At 07:48 AM 10/2/97 -0500, Chad Gilles wrote:

                        <snip>
>I have lots of ideas myself, but I thought many of you might give me
>some of your ideas on what would make you want to stay at a company.
>Salary is the easy one, but not always the most important.
                        <snip>

Since the demand for good programmers today clearly has outstripped the
supply, an organization hoping to keep its best people may wish to
concentrate on providing a career path for them, not just a job. Programmers
must be encouraged to feel that they are essential to the success of the
company, not just units of production. They should also be made to feel a
welcomed part of the organization, not gun-slingers for hire.

The means to keep up with technological change on a systematic basis
(ongoing professional development) should be assured. Respect and  job
security are other factors contributing to improving the programmer's
self-esteem.

The programmer who perceives that the grass is greener on his or her own
side of the fence is the programmer who'll want to remain.

All this implies commitment by the organization to a proactive and
enlightened human resource policy.

Regards, Eric

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