[SBE] Dwindling numbers of engineers

[Robert Combs]

It does not help the cause at all when Engineers do not show that they are part of the team and how important to the team they are. Too many times I go into markets where the engineer does not attend a department head meeting or the Manager tells me that the engineer is never around or that he can't seem to communicate well with the other departments. Out of sight, out of mind gets you out the door in today's business world. I love Terry Baun's comments when he was the guest on TWIRT #109 and they are the same values he tried to instill in all of his engineers when he was the VP of Engineering for my company years ago. "Adapt or die". Everything changes and if you do not change with it you will become irrelevant.

Robert Combs
Regional Manager of Engineering/IT
Southeast Region
Cumulus Media
robert.combs at cumulus.com<mailto:robert.combs at cumulus.com>
912-247-9976

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From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Chris Hoopes
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 10:58 AM
To: sbe member discussion mail list
Subject: Re: [SBE] Dwindling numbers of engineers

A big part of the problem is the pay structure for GMs. Getting paid a yearly bonus based on percentage of profit. This is determined my revenue in, and saving that can be made by downsizing operating cost. They then have a financial incentive to pay employees less, ignore maintenance issues until a crisis, and cut cost wherever possable. This is further complicated by shortsightedness. Often ignoring the long term effects of such a operating manner. I do not agree with this philosophy, but have observed it often.
Broadcast engineering is not what it used to be. It would take a real dedication and desire to choose that field today, when other fields could pay more with a reduced learning curve.




From: Henry's AFLAC <a9xw at cs.com<mailto:a9xw at cs.com>>
Subject: Re: [SBE] Dwindling numbers of engineers
To: sbe at sbe.org<mailto:sbe at sbe.org>
Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 12:52 PM
Tell tale signs time to look for a new job:

At department head meetings, sales talks about how many presentation they have made, not the number of contracts sold.
The GM asks if you are old enough for social security
The GM down sizes his direct reports, and departments are placed under other departments
Wages are frozen
Benefits are cut or reduced
Retirement plans (401k etc) lose matching funds contributions
Amenities go away, cafeterias close for vending machines, pop prices go up to full retail, coffee becomes bring your own
Most if not all of the employees feel over worked, unappreciated and are looking for new jobs
staff turnover exceeds 100%/year
GM keeps saying "employees are our most valuable asset" while tossing people out the door.
New hires leave before the ink is dry on the announcement
Department heads are a revolving door
Purchases are frozen, capital investment stops
Job openings are not filled or positions canceled
Departments are told to provide a once a month company lunch, and the company no longer provides birthday or other event celebrations
The BOD is visiting the GM/Pres frequently.

Henry



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