Corporate "doom and gloom" contingency planning

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

Had to share this experience. I went on an interview today (I'm currently consulting on a Y2K project that is winding down and will be available for work in 3 weeks or so). My resume has 2 such positions listed. Naturally, the subject of Y2K came up. The interviewer told me of their company's contingency plans. They are a third-party data processor for ATM and other transactions, mainframe-reliant (Tandem). They have severe penalties if they fail to deliver in a timely fashion, power outages are "not an option". So, they have 7 large generators (2 recently added), with backups for some. They plan to "stockpile" lots of fuel on-site. They need to purchase large tanks for this purpose. To protect their "stash" of fuel, they have considered (seriously) having weapons available on-site, which apparently will be distributed to select employees.

I was stunned! I reacted calmly, however, with a smile and a "Hope you don't have to use them" comment. The rest of the interview went well, with lots of Y2K chit-chat sprinkled in occasionally (all initiated by the interviewer).

Just thought I'd share what one company plans to do. Of course, it's "prudent" and "necessary" for them; it's radical and dangerous for individuals to do the same...

-- regular (zzz@z.z), June 18, 1999

Answers

Regular,

What was the guy smoking? Crack?! Armed security guards/service is tax deductible to businesses. Various firearms for use by select employees are not deductible. Likely, this ain't legal. I wouldn't want to work for such total idiots... unless they paid lots of money and I was out before firearms arrived. This seems ripe for investigation by the ATF.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), June 18, 1999.


P.S. Guard dogs may not even be allowable as a deduction by the IRS... unless they can demonstrate that sufficient man power was considerably more expensive than the trained guard dogs.

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), June 18, 1999.

Actually it is legal for employees to arm themselves (even concealed) in a private business with the employer's ok.

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), June 19, 1999.

Stan, Kristi is right. Employers can allow employees to carry but they are responsible legally for any misuse of force, etc. by the employee.

Can't you just see the CEO handing out riot guns to the accounting department and telling them "go out there and don't come back without diesel or toilet paper!!!"

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "hostile takeover" don't it?

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), June 19, 1999.


hey...but will the workers even show up for work?

Mike ====================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), June 19, 1999.



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