Any programmers out there being required to work Y2K rollover?

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Are there any programmers or systems analysts out there that are currently employed (not self-employed and not the boss), that are being required to work the roll-over in a putting out fires capacity? If so, are you gonna do it? What conditions/scenarios will have to obtain before you refuse to go to work? What if you don't go and Y2K turns out not to be worst-case? I don't wanna hear any polly/doomer sh*t. Just straight talk from level heads please. This is of more than a passing interest in my situation as I am an evil programmer (do I see any villagers with torches and pitchforks?) with just such an edict from the PHB's. I am concerned for my safety enroute to work and on the job. If I don't go, and I'm wrong, I may loose my job. If I don't do all I can to help, how do I face myself?

-- Heidi Abromowitz (Annie@nonmouse.com), November 11, 1999

Answers

Yes. I'm required to be on call during the period. Of course I'm going to do it. I want to retain my job if things aren't as bad as I think they're going to be. If I don't think it's safe then I wont go in (electricity out, phone out, riots, etc). And I'll expect my company to back me up (good thing I'm reasonably prepared for no pay). Luckily I live in a pretty decent town/city in Idaho so I'm not too worried (about riots). If I was required to show up for work in WDC, NY, LA, etc. then I'd be having a family crisis that required me to be out of town for a couple of months. M2C

-- anonymous (anonymous@anonymous.com), November 12, 1999.

I was going to be required to work it - on site - in my previous job. We did process control and DMS systems for factories, oil/gas distribution networks and power stations. Because the stations and distribution networks had invested much more in Y2K, they were confident that they wouldn't need us, and ALSO understood that there was basically nothing we could do even if we were on site. Any idea how much paperwork is involved in making a one-character change to a lowly PES 1 compliant system in a nuke plant? You're talking about a dozen people and three months under normal circumstances. Forget about highly skilled programmers pulling your nuts out of the fire if things do go pear shaped on rollover, it just isn't going to happen.

It was the smaller businesss and factories that were starting to panic and request (or "require" as some put it) having people on site. Again, there was bugger all we could do if their PLC's or systems failed, they just wanted to have tech monkeys on hand to make them feel better.

I left that job a couple of months ago for another development job. My current employer will not be requiring me to work the rollover, but I am an in-office developer now, with no site contact. I dunno about the field engineers.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.


Heidi

My company has A BUNCH of folks on-site for the rollover. Normally, I'm a 9-5er. New Years weekend I get to work 7:00pm -7:00am Friday, Monday and Tuesday.

Not really looking forward to it, but I'll be there.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), November 12, 1999.


Heidi,

Your question is one that I have thought long and hard about during the past six months or so. As of this moment, my employeer is still undetermined as to the actions which will be done for the actual rollover itself. We have really just begun the critical thought process of the expected steps of the week before, the night of, and the first days after the rollover.

First, there were talks of having everyone of us IT types on site, just in case. Next came the discussions of powering down all systems, to be booted the following morning. Now the talk seems to be leaning toward shutting down all applications with the exception of e-mail.

The data center that I would control isn't in the best part of town, and is located on the extreme edge of my work "complex". I feel uneasy being there in daylight many days. However, when I am required to be there at night, I do have "police" to guard me when I am in transit outside of the building. The building itself is locked and secure. The data center itself is in an old bomb shelter.

If I am required to be on site, then yes I will be there. My son will be with me. At least I know that my physical location is strong and secure. I am more worried about the drive back home, with all the drunks and general hell raisers on New Years Eve.

I really do not expect all the world to go to hell in a hand basket the moment midnight strikes. Sure, power could go out, but I really doubt that people would riot at that time. I believe that most people will take a wait and see attitude. I may be wrong, but I at least want to believe.

Now... if things go downhill from there, then that is another story. I would not be good for anyone if I were shot during my drive to work... now would I?

-- (cannotsay25@hotmail.com), November 12, 1999.


Heidi,

My company has required all of the IT and Process Control staff to be on-site over the New Year roll-over. I really don't want to be there but I will be. I live 22 miles from work and sure plan to have enough gasoline to get home.

I really don't think a bunch of tired personnel are going to make a lot of difference if things fall apart though. My company is totally dependent upon Electric power. No power - no job - no pay.

If things begin to look ugly around the area that I live you can bet that I am going to go look out after my family. I might get another job but I can't get back a missing family. I am a Christian and my second responsibility (first is GOD) is to my wife and then our children. No job I have ever had is worth sacrificing my family for. If however, I worked in a Critical facilty (Nuclear plant) I would have moved my family to a safer location before the New Year and then tried (at least I hope I would have the courage to do so) to do what I could to help keep a disaster from occurring. One never knows what one is made of until an emergency brings it out.

God's blessings to you on the roll-over.

wally wallman

-- wally wallman (wally_yllaw@hotmail.com), November 12, 1999.



Also see this recent thread: <:)=

Will you go to work?

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.


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