Google employees; no longer MVPs?

[Bare Foot Kid]

Google tells employee: you can no longer be a Microsoft MVP

The Microsoft MVP status is awarded to individuals around the world who Redmond wants to recognize for sharing their high-quality, real-world technical expertise with the community and with Microsoft.

In October 2003, Skeet was awarded Microsoft MVP status, and Microsoft renewed his MVP status every year for the next five years. Those days are over. While Microsoft says it has no problem with a Google employee keeping their MVP status, Google certainly does.

Google tells employee: you can no longer be a Microsoft MVP - Ars Technica

 

[Lee]

That is sad, I would think even Google could find a way to use this to there advantage.

 

[Orbital Shark]

I just had to :roflmao: at this

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Whilst I'm not normally in favour of yet more Lawyers - this to me sounds a perfectly good case of testing this in court.

What you do in your own time or what external qualifications you get (provided they are within the law) are UTTERLY NO BUSINESS OF YOUR EMPLOYER.

Would you get fired because for example if you enjoy playing the guitar and did some gigs at weekends or went out busking.

I'd certainly challenge the ruling google made there.

I've heard of similar issues at a large International Oil company not allowing people to call themselves Dr .... on the business cards when thye have a perfectly legit Ph.D from well known Universities.

After a LOT of rumblings and hassle the Oil company relented (and why not - it's not easy getting a Ph.D why shouldn't you use it in your address - ypu've earned it.

Same as Microsoft MVP - they don't give those out for nothing either.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[AlexT2889]

If I was an employee at Google with an Microsoft MVP badge, I would've said "F U" and piss on their multi colored gay rainbow logo on front lawn and apply at Microsoft while randomly high fivin Ballmer going down the hallway.

 

[Tews]

Aw, c'mon Alex, dont hold back...tell us how you really feel..

 

[ussj4brolli]

Hi there

Whilst I'm not normally in favour of yet more Lawyers - this to me sounds a perfectly good case of testing this in court.

What you do in your own time or what external qualifications you get (provided they are within the law) are UTTERLY NO BUSINESS OF YOUR EMPLOYER.

Would you get fired because for example if you enjoy playing the guitar and did some gigs at weekends or went out busking.

I'd certainly challenge the ruling google made there.

I've heard of similar issues at a large International Oil company not allowing people to call themselves Dr .... on the business cards when thye have a perfectly legit Ph.D from well known Universities.

After a LOT of rumblings and hassle the Oil company relented (and why not - it's not easy getting a Ph.D why shouldn't you use it in your address - ypu've earned it.

Same as Microsoft MVP - they don't give those out for nothing either.

Cheers
jimbo

100% agreed.

 

[Joan Archer]

Saw this in another forum and agree he should not have declined the award, after all he got it for the work he'd already done anyway.

I believe he is well known among the MVP's and the community so not having it will not make any difference to the way he continues to help out, it is all voluntary after all.

 

[aem]

So Google workers have to remove their MVP status off their business cards?

I recon this is BS, I like to see how someone could submitted their CV to google without any knowledge of MS. And i don't mean a cleaner's role at their offices (if they do have offices that is).

 

[Scotteq]

....would it be considered overly snarky for someone to modify one's business card to say "MSFT MVP Title Removed Under Threat Of Job Loss"? Or would that simply be a self~fulfilling prophesy?

 

[H2SO4]

....would it be considered overly snarky for someone to modify one's business card to say "MSFT MVP Title Removed Under Threat Of Job Loss"? Or would that simply be a self~fulfilling prophesy?

I wonder how Google had him "cleansed" to remove the stigma?

That guy is a bit of a C# legend and it's not like nobody's gonna notice. It's presumably not enough for him to merely stop calling himself an MVP, so I'd guess he had to write a letter .... "Dear Mr. Ballmer, can you please stop calling me 'valuable' in public? It's very awkward and my colleagues make fun of me. Lots of love xoxo"

 

[Joan Archer]

This was posted over in News and I answered there as I'd already seen it on another forum saying as how it's just stupid as he got the award after doing what he does and as it's all voluntary why should it make any difference to Google.

He is well known enough for it not to be a problem anyway so I think Google should just stop getting their knickers in a twist

 

[praseodeveloper]

I feel the employer should not impose restrictions on an employee's personal interests.
After all, the employee is not bound to work in the same organization for a lifetime.

 

[aem]

If i get a job with google (lol) and get paid well (pretty sure i would) i would disown MS. It would be the same vice versa. After all it's just a business card isn't it?

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

If i get a job with google (lol) and get paid well (pretty sure i would) i would disown MS. It would be the same vice versa. After all it's just a business card isn't it?

Well that is your opinion, even if I made less at MS then I did at google, I'd still want to keep a MVP title. I respect Microsoft.