Software houses with high staff turnover - I dislike it- but they still make millions

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jxharding

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I'm aware of a few software houses with huge staff turnovers (JHB/CT/PLZ/DBN). Developers are underpaid, unhappy with hours, unhappy because they dont get promoted and sit on junior or mid-level for too long, and eventually they move on to other companies and badmouth the place where they left.

Now I dislike developers being treated like crap since I am a developer. But the truth is that the companies in question are actually growing their client base, growing their staff complement, and making a bigger profit each year.

So the developers come again : "They'll only last for a few months more" or "Its just luck and they will go down eventually".

How do these guys sleep at night? Very well actually, in a big house on a very expensive bed.
How long will they be able to treat staff like crap? Been doing it for 10 years , why stop when the going is good?

Have you been treated like crap? Have you worked at a place with high staff turnover?
Has the company succeeded in growing even with staff leaving? Did a staff member leaving, actually have an effect on the companies turnover?

I honestly cant fathom how these companies get away with it , but reality is that they do.
 
Unfortunately its a model that works... you need drones.

I'm not going to waste my time with a place like that, but if I really needed work I would suck it up.
 
This is unfortunately a very rough trade :D, and the companies just want to shine. Although I have never experienced it it must really suck though
 
Agreed, it does work - unfortunately.

I think that developers would like to be regarded as important, perhaps even with a specific skillset that could help a company he/she works for to move forward, whilst some companies see developers as replacable labour. Kind of like ransom - the company wont budge / give in to demands made by someone who can be replaced by someone as good in a 30-60 day time period.

I've seen one or two developers move away after being treated like crap, to start their own companies and perhaps even take away a few customers. Some of the break-aways have worked, others not. Rough trade like @byron_spy says.
 
We could make a fuss and badmouth the organizations but in reality those companies will just outsource to India.


I think at the end of the day the quality of the product will be a reflection of the quality of the resources. If the quality is still there then it means they are still doing it right.
 
I dont think developers are discerning enough about where they work. Too many of them accept jobs like this, knowing what they are like, and stay there, despite ranting every day about how much they hate it. Yet, we all know there is a MASSIVE skills shortage. In short, if you dont like it, leave! Otherwise you are just part of the problem. If suddenly these companies found they could not find enough staff to trade anymore, they would have to change their business practices.
 
3 developers left where I work and I've been there 5 months, one actually paid to leave because he left earlier than his contract term.
Reasons for leaving are payment, newer technologies and their new companies pay for their studies.

I respect my boss, how he runs his business but he probably knows more than me that I'd jump ship at the next decent opportunity, once I've finished my contract period.
 
My first job was at a small dev house (4 devs). The increases were very small and at the end of two years (after I had to go and ask) I was told there would be no increase. I packed my **** and left. They closed down 7 months later.

1. Yes, my boss was a twat.
2. They didn't close down because I left them, I just dodged a bullet.
3. The fact that I didn't get a raise was actually a good thing. Devs outgrow these small startups which simply cannot afford you. This forces you to move on.
 
Out of curiosity which programming languages & technologies did you guys use when you were working for the hire, fire & low salary crowd?
 
I would bet the technologies would be the same as used elsewhere. The difference is not in the technology, but in the attitude. So it would be things like C#, Java, SQL Server, etc.
 
Gnome said:
Out of curiosity which programming languages & technologies did you guys use when you were working for the hire, fire & low salary crowd?
Click to expand...

I have been in the industry for about 15 years. I have yet to end up in one of these companies. SA or the UK. Amazing how some developers manage to only work in them. Guess im just lucky......
 
zippy said:
I have been in the industry for about 15 years. I have yet to end up in one of these companies. SA or the UK. Amazing how some developers manage to only work in them. Guess im just lucky......
Click to expand...

Thats what I call making the right choices :D

As a developer you always have a choice, its scary the amount of work now available for senior developers

Luckily I am in my comfort zone :whistle:

If you end up in a company that doesn't "feel" right it was your choice though ....
 
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