Silicon Valley: Perks for Some Workers, Struggles for Parents

Re:Silicon Valley: Perks for Some Workers, Struggles for Par... by derefr on Tuesday April 07, 2015 @08:07PM (#9338012)

So, what if you want to fire someone because they're just really annoying to be around, and their coworkers are complaining that they hate coming to work and dealing with that person? (This is commonly euphemized as a "lack of culture fit.")

There's no actual productivity loss in such a case; there's just a bunch of unhappy coworkers who have one fewer reason to stay when a head-hunter approaches them.

This is basically why companies fight for at-will employment: they want the ability to fire people for what are essentially petty, yet still important reasons, without having to ever say that sort of thing out loud. Because, you know, any company that actually admitted that it did that would be tarred in the press—not for doing it, but for failing to be discreet about it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Silicon Valley: Perks for Some Workers, Struggles for Par... by srdev on Tuesday April 07, 2015 @11:42PM (#9338680)

In the past we've documented interpersonal issues in the performance review and developed goals around fixing any glaring issues. But coworkers are also expected to be professional and raise issues that are actually affecting team effectiveness, and not just complain about a person because they are not fun or personable.

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Re:Silicon Valley: Perks for Some Workers, Struggles for Par... by Frondo on Tuesday April 07, 2015 @10:36PM (#9338514)

I find it distressing that I could be fired, despite (presumably) doing my job well, because my coworkers disliked me.

I realize that's America, but that does not seem like the kind of world I would want to live in, if I were making the rules.

[ Parent | on HN ]