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The Tech Worker Handbook

techworkerhandbook.org

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Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#31

Post by btheshoe »

moksly wrote: post #20

Regulating big tech is a democratic issue. It’s not up to the individual tech worker to do so, and I’m not convinced that all these movements aren’t “soft-solutions” organised by big tech to avoid people working on real solutions. Solutions like legal intervention from the EU and whatever government you are under. Poor working conditions are solved by forming unions. In Denmark we have strong unions, and while their…

For the most part poor working conditions are not the problem at big tech. Unethical decisions surrounding wellness of users are.

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#32

Post by jjulius »

aspieandproud wrote: post #26
flooow wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a highly paid UK tech worker, this scab does not speak for me.

30k is not highly paid. Also, nobody asked you and nobody cares if you feel identified.

How did you determine that the user makes $30k? Their comment history clearly suggests otherwise.

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#33

Post by throwaway4303 »

Whistle-blowing and public pressure does help in improving working conditions for all workers at tech companies. Example Article highlighting lack of benefits for contract workers at Google https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/technology/google-temp-wo... Result- Google instituted new policies for contractors who now get full-time like benefits including healthcare, sick and parental leave https://www.wired.com/story/google-require-suppliers-give-be.... That's 120,000 workers that didn't have benefits now get benefits.

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#34

Post by tptacek »

quadrifoliate wrote: post #15
tptacek wrote: post #5

This seems pretty fluffy. I read through the "Legal Handbook" and it doesn't seem as much like a handbook as it does a long article about what it's like to be a whistleblower, along with some very high level stuff about what it's like to engage a lawyer. Like, a really basic thing here is that the legal advice starts by asking people to evaluate whether the misconduct they're thinking about violates laws. But it prov…

> a simple thing that the handbook doesn't talk much about is "when to quit", let alone when and how to engage in concerted action with other team members, and what the risks/benefits of that are. That may be because often trotted out as a convenient solution to any sort of wrongdoing by a lot of privileged people who themselves have their pick of jobs in US companies. It's a convenient null hypothesis that could be…

That is a compelling takedown to somebody's comment, but it's not responsive to mine; I'm not saying quitting is the only remedy to problems at giant tech companies, only that it is an important remedy.

One way you know that my comment doesn't make the point you're arguing against is that you managed to agree with it in the last sentence of your own rebuttal.

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#35

Post by el_ravager »

walshemj wrote: post #19
howtoquitwell wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Procedures and policies, yet. Rights, not so much, at least beyond those disclosures and documents they are legally required to share. As an example: it is a legally-protected right in many jurisdictions for employees to share compensation information with each other, or even externally. Many (most?) employers strongly discourage this practice, however, and will usually omit the notice that there are legal restrictio…

Yes you have valid points but it does help when you have to take legal action - break your own procedure on grievance / discipline and you tend to lose in court.

Which is why it's sometimes necessary to go above the court and take the information straight to the people.

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#36

Post by makeitdouble »

ForHackernews wrote: post #14

I don't really understand why we keep being told that these insiders who got rich at surveillance-tech companies are the ones we now have to rely on to fix the monster they've belatedly come to fear. What is there to learn from these so-called "whistleblowers"?

I think their viewpoint is that the battle is already lost and expecting the situation to be fixed by regular means is unrealistic.

Whistleblowers become these little Prometheuses bringing out some fire to fight the giants.

I deeply disagree but can empathize with the pessimism, given how dire the situation has got.

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#37

Post by ipaddr »

moksly wrote: post #20

Regulating big tech is a democratic issue. It’s not up to the individual tech worker to do so, and I’m not convinced that all these movements aren’t “soft-solutions” organised by big tech to avoid people working on real solutions. Solutions like legal intervention from the EU and whatever government you are under. Poor working conditions are solved by forming unions. In Denmark we have strong unions, and while their…

Curious what is the cost of a big mac meal with fries and a coke?

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#39

Post by quadrifoliate »

tptacek wrote: post #34
quadrifoliate wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a simple thing that the handbook doesn't talk much about is "when to quit", let alone when and how to engage in concerted action with other team members, and what the risks/benefits of that are. That may be because often trotted out as a convenient solution to any sort of wrongdoing by a lot of privileged people who themselves have their pick of jobs in US companies. It's a convenient null hypothesis that could be…

That is a compelling takedown to somebody's comment, but it's not responsive to mine; I'm not saying quitting is the only remedy to problems at giant tech companies, only that it is an important remedy. One way you know that my comment doesn't make the point you're arguing against is that you managed to agree with it in the last sentence of your own rebuttal.

I don't really view mine as a rebuttal or takedown either.

I'm simply offering what I think is a compelling reason for them to not include instructions in this guide to the important remedy that you describe, i.e. quitting. Citing the fact that the "Just quit" advice tired shibboleth is sort of a broadside against our profession in general, not your comment in particular. I did think about including a disclaimer about this, but decided not to.

It's quite possible that you and other commenters think it's not compelling; let me know why!

Re: The Tech Worker Handbook

#40

Post by nawgz »

ipaddr wrote: post #37
moksly wrote: post #20

Regulating big tech is a democratic issue. It’s not up to the individual tech worker to do so, and I’m not convinced that all these movements aren’t “soft-solutions” organised by big tech to avoid people working on real solutions. Solutions like legal intervention from the EU and whatever government you are under. Poor working conditions are solved by forming unions. In Denmark we have strong unions, and while their…

Curious what is the cost of a big mac meal with fries and a coke?

Probably the same as anywhere. From [0]:

> Menu prices vary from each McDonald’s location, so it’s a little difficult to say exactly how much an American would pay for a Big Mac while visiting Denmark. Anecdotally speaking, we checked menu prices via meal-delivery services (UberEats for the United States and JustEat for Denmark) to see how much this popular burger costs in their respective countries. At a McDonald’s location in Copenhagen, for example, this burger cost 30.00 kr (about $4.73). At a McDonald’s location in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a Big Mac costs $4.82.

> This single example lines up with the Big Mac Index, an interactive tool from the Economist that compares Big Mac prices around the world. According to the Big Mac Index, “a Big Mac costs DKr30.00 in Denmark and US$5.66 in the United States.” When adjusted for GDP, the Economist found that “a Big Mac costs 13% less in Denmark (US$4.90) than in the United States (US$5.66) at market exchange rates.”

[0]: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/big-mac-cost-denmark/

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