News
National Semiconductor employees told to return iPods
Laid-off employees at National Semiconductor have been asked to return the iPods given to them last month as part of a company-wide reward. On June 12th, National Semiconductor announced that it was giving each of its 8,500 employees a 30GB fifth-generation iPod for having an exceptionally profitable year. The Star-Telegram now reports: “Last week, the company laid off 35 employees at its Arlington plant. To the surprise of some at the plant, the laid-off workers were asked to give back their high-tech toys… One of the 35 laid-off workers said many employees at the Arlington plant were under the impression that the iPods were theirs to keep. Some had sold them or given them as gifts, according to the caller. Employees who leave the company can return the device or pay ‘fair market value’ for it.” [via CNET News.com]
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21
I’m not surprised that National would do that, especially the managing crew of the Arlington plant. I worked there for 10 years before being laid-off in 2001. Although the company was good to me in some ways, it was very cold and aloof to it’s employees. Especially “African-American” employees in some aspects. This was a multi-racial, multi-cultural place with so many great workers and a few bad apples. But when it came o rewarding it’s employees, it did very little unless you worked there for a long time. The hours were long, jerky and very tightly monitored. You couldn’t even go to the bathroom without being monitored. The shifts were split into 4 groups: A, B, C & D. A was late, 9pm to 9am; B was day 9am to 9pm, C (the same as A) and D the same as B. If you could handle nights you were a C & A shift person, if not B & D were you’re preference. The company VP was a bit predjudice toward African Americans who tried to progress from the lower ranks of being what was called a “fab operator.” And if you had no college degree, you were considered dung. THe greatest thing that they did do for their employees came through their tuition reimbursement program which was great for those who wanted to get ahead and make a better future for themselves, not necessarily there at National, but outside of it’s doors. I’ve heard some very unusually successful stories from some of it’s previous employees and some very sad and tragic ones.
But keep in mind a majority of cases documented and unreported concerning “carpel-tunnel” were a part of this company’s dark history. There are countless reports and also of a very narrow-scoped nurse who was once apart of their inside protection system. She was nice to your face, but a cut-throat behind your back. Very interesting story from those who know of her “Alvarie S.”
There is also an unreported case of under-the-table operations with a $10,000 community fund that was presented by Scott Kahl to a local school Dunn Elementary where his wife worked. It was unsuspected in the way that the monies were openly yet cunningly given to a school that really didn’t need the funds, but just had the convenience of getting the funds through an inside person from National to a person of kinship on the other side. These were just a few of the things that were apart of the fabric of National.
Posted by Former Employee on March 11, 2009 at 11:39 PM (PDT)
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