Post #3525921

2026-07-02 03:04 UTC

If you have a "go-to person" at your workplace: don't undervalue them. If you have someone that solves problems, unblocks others, answers questions outside their official responsibilities, and often gets pulled into discussions that aren't even part of their work responsibilities: make sure you recognize their worth. Ideally formally. Far too many organizations wake up one day to a letter of resignation from that person because they did not.

Replies (7)

@WiteWulf@cyberplace.social 2026-07-02 15:13

@Savagejen@mastodon.social @bitsavers@oldbytes.space counterpoint (as was diplomatically pointed out to me by That Person's manager): the "go-to" person may be easily nerd-sniped/distracted due to their neurodivergent traits. Think carefully before bouncing up to their desk and giving them an interesting problem to chew on. It can be like scattering rice in front of a vampire and could really ruin their day. Ask them if they can talk to you for five minutes when they have a moment, and/or talk to their manager first.

Open ##3620547
@bitsavers@oldbytes.space 2026-07-02 15:35

@Savagejen@mastodon.social At Apple in the "Before Times" there were Staff Engineers who had that definition in their job description and were put there if they demonstrated they were capable of multi-tasking across projects. If you were a God-Level SE, like Ron Hochsprung, they made you a DEST. I don't know if they really survived His return, since that required the company not being siloed to the point where you knew who to ask and could go over and visit them without making them sign an "internal NDA" (don't ask...) #AppleLore

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@ramblingsteve@floss.social 2026-07-02 15:36

@Savagejen@mastodon.social I once heard this described as "glue work". so many organisations literally exist on this while rewarding none of it.

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@michellebacon@mstdn.social 2026-07-03 14:48

@Savagejen@mastodon.social Or they fire you without cause. Because management doesn't know why you're there, but they definitely think you're a threat.

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@fabs@mastodon.gamedev.place 2026-07-03 07:14

@Savagejen@mastodon.social I don't think the people undervalued me, but Bosch has upper limits on how much they were allowed to reward someone who looked like an IC. The organisation failed me, but the people were good.

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@bmartin427@techhub.social 2026-07-03 14:18

@Savagejen@mastodon.social Goose not valued!

Open ##3658151
@seq@infosec.exchange 2026-07-08 11:19

@Savagejen@mastodon.social This one hit me. I was considered such a person by many in my workplace. (And I have to admit that it in a way warmed my cold heart that so many colleagues seemed to value my opinion and help.) Still, I handed in my letter of resignation after 13 years, surprising many of my colleagues. I just felt too overworked and undervalued. I left there a year ago. Though I still feel kind of... lost, or maybe misplaced – for a lack of a better description – on the new job. I think I spent way too many years there.

Open ##3670663