The absolute worst scenario happened • Hacker News Board

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#361

Post by littlecranky67 » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:14 PM UTC

Eremotherium wrote: post #115

alistairSH wrote: post #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 A…

At least in Germany this goes both ways. The period can also be longer depending on your seniority. This is to give the company time to find a proper replacement for you and allow for a smoother handoff. Of course if both parties agree the grace period can be skipped or shortened. You usually don't get stuck with duds because there's a probationary period of (max.) 6 months in the beginning in which these protections…

I don't think it goes both ways. As an employee, your maximum notice period is always 3 months - which is also the legal minimum required period for employers. Now depending on your position, your employer will probably even have longer period (i.e. if covered by a union negotioted tarif). Additionally, you can't even be fired at will - the employer always has to give a reason. "Shrinking down" due to business requirements would be a valid reason, but that would mean that the company cannot fire you and hire someone else for the same position as long as you got the formal qualification.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#362

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

ycombinete wrote: post #322

tofuahdude wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love this with all my heart. You did exactly the right thing at every step.

Funnily enough it made me sick to my stomach. I manage a small company and the idea of being extorted in such a blasé and psychopathic fashion terrifies me to even think about.

[deleted]

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#363

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

Eremotherium wrote: post #115

alistairSH wrote: post #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 A…

At least in Germany this goes both ways. The period can also be longer depending on your seniority. This is to give the company time to find a proper replacement for you and allow for a smoother handoff. Of course if both parties agree the grace period can be skipped or shortened. You usually don't get stuck with duds because there's a probationary period of (max.) 6 months in the beginning in which these protections…

[deleted]

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#364

Post by hunter-2 » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

JKCalhoun wrote: post #252

tw04 wrote: post #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…

Is there another industry where a few employees with "domain knowledge" can sink a company? Asking because, while, yes, throwing money at the problem might be a solution, I think the obvious bigger issue is how does one allow themselves to get into this situation? Or rather, how does one avoid getting into this situation. Because it seems to me that the software industry of late has become so mired in esoteric layers…

>Is there another industry where a few employees with "domain knowledge" can sink a company?

I guess any company where leadership got there without progress on the technical side. Law firm partners get there after being lawyers. Consultant partners get there after consulting.

But if you are the CEO of an IT company without ever having to code, then you may never know the things you must take care to prevent a washout.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#365

Post by draw_down » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:16 PM UTC

ycombinete wrote: post #322

tofuahdude wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love this with all my heart. You did exactly the right thing at every step.

Funnily enough it made me sick to my stomach. I manage a small company and the idea of being extorted in such a blasé and psychopathic fashion terrifies me to even think about.

God forbid engineers be paid for their work. Typical HN

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#366

Post by temp8964 » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:17 PM UTC

tw04 wrote: post #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…

What if they lost contact information of their former employees?

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#367

Post by papreclip » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:23 PM UTC

paulz_ wrote: post #86

4e530344963049 wrote: post #67

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.

Being an SRE is a little more of this and a little less scheduled work. You still have standup and plenty of other meetings, though

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#368

Post by Ekaros » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:26 PM UTC

alistairSH wrote: post #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 A…

For Finland 3 months is bit special, mine is 1 month and previous job was 2 weeks(up to 5 years). From employer side legal minimums are: under 1 year 2 weeks, under 5 years 1 month, under 8 years 2 months, under 8 years 4 months and over 12 years 6 months.

Penalty from employee side seems to be monthly wage, so in this case 3 month salary. Ofc, seeing how company is probably doing I wouldn't be too worried of them coming after him...

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#369

Post by bitcharmer » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:26 PM UTC

ycombinete wrote: post #322

tofuahdude wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love this with all my heart. You did exactly the right thing at every step.

Funnily enough it made me sick to my stomach. I manage a small company and the idea of being extorted in such a blasé and psychopathic fashion terrifies me to even think about.

Extortion? Wow, you have no idea what you're talking about. Good luck with that attitude.

Re: The absolute worst scenario happened

#370

Post by ryandrake » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 5:27 PM UTC

tofuahdude wrote: post #309

throwthescene wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Throwaway purely so that I can comment. I've had this happen before. Years ago I left a rather awful company - I left on great terms with my boss, though I hated the company. I was the last person who knew how to release X product. While I documented everything, after I left, the wiki lost its mind, backups apparently weren't a thing, and the director of IT moved to Bermuda. Fast forward 6 months.. a contractual obli…

I love this with all my heart. You did exactly the right thing at every step.

Yea, this is one of those "I want to believe" stories! It's practically engineer-porn. Everyone who has quit a shitty employer whose technology was a house of cards resting on the point of a needle is cheering OP on. We all have that fantasy that the house will finally fall over, the company will have its comeuppance, and we're the one person in the world with the knowledge to fix it.