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I don't like that they basically treat employees as contractors - take on many employees when they need them to build something, then lay them off when the thin

by muro 3y ago

I don't like that they basically treat employees as contractors - take on many employees when they need them to build something, then lay them off when the thing is built. This almost externalizes costs for companies, moving the risk away from them. This might be legal, but IMHO breaks a promise of "as employee, you earn less, but you lower your risk and the employer will do what they can to find a different role, as long as we stay profitable". All the big tech companies are thus encouraging their employees to unionize through these actions, even though many of their employees don't like unions.

throwawayjs 3y ago
In some ways I feel like the trust between tech workers and companies started to break down when engineers for the past few years have been jumping ship every year or so to maximize TC.
- mydogcanpurr 3y ago
  Why were they jumping ship to maximize TC? Was it because raises are dead?
- Infinitesimus 3y ago
  I think it's the opposite. People realized that they were getting 2-4% raises and would forever be below market compensation so they went through the crappy experience of interviewing to get their compensation back to.market. If you do job x and your employer pays someone 20%-50% more to do the same job, what are your options?
- muro 3y ago
  That's a good point, however I've only seen few people jump jobs like that. HR or some such probably has a better view how widespread it is.
- foxyv 3y ago
  They wouldn't jump ship if you paid them what they were worth on the market. Or gave them the barest inkling that they were secure in their organization and not subject to arbitrary layoffs. Or if there were some sort of pension plan. Or if companies didn't keep foisting more and more insurance costs onto employees. Or if applying for a job didn't take 3-4 months and unemployment covered 100% during that transition period. Job loyalty didn't just die, it was killed along with pensions and tenure. A lot of employees are applying to other jobs because, it takes so long to get through the application process, they can't rely on getting another job in time if they get laid off. Job hopping is the new job security. The fact that it is the only way to get a raise only accelerates it all.
uni_rule 3y ago
A union would not be necessary if they already had any sort of corporate democracy. If such a thing does not exist the workers there will find other means to make their voices heard.

by muro 3y ago

throwawayjs 3y ago

In some ways I feel like the trust between tech workers and companies started to break down when engineers for the past few years have been jumping ship every year or so to maximize TC.

mydogcanpurr 3y ago
Why were they jumping ship to maximize TC? Was it because raises are dead?
Infinitesimus 3y ago
I think it's the opposite. People realized that they were getting 2-4% raises and would forever be below market compensation so they went through the crappy experience of interviewing to get their compensation back to.market. If you do job x and your employer pays someone 20%-50% more to do the same job, what are your options?
muro 3y ago
That's a good point, however I've only seen few people jump jobs like that. HR or some such probably has a better view how widespread it is.
foxyv 3y ago
They wouldn't jump ship if you paid them what they were worth on the market. Or gave them the barest inkling that they were secure in their organization and not subject to arbitrary layoffs. Or if there were some sort of pension plan. Or if companies didn't keep foisting more and more insurance costs onto employees. Or if applying for a job didn't take 3-4 months and unemployment covered 100% during that transition period. Job loyalty didn't just die, it was killed along with pensions and tenure. A lot of employees are applying to other jobs because, it takes so long to get through the application process, they can't rely on getting another job in time if they get laid off. Job hopping is the new job security. The fact that it is the only way to get a raise only accelerates it all.

uni_rule 3y ago

A union would not be necessary if they already had any sort of corporate democracy. If such a thing does not exist the workers there will find other means to make their voices heard.