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I have been working in the tech industry for 5+ years now (not too long, I know). I have yet to see a company that commonly identifies low performers and succes

I have been working in the tech industry for 5+ years now (not too long, I know). I have yet to see a company that commonly identifies low performers and successfully terminates their employment for performance reasons only. In fact, the three times I have seen companies terminate employment after somebody was put on a PIP it was directly related to other mental health issues the employee was going through at the time. Anecdotal m, obviously, but this complaint about unions smells bogus to me, since a common complaint about the tech industry is about blood sucking low performers that stick around long past they’re due. As for measuring performance I again fail to see any company that does an adequate job of this with heuristics that aren’t at least partially, and usually fully, based on tenure. In short, what makes you think we’re good at these things now, such that unionizing would make them worse.

humanrebar 9y ago
I have seen people fired for incompetence. In fact, I appreciate companies where that happens at least every now and then. I've left jobs where incompetence wasn't corrected in some way. Though generally what happens is employees get basically cost-of-living raises indefinitely. Over a decade or two, the company ends up with a half-price employee, compared to market rates. Also we don't have to be good at evaluating employees to get worse at it. Giving raises on certification and seniority will make engineers chase promotions and titles instead of solving problems and finding managers that appreciate the work.
- zaksoup 9y ago
  > Giving raises on certification... As far as I can tell everything you're describing is the primary way that people are currently promoted and how compensation is decided. The real unicorns aren't companies with billion dollar valuations, but companies where you can just focus on solving problems and have your manager recognize that with compensation and promotion. Just like unicorns... they don't exist. I still feel like my question stands. Are we actually so good at these things now that unionizing would actually harm us? Or is this claim that unions will make it harder actually just hand-waving and ignoring the fact that we're already terrible at this kind of evaluation only we (workers) have no recourse against a feelingless corporate structure that exists to min-max productivity and compensation for the benefit of shareholder value?

humanrebar 9y ago

I have seen people fired for incompetence. In fact, I appreciate companies where that happens at least every now and then. I've left jobs where incompetence wasn't corrected in some way. Though generally what happens is employees get basically cost-of-living raises indefinitely. Over a decade or two, the company ends up with a half-price employee, compared to market rates. Also we don't have to be good at evaluating employees to get worse at it. Giving raises on certification and seniority will make engineers chase promotions and titles instead of solving problems and finding managers that appreciate the work.

zaksoup 9y ago
> Giving raises on certification... As far as I can tell everything you're describing is the primary way that people are currently promoted and how compensation is decided. The real unicorns aren't companies with billion dollar valuations, but companies where you can just focus on solving problems and have your manager recognize that with compensation and promotion. Just like unicorns... they don't exist. I still feel like my question stands. Are we actually so good at these things now that unionizing would actually harm us? Or is this claim that unions will make it harder actually just hand-waving and ignoring the fact that we're already terrible at this kind of evaluation only we (workers) have no recourse against a feelingless corporate structure that exists to min-max productivity and compensation for the benefit of shareholder value?