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Orange Badge Culture At Microsoft

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ones-we-never-hear-about dept.

coolball writes "For those of us that have worked as a contractor (a-dash or orange badge or whatever), Seattle PI's 'Microsoft's 'orange badge' culture gets forum' article caught my eye this morning. He talks about OrangeBadges.com and Contractor's International Network, two forums that have sprung up as a meeting place (cyber & meat) for current/past/future contractors of the empire. If you have been a Microsoftee, then you would laugh out loud in recognition some of the tales he relates."

3 of 264 comments (clear)

  1. instant discrimination (however subtle) by digitaldc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "It might be psychological, but it does make a difference," he said. "You walk into a meeting and everybody knows immediately that you're orange. It changes things a little bit -- however slightly, but it does."

    People recognizing your orange badge instantly makes you an 'outsider' or 'not really and employee' at Microsoft. It is in people's nature to want to belong to a group, and once they see that you are not part of their group, you are not deemed as trustworthy or good enough to be part of their select group.
    If I ran Microsoft, I would make a lot of changes but first I would not make badges with an opposing colour scheme. Everyone should have the same badge, eliminating the psychological effect of being an 'outsider' or 'not really part of the same team.' One less thing to worry about and one less possibility for employees to become divisive and uncooperative.

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
    1. Re:instant discrimination (however subtle) by Telepathetic+Man · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It may be an internal security concern. Non-permanent employees at my high security office carry different badges as an easy indicator of whether a person is in a location where they do or do not have clearance. I'm not sure if this is the case with Microsoft, but it seems to make sense.

      --
      Just because you can, does not mean you should.
  2. Re:Attempt to unionize an inevitability? by garcia · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If he's building a site that encourages community, couldn't any other member in the community just as easily make a big push to unionize as he could?

    What's the point? They are Microsoft contractors and temporaries usually hired by outside firms. These workers would need to unionize within their own temp agencies and then bargain for better treatment/wages/benefits with them.

    I don't see the benefits of independent contractors unionizing as it would defeat the entire purpose of being an independent.