Conference 7.286::digital

    Just out of curiosity, did it have any paper work with it to say
    if it took an AA, or AAA or...............
    
    Probably be easier just go down to the local drug store and get
    one.
    
    Lou

    re: .0--Congratulations on your anniversary!  I didn't realize
    you'd been here that long.
      John Sauter (only 11)

    No instructions.  Just a box with a clock and a battery..

 Twenty years for me too, Ed.  Now I can look forward to a clock when
my anniversary comes up in October.  Maybe the batteries will be
straightened out by then, thanks to you.  I started on the 5th floor
of building 5, just after DEC moved into it.  I remember there was a
problem with trucks backing up to the Thompson Street loading dock. 
It was on the 4th floor and the whole building would shake when the
truck hit the dock.  We had to orient the PDP-10 disks perpendicular
to the dock so the heads wouldn't crash! 
  Those were the good old days.  When I reported for work, they gave 
me a sheet of paper with everyone's phone number on it.  I bought a 
pair of gum rubber soled shoes down at Obergs and within 6 months the 
soles fell apart from sponging up the sheep dip that oozed out of the 
floor.  Once a month, I had to go down to KO's office to give him a
status report on my disk controller design.  Dennison was still 
printing gift wrapping paper in the basement and the Assabet River
would change color several times a day.
  When I started in '67, the Red Sox had just won the pennant, and 
then went on to lose the World Series.  I guess things haven't changed 
that much after all!

          =dave=

    This probably should be a different topic, but what the heck....
    
    I,too, started in '67. Had an office in building 6a (I think that
    was the number), and looked out over the "Mighty Assabet". There
    was a small Auto Body shop on the corner where the Phone Co. is,
    and they had a T.V. playing the World Series. The guy in the shop
    saw me looking out the window to try and catch a glimpse, and turned
    the T.V. so that I could see it. They also broadcast the radio
    play-by-play over the P.A. system.
    
    The paging system was really wild. You could call the operator,
    and she would page anyone you wanted to call you. Some person alway
    wanted "Wally Walnetto of the Burbank office " to call. (You have
    to be old enough to remember "Laugh-In" to get it....
    
    The security guards also used to direct parking in what is now the
    upper Mill lot. (there WAS no Lower lot- it was water)
    
    Any other reminiscing?

    
    Not quite 20 years, only 18. Started with the 10's on 5-5.
    (otherwise known as the ZOO)
    
    Anybody want to hazard a guess how much inventory is in the bottom
    of the Assabet.
    
    
    I remember a time when they used to use power supplies to see if
    the ice was completely frozen.
    
    
    

    Yeah --
    
    I've been here 19 years, and _are_ there memories!
    
    I was in 5-2 when they were installing the air conditioning ducts.
    It's wonderful trying to conduct a long-distance call when people
    are hammering, pounding, and drilling sheet-metal ductwork.
    
    Remember when the Assabet crested and the Silk Screening areas had
    to be evacuated?
    
    Re .5:
    
    I think you might have been in 6b.  It's closer to the auto-body
    shop.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr

    re .0
    
    I just got my 10 year vase.  No place to stick a battery.
    
    Larry ;-)
    

    Re .8:
    
    What a straight line! :-)
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    who will ever forget Tom Stockebrand with his tree house in Bldg
    5.
    

    re .7:
    Somewhere I have some slides I took of the Assabet overflowing.
    I think I remember seeing KO helping fill the sandbags but don't
    quote me on that.

        Back to the original question in .0 if I may...
        
        If the battery is just over an inch long, it sounds like an "N"
        cell. Find your nearest field service type person, and ask him for
        a spare pager battery. Most of them use this size cell. They can
        also be found in most stores selling batteries, particularly
        camera and electronics type places. 
        
        Congrat's on your 20. I've still got 13 to go. 

  I think DEC is being "taken" by the people who make the clocks for
20th anniv. gifts. Anything like this should have directions en-
closed. It's bad enough to have to buy your own battery, but worse
to have to figure out what size to buy. As a stop-gap, the people
who give out these clocks could get a supply of the right size
batteries and give them out with the clocks.
  This is the first I heard of a flood on the Assabet so bad that
they had to use sandbags. What year was this? There was a flood
in the winter of 1979(?) but I think the one these people are
talking about was much earlier.

    Congratulations, Ed!
    
    Eight years done, twelve to go...
    
        
    tim
    

    
    
    
    I still have the Cross pen I got on my 5th aniversary and occassionally
    wear the belt buckle from my 10th. I have no idea yet what to expect
    for 15. 
    
    One of the interesting memories is of the tunnels between building
    in the area of the board shop before the remodelling. Moss on pipes
    and walls, puddles of water on the floor creaks, groans, and drips in
    the pipes. If the lights were not all working it was a perfect set
    for a Boris Carloff movie.
    

    re .13:
    I think it was the spring of '68.

    The Cross pen/pencil set I got for the 5th was much better than
    the Parker set (emblem fell off) that I got for my 10th.  Glad to
    see we went back to Cross.
    
    3 more until the 15th!
    
    congrats on 20!
    
    	-Barry-
    

    I just got my 5 year vase (I love pewter). The one thing my wife
    did ask was why there were no 30 year gifts in the booklet. I 
    explained that DEC was not old enough. She replied that she knew
    that but they should give us something to shoot for.
    
    So what can I look forward to in 25 more years. :-)
    
    		Alfred

    Your FIVE YEAR vase???  I'm coming up on seven years in a few months.
    My 5 year anniversary came & went without any kind of hoopla, not
    even a lunch from my boss.  I wasn't even aware of a 5 yr gift for
    employees.  Who would I contact about that, or is it too late now?
    
    Jon

    try contacting your PSA in personnel. The 5 year thing is usually
    handled by your own group.
    
    Lou

    RE: .10  Would you happen to have photos of this treehouse? I'd
    love to surprise Tom with one.
    
    ACOMA::JBADER                       -sunny-

    re .21  Sorry, no photos that I'm aware of.
    
    Ken

    	No sweat...P1 it thru field service!
    
    Keith
    
    

    Battery report:  Someone from corporate picked up on this note and
    called me.  I told them I had received no documentation and that
    I never received the batteries.  Last week the company sent via
    Federal Express Priority One two N batteries to corporate who in turn
    mailed them to me.  Thanks to Ronnie L. in corporate.  I would have
    been just as happy if they had mailed me a dollar or so which would
    have cost them 22cents postage...

    Re .24:
    
    Nice to see someone cares, though.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

  For my fifteen anniversary gift, I chose the bracelet that has a diamond 
with the clock tower.  Much to my surprise, I noticed yesterday that the
clock tower was missing.  Does anyone know where I can get this replaced?

  Thanks.

	Marian

    re .26
    
    Funny you should mention that... For my fifth anniversary gift I
    chose the money clip that has a little clock tower on it. I noticed
    a few days ago that the clock tower was missing. I'd be interested
    in knowing if I can get mine replaced too.

    re -1,-2
    
    I won't guarantee anything, but I'll try and find the address
    of the company that supplies the gifts to DEC. My sense is that
    they would have to be the ones to do the replacement, as who
    else would have the logos? If someone else has the address handy,
    feel free to pre-empt me.
    
    Bob Mc

    
    re: .26 .27
    
    Funny you should mention it.  I was driving past the Mill the other
    day and noticed that the clock tower was missing.  Does anyone know
    where I can get this replaced?  ;-}}
    
    "jackin' the house", Bob
    

        I would go to the people that organized your anniversary, and
        express concern to them that the tokens of Digital's recognition
        for your many years of service are obviously little more than
        tokens. I think you will find that they will be replaced pronto,
        and the quality looked into...
        
        q
        

    I just got the booklet for my five-year anniversary.  Have any of
    you veterans gotten the travel clock? Does it have an emblem?
    
    The keyring is too nice to use. I lose pens. I don't need a vase.
    I don't like sticking tie tacs in my ties. I don't wear bracelets.
    I've got calculators up the...well, never mind.
    
    Help?  It's a token, but I'd still like it to be around for a while.
    
    Benson

Mine fell off within a week.  [I keep my clock in a pocket and us it
instead of a watch.]

    The clock tower fell off my 10 year pen a year ago.  I sent it back to
    Personnel over 10 months ago.  Wondering if I'd get it back before it
    was time for my 15, I called a month ago.  Was told it was going to be
    sent to the vendor for repair 'this week' as they had a 'batch' to send
    back to the vendor. 
    
    Has anyone EVER gotten anything back??
    
    	-Barry-
    

    I lost my 5 year keychain in a boating accident 3 years ago. Personnel
    told me they'd be happy to get me a replacement. I followed up for
    nearly 6 months then finally dropped it out of frustration.

    
    
    I had someone steal my 10 year pen.
    
    I was told they would gladly replace it for $$$$$.
    
    Lou

        Someone, somewhere, is responsible for the recognition programs.
        
        If you're not satisfied with the way they're being administered,
        why don't you use the Open Door Policy to find out who's in
        charge, and then discuss your concerns with them?  While I
        can't be certain that the manager in charge of the program
        doesn't read this conference, I would be amazed if complaining
        here will have any effect (except, perhaps, to make you feel
        better).
        
        Tom

    For 10 years, go for the knife.  If you throw away the sheath,
    you're left with a pretty decent paper knife with nothing to show
    why you own it.
    
    (I like working here, I just can't stomach the idea of having
     a "Digital clock" or a "Digital belt buckle" or a "Digital pen"
     or...)
    

    RE: .37
    
    Well, the travel clock seems like a good idea (at 5 years) because
    I would definitely use it.  I have this habit of losing Cross pens
    so I wouldn't want a special one.  As for wearing the belt buckle...
    ack!...gag!...argh... :-)

    Are the pens Cross or Parker?

    The knife is nice, and the sheath logo small enough to
    ignore. Good walk-and-talk, typical Gerber quality.

        I believe the current pen sets are made by Cross; at least,
        that's what's on display in the MKO2 lobby.
        
        Tom

    I received the pewter vase for my fifth anniversary...it's very
    nice.
    
    	Robin

       Go for the Cherry wood clock/barometer for your 15 yr gift. Very
    impressive! And the logo is barely noticable.
                                                           Denny

    Re:< Note 302.43 by SALEM::RIEU "Sanitized for your protection" >

    The clock/barometer  is nice, but I think it should be something more
    personal, besides my wife  is  the  decorator  at home and she didn't
    like it.  I like  pens  but  I already got my set as my 10 yr.  gift,
    (they were Parker at the time),  so  now  for  my 15th (next month) I
    chose the necklace, which I can always take out the logo and use as a
    chain.
    
    /OD

    
    Well, for my 15 yr gift, I chose the Val St. Lambert candlesticks.
    
    They are beautiful.. However, they didn't survive the first cleaning.
    After passing them around (showing them off), they were naturally
    covered with fingerprints. My wife immersed them in warm soapy water,
    and the DEC logo fell off both candlesticks.  They're on the way
    back for repair.                                            
    
    FYI, for my 5th, I got the silver Cross pen (lost), for my 10th,
    I got the knife, which I still have and find very useful.
    
    Ray
    

    The logo fell off my five year pen within 30 seconds after I opened
    the box.  I've still got it here somewhere....
    
    Coming up on the big 10 next December......what should I get? 
    
    

Re .46:

A tube of Crazy-Glue?
				/AHM

    I just got the booklet with tokens for my 25th anniversary. My choices
    are 
    
    38. Digital custom-designed solid-pewter mantel clock (model of the
    Mill tower in a glass case on a wooden base), 12.5" x 8". 
    
    39. Ladies' Longines quartz watch with name engraved, gold-tone case,
    10-point diamond. 
    
    40. Men's Longines quartz watch with name engraved, calendar, sweep
    second hand, gold-tone case, 10-point diamond. 
    
    41. Tie tac/lapel pin, 14K, 20-point diamond.
    
    42. Necklace of some 14K sort.
    
    Ugh. I wonder if I can get an extra day of vacation. If not, I guess
    the engraved men's watch is the least bad choice, if they will leave
    the diamond off. Some of the choices for earlier anniversaries look
    much better. Do you suppose I could substitute? 

    Re .48 (Tom)
    
    I believe the "diamond" in watches is part of the internal 
    mechanism, it's not on the outside for cosmetic reasons?
    
     - Ganesh
    

Check with your PSA, but I think you're allowed to take a gift for your number
of years or any lesser number of years.

    I just had my 15th, and I can't remember what I chose.  I wouldn't know 
    where to find it either.
                                       
    I consider my anniversary gift from Digital to have been the opportunity 
    and sheer fun of working here for 15 years.  (I did work for a competitor
    before joining Digital; I know how fortunate I am.)  
                                                       
    Guess what I look forward to receiving for my 20th?

    - Jim                                              

    Re .49 
    
>>    I believe the "diamond" in watches is part of the internal 
>>    mechanism, it's not on the outside for cosmetic reasons?

    The diamond is mounted on the 'clocktower' emblem on the band.
    Least mine is; think they did that for 'cosmetic reasons', so you
    can see it. ;^)
    
    FWIW: Last Nov approximately 14 of us chose the watch, with most,
    if not all, of the remaining 33 getting the pweter mantel clock.    

    John_R
    

    Whatever gift anyone chooses,you can be sure of one thing: It *will*
    have  the clock-tower logo somewhere on it.

:        Whatever gift anyone chooses,you can be sure of one thing: It *will*
:    have  the clock-tower logo somewhere on it.
:
    
    		...and it *will* fall off in a not-very-long time.

        re <<< Note 302.48 by EAGLE1::EGGERS "Tom, VAX & MIPS architecture" >>>
                         -< choices, choices, choices >-

>    I just got the booklet with tokens for my 25th anniversary. My choices
 >   are 
>  >  
>    38. Digital custom-designed solid-pewter mantel clock (model of the
>    Mill tower in a glass case on a wooden base), 12.5" x 8". 
 
        
        I will gladly change anything in the 10 year category (which I am
        about to go through) for item 38. To me, it seems like the only
        decent looking gift...
        
        q
           
        

    Re: .56
    
    I might take you up on that exchange. The two items I'm looking at are
    the 10-year Howard Miller clock (#17) and the 15-year Howard Miller
    barometer/clock/etc (#26).
    
    I wonder if I should start an exchange service in the lobby where
    the banquet is held. How about a notes file?

    Seems like a person that might not like their X year gift should
    be able to chose one or more lesser year gifts as long as the
    sum of the years does not exceed there X year.
    
    For example:  A 25 year person should be allowed to chose:
    
    5 5years or
    1 10year + 1 15year
    ....       
    

    I have the 10-year Howard Miller clock.  It's pretty nice,
    actually.  Even comes with a battery!
    
    			Steve

    What! no more gaudy belt buckles?
    I was just sticking around for the 10-year one.
    
    /s/ Jim Williams ;^))

    I work in Corporate Accounts, and deal with only one customer: Texas
    Instruments.  They do something on anniversaries that I think is
    really neat, and I'd like to see Digital do something similar. 
    
    On the 5th, 10th, etc. anniversary the employee gets a new badge of a
    different color.  So when you see someone walking down the hall with a
    gold badge, for example, you know that person has been with the company
    25 years or more.  A silver badge means the person has worked for T.I.
    20 years but not yet 25.  Etc.
    
    People are *very* proud of their colored badges, and longevity is
    very much a status symbol.
    
    Comments?

    							Pat 

    So few people walk around with badges displayed, around here anyway,
    it would seem pointless....
    
    			Steve

Re: .61
    
>    People are *very* proud of their colored badges, and longevity is
>    very much a status symbol.

I'd hate to be in a meeting and have someone think they knew more than I did
because they'd been here longer.  (Of course they probably think that anyway!)

				-- Bob

        Digital used to have such a system, to some extent, when badge
        numbers were issued sequentially throughout the company, and
        having a 2-digit or 3-digit number meant you'd been around a long
        time.  Also, many of the real old-timers still have their old
        "tiny" badges, and some of them choose to display them.
        
        I don't think an overt seniority system like this would fit with
        Digital's culture, and the emphasis on rewarding performance, not
        persistence. 
        
        Tom

I LOVE the idea.  Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that
I've been here almost 20 years.

>        I don't think an overt seniority system like this would fit with
>        Digital's culture, and the emphasis on rewarding performance, not
>        persistence. 
        
Tom,

While I agree that performance is vital, it is my opinion that performance 
without persistence is like a broadway show without an audience.  Many a
good idea has been lost because its originator 'let go' too soon.

Betty

    
    I indicated in reply .45 that my gift was returned to have the DEC
    logo replaced (it fell off).
    
    My gift was returned to me last week, not bad turn around.
    
    rgds,
    
    Ray

    For laughs....
    
    Got the 5 year silver (plated) pen at 6.5 years, whilst in Geneva.
    The best part about this was the lunch at a very fine restaurant
    with Geoff Shingles - a fine man, and I'm serious.
    
    Got the 10 year pen set gold (plated) at the Zurich office. It was
    on time this time - well, it is Teutonic Culture isn't it... The
    only problem was that it said Rees Brian - made us chuckle.
    
    Only got 2 more years to go for the next one, but maybe it will
    be din dins with Geoff again, since I am now in the UK.
    
    I think the best gift from Digital is.......
    
    The freedom to explore new things. This makes Digital second to
    none. (Not that it is easy mind!)
    
    Brian
    

    Has anyone ever successfully replaced a lost anniversary gift?  I
    lost my 5 year pen and want to replace it as I'm leaving the company
    and want it as a memento.  My PSA claims that the corporate policy
    on awards specifically prohibits replacements for any reason.  Whether
    or not this is true I don't know, but personnel seems to have washed
    their hands of it.  Rather than fighting internal red tape, I'd like
    to go right to the source.  Can anyone provide the name of the company
    that supplies the awards?
    
    rsb

    
    
    I had my 10 year pen stolen, and was told that they would replace it if
    I paid for it.
    
    
    Lou

    For those 20 year people who think they want the watch band [not much
    of a choice for 20 years].  Check the size.  I got mine and it was
    much too small.  Ya, they'll take it back.  Don't see anything else
    I'd care for.  So I'll be thankful of the employment/ that'll be my
    aniversery gift.  Aniverserys mean less and less each year.
    ed
    

    The 'Mill' emblem came off my 10 year and after lots of 'call so and
    so's' I mailed the Mill-less pen in to be fixed.  Took 11 months, but
    at least I got it back before my 15 arrives!
    
    Maybe a call to the 'ombudsman' mentioned in another note will help.
    
    	-Barry-
    

    
    I know of someone who lost the diamond chip in his 15 yr pen, it was
    replaced free. He had the pen for 3 yrs before the chip fell out.
    
    It was replaced quickly.
    
    Ray

I believe this has been discussed in the UK_DIGITAL conference.
Over there, it appears that anniversary awards can be replaced.

BTW, I think it'd be reasonable to have to pay for the replacement.  I have an
old anniversary award that I'd dearly love to swap out for something more
useful!

Steve

    Well, between this note and one in CLASSIFIED_ADS, I received a number
    of offers from people who were willing to give me their pens.  Not
    wanting to take one for nothing, I traded someone an Iron City t-shirt
    for his pen.  We both feel we made out!  Anyhow, the replacement pen
    now means more than the original, as I got it from a total stranger
    responding to a request on the network, something I will definitely
    miss.
    
    Thanks to all who replied.
    
    -steve b.

    Well it is time (actually past time) to pick my 25 year gift.  After
    spending considerable time looking at the items available I have
    come to the conclusion that there is nothing there that really is
    of any interest to me.  I went back to the 20 year page and again
    there is nothing there of great interest.  I would like to propose
    a CASH option so one could go out and buy something they truly
    like.  Sure wish I knew which item would sell the quickest as I would
    choose that and use the cash for something else.

I'm curious, what are the choices?

It would have to be cash imprinted with the clock tower.

    25 year choices (briefly):
    
    Digital mantel clock (clock tower under a glass dome)
    3 different woman's watches
    4 different man's watches
    Several different necklaces and bracelets
    Briefcase
    Crystal vase
    Desk clock with weather instruments
    Several tie bars/cuff links
    
    I priced the 20 year Swiss Army knife at a local store and it lists for
    about $135.
    
    The 20 year binoculars sell discounted for about $95.
    
    I'm not sure of the approximate worth of the 25 year gifts.
    

	Get the key chain -- it will be a collector's item in a couple
	of years.

    
    	Seems like Europe has different methods,
    
    	Last month on 20 Year, we got 3 Day Weekend excursion to Istanbul,
    	Turkey with all the trimmings. Plus $300 to spend on whatever you
    	want, wherever you want.
    
    	Actually, you have to spend your money first, then submit as an
    	Expense claim.
    
    	There were some US people on the trip who just happened to be
    	working in UK.
    
    	This month, I got TFSO'd, but that seems better as well as it adds
    	up to 26 months salary.
    
    	Am beginning to wonder if the 20 Year was a method of finding out
    	who to target as about half the guys have been hit with the package
    	since.
    
    	:-), but I guess there is life after Digital.
    
    	N.

    re.82
    As usual, Europe is different and it also varies according to
    which place/subsidiary in Europe:
    
    When I celebrated 15 years while in Valbonne I got:
     - expensive dinner (Moulin de Mougins for those who know the area)
     - 1000FF (ca 200$) free gift (expense claim)
     - weekend trip in France with spouse.
    
    Still in Valbonne at 20 years it was:
     - expensive dinner with Pier Carlo Falotti in Geneva
       (genuine enjoyable event, much due to PCF's personality)
     - personalized bottle of (expensive I guess) wine
     - weekend trip in Europe for two (worth ca. 6000FF = 1200$)
     
    Sorry, but the chances to be around for 25 years are close to zero.
    (as .-1 mentioned, a few of the 20 year participants have gone
     already including PCF himself )
    /fred
     
    

    It would be nice if you could cash in excess vacation time too.  Some
    of us with 10+ years of service can accumulate more time than we know
    what to do with.

    Mike

       IRS wouldn't like that Mike. You can only have 52 weeks pay. If they
    paid you for vacation time you'd have more.
                                 Denny

    how about the concept of an employee selling their accumulated vacation 
    time to another colleague who might utilize this vacation in a more
    needy manner?

    this way DEC is not the one paying the money, and no problem with
    the IRS will be escalated as a result of such a transaction.

    I know many dear colleagues who have families and who would like to spend 
    more time with their loved ones, I am sure I echo many sentiments when
    I call for such an avenue to be explored to let these employees have
    more time to enjoy themselves and the company of their close families.

    the sale can occur at a pre-set and negotiable terms and conditions,
    to the satisfaction of all parties involved, and It shall be carried out
    as a purely private affair between the employees themselves with no 
    official and non-official involvement from the corporation itself.

    I don't see anything wrong with that ?

    thank you,
    /Nasser
    I spelled check, but not grammer checked
    

The IRS doesn't care how many weeks pay you have as long as you pay taxes on all
of them.  As a matter of fact, the more pay you get, the more dollars they get
to tax at 31% (assuming you're in that marginal bracket).

When I worked for GE, they'd allow you to "pre-sell" some number of the coming
year's vacation weeks.  It works pretty much as suggested:  If you know you're
not going to be taking all your vacation this year, ask to be paid for the week
or two you won't be taking.  The only downsides of this was that you had to 
plan this in advance (instead of asking to be paid for them at the end of the
year), and that after 10 years, you only got three weeks per year, so you didn't
have much to sell in the first place.

re.85
IRS does not care how many weeks your total salary represents.  You are on a cash
basis and are taxed on your annual income.

I like the idea of being able to sell back unneeded vacation other than upon 
termination.

Some companies do allow employees to sell back vacation time at their daily pay
rate. Friends have found this handy when the family car needed a new transmission,
or other similar events.

re. 86

I see some potential problems.  Assume to employees A and B A earns $250 per day. 
B earns $100 per day.  A buys vacation time from B at a negotiated price.  Digital
loses the services of A (valued at $250 per day) but gets to relieve accrued
Vacations for only $100 a day.

A and B both get good deals by trading at $175 per day.

I just wish I could give my wife some of my vacation time.  As is, the
reason I have trouble using all my time is that I earn it faster than she
does (until recently twice as fast, now only a third faster).  The net
result after years of accumulation is that I frequently bump up against
the limit while my wife never has enought time.

    I thought that I saw a program a while ago where if you took 1 week of
    vacation, you could "cash" one more week. I don;t think that I dreamt
    it, but it could have been one of those limited-time offers.

    re.89 hmmm, don't you ever just take a day off and loaf? Go
    fishing, take in a ball game, wander through a mall, wash
    the car, trim the hedges ? I mean, work is not all-there-is ;-)

  >>  Having TOO MUCH vacation time that you don't know
      what to do with it?
    
    I get my extra week starting in NOV, and I already
    have the time booked to use!!!

GE gives you the option to "bank" any vacation in excess of the minimum 2 weeks
required by law.   So if you get 5 weeks vacation, you can "bank" 3 of them.
When you "bank" your vacation, the money goes into your 401-K account.

Bob

>    I get my extra week starting in NOV, and I already
>    have the time booked to use!!!
    
    

>>             <<< Note 302.94 by FRETZ::HEISER "as warm as tears" >>>
>>                        -< I was talking about 8 weeks >-

I've been with D.E.C. 11 years and my vacation has never accumulated.  I would
love to have 8 weeks available.  They wouldn't be available by the end of the
year.  :-)

Judy

Hmm, I think it'd be nice if I could trade money for vacation (as
opposed to vacation for money, which is what other notes in this
string have wanted).    Maybe an extra 2 or 3 weeks instead of
a pay raise?  (2 weeks should be equal to a 3.8% raise, right?)

---

This might be a useful index of morale.  A few years ago, I used
to regularly have more vacation time than I seemed to have time
to take...

I think you can, with management approval, trade money for vacation.

Simply take the time off without pay.

Bob

re .91:

Actually Dana, I'm forced to take all 4 weeks each year or lose them.
My 8 week backlog build up during a two-year period when I was indeed
doing nothing but work.  But I'm all better now :-)

        My wife used to work at P&G.  They have a `cafeteria style'
        benefits plan.  Each year every employee choose which benefits
        they wanted for the next year--similar to our open enrollment--
        and P&G gave each employee a credit to use for purchases (with
        any additional costs deducted from paychecks).

        One of the items that could be purchased was an extra five days
        of vacation, at the cost of one week's salary.  Only one week
        could be purchased.  My wife said that most single people didn't
        need to spend much on benefits and took an extra week of
        vacation while most married people spent their allotment and
        more on family health care benefits.

        There is a difference between purchasing an extra week of
        vacation and time off without pay from Digital--the vacation can
        easily be used a day at a time and spontaneously, but a leave of
        absence requires paperwork and approval.

        					B.J.

Re .99:

>        There is a difference between purchasing an extra week of
>        vacation and time off without pay from Digital--the vacation can
>        easily be used a day at a time and spontaneously, but a leave of
>        absence requires paperwork and approval.

If you want more vacation than you've accrued, just file a timecard with the
days off marked as vacation.  Payroll will withhold pay for the days off, and
you're all set.
				/AHM

    Digital Switzerland allows (since October 1) the purchase of an
    additional week of vacation under the following conditions:

    	- Your manager has to approve it, this is in regard of a 100%
    	  service ability of a group
    	- 2.3% of your salary is deducted on a monthly base.
    	- You have to sign up 'til December 1 of the previous year
    	- Once bought, it has to be taken. Aka you can't sell it back

    I'll go for it :-)

    Alain

    Well I didn't attend the 25 year banquet this past Thursday so
    Digital sent my gift Federal Express.  I live in Hudson which is
    about 10 miles from MSO.  Seems like maybe there should be a cheaper
    way for Digital to ship non priority items.
    
    Why didn't I go?  Well, that afternoon I was told that November 2 would
    be my "hit" date.  Wonderful timing!
    

    Ed,
    
    I thought that Fed Ex was pricey, until I learned about the Corporate
    rates...  For example, I sent a 4 pound package from the east coast to
    the west coast.  Regular price is $29.75, DEC's price: $6.50
    
    Mark

My 10 year anniversary just passed, with no word about gifts.  I asked my 
PSA, and she said the program is on hold.  They are supposed to decide by the
end of this week if they are going to continue it or not.

Stay tuned.

Elaine

It figures.  This is my 15th anniversary year.  All that was left was
the gifts, the lunch/dinners having been already deleted.  I had been looking
forward to the gift this year (first year I would have been able to get
anything useful.)  Sigh.

				Steve

    Let's see, Steve.  What do we have in the box under the desk?  Would
    you like a "Digital. The OPEN Advantage" coffee mug?  :-)
    
    Mark

    re: .105
    
    All is not lost.If they do discontinue the gifts,and you are quick,
    you can come to HLO2 and see,live in person,on display behind glass,
    what you could have gotten.The anniversary gifts are on display right
    past the HLO2 lobby. (smiley face)

	And if they are going away, maybe he could talk them into
	giving him one of the floor samples... they wouldn't be 
	needing them anymore, right?

				Tom_K

Re: .108

Yeah, that's the ticket!  I've had a spot in my house all picked out for
the barometer for several years, and I understand that they have one of 
those in the HLO2 display case.  I don't mind a display model!

Re: .106

Hmm - trade you for "Digital Is A Software Company" (NOT!) mug?

			Steve

    
    And I have dibs on the 10 year gift in the display cabinet!
    
    Ha HA !!
    
    Ken
    

    Interesting - when I asked my PSA about the gifts (after breaking the
    20 barrier a couple of weeks ago), she said that the delay was because
    the new order forms weren't in yet (with BP's signature, versus KO's on
    the old ones).  ???????

    Steve,
    
    Does your mug have David Stone's face on it?  That'd be a collector's
    item! :-)

Re: .112

No, the mug predates David Stone's move into TNSG (indeed, it predates my
ever having heard of David Stone.)  It was inspired by KO coming to
Spit Brook and uttering those immortal words during a talk he gave.  The
idea was supposed to be that Digital was changing (had changed?) from a
hardware company in which software was incidental to the reverse.  Of
course, it wasn't true then and still isn't true today (in terms of "mindset",
not revenues.)  Along with the quote, it named (supposedly) all of 
Digital's VAX software products.   (I say "supposedly" as it left out one
product, shipping and profitable, which happened to be the one I was
project leader of.  Made me feel real good at the time.)


I have been told that the anniversary gift program is not going away, but
will be scaled back, though I'm at a loss to see how far back it could be
scaled without it essentially disappearing anyway.  Let's see, Digital's
cost for a 5-year pen is probably about $5, for a 10-year clock maybe $15,
and for the 15-year barometer I had my eyes on, I'd say about $30.  If all
that's left is pocket knives and belt buckles, I'll probably pass.

Maybe what they'll end up with is a book of McDonald's gift certificates.
Or a $50 discount on a DECpc.

I wonder sometimes if the upper levels of management really care whether or
not anyone feels good about working for Digital.  I suppose they realize that
few, except the VPs who can afford it, are likely to quit in today's
economic climate.

				Steve

>I wonder sometimes if the upper levels of management really care whether or
>not anyone feels good about working for Digital. 

	I don't wonder about that at all.

				Tom_K

    	"Scaled back" could just mean fewer choices...less
    diversity...perhaps one strategy...one gift...But seeing that the new
    administration has "fun" as a major goal, especially for engineering,
    maybe they're getting rid of all those old, stodgy gifts and replacing
    them with new, fun, 90's gifts...like boxes of DEC condoms...DEC music
    boxes that play Taps when you wind them up...