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Does the company for which you work waste money on stupid things? Mine does...

NuclearNed

NuclearNed

Raconteur
If you listened to the corporate screwheads where I work, you would probably assume that this company is on the brink of financial disaster. We are constantly being harped on to find ways to trim our business expenses so we can keep the thing afloat. Part of that trimming process is the fact that our yearly raises are measly and pathetic, and we are told that if we stick it out, some day the rewards will come. Some day.


Bah humbug.


One of our VPs thought it would be a really great idea to have a really impressive screen saver custom made for our company. Its really cool - it flashes all sorts of Orwellian messages on the screen superimposed over pictures of children, American flags, etc. And of course, our company logo is always present. Its a really professional looking screen saver, so I'm sure it cost a pretty penny.

Then today in my paycheck envelope I got a really nice computer case magnet. It looks just like the screen saver (brief Orwellian message over an American flag, plus our logo).

I can't think of a more useless way to spend our "struggling" company's revenue.
 
I know I've had this discussion in Peripherals a number of times.

My 2nd biggest peeve is the Lexmark Printers.
My number one peeve is the Lexmark Ink.
 
we have the same thing where i work as well. i think the best is some upper management with $3k color printers in their office. oh, can't forget about the department meeting sound set up. speakers, stands, cabling, microphones, and etc which definitely cost a chunk of change.
 
i had a company buy me an awesome desktop with lots of ram, a nice video card, dvd burner and everything. cost them $3000 from dell.. i was wondering if i should refer them to AT Hot Deals and keep an eye out for more budget PCs, but I thought better of it. I mean, what if they venture into ATOT and see all I use the beast for is to nef and surf the web?
 
My favorite office story is from a friend - He was in a meeting where they transititioned from a discussion of who they were laying off to a discussion of plans for a company cruise for everyone in upper management.
 
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
One of our VPs thought it would be a really great idea to have a really impressive screen saver custom made for our company. Its really cool - it flashes all sorts of Orwellian messages on the screen superimposed over pictures of children, American flags, etc. And of course, our company logo is always present. Its a really professional looking screen saver, so I'm sure it cost a pretty penny.

Then today in my paycheck envelope I got a really nice computer case magnet. It looks just like the screen saver (brief Orwellian message over an American flag, plus our logo).

I can't think of a more useless way to spend our "struggling" company's revenue.
Click to expand...

In terms of operating expenses for a typical company the cost of a custom screen saver and magnet (or $3k PC for that matter) is a drop in the bucket. My guess would be morale is low (seems to be for you, probably others) so they are making these expenditures in an effort to boost moral and faith in the company. Low moral can destroy a company from within.
A good, cost efficient move, IMHO. But maybe I have been playing this game for too long already.

 
Originally posted by: AcidBath
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
One of our VPs thought it would be a really great idea to have a really impressive screen saver custom made for our company. Its really cool - it flashes all sorts of Orwellian messages on the screen superimposed over pictures of children, American flags, etc. And of course, our company logo is always present. Its a really professional looking screen saver, so I'm sure it cost a pretty penny.

Then today in my paycheck envelope I got a really nice computer case magnet. It looks just like the screen saver (brief Orwellian message over an American flag, plus our logo).

I can't think of a more useless way to spend our "struggling" company's revenue.
Click to expand...

In terms of operating expenses for a typical company the cost of a custom screen saver and magnet (or $3k PC for that matter) is a drop in the bucket. My guess would be morale is low (seems to be for you, probably others) so they are making these expenditures in an effort to boost moral and faith in the company. Low moral can destroy a company from within.
A good, cost efficient move, IMHO. But maybe I have been playing this game for too long already.
Click to expand...

You know what raises my morale more then a BS screensaver? A motherfvcking raise.
 
at the time i was working on contract to a company.

only people i had to report to was the head of IT and the owner. anyway they were trying ot cut cost (wich is part of the reason i was there) and they wanted to lay off at least %20 of the workers they had. So we had a meeting on who and how. Well after talking about that the next item was What cars they were going to buy for people in upper managment as a "bonus". They finally said they could choose the car they wanted but had to be from the same company with a max of $50k!

i was in shock. they were on the verge of bankruptcy and they were going to blow a few $100k on cars.
 
Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
Yeah but a raise would cost them 50x times what the screensaver cost and only affect you.
Click to expand...

Bingo. A raise is a recurring cost. A screen saver is a one time fixed cost.
 
Yeah they keep buying software from Microsoft, I tell them they can copy a cd and I can write a keygen for free.















that was a joke Mr Gates.....





please don't sue me.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: AcidBath
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
One of our VPs thought it would be a really great idea to have a really impressive screen saver custom made for our company. Its really cool - it flashes all sorts of Orwellian messages on the screen superimposed over pictures of children, American flags, etc. And of course, our company logo is always present. Its a really professional looking screen saver, so I'm sure it cost a pretty penny.

Then today in my paycheck envelope I got a really nice computer case magnet. It looks just like the screen saver (brief Orwellian message over an American flag, plus our logo).

I can't think of a more useless way to spend our "struggling" company's revenue.
Click to expand...

In terms of operating expenses for a typical company the cost of a custom screen saver and magnet (or $3k PC for that matter) is a drop in the bucket. My guess would be morale is low (seems to be for you, probably others) so they are making these expenditures in an effort to boost moral and faith in the company. Low moral can destroy a company from within.
A good, cost efficient move, IMHO. But maybe I have been playing this game for too long already.
Click to expand...

You know what raises my morale more then a BS screensaver? A motherfvcking raise.
Click to expand...

amen, QFT, etc. etc. etc.
 
my pet peeve, if a project/application/solution isn't expensive, then we won't do it

you have a solution that is cheap/free? NO WAY!! if the project has a low/no budget , then it isn't IMPORTANT

you can't solve problems without spending CRAPLOADS of cash
 
I've seen worse. We're apparently obligated (at my school) to purchase regular school supplies through a particular company that has some sort of contract with NY state. Because of this, the school receives a 33% discount (or something like that) on supplies from the catalog.

However, the vast majority of items in the catalog have their prices jacked up so highly that after the 33% discount, they *still* cost more than I can purchase them for from other suppliers.
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
my pet peeve, if a project/application/solution isn't expensive, then we won't do it

you have a solution that is cheap/free? NO WAY!! if the project has a low/no budget , then it isn't IMPORTANT

you can't solve problems without spending CRAPLOADS of cash
Click to expand...

My problem is we always have a problem...the solution to it is fairly expensive. Management says we have no money, but there's still a problem. So we buy something that sort of does the job, but not really. Then 6-12months later they finally go "this isn't doing what we need!" and buy the first thing that was recommended.

It doesn't take a math wizard to figure out that cheap solution cost + actual solution cost > actual solution cost.
 
Originally posted by: waggy
at the time i was working on contract to a company.

only people i had to report to was the head of IT and the owner. anyway they were trying ot cut cost (wich is part of the reason i was there) and they wanted to lay off at least %20 of the workers they had. So we had a meeting on who and how. Well after talking about that the next item was What cars they were going to buy for people in upper managment as a "bonus". They finally said they could choose the car they wanted but had to be from the same company with a max of $50k!

i was in shock. they were on the verge of bankruptcy and they were going to blow a few $100k on cars.
Click to expand...

This is what they all do. ...Idiots.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: FoBoT
my pet peeve, if a project/application/solution isn't expensive, then we won't do it

you have a solution that is cheap/free? NO WAY!! if the project has a low/no budget , then it isn't IMPORTANT

you can't solve problems without spending CRAPLOADS of cash
Click to expand...

My problem is we always have a problem...the solution to it is fairly expensive. Management says we have no money, but there's still a problem. So we buy something that sort of does the job, but not really. Then 6-12months later they finally go "this isn't doing what we need!" and buy the first thing that was recommended.

It doesn't take a math wizard to figure out that cheap solution cost + actual solution cost > actual solution cost.
Click to expand...

Same thing here too. Upper Management is nuts in America.
 
My company wouldn't blow money on an oscilloscope that would get used all the time in the R&D lab. But they did blow money on having the annual marketing meeting on the top floor of the Sands in Las Vegas.
 
Originally posted by: NuclearNed
If you listened to the corporate screwheads where I work, you would probably assume that this company is on the brink of financial disaster. We are constantly being harped on to find ways to trim our business expenses so we can keep the thing afloat. Part of that trimming process is the fact that our yearly raises are measly and pathetic, and we are told that if we stick it out, some day the rewards will come. Some day.


Bah humbug.


One of our VPs thought it would be a really great idea to have a really impressive screen saver custom made for our company. Its really cool - it flashes all sorts of Orwellian messages on the screen superimposed over pictures of children, American flags, etc. And of course, our company logo is always present. Its a really professional looking screen saver, so I'm sure it cost a pretty penny.

Then today in my paycheck envelope I got a really nice computer case magnet. It looks just like the screen saver (brief Orwellian message over an American flag, plus our logo).

I can't think of a more useless way to spend our "struggling" company's revenue.
Click to expand...

I'd feel like puking if my company decided to plaster our national flag all over the place.
 
We're upgrading all of our users to flatscreens. Let me tell you, there is no happier employee than one that has a brand new flatscreen on their desk. It makes them feel so freaking important... But its costing the company tens of thousands of dollars to supply each user with one.

Granted, they are cool, but let's take a look at the productivity charts before and after we spend this much money on the company see just how little a difference it makes. But hey... the cubes look cooler now.. go figure.
 
hahah, those trinkets are supposed to improve morale.

now get happy! Remember, you love the company. The company is good and looking out for you.
 
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