April 2003 archive

They want me to go contractor!

I had a meeting with T (managing director of INFOSEC) today. He said that they wanted me to switch over to a contractor immediately. Which is great for them: They get out of paying my three months severance. "You can then share the risk with us." Which is BS. We both know that there isn't any work for me, so it isn't sharing the risk, it's just getting out of having to honor the contract.

I'm going to see my attorney today and see what he says.

I'm so pissed, I'm steaming. Bloody bastards. Never work for someone you know.

The Lawyer Says. "Tough Luck, Kiddo"

Saw my lawyer today about this INFOSEC business. This has all just happened so quickly. I should have kept my mouth shut. How am I going to pay for all my bills?

Lawyer says that there's really nothing I can do. The contract gives them an out under "cause" which can be anything at all. So I'm screwed.

Truth is, though, I hate working here.

Summary of meeting with everyone on Friday

I had a meeting (with 1.5 hrs to prepare) sprung on me on Friday with the account exec, my project boss, the managing director, and the owner of INFOSEC. See yesterday for more. This is my reply.

No idea what I'm doing / The worst perf rev ever

I have no idea what I'm doing with this. But when you're supposed to be the project manager and the lead developer takes over all your work and everyone's jake with that, it's time to move on. I even asked him what it was that he wanted me to do. He thought for about 15 seconds, as if he couldn't really see a role for me. Then he said, "Status reports." The architect started asking him "Well, you mean manasclerk should do this and this, too, right?"

"Nope," he said. "just status reports."

I can do these reports in two hours, even when I sandbag and haven't been given any information. Two hours out of forty. And everyone seems cool.

What I Think PM Is

note:I sent the following as a follow-up to my conversation with S this week. The names are all changed so that I don't get my ass sued.

S recommend that one of the things that would be helpful was to provide y'all with some more detailed information about what I thought project management looked like. To that end, I am sending an example of a typical day for me PMing in the past.
Although I've had large clients in the past, I've never been a large company employee -- INFOSEC Corp is by far the largest consulting firm I've ever worked for. This colors my perception of projects and may be shown in this "Day in the Life" description from my Exchange/Office engineering effort for Chicago Commercial Insurance Corp (CCIC). I had ~30 engineers and writers I was responsible for at two locations, mostly. Some were seconded to deployment or support at various times. Politics, timelines and oversight were horrendous. I loved it.

Reply from BOSS

BOSS, one of my many bosses at this small consulting firm, sent a very gracious reply to me.

Does INFOSEC Really Want What I Have To Offer?

I just sent this message today. I can't continue to work someplace that I am truly not wanted. I just don't see that they want what I have to sell.