a la mode....worst place to work.

Let me first state that I am a current a la mode employee and have been for 7 years now. I have worked in every department except Sales or Marketing. With that being said, I think you guys have it all wrong. Granted those who have worked here very easily could have had a bad experience, what company doesn't have that. I won't debate that issue but I will explain the facts.

Developers expected to pull all-nighters to meet deadlines... a la mode is a very agile development group. Depending on when you were here, based on your statement of cots, I assume you were at Waterwood, you may have experienced something completely different. Our developers currently average 40 -50 hours a week, with most towards the 40-45 range. Yes occasionally we will pull all nighters in order to get a product out the door for a tradeshow or other rare occasions, but what company doesn't do that. We have two sleeping rooms in our offices now (Memorial Rd) but they are more often used by techs during their lunch breaks and naps than developers. Back in the day, 2001, in the final crunch of the flagship product (version 5) there were several all-nighters. But even the owner of the company himself was there pulling those same all nighters. That should say a lot....We work hard but we play hard too

Just some quick facts that really suck:

1. a la mode pays for the employee health insurance (vision, dental, health)
2. They matched up to 125% of what the employee put in up to 6% of their salary. This has just changed, but is still good. Vested from day 1.
3. If you have been there for 5 years, you get 3 weeks paid vacation. 1 week at a year and 2 weeks at 2 or 3 years. I think, I can't remember as it doesn't apply to me (the lower amounts)
4. Free Food The owner of the company pays for a company to stock our fridges with breakfast and lunch (could be dinner as well). Coffee (even the fufu, Flavia), Pop and water also provided free of charge.
5. Christmas bonus that grows on the number of years you have worked there. I have seen the owner hand a support technician a $10K Christmas bonus.
6. Recently added (within a year)- Birthday gift. What did your company give you for your birthday? Just another sign they appreciate us.

I don't know about you, but if you can find a job that equals or beats that, let me know.

Many a marriage/relationship has been ruined by [a la Camode] WOW, such a harsh statement. No offense, but a la mode didn't cause the marriage to break up, the persons involved caused that. I have been married for 6 years and my marriage is perfectly fine. People whom choose to cheat on their spouses are responsible for their marriages breaking up, not the workplace. There are very few companies that can say employees are not having extra-marital affairs.

This is not a flame, but these are some pretty harsh generalizations that frankly are not true. I don't doubt there are people whom dislike a la mode for one reason or another. Don't get me wrong it is very stressful at times, but based on the items I mentioned above and others that I didn't, I think I have shown that the company is very generous as well.