(no subject)

[erunamiryene.livejournal.com]

So.

You want me to be proficient, speedy, and provide the high level of network support that my users have come to expect now that you hired someone who actually shows up for work and knows what they're doing.

However ...

You refuse to procure tools I need to do my job. Like ... bulk cable. RJ45 connectors. A Fluke. Crimpers. A basic tool kit. I don't even have SCREWDRIVERS. You're lucky I kept my multi-tool from the Marine Corps, or those hard drives sure wouldn't have been removed from those laptops.

And seriously, telling me I need to go buy a Fluke, toolkit, bulk cable, "Oh, and it's probably a good idea to pick up one of those tools that lets you identify what wall jack connects to which port on the patch panel, you might need that tool," and tips out of MY OWN money, and you "might" reimburse me? Might? Really? Really?

/headdesk

Comments

What part of

[emt-hawk.livejournal.com]

"time for a rousing game of 'hide and go frag yourself'" don't they understand?

I've never priced a fox and hound, so I have no idea what they cost. Unless you're testing signal decay on a long cable, especially one already in the wall, you don't need a Fluke Meter. You can pick up a cheap cable tester from Amazon or Think Geek. I bought one, and it's paid for itself already, just by being able to prove a patch cable is/is not good. That one cost me ~$40.00, and my GF bought the same one for $8.99 plus shipping, IIRC. It's not fancy, but it does the job, and has paid for itself in time saved when she had to determine if a cable in the wall was broken or not, and then to replace the cable tip. It was her first time to build a cable, and to have a tool that would test it for her was a godsend.

To be honest, I have always brought my own tools to the job, and when I buy stuff for the job, that's not consumable, I pay for it myself. Mostly because that way when I leave, I'm taking my tools with me. If I want/need a cable tester for work, I probably want one for home, and there's no sense in buying one for work, that's going to get frelled up because no one cares about it. Plus when the new guy shows up, he has to deal with the fact that there's no tools here, and it's not my problem.

As far as them not paying for stuff you leave in their offices, like cable and parts, that would give me vision problems. Like I couldn't see that happening. If they won't pay for their infrastructure, are they going to pay for you?

--H

Re: What part of

[emt-hawk.livejournal.com]

Oh, and just to be helpful...

cable tester link.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C4RTCK/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

--H

Re: What part of

[erunamiryene.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thank you. :D

Re: What part of

[erunamiryene.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm having problems with cables that are in the wall, which is why I *attempted* to request a Fluke. They'll spend thousands of dollars on shitty Lexmark all-in-ones, which haven't worked for fully half the time the offices have had them, but I can't get shit that I thought almost all network offices had (apparently, the military spoiled me or something).

I'm definitely going to check out the tester on Amazon/TG, though. That should help a little.

I actually don't do nearly as much tech stuff at home as I do at work; I have my wireless network, the cable runs maybe a total foot from my router to my wireless, and that's that. Otherwise, I probably would have had most of this stuff by now. /sigh

I'm just generally annoyed by the management in this company.

Re: What part of

[jokergirl.livejournal.com]

Lexmark all-in-ones?
I got one for -free- with my last computer. I threw it out instead of buying new cartridges. That's how shitty those are. >.<;

;)

Re: What part of

[jjjiii]

This.

The really nice thing about owning your own tools is that when you get fed up you can do the "take your ball and go home" thing. Let them figure out how to do the job without you AND with no tools. That'll show them.

[kuangning]

I would buy the non-consumable items; they'll come in very handy for freelancing once this company goes the hell under because they're idiots, and you can include them as expenses on your taxes. :P The cable, connectors, and the like, however, they had better shell out for. Really.

[erunamiryene.livejournal.com]

once this company goes the hell under because they're idiots

/snrk ... I work for the DoD. XD I'm not disputing the fact that they're idiots, that's for sure. :D

[kuangning]

Oh. Well, that would explain a lot. They can afford to be idiots because thier jobs aren't going anywhere. The rest of it still stands though.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

or so they think...

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

What makes you think they're not going to go bankrupt the way things are going?

[erunamiryene.livejournal.com]

That is an excellent point.

[greeklady.livejournal.com]

Yep buy your own toys. Label them and keep them under lock and key. Oh and say no when someone wants to borrow them. And the fluke I would bring home every night.

Ok my two cents. I did that at one shop and they tried to keep my tools as I was leaving. I laughed in their face in such a frightening way they let go and I walked. It is stupid to have to resort to such tactics.

[kuangning]

They seriously tried to keep the tools you had bought out of your own money? On what grounds?

[greeklady.livejournal.com]

They tried to say they supplied the tools. Only the sony shop provided me with tools. All others I brought my own.

[kuangning]

Bleah.

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

I've always had to provide my own tools. I've gotten it down to a science now, a Swiss Champ XLT in my pocket so I always have at least a basic set of tools, a customized Belkin tool kit with about 95% of the tools I'll ever need, and a suitcase filled with the remaining obscure odds and ends like testers and drive adapters and stuff I need only occasionally.

Consumables like cable and connectors or anything the company expects to keep, the company should be paying for.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Hmm.. two approaches here.

1] don't buy anything, keep telling them you can't do your job because you don't have tool XYZ and cannot afford it on what they pay you. Wait for them to get the hint one way or another.

2] Buy tools, claim for expenses against taxes, put in for reimbursement just after submitting tax form and hope...Keep said tools where only you can get to them [toolbox & padlock] and take them with you when/if you leave. Let them buy consumables like cables.

[mr-scoot.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'd take them with you every time you go home. Never know when they'll do the "So sorry your ID badge won't unlock the door, you've been terminated" routine.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Good point...and really, given that you never know when you'll need said tools, you're probably better just keeping them with you at all times anyway.

Of course, you might want to slim that toolkit down a bit...

[jokergirl.livejournal.com]

Ohhh WTF. Frag 'em.
*waves btw*
And I thought my day was full of job WTF. This one actually beats it.

Agreed on the cable testers though, those are lovely.

;)

[jokergirl.livejournal.com]

Question though: Can you ask someone else who works there and regularly buys bulk material how they do it? Maybe it's a routine thing that you can slip through the cracks if you bill it to the right spot :P

[tuba-man.livejournal.com]

We've got a toolkit in the office, but random bits disappear from time to time. I got a giant-ass toolkit as a gift from my dad and if that toolbox is unlocked, it doesn't leave my sight. Just in case.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

You refuse to procure tools I need to do my job. Like ... bulk cable. RJ45 connectors

I bet there's a zillion cables already terminated and stuck in some box of blinkenlights in the wiring closet. No one will miss a couple....

[cjkline83.livejournal.com]

hahaha

hopefully it's a backbone cable.