Conference 7.286::digital

    Read my 1565.0 "High Achievement and Criticism".  Good luck.

    
    If being vocal gets you fired, then my Butt must be on the chopping
    block by now. I constantly get in verbal discussions with my manager
    about the way things are being handled.
    
    I have a funny attitude about this whole thing. I hired in Oct 14, 1978
    as a Field Engineer, and have since migrated a bit. I have been vocal
    most of my career and especially the last 5 years. I feel that it is my
    job to question everything so that the management keeps a feel on the
    real world. If I have to "Brown Nose" or "Shut Up" to keep my job, then
    its not worth staying. If I want my creativity stifled I'll go work for
    the government. Hey, I haven't been in the job market for 13 years, and
    am not eager to start over, but if it happens I'll have to deal with
    it.
    
    The entire problem with TFSO (Thanks For Shoving Off) is that we are
    losing more Good People than Bad. People that CAN get another job in
    the marketplace are taking the money and running. The lousy performers
    and creativity blockers and empire builders are staying, because the
    industry doesn't want them and they could only get employment in Car
    Washes and Mini-Marts. My wife was a volunteer for the second round of
    TFSO and had a written offer from her present employer when she left
    DEC.

Gene,

You are lucky in that your family supports your decision to "Do What's Right".
Many more people are "Going Along" because they can't afford to be out of work
at this or anytime.  I was young and single in 1974 when I volunteered to be
laid off instead of some of the others in the company I worked for.  Guess what,
it took one full year to find another job.  How many folks can stand that?

I do see this downturn as being like 1974.  The difference is that many 
companies are not just cutting the workers but also managers.  So what you have
are lots of folks looking for jobs and few companies hiring unless there is a
perfect skills match.

It is not that I disagree with your points.  It is that most people either
will not or can not allow themselves to make a career limiting/terminating
mistake.  Sad fact of life.

Lee G.

	If being vocal means you're a target, then I'm about to
	get riddled with machine-gun fire 8^) .

	I sent mail to a prominent VP recently, pointing up
	organization flaws that lead to more and more obstacles
	being thrown up to my organization's getting customer
	problems solved.

	There's been no reply, so far, but maybe they just ran out
	of pink paper.


	Steve H

    I am indeed fortunate that my family supports strating all over if
    necessary. I built my first network for the US Government in 1972 and
    may build my last for DEC in 1992. 20 years of anything is a long time.
    
    My family supports starting all over. And guess how? Going back to
    school to learn what I REALLY like doing. Landscape design.
    
    Sign me --- Thinking hard about it.
    
    Gene.

    I too have been very vocal and have found nothing but support from my
    local management.  Some criticism or argument with my ideas or style,
    sure, but that's why one starts the discussion in the first place.  I
    also know that others feel the heat.  What we have to keep in
    perspective is that Digital is a big, widespread, decentralized
    company.  There is no standard way of dealing with anything.  So some
    people get support and some get shot.
    
    And we can't reasonably expect anything else.
    
    Dick

    re .5
    
    Hey my wife has a friend, quit the corporate world and now has a very
    successful landscape design business here in Calif.
    
    Good luck
    
     Dave