Things that have changed since Raytheon took over

[Sheriff]

So I thought it would be interesting to make a list of things that have changed since Raytheon took over the contract.  I know that the Antarctic mindset tends to be a bit negative (myself included) so let's try to make an effort to list things that have changed for the better as well as things that have gone down the tubes.  What do you think?

[12 trips South]

When I started, I was met in Denver by the CEO of Antarctica Support Associates.  "How are you?  How are things back in **?  Thank you for coming back again.  We appreciate your work and commitment to the program"  He was warm, sincere, and meant what he said.

When RPSC took over, I was stopped at the door by an icy receptionist who said "Social Security Number".  When given, I was allowed entrance.  This after working on ice for 6 years at that point.

HR on ice became essentially a mouthpiece for RPSC policy, whereas ASA was more employee oriented. 

ASA wasn't perfect, but from an employee perspective, it was much better.  These are but a few of the differences, but there are many, many more.

[Mount Terror]

One positive thing is that all the employee hiring paperwork and packets can now be done online.  You can scan and send documents.  So when travel or medical loses your shit, you can just send them another copy immediately. 

The SSC is a pragmatically-valuable facility built on their watch.  As are some others. 

But though I appreciate the positive-inclusive approach, it really is like looking for kernels of corn in a bucket of turds. 

NSF would have demanded new facilities whoever they contracted, so praising Raytheon for it is kind of like saying, "Yup, Kevin is great.  He shows up for work most times." 

I was impressed with the online hiring packets.  That's one.  Anyone else?

[Sheriff]

I very much agree.  It seems that HR has become more powerful in the current organization of the company.  One of the things that they have done as well, is to take the hiring out of the hands of the managers and now the "recruiters" do it all.  So this is how you get a job on the ice now: 1. look at the job description on raycats or rayjobs, 2. "Tailor" your resume (whether your resume is truthful or not doesn't seem to matter), 3. and then it might get through to the hiring manager.  No more talking to someone at the job fair (no more job fairs either).  No more submitting your resume to the person that is in charge of that department.  First you have to pass through the HR gauntlet.  It also seems like more people have been fired without the manager's say in the matter.  Honestly, it seems like more and more companies are going this route so I don't know if it is specific to Raytheon, but certainly it has gotten much worse since they took over the contract.

[12 trips South]

I was in a mid-level management position.  The department doesn't matter, or the site, but it was "on ice".

I had one employee who was constantly "sick", late for work, doing sub par work and forcing others who the person worked with to take on more work to cover the shortage.

I spoke with HR on 4 separate occasions and was told to document, speak with employee, and that's what I did.

When it came time for review and bonus, I was told in emphatic terms by HR that I could not mark the person "no hire" or give below an average bonus.  It demeaned the worth of the other employees working with said employee, and it became very clear to me that it wasn't about management, but cow towing to HR.

It will be a good day when the last RPSC HR person leaves the ice.

[Sheriff]

So do you think that the problems with the program currently stem from HR's increased stature and/or power?  Has HR become too big to be of much good?  I know that it is pretty common with big corporations that people generally don't like HR.  Is is different or worse with Raytheon?

[12 trips South]

Thinking back on it... it's painful... but when I was in "manager training" we were covering workplace injury.

It became very, very apparent that it was NOT about caring for the injured employee, but more about making damned sure that the proper forms were filled out and a CYA culture.

It was about Raytheon, not employees.

[Sheriff]

They used to sell booze in the store...now they don't.

[Sheriff]

They used to have cash prizes at bingo...now bingo is gambling.

[Sheriff]

We used to give thousands of dollars to charity every season...now giving to charity is strictly prohibited.

[Sheriff]

We used to have janitors and D.A.s...now we have to wash dishes and clean our work centers and dorms.  I know that sounds like whining to a lot of people, but when you think about the cost of paying someone I.T. money to wash dishes and scrub toilets, it speaks to the terrible waste of money that comes from this company all the time.

[Sheriff]

We used to have smoking lounges...now all of the non-smokers have to walk through a wall of smoke whenever they enter 155.  No smoking lounges means everyone is now exposed to more second-hand smoke.

[Sheriff]

We used to have a weight room with all of the machines that you need, a drinking fountain, and a rest-room.  The weight room now does not have a bathroom or a drinking fountain and a lot of the machines that you need could not be fit into the tiny room that they have allocated for the weight room.

[Sheriff]

We used to have the coffee house during the winter...now the coffee house is only for summer people.

[Nukee]

Seriously, no more booze sales in the ship store?  So, what, is Southern Exposure the authorized company booze vendor with HR closely watching consumption?