Thanks. Now I remember where we started with this thread!- the idea that programmers can do better with certain environments. I'd never heard the term "selective soft sound sensitivity syndrome", but that does seem to be an issue with me- I do much better with earplugs and a quiet environment than a noisy one.

I've heard also that Dr. Goodnight recognized what kind of environmental changes were needed to make good programmers; such as closing the doors at 5PM, not only as a family thing, but also because he recognized that tired programmers make mistakes, and so it is better to have good code being written 8 hours a day than bad code being written an extra 4 hours a day, because it takes more time to fix the mistakes.

I wish more companies would recognize that caring about employees results in productivity gains, but also that each employee has distinct needs; employees with children may need a day-care center, whereas those with noise sensitivity may need a quiet place to work.

-Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Hamilton To: Mary ; sas-l@listserv.uga.edu Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 11:51 AM Subject: Re: [SAS-L] Programmer Skill Set

So am I (selective soft sound sensitivity syndrome). Unfortunately, I've never worked anywhere that cared enough about its employees to give them a comfortable working environment. Employees below the level of director/manager, anyway.

One of the great advantages of working for SAS, I hear, is that lower-downs are treated well. I suspect that Dr. Goodnight's office is somewhat nicer than that of a newly-hired Programmer 1, but at least that programmer 1 will have an office and some quiet and privacy.

I've heard that some European countries require that employees actually be able to see daylight from their workplace! Imagine that!

For many workplaces in the US, a line from Blake's Jerusalem would be appropriate.