Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

At this company, we are family

pboyd.io

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 343 posts

Re: At this company, we are family

#61

Post by unmole »

johneth wrote: post #43
FredPret wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As you so sarcastically point out, Americans give up many employment rights such as these. But it's not a one-way street. Being easier to fire makes American employees easier to hire, which is at least in part responsible for much higher pay in the USA compared to employee havens such as Europe. Furthermore, Americans tend to pay less tax. This isn't usually thought of as an employee rights issue, but in my mind, kee…

I think there's a middle ground between 'at-will employment capitalist hellscape' America and 'unable to be fired for months socialist hellscape' Europe.

What does labour regulation have to to do with socialism?

Re: At this company, we are family

#62

Post by SaintGhurka »

anon291 wrote: post #37
jylam wrote: post #16

I especially like the very American "I ask that you refrain from discussing your termination with any social contacts made through your membership in the family [...] Failure to comply may result in your severance being terminated early or withheld entirely." In (most of ?) Europe, this severance is law and not debatable (as discovered by Musk recently), so this sentence would be outright illegal. You can talk about…

> You should fight for some more rights, sometime What is the purpose of these 'rights'? As a software engineer in America, who's been laid off many times, I get (1) unemployment, (2) 100% free medical (few SW engineers apply, but most who are laid off would be eligible, if they cared),(3) a free vacation for however long as I want, (4) lots of savings because I make so much more than my European counterparts, and (5…

>> (2) 100% free medical (few SW engineers apply, but most who are laid off would be eligible, if they cared)

Could you explain this one? Do you mean via medicaid?

Re: At this company, we are family

#63

Post by ChoHag »

somenits wrote: post #26
jylam wrote: post #16

I especially like the very American "I ask that you refrain from discussing your termination with any social contacts made through your membership in the family [...] Failure to comply may result in your severance being terminated early or withheld entirely." In (most of ?) Europe, this severance is law and not debatable (as discovered by Musk recently), so this sentence would be outright illegal. You can talk about…

I could respond with something equally condescending and sarcastic like “You Europeans should try not legislating yourselves into laughably low salaries,” but that would be rude and counterproductive.

[dead]

Re: At this company, we are family

#64

Post by [deleted] »

oldandboring wrote: post #33
FredPret wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As you so sarcastically point out, Americans give up many employment rights such as these. But it's not a one-way street. Being easier to fire makes American employees easier to hire, which is at least in part responsible for much higher pay in the USA compared to employee havens such as Europe. Furthermore, Americans tend to pay less tax. This isn't usually thought of as an employee rights issue, but in my mind, kee…

This is a refreshing comment to read. HN and Reddit discussions about employment in the US is often just a dumpster fire of "America bad", half-baked theories and observations from the perspective of the employee, where US workers have no rights and would be rioting in the streets if we hadn't been brainwashed by corporate media. Here on earth, what you wrote is much closer to the truth. The American economy is awash…

[deleted]

Re: At this company, we are family

#65

Post by notaustinpowers »

Brusco_RF wrote: post #29
intothemild wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who's autistic, these kinds of companies are very difficult for me. Usually the "we're family" companies are also the "let's have a social event constantly", or return to the office days are also just filled with socializing. I get it.. some people really enjoy that, but that's not everyone. It feels like it's by design to exclude other kinds of people who don't enjoy a hyper social environment.

I don't think company-sponsored social events are designed to exclude non-social types, they're just for the benefit of social employees. Of course, this is coming from someone who really enjoys drinking on the company dime

Typically not, but they absolutely feed into the higher-ups perception of you. I worked at a company an hour away from my home. So anytime we had our monthly post-work happy hour, I'd politely decline and go home. Especially as I know they'll be out until 10pm.

During one of my reviews it was mentioned that it's disappointing I don't attend the happy hours as that's when the team is able to connect and strengthen our bonds with each other.

Wasn't surprised I was let go just a few weeks later after I declined the next happy hour.

Re: At this company, we are family

#66

Post by mschuster91 »

FredPret wrote: post #21
jylam wrote: post #16

I especially like the very American "I ask that you refrain from discussing your termination with any social contacts made through your membership in the family [...] Failure to comply may result in your severance being terminated early or withheld entirely." In (most of ?) Europe, this severance is law and not debatable (as discovered by Musk recently), so this sentence would be outright illegal. You can talk about…

As you so sarcastically point out, Americans give up many employment rights such as these. But it's not a one-way street. Being easier to fire makes American employees easier to hire, which is at least in part responsible for much higher pay in the USA compared to employee havens such as Europe. Furthermore, Americans tend to pay less tax. This isn't usually thought of as an employee rights issue, but in my mind, kee…

> Being easier to fire makes American employees easier to hire, which is at least in part responsible for much higher pay in the USA compared to employee havens such as Europe.

Only if you're a highly sought after tech person and thus have actual leverage. Farm workers, hospitality employees, construction workers - they're all exploited just the same.

Re: At this company, we are family

#67

Post by Paul-Craft »

johneth wrote: post #43
FredPret wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As you so sarcastically point out, Americans give up many employment rights such as these. But it's not a one-way street. Being easier to fire makes American employees easier to hire, which is at least in part responsible for much higher pay in the USA compared to employee havens such as Europe. Furthermore, Americans tend to pay less tax. This isn't usually thought of as an employee rights issue, but in my mind, kee…

I think there's a middle ground between 'at-will employment capitalist hellscape' America and 'unable to be fired for months socialist hellscape' Europe.

There are no socialist countries in Europe. Every country in Europe is capitalist.

Re: At this company, we are family

#68

Post by charliea0 »

playing_colours wrote: post #38
FredPret wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As you so sarcastically point out, Americans give up many employment rights such as these. But it's not a one-way street. Being easier to fire makes American employees easier to hire, which is at least in part responsible for much higher pay in the USA compared to employee havens such as Europe. Furthermore, Americans tend to pay less tax. This isn't usually thought of as an employee rights issue, but in my mind, kee…

In Germany we have probation period of 6 months that helps both sides to decide if they want to continue employment. Can you please explain the causation between easiness of firing / hiring and high salaries?

If you hire someone for 100k per year and it turns out they only contribute 50k per year, then you lose a minimum of 25k over those six months.

As a business you're more risk-averse in offering high salaries since it costs more when you make a mistake.

Re: At this company, we are family

#69

Post by johneth »

unmole wrote: post #61
johneth wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there's a middle ground between 'at-will employment capitalist hellscape' America and 'unable to be fired for months socialist hellscape' Europe.

What does labour regulation have to to do with socialism?

I'm being hyperbolic, using the American bastardisation of the word 'socialism'.

I'd put myself on the Europe-side of employment law/regulation ideals.

Re: At this company, we are family

#70

Post by hdivider »

systemvoltage wrote: post #36
me_jumper wrote: post #8

Gosh, I hate “we are a family” companies so much.

I disagree, my father ran a small business (physical goods) and the people in his company were almost like a family. They felt as such, we treated them as such, it was amazing...brings a tear. I cannot emphasize this enough: It was far better relationship than resentful people on HN who are constantly complaining about work. They were happier as a whole.

Yes, sadly HN does seem to have a high proportion of folks who don't seem to understand the value of human connection. Everything is about technology.

But not all mission statements are meaningless, and not all attempts by executives to create a family-like culture come from a bad place.

Much of it comes from a good place, and it often works. But people who experience this I think are less likely to write on HN.

Post reply on HN