... I've been in this boat, I'd suggest these things if you're serious about keeping the employees until the job is done:
1.) Give them a pay raise for their remaining time - This will help ensure they won't randomly bail for a higher paying job. 2.) Pay out all remaining sickdays, vacation days they have left at end of period at 1.5x normal rate. - This gives them a reason to *NOT* use their vacation/sickdays. 3.) Severance bonus equal to 3 months of pay. - This gives them a "good" ammount of time to look for another job without having to take something that will cut them off from working for you. 4.) Buy them on the job lunch, dinner on a set day reguarly. - It's a good moral booster for people so they know the company cares and is trying. 5.) Give them written recommendations for their next job that is *GLOWING*. - Once the job is done, write a custom, glowing review of them so it's easier for them to get their next job... if anyone calls, tell them how it was, that these guys were the best of the best and stuck it out till the dead last for the benefit of the company and customer and how much you appreciated their dedication. 6.) If possible offer them the ability to move to the new datacenter in a similar or upgraded compacity, with paid move and assistance finding a home/appartment.
Is this a cheap route? No. If you're serious though this is the *right* route. I've had pretty much exactly this shy the offer to move (it was a department closure, we were redundant after a buyout and they were already over staffed.) Everyone of us worked till last day, all of us moved on to better paying jobs, and the all of the things that were done made this possible. Everyone was sad about leaving, it was alot of fun the last few months, even though there was a melloncoly overtone.
... iTunes and I'm happy with it. I burn cd's and re-rip them as MP3s... or alternately there are several programs that let you directly rip the drm from the files. No biggy. Shrug. Note however that I'm not a audiophile... and there may be some loss i'm not aware of that makes some cringe at doing this. Buck a song and being able to skip the filler crap on most cd's makes iTunes great for me. I don't mind giving artists compensation (including times i've mailed them money directly)
DRM is pathetic, most of the time I can find the MP3 online long before the CD hits the shelves. All drm does is hurt the people legitimately buying it.
... it just ensures that the first time I get a game like this and the system fails that I sue Sony. Alternately, it may ensure that *everyone* starts burning copies of their games.
Copy protection as it currently exists hurts no one but legitimate purchasers of the material. It costs the pirates maybe a few hours of time or in worst case a day.
So long as the hardware isn't secured, the data that is being read in it can't be secured.
Alot of this new BS with sony and drm/copy protection/etc is seriously making me consider NOT buying a PS3. I don't want to support this kind of stupidity.
Be the first significant console I didn't own since the Nintendo days.
... COV, and it's a good game but it really could have pushed COH from being a "good" game to a "Great" game had it been done at release instead of years afterwards.
... "But does this "stack" argument actually make any sense?"
Because however unlikely it is to occur at any point microsoft could outlaw open source being generated with its tools. Unlikely Yes, remotely possible? Yes. Their toy, they can play with it how they like.
grep - Simple, Powerful, Elegant sed - Powerful and versitile awk - For what sed doesn't do easily perl - For what awk doesn't do easily vim - In the end there can be only one... it's vim. cut - is your friend make - automation is good and make makes it easy lynx - great for testing web stuff slrn - news, it keeps you sane after being locked in the closet for a month mtr - just flatout helpful
We do alot of heavy duty database servers and the windows servers have a tendancy to start locking up anytime you patch something to close a security hole. The linux servers have no daemons running except for the database and ssh, there are times we go 6-12 months without needing a hotfix or patch. Even when they need patched it doesnt require a reboot, it doesn't take the machine down, and it doesn't change the day to day operation of the machine with new errors and new crashes. We use linux because it works.
End of story (I'm sure BSD would work as well, but our familiarity with a company is much stronger on the linux side of things.)
Java, now I'm no language bigot, but Java is slower than C (but more portable without changes in code). It's a replacement for the most bloated piece of windows software and has most of the same features.
I use OO presently, it's not a speed demon thats for sure. However, A) It's free, B) Keeps me from having to run a windows emulator for word docs and scuh. So it's a win win. The equation would be... 500$ vs lackluster speed, good compatability, and 90% features of office.
.. was "Corona Sunburst" in eq1. "Because it was the name of a beer." nevermind the fact that obvious by combination of first name / last name he wasn't refering to the beer... or that the word corona isn't quite like coors or budweiser in that its a real word not just a brand... they forced a name change on him. He quit. MMO companies really don't care about small numbers of people they only care when slews of people quit over something. One account is a drop in the bucket.
Xcom wasn't totally new, it's tabletop miniture esque, but the researching, the game play in general beat the hell out of any tabletop i've played. I'm very familiar with it, i've been doing warhammer and 40k almost as long as I've been playing D&D (mid 80s.)
It was still a quite innovative game, I never played elite or even heard of it. Shrug.
Strange, if microsoft feels that way why don't they release controllers or cameras for the playstation2? Oh that's because they wouldn't want to risk the industry standardizing on anything but their product. Could that be the same reason apple and sony aren't jumping at the opportunity jump on the 360 bandwagon... maybe.
... there's some shocks. Not really. I'd just be happy if any of them could put out an inovative product instead of just copying what was done last year... again... and again.
What ever happened to games like xcom, moo, spellcraft, privateer, etc? I'd kill for a game that had a fraction of that inovation today... instead of just another year of madden or yet another need for speed.
Is probally the most valuable programming language to learn. It may not always be the most commercially viable but it definetly provides the most insight into programming really. If you're going to learn a language don't learn some gui version of it first. Learn the low level stuff and build up to gui interfaces.
1) Fair pay and good raises. 2) Certification / Education re-imbursement/paid by company. 3) Bonuses based on company's profits (Quarterly or Half). 4) Work from home for jobs where it's appropriate as long as they are meeting goals. 5) Listen to them 6) A small gym and recreation area is nice... computer work is mental, sometimes helps to be physical to work off stress. 7) Free Food Friday (God, I miss this!) (Different restraunt each week...) 8) Tie any holidays possible to "long weekends" or "multiple days off" so employees can get good R&R and enjoy home life. 9) No NDA. NDAs just pisses people off and is largely unenforceable against MOST employees. 10) Good Severance Package. 11) Good Medical/Dental/Vision. 12) Talk to individual employees. Find out what is important to them.
Those are all things I've seen done to good effect that improve moral and make the employees more likely to stay.
Basically in our society today, techs are finding out the hard way that most companies don't value you, they don't care one bit... no matter what you put into your work they're gonna screw you first chance. If the company tries to show it DOES care and provides for the employees you would be surprised how far the employees will go for you. I got layoff notice at one company I worked for 3 months in advance of the layoff, I got 2 months worth of pay as severance, and I busted my ass the last 3 months I was there for them because they weren't just trying to do me from behind at the last minute trying to milk all they could. They gave me a fair shake so I gave them the same in return... even though I knew I wouldn't be there in a couple months.
Treat your employees as a valued asset and they'll do your company right. Sure you'll get some duds, but for the most part the good ones will return any ammount you invest into them in effort many times over if they feel the company is doing its best for them.
But hey what do I know, I've just been through 3 buyouts, 2 department closures, 3 company closings... since 1997. You do your best for the ones who do their best for you, you do the minimum possible and jump ship asap on the ones who treat you like a disposable commodity.
... isn't of social security age but she's started gaming, she's on a pretty limited income and isn't capable of high degrees of physical activity... gaming is her perfect outlet really. She started small, bejeweled, tetris, pacman, solitare... and she's been moving up since. She gets alot of enjoyment out of it... I don't think it's all that odd really. I'd like to see her get into fps's but thus far she hasn't.
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You know I'd be fine with stiff penalties for copyright infringement, *IF* they were 100% disallowed from using any kind of DRM schemes.
... I've been in this boat, I'd suggest these things if you're serious about keeping the employees until the job is done:
1.) Give them a pay raise for their remaining time - This will help ensure they won't randomly bail for a higher paying job.
2.) Pay out all remaining sickdays, vacation days they have left at end of period at 1.5x normal rate. - This gives them a reason to *NOT* use their vacation/sickdays.
3.) Severance bonus equal to 3 months of pay. - This gives them a "good" ammount of time to look for another job without having to take something that will cut them off from working for you.
4.) Buy them on the job lunch, dinner on a set day reguarly. - It's a good moral booster for people so they know the company cares and is trying.
5.) Give them written recommendations for their next job that is *GLOWING*. - Once the job is done, write a custom, glowing review of them so it's easier for them to get their next job... if anyone calls, tell them how it was, that these guys were the best of the best and stuck it out till the dead last for the benefit of the company and customer and how much you appreciated their dedication.
6.) If possible offer them the ability to move to the new datacenter in a similar or upgraded compacity, with paid move and assistance finding a home/appartment.
Is this a cheap route? No. If you're serious though this is the *right* route. I've had pretty much exactly this shy the offer to move (it was a department closure, we were redundant after a buyout and they were already over staffed.) Everyone of us worked till last day, all of us moved on to better paying jobs, and the all of the things that were done made this possible. Everyone was sad about leaving, it was alot of fun the last few months, even though there was a melloncoly overtone.
... iTunes and I'm happy with it. I burn cd's and re-rip them as MP3s... or alternately there are several programs that let you directly rip the drm from the files. No biggy. Shrug. Note however that I'm not a audiophile... and there may be some loss i'm not aware of that makes some cringe at doing this. Buck a song and being able to skip the filler crap on most cd's makes iTunes great for me. I don't mind giving artists compensation (including times i've mailed them money directly)
DRM is pathetic, most of the time I can find the MP3 online long before the CD hits the shelves. All drm does is hurt the people legitimately buying it.
... it just ensures that the first time I get a game like this and the system fails that I sue Sony. Alternately, it may ensure that *everyone* starts burning copies of their games.
Copy protection as it currently exists hurts no one but legitimate purchasers of the material. It costs the pirates maybe a few hours of time or in worst case a day.
So long as the hardware isn't secured, the data that is being read in it can't be secured.
Alot of this new BS with sony and drm/copy protection/etc is seriously making me consider NOT buying a PS3. I don't want to support this kind of stupidity.
Be the first significant console I didn't own since the Nintendo days.
... COV, and it's a good game but it really could have pushed COH from being a "good" game to a "Great" game had it been done at release instead of years afterwards.
No thanks, this is just a great way to promote closed source inside the linux kernel and to make debugging problems totally impossible.
... I'm not paying more than I'd pay for a rental.
... "But does this "stack" argument actually make any sense?"
Because however unlikely it is to occur at any point microsoft could outlaw open source being generated with its tools. Unlikely Yes, remotely possible? Yes. Their toy, they can play with it how they like.
... (as a sysadmin)
grep - Simple, Powerful, Elegant
sed - Powerful and versitile
awk - For what sed doesn't do easily
perl - For what awk doesn't do easily
vim - In the end there can be only one... it's vim.
cut - is your friend
make - automation is good and make makes it easy
lynx - great for testing web stuff
slrn - news, it keeps you sane after being locked in the closet for a month
mtr - just flatout helpful
... on the good side:
1) Professional
2) Artsy
3) Modern
on the downside:
1) Bland
2) Soulless
3) Lacks Flavor
4) Lacks Style
It also would be the best thing microsoft ever did for linux and apple.
Because it works flawlessly once installed.
We do alot of heavy duty database servers and the windows servers have a tendancy to start locking up anytime you patch something to close a security hole. The linux servers have no daemons running except for the database and ssh, there are times we go 6-12 months without needing a hotfix or patch. Even when they need patched it doesnt require a reboot, it doesn't take the machine down, and it doesn't change the day to day operation of the machine with new errors and new crashes. We use linux because it works.
End of story (I'm sure BSD would work as well, but our familiarity with a company is much stronger on the linux side of things.)
... open office being slow:
... 500$ vs lackluster speed, good compatability, and 90% features of office.
Java, now I'm no language bigot, but Java is slower than C (but more portable without changes in code).
It's a replacement for the most bloated piece of windows software and has most of the same features.
I use OO presently, it's not a speed demon thats for sure. However, A) It's free, B) Keeps me from having to run a windows emulator for word docs and scuh. So it's a win win. The equation would be
... is this a GTG (grey-to-grey) latency measurement or a true latency measurement from black and white?
Nothing like a 8ms lcd performing a true b/w switch turning up to be 20ms.
.. was "Corona Sunburst" in eq1. "Because it was the name of a beer." nevermind the fact that obvious by combination of first name / last name he wasn't refering to the beer... or that the word corona isn't quite like coors or budweiser in that its a real word not just a brand... they forced a name change on him. He quit. MMO companies really don't care about small numbers of people they only care when slews of people quit over something. One account is a drop in the bucket.
Xcom wasn't totally new, it's tabletop miniture esque, but the researching, the game play in general beat the hell out of any tabletop i've played. I'm very familiar with it, i've been doing warhammer and 40k almost as long as I've been playing D&D (mid 80s.)
It was still a quite innovative game, I never played elite or even heard of it. Shrug.
I don't own a DS.
Xbox, PS2, GC, and PC.
Strange, if microsoft feels that way why don't they release controllers or cameras for the playstation2? Oh that's because they wouldn't want to risk the industry standardizing on anything but their product. Could that be the same reason apple and sony aren't jumping at the opportunity jump on the 360 bandwagon... maybe.
... there's some shocks. Not really. I'd just be happy if any of them could put out an inovative product instead of just copying what was done last year... again... and again.
What ever happened to games like xcom, moo, spellcraft, privateer, etc? I'd kill for a game that had a fraction of that inovation today... instead of just another year of madden or yet another need for speed.
Is probally the most valuable programming language to learn. It may not always be the most commercially viable but it definetly provides the most insight into programming really. If you're going to learn a language don't learn some gui version of it first. Learn the low level stuff and build up to gui interfaces.
... lots of things are helpful. Here's 12...
1) Fair pay and good raises.
2) Certification / Education re-imbursement/paid by company.
3) Bonuses based on company's profits (Quarterly or Half).
4) Work from home for jobs where it's appropriate as long as they are meeting goals.
5) Listen to them
6) A small gym and recreation area is nice... computer work is mental, sometimes helps to be physical to work off stress.
7) Free Food Friday (God, I miss this!) (Different restraunt each week...)
8) Tie any holidays possible to "long weekends" or "multiple days off" so employees can get good R&R and enjoy home life.
9) No NDA. NDAs just pisses people off and is largely unenforceable against MOST employees.
10) Good Severance Package.
11) Good Medical/Dental/Vision.
12) Talk to individual employees. Find out what is important to them.
Those are all things I've seen done to good effect that improve moral and make the employees more likely to stay.
Basically in our society today, techs are finding out the hard way that most companies don't value you, they don't care one bit... no matter what you put into your work they're gonna screw you first chance. If the company tries to show it DOES care and provides for the employees you would be surprised how far the employees will go for you. I got layoff notice at one company I worked for 3 months in advance of the layoff, I got 2 months worth of pay as severance, and I busted my ass the last 3 months I was there for them because they weren't just trying to do me from behind at the last minute trying to milk all they could. They gave me a fair shake so I gave them the same in return... even though I knew I wouldn't be there in a couple months.
Treat your employees as a valued asset and they'll do your company right. Sure you'll get some duds, but for the most part the good ones will return any ammount you invest into them in effort many times over if they feel the company is doing its best for them.
But hey what do I know, I've just been through 3 buyouts, 2 department closures, 3 company closings... since 1997. You do your best for the ones who do their best for you, you do the minimum possible and jump ship asap on the ones who treat you like a disposable commodity.
... isn't of social security age but she's started gaming, she's on a pretty limited income and isn't capable of high degrees of physical activity... gaming is her perfect outlet really. She started small, bejeweled, tetris, pacman, solitare... and she's been moving up since. She gets alot of enjoyment out of it... I don't think it's all that odd really. I'd like to see her get into fps's but thus far she hasn't.
... Good movie, I'm sorry to hear everything is gone. :(
:/
I guess that's murphy
... wireless charging device, it's so snazzy looking with my iPod... the cancer is just a minor byproduct.
*rofl*
Wonder what kinda phsyical ramifications this will have on people? Did they ever prove that living near high-tension power lines causes cancer?
... sane, as COV may be a different game, but in reality it's a significant expansion to COH. They interact.
If your kids can't distinguish between the reality and a book like enders game I would say you've massively failed as a parent.