Hail to my company's president

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

A couple of weeks ago I posted that, in honor of the company’s 40th anniversary, our founder/president/CEO would be ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq on Oct. 2 (tomorrow). I wanted to give you a concrete example of why this is a great company to work for.

The company has never, in its 40-year history, had layoffs. Because the pres has always determined and worked to keep the company private, he has had more flexibility to weather difficult economic times.

It recently came to his attention that our main competitor, is about to engage in layoffs. The pres warned us at the beginning of the year that economic times were going to be tough, and in the wake of Sept. 11 the PR/IR landscape has changed sufficiently that it’s going to be even tougher. But the thought of layoffs has never crossed his mind.

Instead, he issued as all a bonus. In honor of the 40th anniversary, we all received a bonus of $X per month of employment. Not only that, the company ate the taxes so we all received the full amount rather than paying some of it to Uncle Sam. I won’t tell you what X is, but suffice to say that thanks to this, we’re paying off our car loan nearly 2 years early today.

Not only that, but my Australia trip in November isn’t costing me a cent. There are twelve of us employees going, and the trip is fully covered for all of us: roundtrip airfare from our own cities to L.A., then to Sydney, accommodations, most of our meals, tickets for all the in-country flights and train trips, etc. All we have to pay for is a few of our own meals, souvenirs, entertainment, that sort of thing.

Man, I love working for this company.

2

Are there any job openings there? Sounds like you hit pay-dirt. A good work environment makes for a pleasant life.

3

Sounds too good to be true. What industry are you in?

I have to say that I feel very fortunate to have a job in High Tech with a good employer and with good pay. We dod not get binuses, but that is completely understandable. And even though there have been layoffs they were the first in the company’s history, and this is a corporate giant.

Anyway, congrats on your organization, may they have another 40 great years.

4

And you’re his pay-off for avoiding opportunist behaviour. Everyone who puts in wins, nobody gets screwed. Maybe I’ll see you in Melbourne.

5

Jeez!

And all I got was tickets to the ballgame. It was in the executive suite, though!

Hot dogs and pretzels on real china!
and all the beer and soda you can injest!

6

we all hate you. But hey, in a few years when you find out your boss is a key member of the mob and you can never escape (read John Grisham’s “The Firm”) I’ll be laughing at you.

7

I’d like to point out that PLD’s president has a good strategy here for rewarding long-term employees. It’s not exactly favoritism, but trips are awarded after five years and acceptance is based on seniority. By rewarding $x/month of employee when issuing bonuses, those who have stayed with the company the longest receive the best bonuses (they also spot bonus for performance from time to time to reward not just longevity but ability, dedication, etc.). In this current generation, retention of good employees has become a serious issue and concern for a great many companies, PLD’s president has figured out a pretty good solution…

By the way, we didn’t just pay off the car early (which is a huge burden lifted IMHO), but did a [sub]little[/sub] spreeing as well, here is Marble in her new chair and Chestnut enjoying her spa. Of course, there were also books and dvds, etc., bought for the human types of the household–can’t resist the indulegence of new books.

Happy 40th Anniversary LL!!

8

Sheeit, I’ve got you all beat.

At my company, there’s free pop in the fridge. Yeah, you heard me right. Free.

I don’t wanna brag, but when I go on business trips, I get reimbursed $58/night for hotel costs. Motel 6 isn’t as glamorous as you might think, though. I’ll go on.

If I’m flying? Glad you asked. While in the big blue yonder I’m pulling down $5/hr.! Where else you gonna make money like that? Of course, that amount doesn’t count layovers… why should they cough up anything for pleasantries?

Sometimes I prefer to drive. It’s cool that my boss will pay my gas money only if my destination is over an hour away. And bonuses? I’m blessed… I don’t even know where to begin. I literally don’t know where to begin, because there haven’t been any, for anyone, since I’ve been here.

And it’s soooo convenient that they can effortlessly deduct “contributions” my from my paycheck for the boss’ big ass birthday present! I mean, they’re saving me steps here!

And really, dental insurance is wayyyyy overrated. I mean, anyone who needs more than bare bones medical coverage is a pansy, right?

By the way, before you start mailing in your resumes, keep in mind that my company isn’t hiring right now. There might be a position open in my lilliputian cubical pretty soon, though… God willing. :slight_smile:

Sorry about the rant… Congratulations, pl! Have a nice trip! Bring me back a wallaby… if you can find one.

9

Free pop? Luxury!

Sick days? You gobbing wrack of pansy!

(I’m sorry, too much Monty Python)

Seriously, I wonder, how people find jobs like this. I’m stuck, working sixty hours, paid for forty, no medical, no dental, no sick days, no paid holidays (Gods, Christmas season does hell for my budget, earning something between five and twenty grand less than appropriate for my position…

Hey, at least I still have work. And I’m doing something socially useful.

And for that, in this climate, I am truly thankful.

10

I work for a non-profit that is going under, thanks to Sept. 11 (My employer brings kids to DC for history and civics lessons. What with school distrcits cancelling field trips and feraful parents not wanting to risk their kids getting killed here, we are looking at the end, according to my boss)
But at least we get free coffee!

11

E-Sabbath, I gotta tell you, it was not easy to find this job. I worked for three shitty years in retail while finishing my B.A., then tried to get a start in radio before I realized that, being married, I was not going to drag my wife to East Crapland to work in market #600 while trying to build a career.

I’ve been with the company for 5 years as of August and I can honestly say they’ve always done right by me. Our higher-ups really know how to treat employees. I’ve been in the crappy jobs, though, so I know what it’s like. I hope there’s a job out there like this for everyone.

gobear, that sucks. I’m really sorry to hear it, but I know how smart and ambitious you are, too, so I hope you’ll bounce back quickly.

Here is the company’s press release on the anniversary from earlier today.

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You work your ass off at crappy jobs, barely making ends meet (usually not) at minimum wage while finishing your college degree, enduring years of calls from bill collectors who harass you about being late with payments and seem to think you’re living a fancy lifestyle and just choose not to pay them. Then, forego the luxury of a car drive for 3 or 5 years in a city not designed for such dependence on public transportation for doing absolutely everything. Drag your 6 or 8 bags of groceries, which include such easy-to-carry items as milk and laundry soap through the snow because the great RTA bus never showed up. Oh, and you and your spouse get to exchange home/handmade Christmas gifts for a few years and necessities (like clothes for work) become birthday presents…when you can finally afford some nice gifts for each other, they better be small enough to carry on the bus too.

Finally, you endure an extremely micromanaging (and at times demeaning) manager at good job with great benefits…(though you’ve given up your true dream career and found something you just like doing instead…even if it’s not perfect)…until a light shines through a cloud. An opportunity for a better position in a different office in an interesting part of the country presents itself.

It means uprooting your wife, who’s never lived outside of 2 counties, from a neighborhood and the job she LOVES, her friends and family. But, you both decide that it, too, is worth the sacrifice–even though it means she will likely spend some time fearfully unemployed. Finally, if you are truly lucky, you are rewarded with the job and benefits indicated above.

So you’re job sucks, eh? Lousy benefits, too? Well, I empathize, I really do…in a deeply “been there, done that” way, but if you hate your job so friggin’ much, might I direct you to The Pit? Rant all you want there…this is supposed to be a celebratory (though possibly mundane) thread. PLD EARNED this…let him have it for Pete’s sakes…

<PHEW! I feel better…I feel better…>

13

[mumbling] Stupid simultaneous posting…[/mumbling]

14

I just had to point this out as being one of the funniest things I’ve read today (and because I’m anal :D).

Congrats on hitting the jackpot, pld. Your story gives me hope that someday I, too will work for a company that’s worthy of my loyalty.

15

I assure you, I hab don moch worrste!

E-Sabbath, I feel for you. I’ve been there, and know quite a few people who are there right now. There is no quick out, but you certainly do not have to stay where you are. I mean, very carefully and methodically explaore your options, don’t just give notice and walk out.

I had been sort of on overdrive, in much lower-paying jobs than I have now, until I actually took a few chances, and let some smart folks be an influence in my life. I can tell you that ten years ago I would not have believed that my current situation was attainable, as quickly as it turned out to be. I don’t want to sound like one of those “believe and you can succeed” tapes, but seriously think about all possibilities, starting with those things that you truly enjoy. (No, not that, there are already enough porn stars in this world ;0 ).