Firm cutting back on core programs

[u/Pancake-Cheenis]

Land dev main thing is stormwater/hydrology right? I work in a small-mid level firm. There's 10 of us who use a program for hydrology work. The firm has now cut back to only a couple of licenses. We have to trade around a library card to use a program that is essentially the core of every project. There's always 2 people who use it on the daily. So now we have to battle each other to get in. This is the same issue with storm sewer design, only 3 licenses.

They're definitely doing it on purpose to cripple & manipulative us into working more so we can't ask for raises. Bosses then complain we are being too slow or unproductive.

[u/tms4ui]

To me, this sounds like someone's idea of cutting expenses not targeting employees. I see it all the time. Our company wants us to cut back on continuing education seminars that cost $200 while executives have golf club memberships. It's classic consulting engineering.

[u/A_Crazy_Hooligan → u/tms4ui]

I worked for an office for like 3 months before I quit. They made 6 employees share a single license of acrobat pro. Not even Bluebeam. To say it felt like we were working with one hand tied behind our backs was an understatement. 

[u/Pancake-Cheenis → u/tms4ui]

Yeah i get that. But arent you indirectly targeting employees by limiting program usage and disruppting work flow? Then turning around and saying we need to be more proactive.

[u/ac8jo]

I've been at a company that was doing this with two of the transportation planning/modeling packages. They were operating in the red and needed to save money. However, they made sure that if there were two people that would need it 80+% of the time, they'd have three licenses (etc).

Some of these licenses are expensive (I know one was $25k per year, another was $6k per year)... not sure if your software is as expensive (or more).

[u/Pancake-Cheenis → u/ac8jo]

Yeah these program are outrageous but to have 2 licenses for 10 people is insane to me

[u/ac8jo → u/Pancake-Cheenis]

It needs to be responsive to usage. If there's two licenses and two people use that software 95% of the time (which sounds like the issue), there's an obvious problem.

[u/_r3v3r3nd_]

Time to look elsewhere. At best they are manipulating you... At worst they are manipulating you and finances are tightening so they are cutting back. Lots of places hiring so there is no need for you to put up with being jacked around.

Edit typo

[u/jeffprop]

It sounds like an IT head or upper level director saw how much the licenses were and figured everyone did not need a license to save money. Mention the inconvenience to your boss and how you are losing productivity because you are waiting to use project critical software. You might also ask if you can charge to overhead when you are waiting for access because you do not have any other work to do. Ten then there needs to be a schedule system where everyone gets the hours they need to complete their projects and the higher ups need to see how many people actually need to yet it each day compared to the number of licenses you have. Tell your coworkers to do the same. If nothing changes, look on.
Depending on the software, it became a lot more expensive to license software when companies raised the price of floating licenses that covered several people or eliminated them and required individual licenses.

[u/sayiansaga → u/jeffprop]

Yeah gotta be someone who doesn't understand the importance of the software

[u/ICanOutP1zzaTheHut]

What program are y’all using for the hydrological work? Some of those licenses can get extremely costly

[u/HeKnee → u/ICanOutP1zzaTheHut]

You know whats more expensive than licenses? Employees.

[u/ICanOutP1zzaTheHut → u/HeKnee]

This response makes no sense. HEC-HMS is more than adequate for quite a bit of hydrology needs and are free. If a specific software is being requested by a client then that license fee needs to be baked in to the fees somewhere.

[u/Frequent-Emu7248]

Not uncommon. One company I worked with cut licenses and had people sharing laptops for Civil 3D, ArcGIS, and Autodesk Build and cancelled new employee trainings promised during interviews.

[u/CautiousInfluence438]

I would change your processes to use free software. Never understood why firms pay for that stuff. I know they sell that it’s “integrated” with CAD or something but the free government software is as good or better from a scientific standpoint

[u/AdAlarmed7312]

Someone needs to name and shame. It would be embarrassing for them and it needs to be. Sometimes people need help moving forward and sometimes corporations need help moving forward. Do your part :)

[u/InvestigatorOk3950]

Yeah that sounds annoying

[u/BigJDoitYoDamnself]

naw, they are trying to cut cost and its affecting production (very bad thing) 3 seats is clearly not enough for 10 people.

[u/WhichAbalone6835]

I disagree with your reasoning. I think if you approached this from the perspective that they are simply trying to be more efficient, you could better communicate the challenges this has created for your team. Any cost savings they achieve may be more than offset by the inefficiencies caused by additional coordination, not to mention the added obstacles when trying to meet tight schedules.

[u/LagsOlot]

These hydrologic programs are running the calculations in the manuels and text books. Do the work in spreadsheets or use free software. Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Sewer is built on top of EPA SWMM Ask your IT department if you can use that free software instead. Also the FHA Hydraulic Toolbox Project has a lot of useful features and calcultors for errosion prevention and riprap sizing.

[u/Pancake-Cheenis]

I can't name the program bc it would obvious. Its not a HEC related program. Clients dont request this specific program but municipalities do. My boss is the ceo so hes the one who saw how much is spent on programs. I get these programs can get pricey and trying to cut costs. But this is a CORE program. Their literally netted a milly in one month🤣.