Why staffers stay

PalmPilots and wine and food pairings. This odd couple is a key reason why Alan Atkinson, manager of information technology at Franciscan Estates, a winery in Rutherford, Calif., is a satisfied IT professional.

The PalmPilots, used in the vineyard to collect harvest data, represent Atkinson's employer's willingness to explore new technology. The wine and food pairing dinners - for which the winery's chef helps create and prepare menus - are indicative of Franciscan Estates' creative rewards for its employees.

"Money only goes so far," says Atkinson. He's echoed by other IT professionals, who say it takes a combination of factors for them to ignore a headhunter's calls.

Regular training and the opportunity to work with the latest technology top the list. In fact, even professionals with serious complaints about their job situations say access to training and technology are reasons why they're staying put for now.

"I get to play with the best toys in town," says a project manager at an international IT services firm. "Where else am I going to troubleshoot a server alongside the guy who developed it?"

Professionals say they especially appreciate training in technologies their companies may not be using yet, because it makes them feel that they're keeping their skills current. The project manager says he asks for and receives virtually any training he wants, whether it's applicable to current projects or not - a benefit that, for now, is keeping him with his employer, although he's unhappy with other work conditions.

As for technology itself, when IT folks say they want to work with leading-edge technology, they mean Web applications, Windows 2000, the latest Cisco routers, alpha and beta software and hardware products from leading vendors and more.

Obviously, not every company will be able to buy every new toy on the market. That's why management also plays a critical role in keeping employees satisfied, say IT workers. Their message is simple: We stay when you treat us as trusted professionals.

"This company hires good people and lets them be creative," says a systems integrator at a firm doing work for the US Air Force. He says many staffers have been there for 5 to 10 years, in part because they're given interesting projects and allowed to come up with their own solutions to problems.

Others say it means a lot to them when high-ranking users and clients recognize their contributions. "Our area has a direct impact on the business, and if our products do well, it gets back to us," says a senior programmer/ analyst at a Midwest insurance firm.

Bucks stop here

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