The Tale of The Bench

Definition of Bench :
1. a long seat for several persons: a bench in the park.
2. a seat occupied by an official, esp. a judge.

(Courtesy :-Dictionary.com)

These are the most common definitions that come to mind when you come across a bench. This holds true when you are not anywhere closely connected to the IT Industry. However, if you are someone who is well-versed with the IT Industry, this would be one of the most common terms you would be coming across apart from the other obvious words : meetings,bandwidth,deadlines,etc.

However, this post is only to discuss the dreaded word, Bench from the IT industry perspective. Non-IT people need not be too disinterested because they can learn a new meaning for a word. IT people who are not on bench can see the funny side of this post & IT people on bench can see the not-so-funny side of it.

So, what does someone mean when they ask you "Are you on Bench?". Well, they mean to know whether that person doesn't have any work. That means that that person is not billable to the company and that means that that person is not earning any revenue for the company. In short, it means that that person is getting salary for doing precisely, nothing. Now, all you non-IT guys must be thinking that you ought to join an IT company, right? No, guys, its not that easy being on the bench. Yes, there is no work when on bench but that feeling is not at all good. Trust me, I have lots of experience. Or else, ask the IT guys.

One of the worst fallouts of being on bench is that you are pointed continuously for not doing any work. This is the conversation I had with my PM,Swamy(name changed for obvious reasons!!) few days back.

"Hi,Swami. I just wanted to know whether the proposals which you were talking about got approved?"
"Er, I am sorry to say that they were rejected. We have submitted a couple of proposals. Let's see if it gets approved".
"So, any idea when that approval would come?"
"I think we should get an idea few weeks down the line".
"So, any idea what I should do till the project work comes?"
"Why don't you undergo some trainings".
"I have been taking trainings for so many times now. There are no more to be taken".
"Oh! Then do some certifications".
(Oh No, not again!!) " Well, thanks Swami. Thanks a lot for your suggestion".
"You are welcome.Best of luck with the certification".

And this kind of conversation goes on and on with the same person. And one fine day, the PM comes up to me and says that my performance appraisal rating would be affected because I have been on bench. Aren't you as baffled as myself at this reply? I was shocked. Ultimately, its my responsibility to get off the bench even though no work has been allocated to me after repeated discussions with my PM.

So, the next time you sit on that bench in your neighbourhood park and are having a generally relaxed time, do take a minute to pray for all the poor souls of this world who are not exactly having a fun time sitting on some different kind of a bench in some part of the world.

PS:- You don't exactly sit on a bench when you, well,eh.. sit on a bench. Its invisible!! :)