I'm starting a new policy of not reading posts like this unless they say who the offending company is.
If you agree to indemnify them against defamation claims, I'm sure lots of people would be happy to name names.
A culture of beer and overtime
61–70 of 212 posts
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
It was time to leave, and the HR lady came to me and said I would have to sign a release letter and send it back within 2 work days (the following Monday was a holiday), otherwise I would not get any of the remaining pay, including my “stock options”. Apparently instead of full-time as stated in my offer letter, I was a “Contractor” and that the agreement was “terminated”. I guess that’s to protect them somehow. And…
Or he expected them to screw him.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but that's not my read. Options given the amount of time he was with the organization? Maybe, but highly unlikely.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#63I don't understand what beer culture has to do with the majority of the post
I agree. There was one casual social event at which some people drank or played table tennis, OP left early on account of their mother's health and then that early departure was raised as a secondary point by a desperately-reaching manager trying to explain why someone should do unpaid, non-compulsory overtime.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#64My interpretation is that you were fired for reasons which would be embarrassing or illegal to admit, e.g. because you were embarrassing the team with their XSS bugs.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#65Wow. I'm a founder of a tech company, and the thought of checking someone's LinkedIn profile or old website to verify degree of commitment would never even occur to me. The fact that someone would not only think of it, but actually act on it is absolutely mind-boggling. I've seen new managers do silly things, but this is seriously new.
Serious question, or at least food for thought: How are you instilling that attitude in your company? How big would your company need to grow before misguided middle management might be appointed who _does_ think this is an appropriate management technique, resulting in this happening on your watch with you later described as a "detached executive"? Having stuff like this "never even occur to you" leaves you in the p…
It is either ignorance or a reflection of good hiring practices and management. IMO, company cultures which are transparent spend less time mitigating FUD by spending more time finding people they trust and respect.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#66Having no experience with startups, I gotta say that I have some sympathy and it sounds horrible, however, what does this have to do with beer? I read the whole story and you had one friday night, after hours, with beer, and you didn't partake as you are a teetotaler. That's fine. I didn't see any other references to that fact, so I'm confused how it has anything to do with the story. It doesn't sound like they have…
I agree that one party night with beer doesn't really add up to a 'culture of beer'. I was hoping for a much more gripping tale of a beer-oriented office.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#67I don't understand what beer culture has to do with the majority of the post
I think it represents the illusion of a casual and collegial work environment. Rather it's the lube they apply before sodomizing you. My new employer is not a startup, but tries to emulate that culture. Workers are encouraged to leave at 2:00 for company booze fiestas, but I just got a warning for taking unplanned days off to be with my sick child.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#68I love reading stories like this. If I see assholes like these being founders, and I'm not that asshole, it makes me feel every bit capable of being a founder one day. Sorry you had a bad experience OP, but you sound like a good guy and I'm sure you'll have loads of awesome gigs await you in the future.
Personally I would have snapped and handled that situation extremely poorly haha.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#69What in the world? I don't see how anybody tolerates this crap. I wouldn't have lasted a week there. And you better believe there'd be threats of legal action on any withheld pay. It's obvious to me that they're just riding horses into the ground until they get where they want to go. I also wouldn't have put up with that "You're not 100% committed here," crap. I probably would have laughed in his face. "Look pal, unl…
I want to be your friend/coworker so badly. I hate management praying on the modest and kind. At my old job we had a really shy intern and he took all the shit that came his way and it was really sad to see.
Re: A culture of beer and overtime
#70You Were Fired. When you have contractor status, are brought into a meeting where they say you are underperforming, not committed, and turn deaf ears on however you try to justify yourself... and you end up leaving the company... you may have been fired. The biggest mistakes you made was a) still being a contractor b) not asking for severance if you would opt of of claiming unemployment on them.
Based on this account of the story the PM sounds like a typical middle-manager with a big chip on his shoulder to prove how alpha-dog he really is and rule over his petty little fiefdom. The author wasn't fired, although I'm sure the PM would disagree, for much the same reasons you listed. That kind of childish passive-aggressive horse shit isn't something anybody should take.