November 26, 2008     DespreFirme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

Bate criza economica la usa si, da, n-am prea vrea sa-i deschidem. Asadar, initiativa romanului e sa contracareze valul de peste mari si tari cu un fel de ultra-nationalism, adica se bate moneda (iarasi) pe brandul Romania.

De re-brand-uirea Romaniei nu e prima oara cand auzim, dar acum rage mandria nationala in romani mai tare ca niciodata. Frica de golirea buzunarelor le-a bagat in cap autohtonilor ca intoarcerea la o economie inchisa ar fi de bun augur. Sa cumpere romanul doar produse romanesti - exprimat reductionist, cam asa suna indemnul popular. Si, mai pe larg: dezlegare la carnatii trandafir, branza de burduf si sarmalute!

Ne trece pe la urechi daca ascultam Radio Guerilla, si prin fata ochilor daca ne pisca interesul sa deschidem un chain email. Si, serios vorbind, nu ar fi nimic rau in a ne plia dupa strategia constructorilor astora de opinie – daca ar fi cat de cat realist scenariul! Am da dovada de spirit ecologic, mandrie nationala; dar, daca ne si gandim inainte de a urma chemarea turmei, vom realiza ca e greu de imaginat o lume paralela in care asa ceva ar putea fi infaptuit.

Intrebarea pe care ar trebui sa ne-o punem este: cum iti dai seama ce-i nascut, crescut in tarisoara asta si ce-i importat? Daca etichetarea produselor s-ar face mai responsabil, daca marketarea produselor romanesti ar avea mai multa vlaga in promovare, da. Insa de prea multe ori practica “lipeste peste” a sters orice urma a originilor unui produs. Eticheta din productie, de la mama ei, pierde orice valoare cand ajunge pe rafturile magazinelor.

Pleosc, se stanteaza o noua eticheta, imprimata cu datele importatorului, peste informatia initiala. Si, abracadabra, consumatorul a pierdut orice urma de control asupra a ceea ce ingurgiteaza: pe principiul seamana dar nu rasare, nu ai nici o garantie ca ce suna a fi de factura italieneasca nu provine de fapt din stepele rusesti. Iar nici macar trambitata Uniune Europeana nu-si intinde tentaculele peste rafturile romanesti: etichetarea produselor e o spita din umbrela legiferarilor interne, si cat de mult isi apara ea poporul de rafalele externe e discutabil.

Asa ca, in loc sa se sune goarna-n tara ca invazia de produse straine e semnul apocalipsei economice, mai bine sa se taie raul de la radacina: o campanie mai cu scaun la cap ar fi una care sa ceara etichetarea rezonabila, si, deci, edificarea romanilor cu privire la ce baga-n cos zi de zi.

Inainte sa discriminam impotriva lumii-ntregi, sa se faca lumina pe propriile rafturi!

November 5, 2008     Angajati, Angajatori, Cariera, DespreFirme, Firme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

De curand, criza financiara a ajuns si in Romania. Aproximativ 4.200 de disponibilizari colective au fost facute in lunile august si septembrie, cu 15% mai multe comparativ cu intervalul similar al anului trecut, potrivit datelor centralizate de Agentia Nationala de Ocupare a Fortei de Munca.

Mai multi producatori care lucreaza pentru export au fost nevoiti sa isi restranga activitatea ca urmare a scaderii cererii de pe pietele externe afectate de criza financiara. Mittal Steel si Automobile Dacia taie din productie pentru a se adapta cererii. Acestea sunt primele semnale venind de la gigantii economiei. Pe langa disponibilizarile operate la nivel local, criza financiara ar putea aduce in tara un numar mare de muncitori romani care lucreaza in prezent in strainatate, fapt ce ar putea avea impact asupra somajului de anul viitor.

Multe dintre companiile care activeaza pe piata locala isi reduc activitatile de recrutare, cererile de recrutare au scazut semnificativ fata de lunile precedente, iar firmele din constructii, imobiliare, retail, financiar si productie si-au modificat deja planurile de angajare, sustin specialistii in recrutare.

S-ar putea sa asistam la echilibrarea pietei fortei de munca in mod fortat. De asemenea, vom asista si la moderarea cerintelor candidatilor. Pe masura ce se vor face restructurari sau stopari de angajari, se vor diminua cerintele si, mai mult decat atat, va reveni «seriozitatea» candidatilor, dar, si aceasta, fortata de imprejurari.

November 5, 2008     DespreFirme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

Imi permit sa va prezint presedintele-ales al Statelor Unite ale Americii, Dl. Barack Obama. Fiul unui kenyan negru si al unei americane albe, Obama va deveni primul presedinte de culoare al Americii. A absolvit Facultatea de Drept Harvard si a fost primul presedinte de culoare al revistei Harvard Law Review. A scris doua carti profunde si interesante despre viata sa (le-a scris chiar el spre deosebire de majoritatea biografiilor politice de dupa JFK). Campania sa a durat aproape 18 luni. A participat la o multime de dezbateri politice televizate. A tinut sute de discursuri. A sarutat mii de copii. A strans aproape un milion de maini din toata America. A promis schimbarea si a inspirat din nou speranta in conducerea politica a Americii, din interiorul si exteriorul Statelor Unite.

Esentialul pur al democratiei a fost scos in evidenta in ultimul an. Membru al unei minoritati rasiale, cu un background social nonconformist si mijloace financiare modeste, a cladit cea mai mare organizatie politica (5 milioane de oameni au contribuit cu bani pentru campania lui Obama), a preluat controlul unui partid politic national si a fost ales pentru cel mai inalt scaun al tarii. Oponentul sau, erou de razboi si figura publica, a venit aseara in fata sustinatorilor sai, i-a avertizat ca nu va tolera huiduielile lor la auzul numelui oponentului sau (acum presedinte-ales) si a declarat ca-l va sprijini pe Obama in schimbarea Americii.

Acestea sunt lectii de viata, de maniere, de onoare, de respect, de participare, de speranta si multe altele ce pot fi invatate de catre politicienii nostri din Parlament si de catre cei care vor candida la prezidentiale. Daca ar demonstra macar jumatate din valoarea oricarui candidat american, tara aceasta ar avea foarte mult de castigat.

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Welcome, President Obama!

I would like to take the opportunity today to introduce you to the President-elect of the United Sates of America, Sen. Barack Obama. Born to a black Kenyan immigrant and a white American national, he will become America’s first President of color. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. He has written two thoughtful and readable books about his life’s journey (he wrote them himself as opposed to most political biographies, from JFK onward). He has campaigned for nearly 18 months. He has participated in over a dozen televised political debates. He has given hundreds of speeches. He has kissed thousands of babies. He has shaken nearly one million hands across the United States. He has promised change and he has inspired hope in America’s political leadership again, both inside and outside the USA.

The pure essentials of democracy were on display over the last year. A member of a minority race, from a non-conformist social background and modest economic means, built the largest grassroots political organization ever (5 million individuals contributed money to Obama’s campaign), took control over a national political party and was elected to the highest political office in the country. His opponent, a war hero and long serving public official got up in front of his supporters last night, admonished and would not tolerate their boos at the mention of his opponent’s (and now his President –elect’s) name, and committed his full and total support for Obama to bring change to America.

There are lessons of life, of manners, of honor, of respect, of participation, of hope and many others to be learned by our politicians in the current parliamentary and the spring’s Presidential elections. May they demonstrate themselves to be even half the value of either American candidate and this country would benefit enormously.

November 2, 2008     Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

DF292117:

Cati profesori sunt in Romania?

November 2, 2008     Semnatura Editorului | 1 raspuns |

DF283323:

Buna ziua, nu stiu daca acest email va ajunge la cineva sau va fi sters automat dar merita incercat.

Am citit si eu editorialul care l-ati scris aici si nu sunt deloc de acord cu ce ati scris. Explicatia e urmatoarea: salariile mai bune vor atrage oameni mai bine pregatiti. Intr-adevar nu o sa ii faca pe cei care sunt acum mai competitivi sau mai bine specializati dar o sa faca joburile din invatamant mai atractive pt tineri cu pregatirea pe care o asteptati de la un profesor.

Ce ma face sa spun asta? Pai am participat in timpul facultatii la cateva cursuri de pedagogie si am vazut foarte clar sentimentul studentilor fata de un job in invatamant: este vazut ca o cale de scapare; toti oamenii care au participat la acele cursuri le-au facut ca sa aiba unde se retrage pana isi gasesc un job mai bun. Cunosc multi oameni bine pregatiti care consider ca ar fi facut o treaba extraordinara in invatamant insa toti acestia au preferat sa mearga in companii care ii plateau la un nivel acceptabil.

Este mult mai usor sa atragi oameni bine pregatiti decat sa ii motivezi pe cei existenti sa devina mai buni. Salarii mai bune inseamna competitie mai stransa pe acele posturi ceea ce duce la ridicarea stachetei si implicit la imbunatatirea rezultatelor. E drept ca va lua timp dar nu cred ca e o solutie gresita asa cum o ilustrati dumneavoastra.

Oare dumneavoastra de ce nu mergeti sa luati un job in invatamant si sa predati la standardele care le impuneti?

Ati intrebat cati au primit o marire de 50%, eu sunt unul dintre cei care au obtinut asta in mai putin de 2 ani.

Va multumesc pentru timpul acordat,

PS: eu ma refer la invatamantul preuniversitar, cel universitar e o alta poveste.

 

DF:

Thanks for the feedback. I thoroughly agree with your point of view expressed below. I think that teachers should be paid more (and I state that in the editorial). But, strictly and simply 50% more is thoughtless, and continues a trend in both the public and private sector of destroying the link between pay and merit. Did you know that the lowest salary in the ministry of education is over 10 times less than the highest?

Anyway the actual point of the editorial was not to make fun of or even disagree with the teacher’s union fight for better pay. My point is that real and genuine connections need to be made in salary systems that are open and honest. I feel that the public sector, where the money is coming from my tax payments, that I should have a right to comment if I feel that the money is not distributed equitably, and an obligation to fight for more transparency in the use of those tax revenues, not let politician use them for vote buying.

Again thanks for the genuine feedback. I do try to reply to all comments, personally. I apologize that this is in English, but my Romanian is not very grammatical…

 

DF283323:

Hi,

I find the point of view you expressed in the reply much closer to my beliefs than the editorial. I totally agree with you regarding the need for transparency but I still believe that better salaries in the education is a far better solution for gaining the efficiency we all want than all their previous attempts to reform and improve the system.

Regarding the difference you mentioned between the lowest and the highest salary that difference can be found in many other areas as well. While it is unfortunate that there are such differences, in my opinion it doesn’t constitute a reason to criticize the decision as strongly as you did. Also, the solution you suggested (a yearly increase of 15-20% over a period of 3-5 years) is just as bad from this point of view since it doesn’t do anything at all to decrease the difference you mentioned. (I did mention in my previous email that I’m not referring to universities and I did that hoping to avoid the this topic)

You do have the right to comment and I’m the last person to deny that but when you do it in an editorial, in my opinion, you also have an obligation to choose the words very carefully and make sure they won’t be misinterpreted. In the reply you said “the actual point of the editorial was not to make fun of or even disagree with the teacher’s union fight for better pay” but you ended the editorial with “That’s begging not earning”, in my opinion that sentence labeled the all teachers as beggars and that was uncalled-for. There is a difference between expressing an opinion and labeling. Also, I consider the entire first paragraph to be filled with sarcasm.

Although I agree that a lot of the teachers don’t deserve the increase they just received and should quit their jobs I feel obligated to mention that some of the teachers I’ve had were more than qualified for the position and the salary they had and it’s been an honor and a privilege to study under them, and they most certainly deserve our respect and consideration.

I’ll end this email with the following: the idea of paying every person equally to the value they generate sounds good but it’s not a viable one, creating an environment where better qualified people are encouraged to compete for the job should yield far better results.

Thanks again for your time,

Have a nice week

October 29, 2008     Angajati, DespreFirme, Firme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

Politia spatiului online este pe urmele voastre. Pacat de noi, dependentii de Viagra, care incercam sa avem o erectie cat mai indelungata. Ei sunt cei care ne vor aplecati (ba holbandu-ne la ale noastre burice, ba luand-o pe la spate). Politia secreta a web-ului sta la panda, gata sa se napusteasca la cea mai mica provocare. Pentru ei, spatiul virtual nu tolereaza umorul, ironia, doar legile stricte ale junglei online: cel puternic il bate si-l mai si mananca pe cel mic. Atentie la forta malefica a penitei (tastaturii) lor si la duhoarea diareei lor pseudo-verbale! Ei sunt domni si domnite de succes, regi si printese peste propriile e-domenii. Traiasca!

Ok, scuze pentru cuvantarea rautacioasa, dar de curand, am fost deranjat de politia romana anti-spam, o adunare de bloggeri si alti webmasteri care incearca sa puna capat spamming-ului printr-o mustrare in fata careului. S-au simtit ofensati de mesajul nostru de saptamana trecuta trimis de pe DespreFirme catre utilizatorii nostri inregistrati, marcat ca un mesaj din partea The People Source (o companie pe care noi am inventat-o, cu un website ce contine cateva filmulete amuzante ce descriu niste job-uri). Nu numai ca mesajul nostru neconventional i-a pacalit pe marii stapani ai universului virtual, dar se pare ca i-a pacalit si pe cativa dintre utilizatorii nostri. Pacat. Noua ni s-a parut o gluma buna despre nemultumirea userilor nostri visavis de firmele de recrutare.

Pentru a clarifica, aveti mai jos definitia spamului de pe Wikipedia (mi se pare normal ca un dictionar online sa fie autoritatea fenomenului online):

Spamming (sau spam) este procesul de expediere a mesajelor electronice nesolicitate, de cele mai multe ori cu caracter comercial, de publicitate pentru produse şi servicii dubioase, practicată în industria e-marketingului şi de proprietarii de situri pornografice. Spam-ul se distinge prin caracterul agresiv, repetat şi prin privarea de dreptul la opţiune.

Un mesaj care vine în urma consimţământului exprimat în prealabil de destinatar nu este spam. Detalii legale referitoare la spam sunt prevăzute în ”Legea 506 din 17 noiembrie 2004 privind prelucrarea datelor cu caracter personal şi protecţia vieţii private în sectorul comunicaţiilor electronice” (Art. 12).

In lumina acestei definitii, consider ca am fost acuzati pe nedrept. Mai mult de atat, consider ca atitudinea bloggerilor si a webmasterilor ca fiind o excludere din spatiul online a unei misiuni precum cea a site-ului DespreFirme.com. Suntem satui de cei care si-au insusit puterea de a lua decizii, care ne afecteaza in mod direct, bazate pe un set de reguli neclare dintr-un sistem care nu e transparent. Sunt in mod special dezgustat de cei care nici nu s-au obosit sa verifice proprietarul mesajului sau scopul website-ului (nici comercial, nici pornografic – cu toate ca ne dam toata silinta).

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Spammers beware

The web etiquette police are out to get you. Too bad for all of us Viagra addicts, trying to stay erect longer! Here come those persons who wish us to remain permanently bent (either gazing at our navels or taking it from behind). The web Gestapo are on the prowl and ready to pounce at the least provocation. For them e-life holds no humor, no irony, only the strict law of the e-jungle: the stronger beat and eat the weak. Beware the wicked strength of their pen (keyboard) and stench of their penchant verbal diarrhea! They are self made men and women, kings and queens over their own e-domains. Long may the rule!

Ok sorry for the above diatribe, but I was recently busted by the Romanian spam police, a loose nexus of bloggers and other webmasters that attempt to halt spam by exposing those that practice it. They took offence to the communication that we sent out last week from DespreFirme to our registered user base, labeled as a message from The People Source (a fake company we created with a website hosting some silly videos about job descriptions). It seems that not only did our unconventional media message fool the great masters of the web universe, it probably fooled most of our users too. That’s too bad. For us, it seemed like a fun joke about our users’ discontent with recruitment companies.

For the record, here is the Wikipedia definition of spam (it feels right that an online dictionary should be the definite authority on the online phenomena):

Spamming (or spam) is the process of sending unsolicited messages, mostly commercial, advertising suspicious products or services, practiced in e-marketing industry and by pornographic websites’ owners. Spam is distinguished by its aggressive, reiterative character and deprivation from the right to choose.

A message received subsequent to expressed consent is not spam. Legal details concerning spam are provided by “Law 506 from 17 November 2004 concerning the processing of personal information and private life protection within electronic communications’ area” (Art. 12).

In light of that definition, I feel that we have been wrongly accused. Moreover, I see the blogger’s and webmaster’s attitudes as anathema to the mission of a site like DespreFirme. We are sick of self appointed people in a position of power making decisions that affects us directly based on an unclear set of rules in a nontransparent system. I am particularly repulsed by those that did not even bother to investigate the ownership of the message or the scope of the web site (neither commercial nor pornographic – although we are trying our best at one of those).

October 18, 2008     Angajati, Angajatori, Cariera, DespreFirme, Firme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

Criza economica mondiala nu pare sa fi avut mare efect in Romania pana acum. Viata merge inainte, nu-i asa? Sau nu. Piata imobiliara si investitiile sunt in impas. Muncitorii romani din strainatate vor trimite mai putini bani acasa din moment ce constructiile din Spania si Italia s-au oprit. Economia va fi afectata. In ce masura? Nimeni nu stie.

Urmariti bursa de la Bucuresti de exemplu. Indicele principal a scazut cu aproape 60% anul acesta (poate ca maine a scadea cu 70% sau poate doar 50%, e greu de zis). Astfel, multi au mai pierdut din averi, iar altii au fost chiar distrusi.

Mai cumpara un apartament in ziua de azi… In opinia constructorilor, clientii asteapta ca preturile sa scada dar cumparatorii marturisesc ca nu pot obtine o ipoteca. De fapt, asta se intampla din cauza bancilor care nu mai ofera imprumuturi deoarece se asteapta ca preturile sa scada. Nicio banca nu mai imprumuta bani pentru un apartament daca acel apartament va valora cu 30% mai putin peste 6 luni. Asta l-ar face pe cumparator sa piarda atat de multi bani incat sa fie mai convenabil pentru el sa nu mai plateasca ipoteca si sa-i dea dureri de cap bancii cand aceasta va incerca sa ii vanda apartamentul pentru mai putin decat i-a platit constructorului in urma cu 6 luni.

Economia si finantele nu sunt stiinte. Ele sunt experimente ale fenomenului social. Preturile sunt ceea ce noi credem ca sunt, iar atunci cand incetam sa mai credem, economia sufera. In mare parte a timpului, incetam sa credem din cauza fricii de viitor, a lipsei de incredere. Dar chiar am crezut ca preturile vor urca mereu? Si chiar nu am gandit cu totii ca pretul unui apartament a devenit ridicol de mare? Intr-adevar, mancarea e mai scumpa, combustibilul e mai scump, si e un semn al realitatii faptul ca pretul caselor si al actiunilor a inceput sa scada. Sa speram ca acest fapt va ajuta oamenii sa-si achizitioneze o casa mai usor si sa-si traiasca visele fara ca economia sa fie afecatata atat de mult incat sa fie din ce in ce mai putin joburi disponibile.

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Standstill

The world economic crisis does not seem to have had any real effect in Romania so far. Life goes on as before, right? Maybe not. Housing and investment are both on hold. Romanian workers abroad are going to send less cash home as the construction booms of Spain and Italy come to a halt. The economy is going to be affected. How much? No one knows.

Take a look at the Bucharest Stock Market for an indication. The main index is down about 60% this year (tomorrow it may be down 70% or only 50%, hard to be precise thee days!). That has made a lot of people a lot less wealthy, and destroyed many peoples incomes.

Try buying an apartment today. The builders say that the clients are waiting for prices to come down, but the buyers say they cannot get a mortgage. Actually, it is the banks that are not giving any loans because they are expecting prices to fall. No bank loans money for an apartment if the apartment is going to be worth 30% less in 6 months time. That would make the buyer lose so much money that it might be smarter for them to stop paying the mortgage and then the bank has the headache of trying to sell an apartment for less than it paid to the builder 6 months before.

Economies and finance are not science. They are experiments of social phenomenon. Prices are what we believe them to be, and when we stop believing, the economy suffers. Most of the time, we stop believing for fear of the future, a lack of confidence. But did we really believe that prices of things would go up forever? And did we not all think that the price of an apartment had become ridiculous? True, food cost more, gas costs more, everything costs more, but it seems like a good dose of reality that the price of houses and stocks have begun to come back down to earth. Hopefully, that will make it easier for people to buy homes and live out their dreams without affecting the economy so much that fewer jobs become available.

October 8, 2008     Angajati, Angajatori, Cariera, DespreFirme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

Dupa ce am dezbatut diverse reactii ale utilizatorilor asupra schimbarilor pe care le-am facut, am ajuns la niste concluzii.

Am eliminat posibilitatea ca utilizatorii sa listeze mesajele altora printr-un click pe un anumit nick. In schimb, am introdus cateva statistici extra despre utilizator: data inscrierii pe desprefirme.com, numarul mesajelor postate, numarul companiilor notate si numarul forumurilor urmarite. Aceasta schimbare ofera destule informatii astfel incat sa va dati seama daca utilizatorul este un spammer, un comentator obisnuit sau daca posteaza rar, si am renuntat la posibilitatea de a urmari traseul profesional al unui individ pe site-ul nostru.

Vom incepe sa permitem folosirea numelor reale ale managerilor in mesaje. Vom face asta dupa ce vom verifica daca acel manager este angajatul companiei. Apoi, vom informa firma asupra mesajului si ii vom oferi dreptul la replica intr-un spatiu insemnat, daca doresc. Speram ca utilizatorii site-ului nostru vor folosi aceasta putere cu respect si nu ne vor consuma prea mult timp cu respingerea glumelor, prostiiloe, calomniilor sau atacurilor personale.

Inca mai facem mici modificari la site astfel incat sa fie intr-o continua imbunatatire si sa va fie de folos. Lasati ideile si comentariile sa curga!

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Decisions

After debating various reactions from users on the changes we have made, we have come to some conclusions.

We have removed the ability of a user to list all the posts from another user by clicking on their screen name next to their posted message. Instead, we have inserted a few extra statistics about the user: date they joined desprefirme, number of messages posted, number of companies rated, and number of forums being tracked. This change gives people enough information to know if the users are a spammer, a regular poster or rarely posts, and remove the possibility of tracking a user’s career through our site.

We will begin to allow the names of managers to be quoted in posts. We will do this after verification that the manager is employed by the company. Further, we will inform the company of the comment and give them prominent space for an official reply, if they so choose. We hope that our users will use this new power respectfully, and not give us a lot of extra work rejecting jokes, stupidity, profanity or personal attacks.

We are still tinkering with the site, and how that you find it gradually improving and meeting your needs. Keep the ideas and comments flowing!

October 1, 2008     Angajati, Angajatori, Cariera, DespreFirme, Firme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

DespreFirme.com:

In primul rand, nu vom face publice sub nicio forma identitatea utilizatorilor nostri. Ne propunem sa permitem utilizatorilor sa posteze numele managerilor din companiile in care muncesc, in mod special numele celor care au pozitii foarte inalte, aceste detalii fiind oricum publice. Companiile isi construiesc sau distrug reputatia pe piata muncii prin actiunile angajatilor. Totusi, credem ca suntem indreptatiti sa cerem ca performantele acelor indivizi sa fie facute publice. Oricum, asteptam comentariile si feedback-ul vostru pentru a ne ajuta sa luam o decizie.

In al doilea rand, afirmatia dvs conform careia cea mai importanta opinie despre o corporatie apartine clientilor sai este defectuoasa. Corporatiile sunt fictiuni legale carora li se da o personalitate pentru a permite oamenilor sa faca afaceri cu o responsabilitate mai scazuta fata de actiunile, succesele si esecurile institutiei. Asadar, corporatiile trebuie sa fie reglementate. Tutunul, Alcoolul, Alimentatia, Jucariile si Finantele sunt exemple clare de industrii in care corporatiilor le era permis in trecut sa abuzeze de accesul si controlul asupra pietei astfel incat puteau sa nu ofere cele mai calitative produse. Ca sa fim mai clari, cea mai importanta opinie despre o corporatie este piata. Fara sprijinul pietei, compania clacheaza. Sunt cateva piete despre care am putea discuta: piata de investitii, fara de care o corporatie ar inceta sa mai existe; piata vanzarilor, fara de care o corporatie nu poate negocia; piata reglementativa, fara de care o corporatie nu ar putea opera; piata locurilor de munca, fara de care o corporatie nu poate functiona.

Cea mai putin reglementata dintre acestea este piata muncii. Asta probabil se intampla din cauza ca aceasta este cea mai reglementata. Este foarte birocratizata de traditiile sufragiului si socialismului. Ceea ce lipseste e forta de munca cu adevarat coordonata care sa ceara un schimb de informatii transparent pentru a crea sau distruge un brand de angajator. Ganditi-va putin, cine ar investi intr-o companie care nu si-ar publica raportul anual? Cine ar cumpara un produs de la o companie care refuza sa scrie ingredientele unui produs pe ambalaj? De ce oare doar piata muncii trebuie sa stea in spatele unor nori de confidentialitate intre angajatori si angajat? Mi-ar placea ca intrebarea: cine ar accepta un job intr-o companie care nu-si face cunoscute beneficiile, valorile, etc., sa aiba aceeasi rezonanta si acelasi efect ca cele doua propozitii anterioare.

DespreFirme.com nu pretinde a fi marele motor al indentitatii corporative. Noi actionam ca un spatiu propice pentru angajati pentru a-si lansa opiniile despre piata muncii in asa fel incat sa dezvaluie partile bune si lipsurile oportunitatilor de angajare din Romania. Scopul nostru consta intr-o transparenta mai mare in contractul social de angajare si o distribuire mai scazuta a informatiei pe piata muncii pentru echitabilitate. Totusi, credem ca dezvaluirea mai mare trebuie sa fie unul din scopurile noastre.

In orice caz, aceasta credinta bruta in capitalism pur (proeminenta opiniei clientului) a noii clase manageriale si profesionale din Romania este periculoasa. Spoiala occidentala asupra pietei muncii nu a facut decat sa consolideze o anumita clasa stratificata din Europa de Est. E pacat ca generatia tanara a adoptat aceasta viziune. S-a intarit astfel ierarhia predecembrista cu pretul unei politici de neamestec in care clasele paralele necompetitive ar putea evolua. In timp ce vedem frictiuni si rivalitati intre aceste factiuni, niciuna nu reprezinta o reforma sau schimbare adevarata pentru Romania, si niciuna nu are o agenda de investitii sustenabile pentru o societate romaneasca mai prospera si mai mobila din punct de vedere social (a se citi echitabil).

USER:

Eu sunt convins ca ar trebui ca numele sa raman confidentiale, inclusiv cele ale managerilor. Cred ca istoria unui angajat intotdeauna va putea sa dea indicatii asupra identitatii sale. Spre deosebire de titlul site-ului eu cred ca trebuie sa existe si un spatiu in care sa fie despreangajati.com. Problema, morala, care se pune este ca spre deosebire de firme, care isi fac o reputatie mai mult sau mai putin buna prin intermediul acestui site, persoanele ar “sari in aer” daca ar fi supuse aceluiasi tratament. Cred ca acelasi lucru se va intampla si daca se va publica identitatea managerilor, care oricum sunt mult mai identificabili decat angajatii prin istoria angajarilor si care drept urmare cred ca nu sunt foarte fericiti de inegalitatea tratamentului.

O fi echitabil ce face desprefirme.com?

Pana la urma, parerea despre firme cea mai importanta vine de la clienti si nu de la angajati, manageri sau proprietari.

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DespreFirme.com:

First of all, we are not going to make public in any way our user’s identities. We are proposing to allow users to post the names of managers for whom they work, particularly ones that hold senior level positions within the corporation, as most of their names are public record, in fact. Companies make or break their reputations in the job market through the actions of their employees. Thus, we feel we are justified to ask that those individuals’ performances be made public record. However, we invite further comment and feedback prior to finalizing our decision.

Second, your statement that the most important opinion of a corporation belongs to its client is seriously flawed. Corporations are legal fictions given personality to allow individuals to transact with less than complete responsibility toward the actions, successes and failures of the institution. As such, corporations need to be regulated. Tobacco, Alcohol, Food, Toys, and Financials are all clear examples of industries in which corporations have in the past been allowed to abuse their access and control of markets to shift less than best quality products and services upon unsuspecting clients. It is never client opinion alone that forces the corporations to change behavior. To be clear, the most important opinion about a corporation is the market. Without the support of the market, the corporation fails. There are several markets we may discuss: the investment market, without the confidence of which a corporation ceases to exist; the sales market, without the acceptance of which a corporation cannot transact; the regulatory market, without the compliance to which a corporation may not operate; the job market, without the interest of which a corporation cannot operate.

The most poorly regulated of these is the job market. That is probably because it is the most regulated. It has multiple layers of bureaucratic tape established by the traditions of suffrage and socialism. What it lacks are true coordinated market forces that require transparent sharing of information to create or destroy employer brand value. Think of it, who would invest in a company that did not issue its annual reports? Who would buy a product from a company that refused to list the ingredients of the product? Why is it that the job market alone should be allowed to obscure itself behind clouds of confidentiality between employer and employee agreements? I would like the question, who would take a job at a company that does not publicly disclose its employment benefits, values, etc., to have the same resonance and effect as my prior two propositions.

Desprefirme does not portend to be the great and good mover of corporate identity. We act as the level playing field for employees to air their views about the job market in a way that communicates the positive features and short comings of employment opportunities in Romania. Our goal is greater transparency in the social employment contract and increased distribution of information throughout the job market to make it more equitable. Thus, we feel that more disclosure has to be one of our goals.

In any event, this brute belief in pure capitalism (preeminence of the opinion of the client) by a new managerial and professional class in Romania is dangerous. Transplanting a superficial free market veneer from the West has only allowed the reinforcement of a clearly stratified class structure in Eastern Europe. It is a shame that a younger generation has adopted absolutely this world view. It has entrenched the pre-89 hierarchy in exchange for a laisse-faire environment in which a non-competitive parallel class structure may evolve. While we see friction and rivalry between these factions, neither represent true reform nor change for Romania, as neither has at its heart an agenda of sustainable investment for a more prosperous and a more sociably mobile (read, more equitable) Romanian society.

USER:

I’m sure that names should remain confidential, managers’ included. I think that an employee’s employment record could indicate his identity. Unlike the site’s name, I think there should exist despreangajati.com. The moral problem that appears is that, unlike companies that create a reputation less or more positive through this site, the individuals would burst out if they were treated like that. I think that the same thing will happen when you’ll post managers’ names who are already easier to identify than the employees and who are not very happy to be treated unequaly.

Is it equitable what DespreFirme.com is doing ?

In the end, the most important opinion of a corporation belongs to its clients and not to its employees, managers or owners.

September 25, 2008     Angajati, Angajatori, Cariera, DespreFirme, Firme, Semnatura Editorului | Comenteaza |

DespreFirme.com:

Multumim inca o data pentru feedback-ul dvs.

1. Publicitatea

Da, vom incepe sa introducem publicitate pe site. Din pacate, aceasta nu va acoperi costurile intretinerii site-ului. Vedeti dvs, majoritatea companiilor refuza sa-si faca reclama pe site-ul nostru pentru ca stiu ca langa logo-ul lor pot aparea comentarii negative din interior, fapt pe care ei il percep ca pe o reclama proasta. Asta e viata, traim printre oameni limitati. Asadar, reclama pe care o veti vedea va fi in mare parte neplatita.

2. Anonimatul

A. Identitatea utilizatorilor

Speram si aspiram catre o crestere a maturitatii pe piata muncii. Acesta este scopul principal al acestui site, sa promovam un dialog cat mai deschis asupra contractului social incheiat intre companii si angajati. Am inceput prin a le oferi angajatilor un loc de la nivelul caruia sa-si poata expune opiniile. Anonimatul a fost unul din elementele cheie necesare pentru a-i convinge sa participe. Vom mentine aceasta procedura intacta.

B. Omisiunea numelor

Locurile de munca sunt create si definite de catre indivizi. In mod particular, managerii au un mare rol in influentarea culturii organizationale. Deoarece acesti indivizi sunt factori decisivi in dezvoltarea profesionala a subordonatilor , ne-ar placea sa incepem sa le dezvaluim numele in forumurile noastre si sa nu mai folosim (omis) in mesaje. De multe ori ar putea fi mai relevant sa stim daca Ion Popescu e un manager inspirat la ABC SRL decat daca ABC SRL plateste prost. Aceasta decizie e greu de luat din doua motive: in primul rand, le-am permis utilizatorilor nostri sa fie destul de agresivi in descrierile sau, in anumite cazuri, atacurile lor asupra unei companii cu o reputatie slaba din acest punct de vedere. Pentru a permite acest tip de atac asupra unui individ ar fi de prost gust. In al doilea rand, ii oferim celui care scrie mesajele posibilitatea de a ramane anonim, lux pe care managerul criticat nu l-ar avea. Oricum, cu o moderare precauta si o politica editoriala stricta asupra dezvaluirii numelor, credem ca vom ajunge la un echilibru in feedback-ul important.

3. Confruntarea de la locul de munca

Pe langa cresterea nivelului de profesionalism in procesul de angajare si concediere din Romania, mai sunt si alte optiuni valabile pentru angajatii nemultumiti si costuri mai mari pentru angajatorii care iau decizii partinitoare nefiind bazate pe performanta, fapte sau confom legii. Trebuie sa avem incredere in piata si justitie care devin incet un arbitru adevarat in conflictul social si comercial. Participarea la discutiile din forumurile noastre constituie un prim pas si asta o demonstreaza opiniile majoritatii. Nadajduim ca din ce in ce mai multi oameni isi vor cere drepturile pentru a obtine o libertate a informatiilor pentru noi toti.

USER:

Va multumesc pentru raspuns. V-am trimis saptamana trecuta un mail in care criticam decizia Dvs. de a lista toate mesajele unui utilizator.

E bine ca ati raspuns si asa. Poate vad si altii. Daca aceasta schimbare a generat feedback inseamna ca nu sunt singurul.

 Calitatea site-ului este foarte buna acum si va felicit daca introduceti reclame pe site. Inseamna ca deja aveti un numar considerabil de vizitatori care il depasec cu mult pe cei deja inscrisi in baza de date. Asta inseamna ca vor veni castiguri considerabile si le meritati: a fost munca multa si ideea de a face ce e acum merita premiata.

 Sunt, insa, curios de un singur lucru. Odata cu noua optiune de a vedea mesajele unui utilizator, oare nu se va schimba ceva din obiectivitatea acestui site? Voi afirmati aici “Asadar, aceasa imbunatatire va ramane, cu parere de rau pentru cei care cred in teoria conspiratiei.” cu mult sarcasm dar oamenii o sa mai spuna verde in fata cum se intampla? Daca as fi sef de departament, cu siguranta as putea sa imi dau seama dupa istoricul mesajelor unui angajat al companiei X, unde a lucrat in trecut, unde lucreaza acum (in ce departament), ce isi doreste de la viitorul job. Sa spunem ca asta nu e un lucru atat de rau, dar poti sa ai parte de o confruntare la locul de munca ceea ce nu e deloc placut.

Daca vin si scriu aici este ca altii care vor sa se angajeze sa stie care e situatia in acea firma. Daca mai am puterea sa schimb ceva e clar ca nu scriu aici ci doar o fac; dar majoritatea care scriu aici o fac din neputinta de a schimba ceva in firma lor.

 Daca ati luat aceasta decizie, renuntati complet la confidentialitate, afisati-le numele tuturor, sa nu mai apara <omis> cand se mentioneaza numele unui team leader.

 Sper ca DespreFirme sa nu fie un produs care isi pastreaza o calitate superioara doar la inceput ca sa atraga, iar mai apoi cand devine un brand calitatea se pierde.

O sa vina bani destui din publicitate, poate numarul de utilizatori vor ramane aceeasi sau vor creste considerabil…dar…aveti si un barem prin care veti testa obiectivitatea mesajelor?

DespreFirme.com:

Incercam sa facem ca feedback-ul publicat pe site sa devina cat mai folositor pentru toti utilizatorii, nu doar o oportunitate de a se plange. Totusi, credem ca fiecare utilizator ar trebui sa aiba o unitate de masura pentru increderea pe care o acorda unui mesaj. Singura metoda prin care noi putem face asta este sa le dam posibilitatea de a vedea toate mesajele aceluiasi utilizator, de a percepe atitudinea generala a unui individ visavis de alte companii sau experiente proprii. Cat despre problemele conspirative si investigarea activitatii angajatilor de catre angajatorii lor pe site, compromisul ofera mult mai multa importanta informatiilor oferite utilizatorilor nostri dar nu compromite sub nicio forma semnificativa anonimatul.

USER:

Am observat ca se poate da un click pe “userul” care a postat un anumit comentariu si aceasta actiune va intoarce toate comentariile facute de acest utilizator. Consider un pic deranjanta aceasta optiune. Desi userul e un sir de numere-cifre totusi se poate urmari interesul acelei persoane pentru anumite firme si in cazul in care un comentariu este cu “si eu am lucrat/ lucrez aici” se poate deduce foarte usor de catre unii sefi cine e acea persoana.

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DespreFirme.com: 

Again thanks for your feedback.

1. Advertising

Yes, we will begin to have advertising on the site. Unfortunately, it will not cover the costs of running the site. You see, most companies refuse to advertise their products with us, as they know that next to their advertisement there can appear a genuine negative statement about their company’s employment record, which they view as a negative product advertisement. Such is life among reactionary people with small minds. So, most of the advertising you see will be unpaid.

2. Anonymity

A. User Identity

We hope and aspire for a growing maturity in the job market. It is the main aim of this site, to promote a more open dialog about the social contract between company and employee. We have begun by providing the employee a level playing field from which to project their views. Anonymity has been a key element to convincing individuals to participate. We will continue to keep this policy intact.

B. Name Omission

Workplaces are created and defined by the individuals in them. Particularly, managers have a large role in deciding the culture that exists in their places of work. Because these individuals are key to the career development of their subordinates, we would like to begin to make their names public within our forums, and no longer introduce <name omis> within a post. It can often be much more relevant to know that Ion Popescu is an inspired manager at ABC SRL than that ABC SRL does not pay great salaries. We are conflicted by this decision with two things: First, we have allowed our users to be quite aggressive in their description, and in some cases attacks, upon a company with poor employment records. To allow this sort of attack on an individual would be in bad taste. Second, we give the writer of a post the benefit of anonymity, a luxury the manager being critiqued would not have. However, we feel with cautious moderation, and a tight editorial policy on what is acceptable when naming names, we will achieve a valuable balance of important feedback.

3. Workplace Confrontation

Alongside a growing professionalism in the hiring and firing process of Romanian employers, there are more options available to disgruntled employee, and higher costs for employers who make biased decisions not based in performance, fact or conforming to the law. We have to put our faith in the market and the system of justice which is slowly emerging as a real arbitrator of social and commercial conflict. Participating here in our forums is a first step. It demonstrates the silent majority’s views, and will hopefully inspire more and more people to openly advocate for their rights in the expectation of greater freedom of information for all.

USER:

Thanks for your reply. Last week, I’ve sent you an email criticising your decision of listing all the messages of an individual. It’s nice to answer like this. It could be helpful for others. If this change generated feedback, it means that i’m not the only one.

The website’s quality is very good now and I congratulate you for introducing advertising on the site. It means that you already have a significant number of visits much bigger than the number of users that are already signed in your database. This means that significant gains will come and you deserve it: there has been a lot of work and the idea is worth awarded.

 However, I’m curious about one thing: won’t this new feature of seeing all the messages of an individual change something in the website’s objectivness? You say: “Thus, that change is here to stay (sorry conspiracy theorists).” with a lot of sarcasm but will people keep on beeing honest about their employer? If I was a department manager, I would know for sure who that user is by his messages record, what department, what he wants from his future job. Let’s say that this is not such a bad thing, but you can get to confront to your coleagues at your workplace and this is not a desirable thing.

 If I write here, I do it so that others know what happens in companies before they apply to get hired. If I still have the power to change something, it’s clear that I don’t post here and I just change something; but most of the users that write here, are doing it because they can’t change a thing in the company where they work.

 If you took this decision, you should completely renounce to anonimity, show everyone’s names, don’t write (omis) when a team leader’s name appears.

I hope that DespreFirme is not a product that keeps its high quality just to attract attention for the begining and lose it later when it becames a brand.

Money from advertising will come, maybe the number of users will remain the same or it will significantly rise but do you have a gauge to test the messages’ objectiveness?

DespreFirme.com:

We are trying to make the feedback posted on our site more useful to all users, not just an opportunity to complain. Thus, we feel that each user should be able to have a gauge for the reliability of a person posting a message about a company that they may be considering. The only way we can do that is to allow them to see other posts from that individual, to read the general tone of the individual toward any other companies or employment experiences he or she may have had. As to the conspiracy issues and the investigation by employers on their employees activities on our site, I feel that the compromise is hugely weighted in favor of allowing our users more information, as this feature does not in any significant way compromise anonymity…

USER:

I’ve noticed that one can click on the screen name of the user who posted a messages and see all the postings of that individual. I think that this option is slightly disturbing. Although the screen name is a succession of numbers and letter, you can follow that user’s interest for certain companies and if there is a messages saying “I’ve worked here”, you can very simply deduct who is behind that screen name.