combat pay

for the IT depertment

[LifeinAsia]

If you're in IT support, you've probably gone through the drill. The server (or network or Internet connection or whatever) goes down and it's *YOUR* fault. Everyone is screaming at you and the phone is ringing off the hook with people asking if the Internet is down. And the boss calls and asks why it took you so long to pick up the phone.

Granted, the problem may actually fall under your duties, but often the problem is completely out of your control and there is NOTHING you can do about it. For example, the ISP where your servers are located lost power and their backup system failed, or some local minimum wage workers accidentally snipped the T1 line into your office. (Or my favorite- a major router on the backbone between you and the server goes down so that your office can't get to the site, but most of the rest of the world can.) People are working on fixing the problem, but the whiole office is screaming at you because *YOU* are not actively fixing the problem.

You know that calling your ISP every 2 minutes for a status update does absolutely nothing to help the problem get fixed. In fact, you know from your own experience that being bugged every 2 minutes often PREVENTS you from fixing the problem, or at least slows down the resolution. So you don't want to piss off the people who you rely on to fix things, yet the whole office is screaming at you to do exactly that.

Of course, your mutterings about "This is exactly why I have been recommending for years for a redundant T1 line..." or "I TOLD you not to use that ISP..." go completely unheeded.

Sorry, just needed a little rant. :)

So, in addition to my rant, I'd like to ask what your preferred method of dealing with someone else's crisis is. Do you:
A) Pick up the phone and pretend to be talking to someone to fix the problem, even though you didn't dial it. (This also keeps your peers and bosses from calling you every 2 seconds for updates.)
B) Close and lock your door, pull the shades, unplug your phone, turn off your cell/pager, shutdown your computer(s), and take a nap.
C) Tell your boss you have to leave the building to fix the problem, then go to Starbucks and try to hide until the problem gets fixed.
D) Go ballistic and scream at everyone the shut the &*#$ up because there's absolutely nothing you can do to fix the problem.
E) Calmly announce that you've sabotaged the server (Internet connection/whatever) until you get the 20% raise you've been demanding.
F) Use the post-emergency evaluation to push through your demands for an emergency backup plan that includes lots of "toys" you've been wanting.
G) Or... Add your preferred method here!

[edited by: LifeinAsia at 5:59 pm (utc) on Aug. 23, 2006]

[rocknbil]

with people asking if the Internet is down

My personal favorite. "Yeah, the whole Internet is down, Osama Bin Laden is holding it ransom."

We used to have an internal IM system, we let off steam by comparing notes or answers to the stupid questions. Like

"Yeah, I tripped over the Internet cord."
"What Internet?"
"Yeah it's weird. I've never seen anything like this before in my life." (This tends to really scare the crap out of people. You're their lifeline. If you don't know what's going on, the world is about to implode.)
"I don't know. Drop me 5K in cash and I might get smart enough to tell you."

You have to assume a sense of humor with those positions or you'll wind up pulling option D. If you pull option D, you will know what it's like to quit smoking. The least little thing and people blame it on your "issues." You're then ostracized daily and the only way to undo it is to find another job.

[smells so good]

In this order, D C B.

Although for C, that isn't usually what I tell the boss, and believe it not we don't have a Starbucks within walking distance.

Anything after D is OK. No one wants to talk to me after I've just gone ballistic. I may have to try the "haven't ever seen anything like it" line. I can always go ballistic when they check back in 10 minutes.

[MamaDawg]

(Argh - shudder - that post just gave me a bad flashback!)

I personally used to hide in the ladies room, but that may not be an option for everyone here ;). I guess B woud be the closest equivalent

Actually, in a crisis like that anyone pestering was asked to leave, anyone screaming at me was ignored and anyone making ridiculous requests was refused - I figured since regardless or where the blame actually lay I'd catch h*** for it at the 8 AM meeting the next day, might as well let them whine about my attitude while they were at it ...

Followed by F.

[Essex_boy]

Worked with an IT guy who when problems occured would sit down and talk himself through it! Probably quite a good idea, but it was freaky as hell when I saw him do it the first time.

Thought he'd cracked.

[superpower]

Hehe...this reminds me of when I was an employee. Ah, the memories.