Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook • Hacker News Board

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#61

Post by Evbn » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 3:27 AM UTC

MattRogish wrote: post #20

hodder wrote: post #19

I am just curious... Do these "take as much vacation as you want" policies work out well in practice? Or do the policies unintentionally create a competition to vacation less? Can anyone who works at a company with one of these policies share their perspective? How much is the approximate median vacation time taken?

Our unlimited vacation time comes with a (not enforced, but strongly recommended) mandatory minimum per quarter. Thus, we don't have everyone taking four weeks off in December, but I help remind the developers to take time to recharge. So far, just me going "you haven't taken a vacation in a while" is enough of a nudge to remind people to go.

What is the difference between minimum and maximum? What is the required number of pieces of flair?

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#62

Post by Evbn » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 3:31 AM UTC

evolve2k wrote: post #24

I would love to know the process/steps they went through to come up with this document to it's current state.

1. Make it up as we go.

2. Expect to be bankrupt before any serious disputes appear.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#63

Post by 98c » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 4:05 AM UTC

Great job guys! I think it's awesome. As for all the haters and critics: I'll give their opinions more weight after I see their work.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#64

Post by notJim » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 4:38 AM UTC

noodle wrote: post #29

hodder wrote: post #19

I am just curious... Do these "take as much vacation as you want" policies work out well in practice? Or do the policies unintentionally create a competition to vacation less? Can anyone who works at a company with one of these policies share their perspective? How much is the approximate median vacation time taken?

I've been under two unlimited policies and have taken reasonable time off in both. I take off exactly how much I want to take off, and its not really a concern that I'm under/over-utilizing my time off. I don't ask for anything unreasonable and in exchange I've had no problems taking as much time off as I want.

What do you consider reasonable, though? In the US, many consider 10 work days reasonable, but elsewhere, anything less than 6 weeks is barbaric.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#65

Post by jacalata » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 4:58 AM UTC

debacle wrote: post #3

> Disagreements that have not been addressed IRL will be promptly dismissed as misunderstandings until an actual conversation has taken place. That's an impressively mature stance on employee conflict. > Or maybe better, an extension of your parent's house. That's a very simple and reasonable explanation for workplace use. It sounds like you treat your employees like adults. I find that commendable in the current bus…

Really? What does 'IRL' mean? Because I find a slight friction between the statements 'you can work from anywhere, whatever hours you like' and 'disagreements are not considered real unless you've been in the same room'. Oh so I can work from home but you'll ignore anything I say if you don't like it, because I wasn't in the room with you. Got it. Sure you'll pay for my plane tickets, I don't want a plane ticket, I want to work from home and have you listen to me.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#66

Post by johnx123-up » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 5:00 AM UTC

aviflombaum wrote: post #2

Really beautiful site.

Didn't anyone check the weird scss compiler comments yet? http://handbook.zaarly.com/stylesheets/style.css

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#67

Post by general_failure » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 5:27 AM UTC

olliesaunders wrote: post #42

What does this company do?

Whatever it is that they do, they love it. The handbook is saying so.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#68

Post by rvijapurapu » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 5:27 AM UTC

Love the cool handbook. I would love to know what the hiring process is like. How does Zaarly protect itself from employees who'll leach company & team of valuable resources.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#69

Post by SkyMarshal » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 5:43 AM UTC

jpdoctor wrote: post #50

ktsmith wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could also see this handbook being used against them in the case of harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination suits.

> this handbook being used against them in the case of harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination suits. Exactly. And since courts tend to favor employees, Zaarly's corporate neck is very exposed. Here's one example: > Whatever it is, it’s cool. > Also, it is a place where the guys frequently use the women’s bathroom. All any woman has to do for a harassment lawsuit is point to that phrase in a courtroom. "Th…

>All any woman has to do for a harassment lawsuit is point to that phrase in a courtroom. "They will happily invade the place where women are exposed! and it's corporate policy!"

It's almost as if they didn't learn jack shit from the whole brogrammer brouhaha a while back.

Re: Rules for Work: The Zaarly Employee Handbook

#70

Post by SkyMarshal » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 5:47 AM UTC

ktsmith wrote: post #51

jpdoctor wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> this handbook being used against them in the case of harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination suits. Exactly. And since courts tend to favor employees, Zaarly's corporate neck is very exposed. Here's one example: > Whatever it is, it’s cool. > Also, it is a place where the guys frequently use the women’s bathroom. All any woman has to do for a harassment lawsuit is point to that phrase in a courtroom. "Th…

Unfortunately Lawyers get paid quite a bit to make exactly those types of small things look very bad for their opponents. Another one that stands out to me is in the clothing section. > We will never implement any sort of expectations around what you wear, but we maintain all rights to mock your future mother-in-law’s choice of clothes if you choose to wear them to the office. A decent lawyer will turn that into the…

I can't tell wtf that even means, but I'm pretty sure it's a prime example of the less said, the better.