Police overtime budget cuts (Boston, Cambridge: headhunters, relocation, car)

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I've worked at two companies now (one non profit) that did that. It actually horrified me a bit to think about how much they were spending on food in addition to people's salaries and bonuses but they did it (I felt less guilty when saw how the salaries/bonuses of the C level people). Apparently it's a way to stay competitive to get good people...

Again, most IT companies don't do that.
Lunch is not a lot of money either. Maybe it costs them $10 per employee per day (it's not like a restaurant and they don't make profits from the food).

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by Bettafish

Again, most IT companies don't do that.
Lunch is not a lot of money either. Maybe it costs them $10 per employee per day (it's not like a restaurant and they don't make profits from the food).

It adds up. For a company of 200 that is 10k a week! You don't think that's a lot?? Not to mention the company i used to work for has 600 people.

[id77]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I've worked at two companies now (one non profit) that did that. It actually horrified me a bit to think about how much they were spending on food in addition to people's salaries and bonuses but they did it (I felt less guilty when saw how the salaries/bonuses of the C level people). Apparently it's a way to stay competitive to get good people...

Many stopped doing that because it wasn't something many employees cared about, so the amenity money started moving toward things the employees wanted. One of my offices continued to do it for a while but finally stopped last year.

And yes, it's a way to stay competitive. Good tech employees pick their employers, not the other way around. They can walk if they don't like the office space or the restrictions on which airline they fly for work and there's 10 other companies who are chomping at the bit to throw money at them.

What's also missed in this is the sheer amount of value and money that these employees generate. A good large or mega-cap tech company is producing millions of dollars in revenue per engineer; paying them $250k and lavishing them with food and ping-pong tables is a small price to pay for that sort of output.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by id77

Many stopped doing that because it wasn't something many employees cared about, so the amenity money started moving toward things the employees wanted. One of my offices continued to do it for a while but finally stopped last year.

And yes, it's a way to stay competitive. Good tech employees pick their employers, not the other way around. They can walk if they don't like the office space or the restrictions on which airline they fly for work and there's 10 other companies who are chomping at the bit to throw money at them.

What's also missed in this is the sheer amount of value and money that these employees generate. A good large or mega-cap tech company is producing millions of dollars in revenue per engineer; paying them $250k and lavishing them with food and ping-pong tables is a small price to pay for that sort of output.

Well perhaps cops are preventing the city from being burned down and their presence MAYBE makes people think twice before being destructive around here. Just a thought. They certainly don't get a free lunch.

Also many engineers working at these tech companies are simply more privileged than a police officer. As many point out a cop doesn't need a college degree. Engineers typically have the privileged of being highly intelligent which not everyone gets to be. They are paid well and rewarded for what they do, but I think we need to recognize that they and many higher ups in tech or any corporation are privileged. People are quick to point out privilege these days so it seems necessary to mention that being very smart and having the ability to become an engineer is a privilege. But I dont think that means anyone who doesn't have this type of brain should be on the street struggling.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by id77

Many stopped doing that because it wasn't something many employees cared about, so the amenity money started moving toward things the employees wanted. One of my offices continued to do it for a while but finally stopped last year.

And yes, it's a way to stay competitive. Good tech employees pick their employers, not the other way around. They can walk if they don't like the office space or the restrictions on which airline they fly for work and there's 10 other companies who are chomping at the bit to throw money at them.

What's also missed in this is the sheer amount of value and money that these employees generate. A good large or mega-cap tech company is producing millions of dollars in revenue per engineer; paying them $250k and lavishing them with food and ping-pong tables is a small price to pay for that sort of output.

So I guess there is no "value" to keeping the streets safe for all of us, and making it possible for these companies to flourish in the first place?


Looking at it in that sense, cops are probably way undercompensated but it's public tax dollars so...

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by id77

Many stopped doing that because it wasn't something many employees cared about, so the amenity money started moving toward things the employees wanted. One of my offices continued to do it for a while but finally stopped last year.

And yes, it's a way to stay competitive. Good tech employees pick their employers, not the other way around. They can walk if they don't like the office space or the restrictions on which airline they fly for work and there's 10 other companies who are chomping at the bit to throw money at them.

What's also missed in this is the sheer amount of value and money that these employees generate. A good large or mega-cap tech company is producing millions of dollars in revenue per engineer; paying them $250k and lavishing them with food and ping-pong tables is a small price to pay for that sort of output.

I also said the person i knew making 250k was not doing much...and was fired. He was caught for not doing much. Im sure plenty of others go unnoticed.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Many of these tech people also get free meals catered to them by their employer. Just sayin'. Cops don't get that.

Cops get TONS of freebies. Don't kid yourself. Free food and coffee was routine when they came in at places I worked in Boston and Cambridge in the 80s. I have no doubt it is still going on.

Originally Posted by msRB311

Well perhaps cops are preventing the city from being burned down and their presence MAYBE makes people think twice before being destructive around here. Just a thought. They certainly don't get a free lunch.
.

Do tell how stealing money for time not worked prevents destruction? I'll wait.


Oh, and no more whataboutism or deflections, please.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I also said the person i knew making 250k was not doing much...and was fired. He was caught for not doing much. Im sure plenty of others go unnoticed.

Fired?

You mean he wasn't suspended with full-pay first and reinstated following some token investigation/slap on the wrist? ..... or knew that he was busted and pulled the retirement parachute cord?

[Cantabridgienne]

Cop apologists must do a ton of yoga, it takes some real flexibility to be able to stretch this much!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Cop apologists must do a ton of yoga, it takes some real flexibility to be able to stretch this much!

What in the world is a "cop apologist"? Sorry I don't spend much time in Cambridge these days, I need to be "enlightened".