RE: Tech pro feeling squeezed out by manager
Believe it or not, I have been in the industry for over 30 years. Some of that time has been as an Engineering Manager; most of it as an individual contributor.
The situation you describe is really pretty tame. I have witnessed, and have personally experienced, much more traumatic situations that this.
Things have changed dramatically since the start of the DotCom boom. Prior to the boom, professional managers typically received training, where they learned how to manage situations like this effectively. They were imparted with traditional values, such as respecting the value of an experienced contributor.
Unfortunately, today we live in a very different world. It is rare to find a manager in our industry that has been the beneficiary of traditional management training. Not only have individual contributors been commoditized, but also have line- and mid-level managers. With the advent of outsourcing, if has become a dog-eat-dog industry.
I really dislike having to put it this way, but it is the cold, hard truth. My recommendation to this fellow is to keep your chin up, do what is "right," realizing that you are fortunate even to have a job, and don't compromise your own values. At the end of the day, what is important is that you feel good about yourself. After all, what does it profit a person to gain the world, yet lose their soul.
