Handcuffs are Interesting
OK, this morning I was really looking forward to a meeting between a co-worker and management. The focus was to be the wish list they had asked him/us to prepare to make the environment more pleasurable. Naturally, the list included things that they were likely not to say "Yes" to, but also many 'small' things that they could easily say "Yes" to.
We expected them to give in to the request(s) for offices - seeing as how we now have a lot of empty space on the floor due to the cuts, and I even bet the co-worker that his request for a raise would be agreed to. We both wondered if they'd agree to the suggestion to really stop the work on the project we are both working on now due to lack of resources. Honestly, we both didn't think they'd really do it, but it was meant to show them that we think their project planning has left out a few critical things - like the people to really make this large a project successful.
What came out of the meeting was very surprising to both of us.
They aren't going to give out offices - because they are planning on leasing them out to other divisions in the Bank! This means that in all likelyhood we'll be "relocated" to a "reservation" on the floor and then the space we had on the floor will be given to another group in the Bank and they will move in.
This bothers me on so many different levels - but all of them personally. In the end, a cube is a cube, and it really doesn't matter, but the idea that cutting half the IT staff isn't enough of a cut to keep the space and be a little generous to those few that are staying is a bit disturbing. Also, there are several people that have desks on the trading floor and offices - and I'm not talking about traders here... no, these are some of the IT folks.
What bothers me about this is the idea that we haven't reached the "bottom" in our slide - contrary to their statements.
They aren't interested in anything that costs them a dime - which is understandable if you realize that they are going to be giving up the space in order to save some bucks. I had expected that when you cut half the people you sort-of give yourself some breathing room, but I guess I was wrong.
Additionally, I learned today that one of the desks has 20+ people - a few traders, but mostly developers and researchers (basically, prototype developers). This is in stark comparison to the five - that's right - five developers under the organization's CTO. It just makes no sense that a trader should manage a larger IT budget and staff than the CTO. If he's that much better at being the CTO, then that should be his job. But, maybe that will change. Who knows.
So... it's been a bit of a disappointment as they seem to believe that on the reduced staff it's Business as Usual and no de-emphasis of the workload is in the offing. This made me very nervous as it meant that I was going to be stuck with these jobs forever. Just like handcuffs.
Then I realized something - I've got them as bad as they have me. It's just as easy for me to 'yank' on the handcuffs and have their wrists hurt as it is the other way around. This thought cheered me up as I realized that I still had some power, and therefore control over my own professional life here. Not a lot of control - just as much as you get with a pair of handcuffs.