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Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

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Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#181

Post by arkades »

throwthisawayt wrote: post #180
eeZah7Ux wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please be aware how many executives, lawyers, physicians, finance & trading experts expense meals in restaurants and hotels, go to "trainings" on cruise ships, fly in business class. Giving engineers free peanuts (so they don't walk out of the building to by some) is hardly a perk.

I'm really surprised about the physician comment. My gf works in the largest medical system in the Bay Area and her "perks" (discounted cafeteria food) are drastically below what I've had at any company in the tech industry for the last decade. They don't even pay for flights for residency or fellowship interviews so doctors have to pay thousands during these times while they are huge debt. She actually has to rotate…

Certainly none that I've worked at or had friends at. Best perk I've ever seen was free knock-off k-cup coffee, and that was a cut above the norm.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#182

Post by NirDremer »

When evaluating startups there are few key matrices - financial stability - most notably runway. Taking funding and # of employees can give you a rough sense of things

- key people churn

- business traction graph - depending on the market you are in you can get some sense through similarweb and the likes

We took it to the next level at Yodas and provide detailed analysis. We help individuals make better, more informed career decisions.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#183

Post by logicallee »

arethuza wrote: post #95
futhey wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to discount what you're saying, but there are several sets of “men in suits” that appear long before you lose your office space. Some are your investors (or work for them). Some are consultants or advisors, promising to solve all your problems. The service provider you're re-negotiating payment terms with. Potential acquirers, etc.

Absolutely, I used to work for a large company that did a lot of acquisitions and I was on the pre-acquisition due-diligence team for a few of them and I recognised the enquiring but slightly worried looks of employees. I've been on both sides! NB I didn't wear a suit though, I do have some standards ;-)

>I used to work for a large company that did a lot of acquisitions and I was on the pre-acquisition due-diligence team for a few of them

I'd be very curious about the whole process beginning to end, and what you tended to look for, what made things go through or not go through, and just general advice you have for companies that may want to be acquired in the future.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#184

Post by chrismealy »

I'm reading a lot of these answers and they could be describing companies that are hugely profitable and growing. Profitable companies cut back on coffee, have high turnover, cynical employees etc.

It really doesn't matter. Any company can blow up at any time due to fraud or mergers or whatever. You might get fired because your boss might want to replace you with their old college roommate. Or the CEO decides to kill your whole division because they're chasing some dumb fad.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#185

Post by mythrwy »

futhey wrote: post #85
arethuza wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Multiple sets of men in suits touring the office" New tenants being shown round the office you are in can be a bit worrying...

Not to discount what you're saying, but there are several sets of “men in suits” that appear long before you lose your office space. Some are your investors (or work for them). Some are consultants or advisors, promising to solve all your problems. The service provider you're re-negotiating payment terms with. Potential acquirers, etc.

Are groups of men in suits ever up to anything good?

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#186

Post by vitaminbandit »

chrismealy wrote: post #184

I'm reading a lot of these answers and they could be describing companies that are hugely profitable and growing. Profitable companies cut back on coffee, have high turnover, cynical employees etc. It really doesn't matter. Any company can blow up at any time due to fraud or mergers or whatever. You might get fired because your boss might want to replace you with their old college roommate. Or the CEO decides to kill…

And extremely fit people sometimes go on diets. But generally, someone on a diet isn't likely to be extremely fit.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#187

Post by meric »

mythrwy wrote: post #185
futhey wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to discount what you're saying, but there are several sets of “men in suits” that appear long before you lose your office space. Some are your investors (or work for them). Some are consultants or advisors, promising to solve all your problems. The service provider you're re-negotiating payment terms with. Potential acquirers, etc.

Are groups of men in suits ever up to anything good?

At a funeral helping to carrying the coffin.

At wedding celebrating the new couple.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#188

Post by honestoHeminway »

UseofWeapons1 wrote: post #12

The easist method is by trend in employee count. If headcount is rising, that's a good indicator, if it's falling, that's generally bad. Stable can be perfectly fine, or bad, depending on the company. You may have concerns about the magnitude of growth, or claim lay-offs were justified or turnover is natural, but the trend generally holds. You should also pay attention to other employees; ask yourself why folks who l…

Head Count growing exponential is usually a warning sign for tech-debt.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#189

Post by arien »

icebraining wrote: post #158
arien wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I read things like this, I like to take a moment to realise how fortunate we are to work in a sector where something like freebies is almost considered to be a sacred right. Is there any other profession or sector where they get the same treatment? I don't think removing or reducing these benefits is a sign of poor health. I think it's more a sign of turning into a proper business (which needs to answer to the p…

Retail often has employee discounts, does that make it a great sector to work? Free drinks cost what, $100/employee/month? That's nothing.

So if you have 50 employees that's $5,000 per month, which could be used to pay another salary. Or you could pay your employees that extra $100 directly so they use it whichever way they want.

Employee discounts in retail are usually within company margins for sales and they are limited (e.g. $1,000 purchases per year or so). If the margin doesn't cover these discounts or the system is abused they will get reduced/removed. Likewise, if a startup thinks these $100 per month are better spent elsewhere perhaps they are just being financially responsible.

Re: Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

#190

Post by arien »

Paul-ish wrote: post #143
arien wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I read things like this, I like to take a moment to realise how fortunate we are to work in a sector where something like freebies is almost considered to be a sacred right. Is there any other profession or sector where they get the same treatment? I don't think removing or reducing these benefits is a sign of poor health. I think it's more a sign of turning into a proper business (which needs to answer to the p…

Don't consider it a freebie. Think of it as an untaxed benefit. When you look at it that way, how would you feel if your employer cut other benefits.

They are nice to have and welcome, but not mandatory. I'm actually the only one in my group of friends who has ever enjoyed these kind of things. That's why I say we are very lucky. Once you step out of the tech bubble you see that what you take for granted is only a dream for many. I can work part time and still make more money than they do.
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