[anbotero]

I’ve seen or had such experience in both kinds of companies. It’s happened in all of them, although in a high percentage on the startup-kind, but remember this “startup” mentality also invades the employees minds, not just the company’s. Most of all if one of the new employees has had the “pleasure” of working on a project with a lot of perks that maybe their colleagues didn’t or stopped considering given the big company policies, and boasts of them; quickly everybody starts getting out their stable comfort zones and demand all these awesome perks. At least those with the will to do so.

As you said, if you couldn’t adjust the window blind covers so you can work better (not having to succumb to squinting anymore), there is no longer the adequate comfort zone you’d wish you had, and a good enough reason (believe it or not) to start looking at other options. It’s happened to me on a job, where my colleagues would turn off the air conditioning belonging to our whole isle because 22ºC was too cold, but 34ºC was awesome? Heck that! Complained to Management after my (I swear I was polite) suggestions to simply bring jackets were seen as a joke. I do not joke on working environment conditions. I ended up working at home with most benefits (AC, Internet, etc.) being paid by the company. From time to time I let out one or two “troll” comments to those having to work at the office, but I stopped since I realized I don’t really care about obtuse people feeling offended.

If nothing had happened, I would have definitely started looking at other options, or who knows, maybe I received an option offer, like I eventually did.

Risks are everywhere, you just need to be ready to stand up to them and assume them with responsibility and tenacity.

[artmageddon]

> a good enough reason (believe it or not) to start looking at other options.

I usually just picked up my laptop and went to a quiet location to work, especially out of the sun. It sucked though because I'd have to go from a dual-monitor setup to looking at a small laptop screen, so I couldn't win. On top of that annoyance in the immediate present, there were multiple announcements that the company would have to make cuts to our benefits to stay afloat, happening at some unspecified date, which further degraded morale. I and 20 other people got laid off, but I'm in a much better situation now.