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The absolute worst scenario happened

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Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#82
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does say in the original post that: > Our backups are fucked. So I assume that they have already tried and they didn't work.

Early in my career (>30 years) ago I nuked a companies salary database (a missing $ in a shell script moved everything to the file i) No problem they said - we have backups. They had three tapes. First tape failed. Second tape failed. Third tape worked. In retrospect that was a useful, if rather stressful, lesson.

> nuked a companies salary database

> a missing $

Bravo!

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was curious about that as well. I've never heard of such an obsurd amount of time, and it seems doubtful it would hold up. "You need to give us 3 months heads up no matter what, but don't worry, we don't have to give you any if you oversleep for a meeting."

It goes both ways, the employer has to give the employee 3 months notice as well. But this is for when both of them can't find a mutual solution. You can always agree to terminate the contract earlier, if both parties agree. At least that is how it works in Germany.

Same in Poland — after 2y on a permanent job contract the leave is 3 months. It goes both ways. I can be shorter if both parties agree.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#84

What exactly happens if you break a three month resignation period? I don’t advocate doing this in generally but as a hypothetical exercise if this person just stopped showing up for work, what exactly could the company do?

Well, for one, your work references probably won't be the best. Even if you're not responsible for the problem itself, leaving your employer in the ditch, when there's a major outage - well, it just doesn't look good (barring some scenario where your employer is completely unreasonable - like not paying you). It's kinda like a firefighter that decides to turn off the hose and go home, in the middle of a raging fire.…

In general, I agree.

But if they get in a situation where management is yelling at them and demanding they work 20 hours a day until this is fixed somehow and they have no idea how to. Management won't bring in consultants, etc. That ship has already sailed.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#86
post #35

How people handle this level of disaster is always very revealing. In every case I've ever experienced someone kept their head and a solution was found. Usually there was reputational damage but surprisingly most times the actual business bounced back. But it was always the actions of someone in particular in those first hours that made the difference. Thinking you're fucked is unhelpful, because you start talking ab…

If you have been that person before, it can be fun and exciting to think up solutions and implement them under pressure. Definitely a real test in your ability to concentrate. But don't expect the credit you deserve for it, and don't even expect others to even bother to put in any effort towards fixing things. Also, make sure everyone knows you are going on vacation once you resolve things.

These types of situations always wind up being the most fun I have at work and leave me feeling most fulfilled. I wish I could do that all day instead of going to standups.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was curious about that as well. I've never heard of such an obsurd amount of time, and it seems doubtful it would hold up. "You need to give us 3 months heads up no matter what, but don't worry, we don't have to give you any if you oversleep for a meeting."

Perfectly common in large parts of Europe. I also have a 3 months notice period, which is pretty much the standard here in Sweden for tech workers or other highly-qualified occupations. For very senior positions, 6 months isn't unheard of. It goes both ways of course, my employer is also bound by the 3 month period in case they want to fire me.

How does getting a new job work? You tell the new company that you have to give 3 months notice? That's some long term planning on the part of the hiring company.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#88
I actually don't see any issue that isn't simply a matter of money.

Everything they list that's an issue seems to revolve around the fact that the employees with domain knowledge for the system have left the company.

Reach out to them and hire them on as contractors. If they left under bad terms because the business was a bunch of dicks, expect to pay 10x market rate. If this is truly "fix this or the business is out of business" - then it shouldn't be a tough decision to make.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#89
Tangent Alert! I have a 3 months resignation period, so I can't even leave...

Maybe it's my (US) American experience, but being unable to quit a job strikes me as a terrible policy. This guy(gal?) is really required to submit 3 months notice or face some sort of repercussions (financial, I assume)?

Does this 3 month period apply in reverse (employer can't fire employees without a full 3 month warning)?

Not that the American system (no cause firing/quitting with no notice) is perfect, but 3 months? Yikes.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#90
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have been that person before, it can be fun and exciting to think up solutions and implement them under pressure. Definitely a real test in your ability to concentrate. But don't expect the credit you deserve for it, and don't even expect others to even bother to put in any effort towards fixing things. Also, make sure everyone knows you are going on vacation once you resolve things.

These types of situations always wind up being the most fun I have at work and leave me feeling most fulfilled. I wish I could do that all day instead of going to standups.

A "firefighting" consultancy might be fun, no? And you would give people a lot of time off!
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