> Now, I worked for a company who last year cut all the parties, food, drinks, team events, 3 year HW refresh cycle, even the color printers, to ensure we'll still get to keep above average salaries through the tremulous times our industry is going through. Absolute respect. I'd rather have more money to pay the ever increasing bills, than pizzas and a 50 Euro softshell jacket.

It's amazing how you can do without the necessities of life, provided you have the little luxuries. Yes, money is always good. But a company that isn't willing to spend a small amount of money on "frivolous" things that have a disproportionate impact on the daily experience of working for them is either an ineffective company, or one that genuinely doesn't value its employees.

> I wonder if it's possible to tell this story on how dehumanizing it felt to not get free beer with a half million dollar salary, to an average laborer, with a straight face, and expecting any reciprocating "working class" empathy.

Oh look, now the mask comes off.