ed the general manager. He called a meeting described as resolving our gas issues. Every technician in the group attended the meeting. There were rumors that we would receive gas cards, coupons for oil changes, or just be heard. The day of the meeting came. The general manager walked in and said, we would not receive anything but the federal Years ago I worked as a computer technician for a large shipping company. Basically, I drove to client sites and installed or upgraded computer hardware and software. I liked the job. During March of 2000, gas prices started to rise in the U.S. The federal mileage reimbursement was not really compensating for the cost of gas. The majority of the technicians in the office wanted our employer to help us make up the difference in the cost of gas. Our supervisors were sympathetic. However, the general manager was not sympathetic at all. He said, that the cost of fuel was affecting everyone especially the company. He said the company had to fuel hundreds of trucks and planes. And customers did not expect the cost of shipping to increase due to an up tick in gas prices. Of course, everyone grumbled about what he said.

Over the next three months, the price of gas rose .27. Now the grumbling had turned into complaining. Our supervisors attempted to shorten our routes as to save miles. It worked as long as a technician did not have to drive to multiple client sites.

Normally we had to return to the office to clock out. Sometimes a client site would be near a technician's home or after work destination but he would have to drive back to the office to clock out. The trip could cost an additional fill up per week.

By July, the complaining had reached the general manager. He called a meeting described as resolving our gas issues. Every technician in the group attended the meeting. There were rumors that we would receive gas cards, coupons for oil changes, or just be heard. The day of the meeting came. The general manager walked in and said, we would not receive anything but the federal

the technicians in the office wanted our employer to help us make up the difference in the cost of gas. Our supervisors were sympathetic. However, the general manager was not sympathetic at all. He said, that the cost of fuel was affecting everyone especially the company. He said the company had to fuel hundreds of trucks and planes. And customers did not expect the cost of shipping to increase due to an up tick in gas prices. Of course, everyone grumbled about what he said.

Over the next three months, the price of gas rose .27. Now the grumbling had turned into complaining. Our supervisors attempted to shorten our routes as to save miles. It worked as long as a technician did not have to drive to multiple client sites.

Normally we had to return to the office to clock out. Sometimes a client site would be near a technician's home or after work destination but he would have to drive back to the office to clock out. The trip could cost an additional fill up per week.

By July, the complaining had reached the general manager. He called a meeting described as resolving our gas issues. Every technician in the group attended the meeting. There were rumors that we would receive gas cards, coupons for oil changes, or just be heard. The day of the meeting came. The general manager walked in and said, we would not receive anything but the federal

omers did not expect the cost of shipping to increase due to an up tick in gas prices. Of course, everyone grumbled about what he said.

Over the next three months, the price of gas rose .27. Now the grumbling had turned into complaining. Our supervisors attempted to shorten our routes as to save miles. It worked as long as a technician did not have to drive to multiple client sites.

Normally we had to return to the office to clock out. Sometimes a client site would be near a technician's home or after work destination but he would have to drive back to the office to clock out. The trip could cost an additional fill up per week.

By July, the complaining had reached the general manager. He called a meeting described as resolving our gas issues. Every technician in the group attended the meeting. There were rumors that we would receive gas cards, coupons for oil changes, or just be heard. The day of the meeting came. The general manager walked in and said, we would not receive anything but the federal

did not have to drive to multiple client sites.

Normally we had to return to the office to clock out. Sometimes a client site would be near a technician's home or after work destination but he would have to drive back to the office to clock out. The trip could cost an additional fill up per week.

By July, the complaining had reached the general manager. He called a meeting described as resolving our gas issues. Every technician in the group attended the meeting. There were rumors that we would receive gas cards, coupons for oil changes, or just be heard. The day of the meeting came. The general manager walked in and said, we would not receive anything but the federal

ed the general manager. He called a meeting described as resolving our gas issues. Every technician in the group attended the meeting. There were rumors that we would receive gas cards, coupons for oil changes, or just be heard. The day of the meeting came. The general manager walked in and said, we would not receive anything but the federal gas mileage allowance. He also said, "You vote with your feet". You vote with your feet. What did he mean by that? He explained that the company was not going to change its position on gasoline reimbursement. So, if we did not like it then we should do something about it. Oh, I got it. Since the company would not change then I would have to change. I decided to find another job that didn't require me to use my personal vehicle.

By September the price of regular unleaded had rose to $1.79. But that didn't affect me for long because I got a new job by the end of the month.

During my last two weeks on that job in early October, our department held its monthly meeting. During this meeting, my supervisor announced that I would be leaving the company to pursue another opportunity. My colleagues were shocked and even gasped out loud. After the meeting, several of my coworkers approached me to get the scoop on my departure. And what follows is what I told them. Do you remember that meeting with the general manager last summer? Yes, they replied. Do you recall what he said? Well, he said a lot of things. Yes, he did. Well I distinctly recall him saying, "You vote with your feet". And that is what I did. And it feels good. Needless to say, one of my colleagues said I am sure that's not what he meant. No, that is what he meant.

Anyway, I spent the