Okay so this thread might get puilled ... but ... time for a disgruntled Psion (pronounced Piss-on) and Symbian survivers wingefest ...
10 years ago I worked for Psion for 2 years when I was young and naive and a nastier group of people I've never met. The directors thought they owned the company - cos they did - and treated staff like dirt. Abuse was commonplace. Physical intimidation (being pushed out of the way) was not unknown. Bullying was commonplace. Colleagues were so competitive they wouldn't give you the time of day. Salary was poor. Why did anyone stay? In my experience the directors were downright nasty and created a cult of personality around themselves, with staff expected to worship them, and God help those who didn't.
Well recently I've met an ex-Symbian employee and an ex-Psion/Symbian employee. According to one Psion had a paranoid and unfriendly atmosphere with rudeness the norm. Basically a horrible place. The managers put up signs saying "Treat others as you would yourselves" because the atmosphere was so bad. According to the other Symbian was unfriendly though not hostile, with no career progression, and no prospects, due to being given little bits of self contained work using proprietary technology. People routinely left due to the lack of a career. Even Indian contractors left! Apparently all the senior developers left to go to Microsoft. (Presumably offered high salaries to try and kill off Symbian?)
Anyone worked at Psion/Symbian? How can a company care so little about the staff welfare and careers? Haven't they woken up to reality.
It sounds like a cliche, but provide interesting careers and respect people, and they'll stay and do good work. Piss on 'em, and they'll flee.
Fungus.
10 years ago I worked for Psion for 2 years when I was young and naive and a nastier group of people I've never met. The directors thought they owned the company - cos they did - and treated staff like dirt. Abuse was commonplace. Physical intimidation (being pushed out of the way) was not unknown. Bullying was commonplace. Colleagues were so competitive they wouldn't give you the time of day. Salary was poor. Why did anyone stay? In my experience the directors were downright nasty and created a cult of personality around themselves, with staff expected to worship them, and God help those who didn't.
Well recently I've met an ex-Symbian employee and an ex-Psion/Symbian employee. According to one Psion had a paranoid and unfriendly atmosphere with rudeness the norm. Basically a horrible place. The managers put up signs saying "Treat others as you would yourselves" because the atmosphere was so bad. According to the other Symbian was unfriendly though not hostile, with no career progression, and no prospects, due to being given little bits of self contained work using proprietary technology. People routinely left due to the lack of a career. Even Indian contractors left! Apparently all the senior developers left to go to Microsoft. (Presumably offered high salaries to try and kill off Symbian?)
Anyone worked at Psion/Symbian? How can a company care so little about the staff welfare and careers? Haven't they woken up to reality.
It sounds like a cliche, but provide interesting careers and respect people, and they'll stay and do good work. Piss on 'em, and they'll flee.
Fungus.
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