Facebook sets table for tech workers

[discocrisco01]

Source: UPI

Facebook is using gastronomy to lure top tech workers its way in a battle of perks that's been waged since the 1950s, U.S. corporate culture experts say.

Since then Silicon Valley companies such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM culled the best and the brightest tech minds by earning their respect and loyalty with little extras, The New York Times reported Friday.

Facebook has pushed aside free massages and Aeron chairs in favor of what every 20-something really wants -- a stomach full of free, gourmet food prepared by a top chef who knows what he's doing.

"The thinking for us is, what can we do to make our employees' lives easier so they can focus on the job?" said Kathleen Loughlin, a Facebook spokeswoman. "They come into work and don't have to worry about packing a lunch


Read more: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/12/26/Facebook-sets-table-for-tech-workers/UPI-43221261878266/

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. Coddled wimps.

Grow up and pack your own damn lunches.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Hey man, if you can get it from your employer for free, you'd be a sucker not to eat your fill n/t

[lapfog_1]

4. There is a reason for the catered food.

Almost all Silicon valley workers are salaried, not hourly. The reason for the free food and free drinks (with an emphasis on caffeinated sodas and energy drinks) is to get you to keep working. Not unusual for someone to get in at 9am and not leave until 11pm or midnight. 12 hours or more, sometimes 6 days or even 7 days a week. Most office park areas are a long ways (time wise, not distance) from restaurants and / or home, so the management would much rather you stay at your desk and keep working on stuff. Cheap really, for the extra hours they get from their employees.

I remember when SGI had the best workplace food in the valley, then it was Google, now Facebook.

[eilen]

5. Boy, I wish hospitals would think of that

us nurses do get hungry and are often unable to take a 30 minute break to go to the cafeteria. At night the cafe is closed. When we do bring prepared pans of food, the residents eat most of it (they are starving too). We are easy to please-- finger food works best, it does not need to be gourmet but we prefer it be healthy. We are often asked to work hours outside our shift, it's hard to do when your blood sugar is bottoming out.

I wonder if they could put that in the healthcare bill.... Maybe we'll be able to recruit more young people to nursing. There has to be some perks besides being able to wear pajamas and comfortable shoes to work.

[w4rma]

6. It's to get more hours out of them. You're hatred of smart people blinds you to that. (nt)

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. "'You're' hatred"? LOL That's rich! (n/t)

[dragonanchor]

3. delete

[Odin2005]

8. Nice to see there are still some companies that treat thier workers well.

[Brickbat]

9. I'm curious what their work lives are like.

If it's full of 12- to 15-hour days, I wouldn't say they're being treated very well, and if they think that gourmet meals make up for it, they're being played for chumps.