Journal tomhudson's Journal: Pay cut? That would not be a good idea ... 20
So, for almost two weeks I catch hell because somehow I've supposedly broken the code I wrote for our web designer (javascript that caches images for one of our sites) because it suddenly loads slowly in IE on the boss's home machine, even though it loads fine in every other browser. I explain that IE by default only makes 2 connections to the server, and you have half a dozen css and javascript files, and 52 (yikes!) images to fetch, so 58/2 = 29 back-and-forth trips per connection, whereas firefox (with 20 connections by default) does it in 3, and opera (15 simultaneous connections) does it in 4.
Doesn't matter - "It worked just as fast in IE before. You broke it, you fucking fix it! I can't fire you because I'm down to two programmers, but I'll cut your pay!" (We *were* down to 5 programmers a year ago, but most of them couldn't stand the stress, and most candidates don't get through initial screening or flunk the IQ test or can't do shit in front of a whiteboard or only know Windows or can't come up with half-a-dozen different algorithms off the top of their head to solve the same problem during the interview
Long story short
That was funny (at least that's how I decided to look at it - wasn't worth getting upset or angry with spring just around the corner
So, I'm asked to install Joomla on an external server, create a bunch of named virtual hosts, etc. No problem - except the software doesn't run properly
I made it clear that that would not be a smart thing to do. In fact, I came very close to quitting on the spot, but I bit my tongue and pointed out that the problems had nothing to do with my job performance, and that we have to upgrade. End result, it got changed to "We'll put this on hold and review it in 3 weeks to see if your attitude has changed..." Considering we've gone through almost two dozen experienced programmers (10-15 years) who simply can't do what we need, and I stuck it out because I'm not a quitter, and the two of us who are left got the job done last month - a 3-year death march predominantly in c and c++, with a bunch of php and mysql thrown in
This is the second time in 3 months they've tried to pull something like this, so this morning I told a few of my coworkers that, as of today, I'm going to be looking for another job. Their reactions would normally be an ego boost, but I can't help but feel I'm causing them grief. "I can't do what you do." and "They did what? Are they crazy? How are they going to replace you? We'll close."
None of this should be like this, but Deming is right - 85% of all problems in the workplace are caused by bad management practices. This was supposed to change on new projects. Last year, I was promised that if we completed the "death march" project, that new projects would be done properly. This is not my idea of "properly."
None of the parties involved are "bad people" - we just have different views of how to do things, and there are some very bad, destructive habits, a lack of introspection, and an unwillingness to actively review management techniques.
Like I said, I don't want to leave my co-workers in the lurch
So, in the meantime, I'll start designing new business cards, brush up my one-page "Here's who I am and you need me if you have a doomed project where heads are about to roll", and do some networking in my neck of the woods. The programmers who have worked with me and since gone elsewhere have only praise for my ability to teach, and if you pour a few beers into some of my other former co-workers at a party, they'll tell everyone within earshot how I "really know" my "shit", so at least I've got some half-decent references
While I'm at it, I'll add independent code and project reviews, project management, and coaching to the mix.
Stress brings out the extremes (Score:2)
Stress seems to bring out the extremes in some people. Some people who you might think are not particularly outstanding get up and absolutely shine when the chips are down. Others fall to pieces, and when they don't know what to do they revert to "violence" (lashing out, yelling, or in general acting contrary to the evidence.)
Everyone is under stress these days, and with an empty bullpen and no idea what to do next, it sounds like your boss has completely lost it. It doesn't sound like there's much yo
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Everyone is under stress these days...
If he does get a moment of clarity, though...
Having a printed list ready would show him you've given this real thought...
You are very naive. You may want to read my initial statement [slashdot.org] for clarification. You appear to have the negotiating prowess of Neville Chamberlain.
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me = set(naïve, optimist);
I always try to assume the best of people even in a bad situation. There are a lot of reasons, not the least of which is if things turn around, you have to work with them. But it also helps me keep my tongue in check. If I think of you as an incompetent idiot, it'll come out in my body language, or you'll hear the disdain in my tone of speech, etc. Or it may be obvious to others. That's certainly not healthy. So I really, consciously try to keep the positive mental at
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I always try to assume the best of people even in a bad situation.
That's a noble way of thinking, and a deliberate intellectual pursuit of my own. Assumptions aren't as bogus as simple minded people are often taught. Assume but verify (if possible), and don't take anything for granted, is the mindset that sets me apart. Experience and scientific research have revealed that most people lie, cheat and steal, and they do this very, very often. For example, about 60% of people will tell a lie in the first 10 minutes of a conversation, and just recently I've learned that about
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There's a big difference between a lie and an honest mistake, but so many people are afraid to admit to an honest mistake that they lie about it. We really need to get to the point where admitting to not being perfect isn't a lever some pe
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Lucky you. Me, I'm all over the map. Naive, cynical, optimist, pessimist, depending on the situation and the people.
Lately, everyone else has been a bit down in the dumps, so at work I go out of my way to point out that it's sunny outside, spring is near, here, have a few Oreo cookies with your coffee (I try to be the first to make the coffee, then make the rounds with the coffeepot because when others do it, it's often undrinkable - one of these days I'll have to set up
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I think it's better to be an optimist, and sometimes (or even often) disappointed, than to be a pessimist and always right, because a lot of the pessimism towards other people can become self-fulfilling.
I kind of figured out "optimism" as a personal strategy. Yes, the above statement is a large part of that, but I also consider it with a slightly different spin. If I'm optimistic and wrong half the time, then I'm happy 50% of the time. If I'm pessimistic, I'm unhappy 95% of the time, with the only exceptions being those few surprises.
I also like to forgive people because if I don't dwell on their mistakes, my hope is they'll extend the same courtesy to me. Sometimes (most of the time, actually) that
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They already know what I want to do wrt making the work environment better, the implementing of a mind-set that will result in adoption of better processes and higher quality, ways of reaching out to the dev and webmaster communities, open-sourcing some of the non-core stuff, helping everyone improve their job skills, etc. It's always either "that's a good idea ... maybe later" or "we can't do that right now" or (in the case of "hey, what about a proper specification for a change, instead of "do what you
Don't believe the hype (Score:1)
I have a "negative attitude" because I keep...
Don't you ever believe that They believe what They are saying. They are lying, and they know They are lying, and They will always continue to lie because They have learned that is a good enough way to manipulate people. They believe that by manipulating people, that They can get an advantage over people.
That's the way it always has been. Nothing ever changes with Management. Same as the old Boss. Like prostitutes often get into the profession because they like to have sex, Managers like to get into the posi
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I know. I've continually tried to get them to adopt better ways of doing things, and I've stuck it out when everyone else has said "screw this". I don't believe in manipulating people as a management style, and I don't like it when they try to do it to me - it shows a lack of both perception and imagination. It's particularly galling to try to bluff me when we all know I'm holding the higher hand, but that's another story.
That people do it so often shows that, as a species, we still have a lot of growin
You heard me right (Score:1)
Reminds me; one time I saw a job application for a Cisco engineer (the salary was about 30 thousand dollars a year. Yep, you heard me right. This was just before the last financial melt-down as well). The advertisement said that they didn't want an employee who is arrogant or who complains.
The advertisement says quite a lot about the company and its Management. If I were to put down on a covering letter that I didn't want an employer who was arrogant or who complained I would most likely never be considered
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That's hilarious - $30k for a Cisco engineer pre-meltdown? Do they want fries with that?
At some point, employers have to realize that the best way to manage people is to treat them like human beings. This means (at least to me) that if someone has a gap in their knowledge, I should be able to take an hour to help them with it, and then we can all move forward, rather than having to fix myriad bugs and problems (and gloss over others) caused because "we don't have the time" or because they're afraid to exp
Walk away now? (Score:2)
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It's still called "the pogey" either way - I think it was the Newfies who invented that term, but I could be wrong :-)
Yes, I'm paying into EI (Quebec hasn't separated, so we still participate in the feds taking their cut out of my pay :-). It's nice to have as a backstop "just in case" - or a source of funding while you start up something independently.
Anger problem at your company? (Score:2)
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It's not anger on their part ... it's a lack of leadership skills, and an inability to respond to changes.
The market is changing, The development methodologies change. Targets change. The business itself changes. What's acceptable, and what's needed, changes. Change is the one constant - unless you're dead and have reached room temperature - which is what happens when you stop changing.
The real problem is that people want to do a good job and take a bit of pride in their work, but that's been, for th
Run! (Score:2)
Get the hell out of there as fast as you can. Management at your company is clearly incompetent and dysfunctional. There is no salvaging the situation short of a mass firing of management or failure of the business.
Though I will say keeping the current gig until you find a new one is probably the smart thing to do unless things really go to far.
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There is a 3rd alternative, which we see all the time ... they muddle on. Which is okay. But "muddling on" is not a career goal :-)
We'll see what happens at the "review" - because I'm curious to see what they're going to do next, and also because it gives them a few weeks to think. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll hire someone else who I can show the ropes to, and then we can cut the ties in a friendly fashion, because, despite the problems, I like them. I understand where they're coming from, and I'm
You should quit. (Score:1)
Your situation sounds like my situation from 1991-1993. Just quit your job. Leave it. They suck.
If you give me your boss' email address and sexual orientation I can resolve this entire thing for you. You might not thank me now, but you'll thank me later.
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They started the wheels turning with this latest "insult" - which is funny in the extreme because today they want to see if I can upgrade the servers quickly because "we can't really continue to work like this". In other words, like always, echoing what I've been saying, with a 6-month delay :-(
I'm going to be taking time this weekend to do the initial work to get ready for my job search - new web site, busi