Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#161

Post by kzisme » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:02 PM UTC

module0000 wrote: post #37

My programming career involved an office at every position (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cisco, HP, XTime, VMWare, and a handful of private equity groups). As I was transitioning into another field, the "open office" craze was taking over. I could be wrong, but I have a strong feeling I would not have enjoyed it. Nothing like being an hour into analyzing a core dump to be jerked back to reality by someone interrupting you…

I'm not sure if you're just lucky based on the setups at previous jobs, but for me it has been open floor plan so far.

The only people who have offices are managers or C-Level executives. Currently I sit next to a door that is constantly opened which really kills my productivity.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#162

Post by Sohcahtoa82 » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:14 PM UTC

nfriedly wrote: post #100

united893 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Remote, IBM Did this not affect your role: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/ibm-tells-its-...

Yea, before that, everything was roses. After that, I was initially told that I would be fired if I didn't move on site (I was given a few location choices). I said "no", got a new job lined up, and then about 4 months later, they decided not to fire me (they apparently did let go of some people, I was an exception). I don't recall the exact phrasing, but it was at least hinted that I shouldn't expect a promotion. I…

That's gotta be quite the complement to your value to the company. Not only did they not let you go, but you still got a decent raise later. Even if they hinted that you won't be eligible for promotions (I imagine that decision comes from someone higher than the person allowing you to continue working from home), I'd still be feeling good about myself if I were in your shoes.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#163

Post by praneshp » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:15 PM UTC

neogodless wrote: post #107

hack_mmmm wrote: post #86

2 years back We used to get a cabin office @Qualcomm for all Engineers same as VPs. Now Staff Engineers and above still get cabin office and others have moved to cubicles. We have a lab where most of us sit in the afternoon to collaborate. I must say this is the only place where I saw in my career where a fresh grad got cabin offices. It feels great to code in isolation uninterrupted. It also feels great to collabora…

I searched "cabin office" on Google, but the results were largely about offices in cabins. I have a feeling you mean something else. Would you mind defining them for me? To clarify, I'm not familiar with your usage of the word "cabin" in this context.

It's a regular room, nothing special (in terms of using the word "cabin"). 4 years ago at San Diego interns were 3 to a room, regular engineers were 2 per room, and I guess at some point it became 1 per room.

Kind of useless for me though, because I spent almost 90% of my time in a lab (and a large portion of engineers spend most of their time in a lab). The lab is a large noisy room. with people next to each other. It was a good deal though; if I had stayed past my internship and gotten comfortable enough to write a lot of code before wanting to test it, I could've spent more time in my office.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#164

Post by tuna-piano » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:19 PM UTC

DarkContinent wrote: post #145

Epic in Madison, WI, gives all employees their own offices. (I can't find a source but I've been on a tour.)

The (only?) female-founded, tech unicorn you've never heard of. For some reason, Epic, and it's enormous success, doesn't get much coverage.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#165

Post by ryanSrich » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:23 PM UTC

Work for companies that support remote work. You'll always have a private office.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#166

Post by calafrax » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:23 PM UTC

probinso wrote: post #102

mooreds wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Remote work is great for so many reasons. Off the top of my head: For the company: * less office space expense * bigger talent pool * low cost benefit * increased documentation * encourages the trend towards outcome based management (as opposed to butts in seats) For the programmer: * more control over their work environment * more control over their time * no "commuting" subsidy for their employers * arbitrage paysc…

I'm pretty sure that larger talent pool is a myth. Not everybody has the discipline to work remotely. Perhaps are able to cast a wider net, but there are a lot more rotten fish. I would expect that a larger talent pool maybe the case for smaller cities

not everyone has the discipline to work in an office either. not sure the proportion is any different.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#167

Post by crispytx » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:24 PM UTC

orange_bear wrote: post #120

existencebox wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoftie here. I haven't seen any indication for it to be due to employee demand. The vast majority of engineers on my team, and my last N teams, have agreed it was top down from leadership; and even those that preferred open offices agreed that cost cutting and space utilization are likely driving factors. To contribute to the broader discussion; SOME teams here still have offices, but it's a dying breed. I consi…

Former Apple employee here. That sounds exactly like what I witnessed. The new Apple HQ is very much open office and the design was definitely top-down from execs - I just know that I had no input at all even though it was my workplace. Always got my best work done at home.

If companies can't afford to give programmers their own offices, then they should just let them work remotely from their own private offices in their homes.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#168

Post by RHSeeger » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:24 PM UTC

scottLobster wrote: post #121

orange_bear wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read this as "I don't write code all day." I did write code all day, and when I worked in that exact environment, I could not do it. Too many audio distractions and distractions in my peripherals. And I was supposed to be doing difficult programming work? I have always gotten my best work done at home, alone, while you "not a code monkey" types chit chat in the office.

Depends on the work. I do code all day, but the codebase I work on is massive, fairly old (although some parts have been updated) and everyone in the office has their own area of knowledge. What the code does is also complex enough that it requires specific domain knowledge to code properly (I suppose "expert system" is the correct term), so you can't just throw general computer science at every problem. In that type…

I use slack for those questions and, very rarely, a phone. Collaboration doesn't need to be in person.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#169

Post by always_good » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:24 PM UTC

mindcrime wrote: post #148

msluyter wrote: post #28

On the general question of open vs. private offices, my views have tempered over time. The first time I worked in an open office, I hated it. But I've come to realize that a lot depends on the layout of the office and that there are better and worse ways to configure one. The first case -- the one I hated -- had a) long rows of desks, b) bright overhead fluorescent lights, c) a lot of noise due to being in a large ro…

a) my desk faces the wall, for fewer visual distractions I'm sitting here feeling stunned that anybody could ever want their desk facing a wall, as the implication (in terms of any "open plan" environment) is that their back is facing, well, nothing. IOW, somebody can walk up behind you unnoticed. Me personally, I hate that with a passion. I'd pay money to have my desk facing out with my back to the wall, just so nob…

I feel anxious when anyone can see my screen. I should be able to visit HN without feeling guilty as long as I'm getting my work done, but when I'm facing a wall, it's almost paralyzing.

Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?

#170

Post by orange_bear » Thu, Aug 10, 2017, 6:25 PM UTC

Bahamut wrote: post #138

I have my own office at Apple here in Cupertino (just a software engineer)...I'm glad that almost all our teams are moving to Infinite Loop as opposed to the new campus :) . Most of our offices hold two people though (still better than open offices!).

I remember the IL buildings having almost exclusively single-occupant offices and cubicles throughout the 2000's. In the last few years you can't even find a parking spot out there. Maybe things will be better for you with people shuffled to the new hell building.