Conference 7.286::digital

    From out here in the sticks we couldn't confirm it even if it happened
    to us, but I've heard this rumor from somebody at least every 2
    months for the last 3 years.  And every one of them always got the
    information from some "reliable" source!
    
    The current situation with plan B is a farce.  At this rate there
    is no way I (or most of the people I work with) can rationalize
    dumping a DECmobile for something worth driving despite the 
    "encouragement" of local management!  I looked at a mediocre family
    car and found the cost to be at least 2 TO 2.5 TIMES WHAT PLAN B
    PAYS!!!!!!

    Dave_who_just_got_a_celebrity_but_would_love_a_RX-7

    The "encouragement" of local management, at least in the Area I
    just moved from, is to totally do away with Plan A.  No one will
    have a company car without going through excruciating justifications
    directly to the Area manager, and if you don't travel 50,000 or
    so BUSINESS miles a year you might as well not even try.  I'd be
    surprised if there are 10 people in the Area who are allowed to
    have Plan A cars.
    
    So it boils down to Plan B vs. no plan at all, in which case Plan
    B begins to look a little better.  Or you can leave the Area like
    I did...  (^;
    
    	Pat_the_wimp_who_went_on_Plan_B_rather_than_fight_the_system

    This is the ONE rumor in history that has defied the Rule of Rumor
    that states:
    
    	Denial = Pending Confirmation
    
    Maybe the denial was not vehement enough to indicate pending confirmation.

    	-Barry_who_has_heard_rumor_Plan_B_goes_away_for_AMF's-
    

    Whats an AMF?
    
    I think previously hired employees that had plan A cars, will retain
    those until the employee elects to go to plan B.  And PLAN A is still
    way too cheap to give up a DECmobile for something else. 
    
    Are new employees that don't get Plan A cars getting additional
    salary to compensate for the additional expense incurred by the
    loss of this tool?

RE: .-1

	Barry is using Southern Area "jargon" coined some years ago by one of 
our more irreverant consultants.  It was was not intended as a compliment when 
coined, but most laugh about it now.  I will say that the "A" stands for 
"Area", and the rest I will leave to your imagination.

Re: Plan A Vs. Plan B

	We in the SOA feel that this migration to Plan B is a localized 
phenomenon, in fact localized to SWS ONLY. Is it?  Are other Area Managers 
going this direction with their unit and District personnel?  Cross-functional?
I think it is a given that ANY plan cars for Area staffers will be gone soon, 
due to edict from Country.  What we are talking about is District and below.  
The argument being offered from above in our geography is that the Plan A 
cars have become "perqs", not tools, and only those who do spend 90% of their 
time (NOTE: NOT RESIDENTS!) at customer sites 10 miles or more away from the
office deserve Plan A.  That essentially defines Field Service Techs, and 
DECstart specialists!

    ?>>< Note 347.2 by DPDMAI::RESENDEP "Topeka is in Texas" >

    Is this the Pat that used to be Unit Manager in Birmingham?
    If so, how do you like Texas?
    
    >> Or you can leave the Area like
    I did...  (^;                     
    
    Does this mean that Plan A is not going away in your new Area? I'd
    really like to know if this is just the Southern Area or corporate
    wide. Any info from people in other Areas?
    

    RE: .4
    
    > I think previously hired employees that had plan A cars, will retain
    > those until the employee elects to go to plan B.  And PLAN A is still
    > way too cheap to give up a DECmobile for something else. 
    
    Nope, not where I came from.  Plan A no longer exists even for
    old-timers, unless they spend 90% of their time in the car.  In fact,
    where I came from, new employees are not even allowed to go on Plan B.
    They drive their own cars and get paid $.21 a mile.  Period. 
    
    > Are new employees that don't get Plan A cars getting additional
    > salary to compensate for the additional expense incurred by the
    > loss of this tool?
    
    Not a nickel.  Existing employees who had to go out and buy a car
    aren't getting any compensation either.
    
    RE: .6
    
    Hi Howard!  Let us hear from you sometime!
    
    > Does this mean that Plan A is not going away in your new Area? I'd
    > really like to know if this is just the Southern Area or corporate
    > wide. Any info from people in other Areas?
    
    That's what it means.  Plan A is alive and well in Texas.  I don't know
    about other areas, but the demise of Plan A is NOT corporate wide. 
    
    							Pat
    

In Southwest Area, there's a very distinct push for people to use
Plan B. 

I moved here exactly a year ago and was told "it's our policy for all
people new to the area to go on Plan B."  I fought tooth and nail
and insisted I would NOT buy a car (mine is/was 5 yrs old) just to
go on Plan B. Eventually, they gave in and I have my DECmobile.

However, I am the exception (and how!). I am not aware of ANYONE in the
area who has come into the area and gotten a car since then. The only
new DECmobiles I see are for existing Plan A'ers.

Karl

    Southwest area ::southern area
    current am::previous dm
    
    Might there not be a  connection?   As in management philosophy?
    Since I know what office you moved FROM, Karl, I know you are familiar
    with both administrations.
    
    

	I was hired into DEC by the current SWA SWS manager, and he was a 
stickler on expense control 11 years ago as a USWM!

	Any CC manager can read his finance reports and see the difference in
Plan A and Plan B expenses. They can also read Fleet reports for company vs. 
personal mileage, also.  The escalating salary structure in SWS will mandate 
expense cutting in other places, and company cars are the most visible of 
those expenses.

    I am the District Software Secretary for the Los Angeles District
    (SWA - Southwest Area).
    
    I process all Plan A and Plan B applications.  As of (approximately)
    2 years ago until now, only those employees who are currently on Plan
    A may order another company car.  All employees hired since then
    may choose Plan B or no car plan at all.
    
    There are always rumors that Plan A cars will be taken away.  Even
    though Plan B is strongly encouraged, I have not seen any Plan A
    applications rejected as yet.
    
    Colleen

    Sounds like things vary from one district/area to another.  Florida
    district SWS Plan A cars are not being renewed.  Expiring Plan A
    people are expected to roll over to Plan B.
    
    So, Ms. Keogh, what's the word from Parker Street?
    
    tim
    

           I've heard rumors that DEC is paying $375.00/month for the
    plan D DECwagons....yet the can only pay the plan B guys $180.00
    + gas mileage of .08 cents. I don't know why or understand the
    reasoning behind the difference in pricing,if true... I wonder why
    fleet refuses to discuss the issue....I've been in the field for
    12+ years and seen most of the changes in fleet policies as a hardware
    type..I am currently on plan B and surviving with my ex-DECwreck...
    I'll have to go back to plan D(ecwagon) due to the fact I can't
    afford a new car on the "allowance" I am given..Figure it out:
    
    $180.00 X 48 months = $8640 - insurance = DEFICIT !!!!!
    
    where do you buy a car for $8640 -($1600) = $7040 ????
    
    The gas credit @ .08 cents will buy the tires + gas (no MAJOR
    breakdowns)
    
    WHAT GIVES????
    
    D. Scott  (^))
    

    
    Cost centers (thus DEC) pay a monthly rate per plan A and plan D
    car - I'm not sure of this years exact amount but $375 would be
    close based on what last year was. That covers maintenance service
    by either PH&H or Gelco, insurance, car 'depreciation' etc.
    
    Your calculation ignores whatever remaining value the vehicle has
    when you discard it. Your point is well made. To entice more people
    to plan B, the monthly payment would have to be raised. Someone
    in fleet beancounting probably has an elaborate algorith that calculate
    where the cross over point is and it probably has a factor for 'user
    pain' - but they don't know how much 'user pain' there is unless
    the users forward info on that through formal channels - and this
    isn't one!