Telecom employees

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jesterz

97 posts

Master Geek

# 21828 8-May-2008 10:23

This is a bit of a moan ... we've just had an email coming around work asking for flatmates and it said:

"the other guy works for telecom, free phone, internet and Sky TV is included in this."

So ... do Telecom employees receive all these freebies? So am I as an Xtra and Telecom customer subsidising their (and all their flatmates) internet surfing? It makes me a bit mad given that services are not great (not the worst, but not great).

Moan over.

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75 posts

Master Geek

# 129307 8-May-2008 10:31

From what I know, I think they (telecom employees) still pay 50% of the price.
But whats wrong with some benefit coming from the company? like Banks give employees some points off their mortgage rates before etc....

johnr

19282 posts

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# 129308 8-May-2008 10:39

Yes they do get staff benefits of free services!

Whats the issue?

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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# 129310 8-May-2008 10:47

Do you think that Telecom is the only company in the country that does this?

Its VERY common for a company to provide free or subsidised service to employees AS PART OF AN EMPLOYMENT PACKAGE.

Toyota bossess probably get Toyotas to drive.
My friend is a BK restaurant manager, he gave me a free meal the other night (run up on the till as a managers authorised freebie)
I have worked for a primary produce supplier who often gave staff free broccoli and lettuce.

I work for an educational institution, I recieve free education here, that non-employees would have to pay for.

I have worked many IT roles where employees would get free IT services (Bring your home PC in for a techo to replace your HDD at zero cost etc).

Is all of this at the detriment to customers?

Not in my opinion. Its just another addition to salary. Would you be moaning if all these services were not supplied free, but instead the staff members recieved a pay rise worth the same retail amount?

When I was working for Gen-i (and my partner still does), I was getting a tax-free cash allowance for services, and my partner was (and still is) getting staff concession on the services you have mentioned. Our phone bill is only a few dollars a month, as our concession covers most of what we have (phoneline, broadband, SKY Digital billed on our phone account).

cranz

675 posts

Ultimate Geek

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# 129311 8-May-2008 10:48

Ah tony bet me to it, and summed it up nicely.

n00dy

479 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 129313 8-May-2008 10:55

Its not only large companies and corporates that do this as a campany owner i provide my team many products and services free, even services that are not related to our industry, such items can include paying your gym, doctors, immuniation, phone, internet. These are just employee benefits to keep make them happier and more comfortable. I think its a small price to pay for a valued staff member.

jesterz

97 posts

Master Geek

# 129318 8-May-2008 11:07

As I said, it's a moan

.

I guess my main quibble is that bandwidth is a finite resource and free (or subsidised) access could be dramatically reducing the availability of bandwidth for paying customers. Classic free rider problem ... when the quality of our internet services seem to be getting worse in the short-term, is this one area that is causing problems for the overall network?

mobygeek

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 129331 8-May-2008 11:54

Well, it won't be a problem if all our CS goes overseas, now, will it?

rb85

115 posts

Master Geek

# 129337 8-May-2008 12:17

"the other guy works for telecom, free phone, internet and Sky TV is included in this."

Check your facts as that is not entirley true.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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# 129338 8-May-2008 12:25

jesterz: As I said, it's a moan .

I guess my main quibble is that bandwidth is a finite resource and free (or subsidised) access could be dramatically reducing the availability of bandwidth for paying customers. Classic free rider problem ... when the quality of our internet services seem to be getting worse in the short-term, is this one area that is causing problems for the overall network?

its not like its free unlimited use. Telecom staff still go on a plan like any other customer, and recieve a monthly allowance for these services. Telecom staff usage is just a drop in the ocean of broadband use by the client base, and certainly not causing you to have slow internet.

Most of the same staff would likely have broadband anyway, so whether its subsidised by TNZ is irrelevant to the actual traffic incurred.

rscole86

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# 129340 8-May-2008 12:32

Like Tony has said they are not 'above' the T&C's that everyone else has to follow.
They will still get their bandwidth limited, still have to pay overage charges etc. And I doubt they would they would even be able to get access to old plans

. I know of one person who has worked for Telecom for years, and only just this week decided to get internet access. So I doubt you have subsidised them in anyway.

This happens in all sectors, Progressive employees get discounts in Progressive stores. Do we complain that because they get their produce cheaper that us? OMG I am subsidising their toilet paper and condoms!

Yeah it looks like a bit of a moan, but in the end most companies offer perks to their employees. Thats how you create loyalty and get staff to hang around for longer.

tonyhughes

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# 129347 8-May-2008 13:17

most companies offer perks to their employees. Thats how you create loyalty and get staff to hang around for longer.

This is probably the most important point.

At Gen-i, they also paid our fees in full for medical insurance (covering 50% of doctors visits and prescriptions for a start, as well as surgeries), our membership to a trust also gave us access to income insurance, holiday homes across NZ (we stayed in Queenstown last November for $160 for the WEEK for a fully furnished two bedroom flat). Partners get the same benefits at no extra cost too.

Drinks+nibbles every Friday night - someone would walk around offering wine and beer from around 3.30pm depending on how busy and productive the week was.

Budget was always available to go and do 'stuff', and Gen-i would often match the social clubs contribution $ for $ for major events on the social calendar.

All of these 'perks' come out of the businesses bottom line - revenue that ultimately comes primarily from clients paying for productsand services, but without it, the good staff would leave and go elsewhere.

When the good staff leave, they have to be replaced, often at great cost. Any such costs are passed on to a consumer in the form of increased margins.

You should really be talking to your suppliers, asking them what benefits they give their employees, and demanding that they be comprehensive and attractive benefits.

In the long run, your bill will be cheaper, and your service(s) will be better.

zocster

1786 posts

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# 129350 8-May-2008 13:25

You'd have to see it as 'perks of the job' when I was at Telstra Clear I had a subsidy as well up to 100 a month, and loved it. sooo ... go get a job at a telco I say, you'll get the perks!

KiwiOverseas66

173 posts

Master Geek

# 129365 8-May-2008 14:26

I guess my main quibble is that bandwidth is a finite resource and free (or subsidised) access could be dramatically reducing the availability of bandwidth for paying customers

lol - 10 out of 10 for bravery for writing the above statement in a tech forum (that's right people - any problem you may be experiencing connecting nationally or internationally is not due to poor quality copper , crappy DSL routers, incorrect configurations, poor installation, inefficient routing, high volume downloads, etc - it telecom employees downloading emails or watching youtube).

hey.....pssst - I heard that the current worldwide fuel and rice shortage is due to Telecom employees driving and having stir fry for lunch - don't you know that rice and fuel are a finite resource and telecom people travelling and eating could be dramatically reducing the availability of food and fuel for paying customers!

Bung

2999 posts

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# 129375 8-May-2008 14:40

tonyhughes:
most companies offer perks to their employees. Thats how you create loyalty and get staff to hang around for longer.

This is probably the most important point.

A good perks program can substitute for paying better money. Telecom used to want to be the leader everywhere except pay rates.

xpd

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# 129650 9-May-2008 12:46

Lets see... my previous job perks...

Georgie Pie : Discounted food
Sheraton : Discounted room rate anywhere in the world
IHUG : Free dialup (b4 DSL), then special deal on IHUG Ultra with IHUG TV
Quicksilver : Free dialup and discounted DSL
EDS : Hmm.... zilch.
Easyware : 20hr weeks :)

And where I am now, free A+/Network+/MCSE/MCSA training and exams.

So Xtra/Telecom giving staff free net etc is pretty standard really.

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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