Sounds Like A Millennial Problem

It is 1999. A project manager is talking to our tech support team (whom I manage) around mid-December.

Project Manager: “We need your team to be available 24/7 for Y2K.”

Me: “You mean New Year’s Eve?”

Project Manager: “I mean the whole weekend. We’ve been building this project for two years, and we need to make sure it’s not derailed by Y2K.”

Me: “We’ve implemented every recommended fix, but if you think it’s this important, then let’s figure this out.”

We did sixteen-hour shifts for the whole weekend. Food was provided. There was a hotel nearby to crash. We sat there collecting our overtime, eating Chinese food, subs, and whatnot for three days. We got four actual tickets among the twelve of us. 

Later, the CFO was berating the project manager and me about the overtime spent.

Project Manager: “We’ve been prepping for two years, may as well spend the budget. If nothing happens, it’s worth it. If everything hit the fan, it would have been MORE than worth it.”

I will always remember my first meal of the year 2000 (Chinese takeout) and remember it tasting delicious, and free, and free of guilt!