this around Boulder. Tell you what, lack of job security, ability to be allowed any work-life balance (always on-call, etc), insane crippling stress levels from impossible deadlines with 1/3 the rational headcount due to layoffs, looming threat of layoffs every project completion, no more profit sharing/stock options/or decent/any 401k, lowered salaries, 'contractor' status - and the list goes on and on - does NOT get made up for by a farking ping pong table in the break room.

/don't even mention the mini-fridge full of cheap microwavable burritos, a 'benefit' there to remind you that if you are the one in your team to actually go out for lunch you may be considered the weak link in your department.

my office used to be one of these. our coked-out ceo handed out beers once a week, we had a foosball table, a margarita machine, free massages, wii room, nap room, daily catering...

...except we never had time to enjoy any of them. we all worked 14-hour days, minimum, usually ranging up to 24- to 36-hour shifts so busy that you got scowled at for going to the bathroom. there were people sleeping in conference rooms and in their cars. i know of at least two divorces caused by our working hours.

one day not long ago ten people walked out, and the ceo got canned. all the ice cream days in the world don't make up for never seeing your family.

/CSB

Where I used to work, the boss gave out gag gift certificates good for one free visit to Dr. Jack Kevorkian, instead of Christmas bonuses.

And there were no burritos at all.

Cheesus: Wait, there are jobs that cover insurance? Why didn't anyone tell me this?

That's what bothered me the most about the Obamacare debate. Everyone I knew that opposed reform already had insurance on top of job or financial security. I'm self-employed and I don't make enough to buy insurance. The last three jobs I had (going back to 2000) didn't offer health care.

...So I'm getting a kick out of this.

/In the groin

I used to work for Google. So yeah, I had all that and more.

We get catered lunch and dinner every day. Beer in the fridge. Fully stocked snack / breakfast bar. Foosball table. Big screen tv... And we have a decent work life balance. I get to show up at 10 and go home at 6:30. I win? Life in silicon valley I guess... This shiat is pretty standard.

brianbankerus: Cheesus: Wait, there are jobs that cover insurance? Why didn't anyone tell me this?

That's what bothered me the most about the Obamacare debate. Everyone I knew that opposed reform already had insurance on top of job or financial security. I'm self-employed and I don't make enough to buy insurance. The last three jobs I had (going back to 2000) didn't offer health care.

...So I'm getting a kick out of this.

/In the groin

I get offered it through the staffing agency I'm with, but like hell I could afford it. I got vision so we could get my wife's contacts on the cheap, but that's it for right now. I'm not even hopelessly overwhelmed in debt like others I know.

/maybe next year

I get accommodations and food paid for - including some booze. I get 400 - 1000 lbs of moose meat for free every fall. I go hunting and snowshoeing on my lunch breaks. I get to play with guns and snowmobiles. And I get summers off to go fishing. It has taken me almost 20 years to find my niche, but I think I have found a good setup for the foreseeable future.

A catch-22.

Sure your office has a lounge with a Wii in it. But you don't want to be the guy that everyone notices playing the Wii all the time. Or eating burritos. Or playing ping-pong.

etc. etc.

octabeck: my office used to be one of these. our coked-out ceo handed out beers once a week, we had a foosball table, a margarita machine, free massages, wii room, nap room, daily catering...

...except we never had time to enjoy any of them. we all worked 14-hour days, minimum, usually ranging up to 24- to 36-hour shifts so busy that you got scowled at for going to the bathroom. there were people sleeping in conference rooms and in their cars. i know of at least two divorces caused by our working hours.

one day not long ago ten people walked out, and the ceo got canned. all the ice cream days in the world don't make up for never seeing your family.

/CSB


I used to work for a place that had free soda/juice in teh fridges, a foosball table, a pool table, a beer fridge (strictly only for use 5pm onwards), pizza for everyone on friday lunch times and various other cool perks. We also worked 37 hour weeks. Strangely enough the guy that started that place was a huge coke-head too.

Then we got bought by a big corporate and all the good stuff went away :(

SumoJeb: I get accommodations and food paid for - including some booze. I get 400 - 1000 lbs of moose meat for free every fall. I go hunting and snowshoeing on my lunch breaks. I get to play with guns and snowmobiles. And I get summers off to go fishing. It has taken me almost 20 years to find my niche, but I think I have found a good setup for the foreseeable future.

And fark you too.

/seriously, though, when can I visit?

Hector Remarkable: Where I used to work, the boss gave out gag gift certificates good for one free visit to Dr. Jack Kevorkian, instead of Christmas bonuses.

And there were no burritos at all.

Sounds like the cake was a lie.

Is company paid income protection insurance common? The company I work for has just introduced this. It is a pretty bIg deal since in my industry (mining), it is extremely hard to find someone to insure you individually, and if you find someone who will, it is extremely expensive

batcookie: Burritos. Wow. Yeah, that's a fair replacement for a decent salary and something for their future.

It could be if you're hoarding them and control a massive supply of burritos when the apocalypse comes.

/I'm hoarding jams

That would make for horrible yoga. Beer-burrito farting, buzzed yoga resulting in injuries.

You'd be able to tell if the ladies were wife material though.

The company plans to double in size over the next year...

With free cookies, beer and unlimited burritos, they can meet that goal.

Burritos and yoga shouldn't mix, I would think.

I work in the heartland of America.

Therefore I've never had a job that provided any kind of insurance.

JRoo: I work in the heartland of America.

Therefore I've never had a job that provided any kind of insurance.


I work in Hollywood, in the heart of the movie industry.

The last job I had which provided insurance of any kind was in 1999. -_-

fnordfocus: batcookie: Klom Dark: The damn recession is more than over for skilled tech workers, don't let any dumbass HR person try to make you think different. Ask high, ask a lot. They've farked everyone else, but they need us, bigtime!

As I am not in the tech field, I have to ask, has the number of qualified workers not risen as well as demand? I don't know the stats but it seems that in this day and age there would be more people going into this field for that very reason.... please fill me in

It takes a bit of time for the supply of new college graduates to build up, and tech employers aren't interested in anyone over 25 or so.

You give me hope. And I can confirm this. It's scarier than it sounds walking into an interview and be interviewed by a "senior employee" who's 27. Anyone got a clue what happened to all the 30+ programmers?

/CS major at U of Michigan
//Will graduate college before I can legally drink.

What no hot cocoa sampler?

Scruffinator: Burritos and yoga shouldn't mix, I would think.

NeedleGuy: lordargent: I'm about to get stuffed into a cubicle after having an office for 13+ years. So, errrr.

Hopefully you're not getting stuffed into a cubicle like the ones we have where I work:

[farm8.staticflickr.com image 640x360]


[farm7.staticflickr.com image 640x360]


/Yes, those are actual cubicles where I work.

YOU'RE the source of this meme? Neat.

I'll bet if you go to the beer tap 5-10 times a day, you won't get many raises.

meyerkev: Anyone got a clue what happened to all the 30+ programmers?

Those that managed to get rich off their stock options before the dotcom crash retired on their riches. Those of us who missed that boat didn't. I started my own business a couple of years ago, though, doing something I loved more than IT. :-)

RFM2

Yeah, I'm not sure I want to work at an office where my coworkers are just eating burritos

I'd just like to say my job involves copious amounts of beer on tap

that it raised $21 million in funding and


BZZTT

Bullshiat. I stopped reading right there.

If you have to 'raise funding' to create a business, especially in this age of technology, especially for freaking sending emails, you are blowing cash on stupid shiat. Ping-pong? Beer?

Fark that.

Any decent businessperson worth his shiat knows how get stuff done on a shoestring.

This current method of 'going big' right away, then selling out next year for 2x the cash, then the company folding in year three - is a farking ridiculous way to run an organization.

Me, reading this headline: Oh, yeah, whatever, I hear about this stuff all the time and it's always in another state or another country and I can't relocate... :click: ...Daily Camera?! Local? YES!!

/will be applying at all of these places

batcookie: Klom Dark: NeedleGuy:
Hopefully you're not getting stuffed into a cubicle like the ones we have where I work:
/Yes, those are actual cubicles where I work.

Does anyone actually work in that cubicle? If so, then the asshole is not doing anyone a favor by not quitting immediately.

The damn recession is more than over for skilled tech workers, don't let any dumbass HR person try to make you think different. Ask high, ask a lot. They've farked everyone else, but they need us, bigtime!

As I am not in the tech field, I have to ask, has the number of qualified workers not risen as well as demand? I don't know the stats but it seems that in this day and age there would be more people going into this field for that very reason.... please fill me in


It's difficult to shake out the liars. Anyone can tap-dance through a job interview.

Once they are in the field and interacting with my clients, it's a trial by fire to make sure they can:

1. Show up on time
2. Dress appropriately.
3. Not be high or drunk.
4. Able to do the job correctly.
5. Interface with the client well - upsell, collect checks, call back if they can't get the job done, etc.
6. Profit?

By the time this all happens, I may be losing money and clients, but I don't know until the client calls me and asks me to get this person the hell of their office and they are never calling us again. it's happened before.

Yeah, it's tough to find good people.

How about pep talks? Last week our pep talk included the phrase "we want this to be a fun place to work." Now, mind you, it's not a "fun" place to work, and nothing is being done to make it a "fun" place to work. I guess we are being ordered to have fun.
Fun, fun, fun....

Inasmuch as the "Work is slavery! Every dime must be squeezed from the workers! Here's your pittance, now go eat your gruel and have your ass back here at 9:00 sharp!" model is clapped out, useless, Dickensian, and belies the very purpose of productivity improving your quality of life, I'd say "So, you finally pulled your heads out of your asses about people's lives not stopping when they hit the time clock?" is appropriate. One cool thing about what I do, it's a celebration of life and you have, after some prep time, a few hours of absolute joy at crunch time and then you relax in the weeds. I tried the corporate whore thing. I am proud to say failed miserably.

What? Next thing you'll be telling me employees are more than an expense.

I see dotcom 2.0 is underway.

I'll skip the dog at work, yoga, burritos and beer for a job that actually supports a healthy work/life balance, pays a decent salary, and provides decent benefits. The important thing for me is that I can go home after a solid eight hours and not be so exhausted from a combination of work and stress that I can enjoy life with my family and friends.