STORY:
Even Millionaires Will Work this New Year

High tech CEO's planning to spend New Year's Eve at the office too

If you are feeling sorry for yourself because you have to work this New Year’s Eve take heart, you’re not alone. With the potential for Y2K computer problems many high-tech CEO’s will be joining the ranks of the working on New Year's Eve.

That’s right, even the millionaires will be working at the office this New Year’s Eve, just in case the Y2K bug infects their company computer systems. Top executives at Microsoft, Intel and AT&T will be keeping their millennium tuxedos in the closet and ringing in the New Year in front of their computer terminal.

It’s really a matter of money. High tech companies have spent billions of dollars to upgrade their computers to be Y2K compliant. Even so, they don’t want to take any chances and want to be on hand when the clock strikes midnight.

Hewlett-Packard president Carly Fiorina will keep her champagne on ice because she’ll be at the office and the only bubbly flowing there will be sparkling cider. Fiorina plans to be at the companies Y2K command center at the stroke of midnight. It should be quite the celebration in a huge room full of wires and backed with generators and stocked with bottled water, just in case.

Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers policy has always been to lead by example. He flies coach, eats in the cafeteria and now works on New Year’s Eve. Chambers will spend the night at the companies San Jose headquarters answering customer calls.

Top executives at Intel, AT&T and Dell computer will also be on hand this New Year’s Eve. Most companies plan to feed their employees well, but the only beverage will be soda for the working crowd this New Year.

That is unless you work at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. There will be champagne at this party. There will also be food and a disc jockey. There will also be family members and babysitters on hand. There will also be President Steve Ballmer. Ballmer will be hanging out the headquarters just like everyone else this New Year’s Eve. In fact, many employees were turned away from working because they had enough volunteers for the holiday shift. One man you won’t find at this party, Bill Gates. Gates plans to spend the evening with his family.

Source: Associated Press

DATE: 12/8/99

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