Boss Bitch

Boss says seven day weeks until late August. FML.

Is that 7 days a week or, considering that a 'work day' is 8 hours, 21 days a week?

Seven days a week. I'm going to try for 8 hours per day, though in the past it's always turned out to be 10-12 hours a day, at least Monday-Friday. It's easier to get away with 8 hour days on the weekends.

Rebel by reducing your productivity accordingly...

WAY ahead of you on that one.

Could you try leaving copies of "The Mythical Man-Month" in prominent locations around your offices?

I don't think that they'd be the way that they are if they were literate.

Hearing rumors of more layoffs here in the next three months. Fun ahead.

In the meantime, still adding features to a game that is supposed to LEAVE QA testing in a few days. And cutting out features that were "must have," two months ago.

Engineer: "If we add this, the game will run slower."

Producer: "That's okay, we NEED this!"

[TWO MONTHS LATER]

Producer: "Hey, I've just noticed that this game I've played every day for the last two months is TOO SLOW! Take out that feature!"

Engineer: "But that will break the other things that you had us add last week! Besides, the game is almost through QA!"

Producer: "No matter, we NEED this!"

Perhaps you should (anonymously) add 'Solve Halting Problem' to the list of MUST HAVE features ;-)

Note to project managers:

When you remove a section of a program, the features and services that were provided by that section are no longer available. Even if those features are required by a regulatory agency. Not matter how loudly you yell at the engineers that removed the section at your direction.

we were told today to run with scissors more often, too. I have (even before reading your message) already asked about the regulation part.

Quote
John Willoughby
Note to project managers:

When you remove a section of a program, the features and services that were provided by that section are no longer available. Even if those features are required by a regulatory agency. Not matter how loudly you yell at the engineers that removed the section at your direction.

Ugh. You had to know it was going to happen at some point...

Layoffs here again. At least three engineers around my area. I only know one of them; a good guy, good worker. Morale could not be lower. This happens just when many teams (not mine, this time) are working nights and weekends to get ready for the big annual show in Vegas.

This place has the stink of death.

Sorry to hear that John, any other options available for you?

I wish you the best; whether that be staying or finding a better opportunity.

My director came by my cube and asked me how I was. I said that I felt like somebody on the deck of the Titanic trying to decide to swim for a lifeboat or trust that the ship could make it through. I don't think it's what he wanted to hear, but its the truth.

There are no real options in Reno, especially since this is the third or fourth wave of diaspora from my company. It's the only reason the company can treat its employees as it does.

How'd he react?
Hang in there, dude. Your scaly, lizard heart will go on.

He's actually a good guy. He looked like he was bummed out to have to be the public face of the decision. He was going to chat with me, but some important people came by to see him and he told me we'd catch up later. I doubt he had anything personally relevant to me to relate, just trying to be a good manager and spend some face time with a subordinate.

He might have heard me earlier, when I said "There goes our canary" to a cow-orker. It was kind of an inside joke, in that I had identified one of the other people in our department as the "canary" in our corporate mines. None of us could lose our jobs until the canary went, because he/she was the least efficient employee in the "mine." Well, the canary is gone now, and we are all at risk.

Not to make a comment on YOUR particular situation, but I find myself at work sometimes wondering or imagining that there existed people who had to 'keep up morale' on those ships you see with big oars sticking out rowing and slaves chained to the benches. "I tried to get you guys another hour of top-deck, sun time. But you know we're really rushing to raid that new island we found. Now, if we can pick up the pace about 10% over the next 100 miles, I'm thinking I'll have a good case to go back to the boss".

That's brilliant Bill.

Someone should do tat up as a cartoon.