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Better than nothing, but your employer should be happy to pay you to attend those events that improve your skill set and make you a better employee.

• nickff 12y ago
  The problem with paying some employees to go to these events is that some go to more than others, and when the people in the office see others leaving 'work' often, and getting paid, they either resent the absentee, or look for ways to skip out on work. In most situations, it's better that people get paid to get work done, and have the flexibility to leave (unpaid) if they want/need to.
  • steverb 12y ago
    I give my developers to leave (paid) if they want/need to, and if they can come up with a decent excuse for why a conference or class will make them a better developer then I pay for that too. These people are professionals, and I treat them like professionals.
• PaulRobinson 12y ago
  As somebody who manages developers, I'd rather not have to do that. Not because I don't want to pay, but because I want my team to choose conferences that interest them, not simply because they tick boxes on an agreed career road path and align with what I think they should be learning. There might be more benefit for some developers to go a conference on circus skills or screenwriting or photography than on Ruby, but I can't justify that to the board without sounding a little crazy given we're a Ruby shop. I'd rather if that's what interested them and helped them grow as individuals they just take some leave and go and do it. We'll "pay" in being flexible about time off where we can be.
  • steverb 12y ago
    As somebody who manages developers, I let them choose their own conferences/classes and if they can come up with a justification of how it will improve their work performance I pay for it. I haven't had anyone try and justify me paying for clown college. Regardless, our people are salaried, they get paid to take time off and go to conferences, and they can get paid for clown college too if that's how they choose to spend their time.