Do IT employers say things like...

CodeBlox

I was wondering, when **** hits the fan and "stuff" stops working correctly, say, a link goes down on a switch or a portion of a network goes down, would an employer say something like "if you don't fix this, your ass is fired!"? Are they allowed to do this?

nimrod.sixty9

CodeBlox wrote: »

I was wondering, when **** hits the fan and "stuff" stops working correctly, say, a link goes down on a switch or a portion of a network goes down, would an employer say something like "if you don't fix this, your ass is fired!"? Are they allowed to do this?

I doubt one would say something like this. I work for an Indian casino and can be fired for absoloutley no reason (soverign territory). Half the network has been down, more than once. Im sure it impacted revenue. Ive only been told 'Great, we're up!' and 'Finally (sigh of relief, not mad)'.... As for them being allowed to say it, IDK. Here its just 'leave'.

SteveO86

I guess it would depend on the people in your environment but I've had someone tell me that before.

Usually people don't take attitude in a professional setting.

LoMo

Are they allowed to? No.
Does it happen? I'm sure.

shodown

If I was ever told that I would just get up and be gone. **** it I'll find another job. They can ask whoever said something out of line to fix it. Or maybe I'll fix it and my 2 week notice would be in right after. I'm not sure how I would handle it, but you shouldn't be talked to like that at work. I've had people cuss me out for screwing up at work or doing something completely stupid(got caught having *** at work when I was younger ). But I've never had someone talk to me like that for things we know that are a part of the job.

Zartanasaurus

Yeah, they can do that. I imagine it would be rare.

Monkerz

I remember my second day on the job as a network engineer, I was working on implementing a port span, for a network monitoring solution I was testing, on the 2960 that connected our Verizon PIP Edge to our core.

My manager was doing his rounds and noticed me sitting on the floor in the data center in front of one of our "provider" racks consoled into some gear. His comment has stayed with me to this day. He firmly said, "If you take down the VzB Edge, don't bother coming in to work tomorrow."

Knowing full well we have over 200 branches that connect to the DC via this Edge, I wouldn't doubt he would slit my throat if I took it offline.

Some managers use it as a scare tactic and others are being truthful.

VAHokie56

In my experience management has typically been very professional. If we get a sev1 or a critical ticket its most likely not specifically your fault, they just want it working again and will let you do your job.

rwmidl

I had a manager one time threaten me (the exact words "I'll remember this") when I had Cisco TAC on the phone when we had a WIC T1 go down on a router and I wouldn't help her "get on the internet". What was really funny about the whole thing was a) I told her what was going on and offered to have my co-worker help her - but obviously that wasn't successful and b) when this manager was yelling at me, some other managers in the office decided to slink back in to their cubicles instead of standing up for.

After talking about the situation with my coworker, I decided to call my manager and tell him what happened. When we were on the phone with him and explained the situation (my coworker - actually my senior - fully backed me up on what happened) we found out this manager (the one who threatened me) had already called my manager and told him I wasn't being cooperative.

What I learned from the incident was I will never again put up with any crap like that again. I probably could have sued the company for allowing a hostile work environment (the other managers who did not stand up for me when they witnessed the events). If I were to be treated like that again, I'll hand in my notice on the spot, clear out my desk and walk out the door.

Daniel333

CodeBlox wrote: »

I was wondering, when **** hits the fan and "stuff" stops working correctly, say, a link goes down on a switch or a portion of a network goes down, would an employer say something like "if you don't fix this, your ass is fired!"? Are they allowed to do this?

Sorta, depends on if you are internal or external IT. And course your management. But yeah. it happens.

In either case normally they need you to fix it first, then they fire you a few weeks later after they have lined things up on the backend.

I see it quite often working as a managed service provider. We move in silently and replace the current staff one night. Or sometimes we come in soft and their manager tells the IT person "They are here to help you get caught up as temps" and after we are settled they fire them.

millworx

Daniel333 wrote: »

Sorta, depends on if you are internal or external IT. And course your management. But yeah. it happens.

In either case normally they need you to fix it first, then they fire you a few weeks later after they have lined things up on the backend.

I see it quite often working as a managed service provider. We move in silently and replace the current staff one night. Or sometimes we come in soft and their manager tells the IT person "They are here to help you get caught up as temps" and after we are settled they fire them.

I know that all too well, I was doing consulting for a large company once, they flew me out to PA with an armed body guard to "releive" the current IT admin at their sattelite site.... It didn't go well... But I tookover his job remotely and enjoyed the trip with all I can eat lobster on the company tab.

Personally I've never been threatened, I guess everywhere I work was pretty chill. And where I'm at now anything has to have a change request approved prior to implementation in production with a clearly defined backout plan. So if you do screw up, you share responsibility with 6-8 managers who peer reviewed your change.

I have put myself in the hospital on accident once trying to make a deadline, ODd on caffiene pills trying to stay up for 72 hours with no sleep. I'm surprised I still had a job after the paramedics came busting into the office and took me away on a stretcher.

DPG

"Remember that 99.9% of you are easily replaceable. For the other 0.1%, you probably would never be issued this type of ultimatum."

This is just the reality of the industry.