So a question of work ethics if I may as your collective opinion...

What would you think of a company that requires you to take training on a new product line on your own time, with no compensation or comp time?

Is that something that you would expect of a tech company (that you need to do whatever you need to do on your own time to stay up to date on new products) or would you expect that your company should pay to train you if they're changing your tech that you're working on?

Thanks. Snark will also be appreciated.

What would you think of a company that requires you to take training on a new product line on your own time, with no compensation or comp time?

While this doesn't surprise in today's work environment, it is not right. If it is something the company needs you to do to further yourself, you should be compensated and they pay for it.

I've had to do this before but my company has a reimbursement program, so technically they did pay for it.

Seriously though, how in-depth would the study and training be? Would you be going somewhere on a weekend or afterwork for a long time over several days or such or is it just some demo's and papers you take home to study for a week or two?

If you need to go somewhere else on your weekend/afterwork/alone time and use your gas time etc than yes, the company should comp you.

Company told me to get my CC-ENT and CCNA (and a ridiculously unrealistic timeframe... by JUNE) and I'm expected to handle my current workload, in which I'm fitting 60 hours worth of work into 45 hour weeks. I'm also in school now 20 hours a week for another thing entirely... and my brain is freaking out as it is.

I would expect to be compensated for my time. But perhaps, in these wonderful economic times we find ourselves in, they figure you should just be happy to have a job where the check clears.

KID!!!!

Where were you in the Bulls Playoffs thread last night?

I was worried!

Not being snarky but it depends on if you see it as a job or a career and if you are hourly or salary. To learn more about your craft on your own time is the way to go if you are pursuing a career and want to better yourself. If it is just a job and you are a clock puncher I can see it as unfair. We have both at my place, neither is wrong but they are definately different in the way they are respected and compensated.

No way you should pay for that.

My wife and everyone on her work team was told they had to buy an Ipad for an upcoming meeting. No reimbursement. And she said it wasn't even necessary. And it's nice we now have an ipad but totally unnecessary expenditure.

I know you shit on your job a bunch here Darkside, and it seems like it is defintiely deserved, but have you ever thought of trying to move to another company? You've got to draw the line somewhere when taking bullshit from an employer. I know the job market is tough right now, but there are opportunities out there for good people like yourself. Why not try to find something that might make your life a little more sane?

I know you shit on your job a bunch here Darkside, and it seems like it is defintiely deserved, but have you ever thought of trying to move to another company? You've got to draw the line somewhere when taking bullshit from an employer. I know the job market is tough right now, but there are opportunities out there for good people like yourself. Why not try to find something that might make your life a little more sane?

Is this uncommon? This happens in a lot of fields, doesn't it? They should reimburse you fees (which it sounds like they are) but I wouldn't expect to be paid above and beyond for training which helps me advance in my field in the end.

I wouldn't turn it down if it was offered, of course.

Hmm, would you get automatic pay bumps for additional qualifications?

Sometimes, not usually. But the requirements of the job continue to evolve and I'd need to keep up with them in order to be highly qualified to remain in my job or similar positions.

We aren't reimbursed 100% for college courses (pre-approved only), but we don't get any reimbursement at all if we get lower than a "B". Then we get pay "bumps" after a set amount of courses (essentially every 15 credit hours, but that varies by district).

We get no pay for workshops, seminars, conferences, etc. But tons of those are essentially required by the state for re-certification.