High Tech Employers In Austin - Best & Worst? (Portland: layoffs, purchases)

[jeffslaw]

I've been working as a Sys Admin at a semiconductor fab in Portland, OR for 10 years. I know things are tight right now, but I love Austin & am looking for a chance to relocate with my family. I'd be interested to hear feedback from the locals about the the Tech companies in Austin. If you work high tech (or know someone who does), which places are employees the happiest? Are there places that have very low employee morale?

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by jeffslaw

I've been working as a Sys Admin at a semiconductor fab in Portland, OR for 10 years. I know things are tight right now, but I love Austin & am looking for a chance to relocate with my family. I'd be interested to hear feedback from the locals about the the Tech companies in Austin. If you work high tech (or know someone who does), which places are employees the happiest? Are there places that have very low employee morale?

This is just one person's opinion. But I know people who have worked in many tech companies - hardware and software.

Companies people generally seem to enjoy working for:

AMD
Applied Materials
Apple
Freescale
Silicon Labs
BMC Software
Motive
IBM

Companies people generally dislike working for:

Dell
Many startups over the years
Vignette

I'd say people are neutral on:

IBM
HP (old Tandem/Compaq)

[centralaustinite]

I'd say that huffdano is generally right!

I can say that I have never known a happy Dell employee! And I have known dozens who work at all levels and this includes folks who are working there today.

[Jennibc]

Most of our friends that work at Freescale don't really have nice things to say about it.

[iceshots]

I don't think that anyone working for high tech right now is really happy with their employer, especially in the semiconductor industry.

All employers have had to tighten belts and cut costs, and that has usually meant taking something away from the employees. This can be in the form of layoffs, reduced benefits, eliminate 401K matching, eliminate stock plans, reduce or eliminate perks, get tougher on in office purchases etc.

There will also be a mentality that you have to put in more hours and can't complain. Be glad you have a job. So you're free time gets taken away as well.

With the economy sort of recovering, and the inventory glut being washed out of the supply chain, orders are starting to pick up and therefore company profits should start to increase again. That will be the time where the workplace starts to get happier as the budget pressures ease off.

All in all, most companies will stay true to their values, within reason. Therefore places that were good to work for in the past, will probably become so once again.

[Cupcake77]

Does IBM have office mothers? I heard that years ago, didn't know if there was any truth to that or not.

[austinite45]

what do you mean by "office mothers"?

[Trainwreck20]

Most of our friends that work at Freescale don't really have nice things to say about it.

Actually, I have family and quite a few friends that work there, and although it is not the perfect place (what is?) they are quite happy, relatively speaking. There is pretty much a 10% paycut in effect, but a 10% additional time off (it is really just unpaid leave). Although there have been layoffs, everyone I know thinks that they are trying pretty hard to minimize losses (such as through pay cuts instead of layoffs).

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Actually, I have family and quite a few friends that work there, and although it is not the perfect place (what is?) they are quite happy, relatively speaking. There is pretty much a 10% paycut in effect, but a 10% additional time off (it is really just unpaid leave). Although there have been layoffs, everyone I know thinks that they are trying pretty hard to minimize losses (such as through pay cuts instead of layoffs).

I suppose it has to do with which division employs the person. When my husband worked there (as Motorola) it had gone through two major reorgs in 18 months so there was all sorts of hate and discontent at that time. One of our friends was recently laid off (obviously he's not pleased) and two others are waiting for the economy to turn around so they can switch jobs.

[Cupcake77]

Originally Posted by austinite45

what do you mean by "office mothers"?

The rumor years ago because IBM employeed guys who were computer programers from MIT, they were super papmered and the compnay hired office mothers to take care of them. They would bring them lunch, snacks, magazines, run errands etc...