[OCCASparky]

the computer stores all company archives and need-to-know at the click of a mouse.

Sorry, but in skilled trades/engineering even that's not enough.

Which reminds me of a story:

An engineer worked for a company for many years and retired not too long ago. A few months after he retired, a critical piece of equipment stopped working. Despite the best efforts of the remaining staff, they simply could not get it working again.

Company management contacted the retiree and offered him any sum he asked to repair the equipment. He agreed, came back, inspected the rotor and put a simple "X" and the notation "-.002".

The technicians made the adjustment and the equipment then ran perfectly.

Several weeks later the company got a bill from the retired engineer for $50,000. Outraged, the company management demanded an itemized receipt for such a huge sum.

The reply came back:
1-"X" mark--$50
2-Knowing where to put it--$49,950


And if my supervision had been more loyal to me a couple years ago, I wouldn't be where I am today (living in a lower cost of living area, making more money, with less stress).

[sodpoodle]

Great story - my comment was based on less *technical* employment - but your example is illustrative of *valuable tenured experience* being undervalued by employers.

Thanks for your common sense with a smile;)