Wow, my company is a bit vicious

[Martin]

So I work for a smallish (150 people) startup-like tech company, that happens to have a particular culture. The CEO and CTO are profs from the university and the place is a bit academic - it's very demanding and competitive, saying anything without backing it up will get you into trouble, but its also pretty open and informal.

I started here a bit over a year ago on a team of about 10 people and a few minutes ago they just let another one of my workmates go - 5th one since I've started. Now, one of the people that was fired really deserved it - he was a nice guy and a hard worker, but he was just a little on the stupid side, but the rest were just average. And of course, this isn't due to the economy or anything, they've hired someone for everyone they've fired and they're still looking to hire more people.

I just find a 50% turnover rate a bit odd, certainly haven't seen it in other places I've worked.

 

[TallBill]

You're next, they know who you are. Never speak against the company.

 

[sactoking]

Sounds like your managers don't know how to manage and prefer to pass the buck instead.

 

[rsd]

Originally posted by: sactoking
Sounds like your managers don't know how to manage and prefer to pass the buck instead.

Or they are poor at evaluating new hires.

 

[TheoPetro]

recessions are the perfect time for companies to clean house. They get rid of the under performing asshats and they have a pool of new applicants to chose from. That pool is filled with more skilled workers during a recession than it is during good times. I would expect the turnover rate to drop once things start picking up

 

[sygyzy]

A place that has that high of a turnover rate means either a) they are hiring dumb people or b) bad management. In fact, A = B. I wouldn't look at it as your co-workers are dumb. I would look at it as you better get out of that company.

 

[Redfraggle]

This is too little information for me to really make an educated comment. It could be they have reasons, could be they are fools. Hiring new people costs more money, but if money isn't an issue then they won't care. A turnover rate like that is going to hurt morale as well, because people will not feel secure.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: TallBill
You're next, they know who you are. Never speak against the company.

Nah, I tried to quit some months ago and they had to convince me to stay.

Originally posted by: sactoking
Sounds like your managers don't know how to manage and prefer to pass the buck instead.

I think its partially a by-product of growing hiring too fast - ie quadrupling the size of the company in about 2 years. But overall I think its good - you make a mistake in hiring, you should fix it.

 

[Crusty]

Been at my company for 3 years now... not a single person fired... but to be fair, there's only 2 paid employees

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: TheoPetro
recessions are the perfect time for companies to clean house. They get rid of the under performing asshats and they have a pool of new applicants to chose from. That pool is filled with more skilled workers during a recession than it is during good times. I would expect the turnover rate to drop once things start picking up

as well as willing to work for a lower salary, since times are tough.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
A place that has that high of a turnover rate means either a) they are hiring dumb people or b) bad management. In fact, A = B. I wouldn't look at it as your co-workers are dumb. I would look at it as you better get out of that company.

A -> B, but A != B.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
A place that has that high of a turnover rate means either a) they are hiring dumb people or b) bad management. In fact, A = B. I wouldn't look at it as your co-workers are dumb. I would look at it as you better get out of that company.

Those are not the only two options, and, in fact, high turnover is part of the business model for some organizations. I doubt it would be in this case, but it is for some.

I have no idea what it is in this case, since the OP is greatly lacking in details.

 

[nageov3t]

is the management just so academically focused that they're bad managers?

being able to manage a department well and get your coworkers to perform at their full potential is about more than just knowing the technical details of a project or something.

my current boss is a little like that... he really knows his shit, but he's just so bad at managing the non-technical department details that pretty much everyone I work with is unhappy and work quality is suffering as a result because who wants to go above and beyond when all it's going to do is set you up for criticism? (ie: a few weeks ago I was working in a rack with terrrrible cable management because it was setup by someone who was quickly fired for sucking. but in an existing rack with live servers, there's only so much you can do without disrupting any services. I did what I could to clean it up and all it got me was a chewing out because it wasn't 100% up to our rack standards)

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Martin
So I work for a smallish (150 people) startup-like tech company, that happens to have a particular culture. The CEO and CTO are profs from the university and the place is a bit academic - it's very demanding and competitive, saying anything without backing it up will get you into trouble, but its also pretty open and informal.

I started here a bit over a year ago on a team of about 10 people and a few minutes ago they just let another one of my workmates go - 5th one since I've started. Now, one of the people that was fired really deserved it - he was a nice guy and a hard worker, but he was just a little on the stupid side, but the rest were just average. And of course, this isn't due to the economy or anything, they've hired someone for everyone they've fired and they're still looking to hire more people.

I just find a 50% turnover rate a bit odd, certainly haven't seen it in other places I've worked.

you've never worked in a call center then. turnover rates are extremely high in those jobs.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: TheoPetro
recessions are the perfect time for companies to clean house. They get rid of the under performing asshats and they have a pool of new applicants to chose from. That pool is filled with more skilled workers during a recession than it is during good times. I would expect the turnover rate to drop once things start picking up

as well as willing to work for a lower salary, since times are tough.

What happens when the economy recovers? You think a bunch of high quality, underpaid workers are going to stick around when jobs become plentiful again?

 

[Newbian]

Sounds like we need to blow the whistle on you... oh wait wrong op.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Originally posted by: loki8481
is the management just so academically focused that they're bad managers?

being able to manage a department well and get your coworkers to perform at their full potential is about more than just knowing the technical details of a project or something.

my current boss is a little like that... he really knows his shit, but he's just so bad at managing the non-technical department details that pretty much everyone I work with is unhappy and work quality is suffering as a result because who wants to go above and beyond when all it's going to do is set you up for criticism? (ie: a few weeks ago I was working in a rack with terrrrible cable management because it was setup by someone who was quickly* fired for sucking*. but in an existing rack with live servers, there's only so much you can do without disrupting any services. I did what I could to clean it up and all it got me was a chewing out because it wasn't 100% up to our rack standards)

At my company, that could get you promoted.

 

[imported_six]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: sygyzy
A place that has that high of a turnover rate means either a) they are hiring dumb people or b) bad management. In fact, A = B. I wouldn't look at it as your co-workers are dumb. I would look at it as you better get out of that company.

Those are not the only two options, and, in fact, high turnover is part of the business model for some organizations. I doubt it would be in this case, but it is for some.

I have no idea what it is in this case, since the OP is greatly lacking in details.

Yup, I was a contractor at a bank back office where management is always bringing in temps, train them for a month, and letting them go a few months after. The ones who become permanent employees are the ones who put in 9-10 hours a day for 8 hours pay....short lunch, no breaks, etc. After years of weeding out, the permanent employees are the best folks I ever worked with.

Just wanted to add that it was 5-10 new faces every month, and 2-3 permanent employees a year.