What has changed?
I don't get it. What has changed in the IT market? Are there suddenly less computers in the country? Have networks & servers suddenly become so reliable that they no longer need support? Are racks now self-installing? Are call centres experiencing a massive drop in call volumes?
No. I don't think they are, yet corporate IT is slashing low-end jobs left, right and centre; one corporation after another. Even in ones where jobs aren't "formally" under threat, the level of intimidation, bullying and "strech objectives" is ever-increasing as demands on staff are pushed to the breaking point.
There is NO excuse for companies treating employees this way. It's fire-sale cost cutting in order to keep share values high in a kneejerk response to the "current financial climate" (which was created by the machinations of yet more corporate fucktards).
Well, corps, keep pushing us techies all you like because sooner or later you're going to be left with a company full of managers and the inability to even replace a toner cartridge. Your costs will spiral out of all control as you buy in expensive contractors to cover simple jobs. You will lose contracts due to the lack of continuity of skills and customer knowledge as people like me, and many other engineers, decide to say screw you and head off to start their own agile and responsive small businesses.
I'm heading that way myself soon.