3 ms·

Another HN user posted—and then deleted—this comment: > I worry that many people in such a situation may not have the right frame of mind to be able to find, r

Another HN user posted—and then deleted—this comment: > I worry that many people in such a situation may not have the right frame of mind to be able to find, read, understand, and absorb what is normally quite dry reading material requiring often ending in something requiring exceptional perseverance. (I noticed because I was writing a reply.) I think it’s a good comment! And I think that is why you do it now. It’s just like how every flight begins with the safety briefing. Learn your company’s policies and procedures now, when you don’t need them. And refresh your memory regularly.

gruez 5y ago
> It’s just like how every flight begins with the safety briefing. Learn your company’s policies and procedures now, when you don’t need them. And refresh your memory regularly. That's more of a consequence of how we're irrationally afraid of flying than anything else. AFAIK you're far more likely to die of a building fire than a plane crash, yet how many people actually check their hotel's evacuation plan when they first enter the room?
- hnlmorg 5y ago
  Checking your hotels evacuation plan is something the guest has to choose to do, which isn't the case with flight safety briefings. Fire drills would be a closer comparison with regards to fire safety. As an aside, up until a few years ago I was one of those people that did check hotel evacuation plans. I suffered from a lot of habitual ticks back then though and I suspect checking evacuation plans might have been one of them.
PragmaticPulp 5y ago
That’s actually misleading, but a common misconception: The process is much less demanding than trying to continue working a demanding job at Amazon, for example. Disability claims are a common target for fraud and abuse so getting some early documentation from a medical professional is important. Engaging with medical professionals is something anyone with debilitating depression should be doing ASAP anyway, so it’s not much of an extra step just for the claim. The rest can be started by calling the disability insurance and asking about the process. Some company’s HR teams might even help direct employees to the benefit because they’d rather retain the employee if possible and also use the insurance for its intended purpose of covering periods of disability (rather than firing the employee or paying for someone who is unable to perform). YMMV with how much you trust HR departments, though, so best to call the disability insurance company first.
- Domenic_S 5y ago
  In addition, in three of the Big Tech SV companies I’ve worked for, the leave process isn’t even handled in-house. They contract a 3rd party who tells the company “yes this person is going on valid medical leave, expected return date mm/dd/yy” and they handle getting doctor’s notes and so forth. It is surprisingly private and straightforward.
filmgirlcw 5y ago
Absolutely! Know what your policies are as soon as you join any company — but this is triply true for a FAANG. All of the information at a FAANG is in your intranet. As you say, learn those policies and procedures now and refresh them. I’ve made a lot of decisions that have been counter to my own self-interest in my professional life (usually out of a misguided feeling of loyalty), but I have been very good at knowing policies and procedures (and for getting stuff stated explicitly in my contract before signing anything) and it has come in handy on a number of occasions. Know your rights. And know them before you need to use them.
divbzero 5y ago
Reminds me that I should send out a short “how to” guide to my family on where and how to file claims for support. Makes it easier to take action if needed with minimal mental effort.

gruez 5y ago

> It’s just like how every flight begins with the safety briefing. Learn your company’s policies and procedures now, when you don’t need them. And refresh your memory regularly. That's more of a consequence of how we're irrationally afraid of flying than anything else. AFAIK you're far more likely to die of a building fire than a plane crash, yet how many people actually check their hotel's evacuation plan when they first enter the room?

hnlmorg 5y ago
Checking your hotels evacuation plan is something the guest has to choose to do, which isn't the case with flight safety briefings. Fire drills would be a closer comparison with regards to fire safety. As an aside, up until a few years ago I was one of those people that did check hotel evacuation plans. I suffered from a lot of habitual ticks back then though and I suspect checking evacuation plans might have been one of them.

PragmaticPulp 5y ago

That’s actually misleading, but a common misconception: The process is much less demanding than trying to continue working a demanding job at Amazon, for example. Disability claims are a common target for fraud and abuse so getting some early documentation from a medical professional is important. Engaging with medical professionals is something anyone with debilitating depression should be doing ASAP anyway, so it’s not much of an extra step just for the claim. The rest can be started by calling the disability insurance and asking about the process. Some company’s HR teams might even help direct employees to the benefit because they’d rather retain the employee if possible and also use the insurance for its intended purpose of covering periods of disability (rather than firing the employee or paying for someone who is unable to perform). YMMV with how much you trust HR departments, though, so best to call the disability insurance company first.

Domenic_S 5y ago
In addition, in three of the Big Tech SV companies I’ve worked for, the leave process isn’t even handled in-house. They contract a 3rd party who tells the company “yes this person is going on valid medical leave, expected return date mm/dd/yy” and they handle getting doctor’s notes and so forth. It is surprisingly private and straightforward.

filmgirlcw 5y ago

Absolutely! Know what your policies are as soon as you join any company — but this is triply true for a FAANG. All of the information at a FAANG is in your intranet. As you say, learn those policies and procedures now and refresh them. I’ve made a lot of decisions that have been counter to my own self-interest in my professional life (usually out of a misguided feeling of loyalty), but I have been very good at knowing policies and procedures (and for getting stuff stated explicitly in my contract before signing anything) and it has come in handy on a number of occasions. Know your rights. And know them before you need to use them.

divbzero 5y ago

Reminds me that I should send out a short “how to” guide to my family on where and how to file claims for support. Makes it easier to take action if needed with minimal mental effort.