Starktech Information Post

Basics

Starktech is the company created in Bete Noire by Tony Stark, an endeavor he undertook after being in the city for two years and (re)gaining money, resources, and reputation. Plans and development began as far back as late 2011, and the company opened officially on April 30th, 2012. The heart of Starktech is research and development; their purpose is to strive and create technology and products that will better the city and the lives of its citizens. The project was funded solely by Tony's earnings, but with his business and scientific mind and his assistant Pepper Potts at his side, there's no doubt he'll make that back and more. The company is still very small in comparison to Stark Industries back home--just one office building and a factory--but he's working on that. He's good at making things larger than life.

For the moment, Starktech is focused on products that directly contribute to the city's well-being, such as equipment for the hospital and for the police or other government-related or well-meaning organizations. Once they're solidly on their feet, they'll begin production for fun things for the everyday consumer.

A policy that Tony is clear on: the company is there to help. They're a business, and they earn money, but they're there to help.

They do not create weapons.

Departments/Jobs

All new employees undergo standard training for their departments, and each department has the standard jobs for secretaries or assistants.

All employees also sign hiring and confidentiality contracts.

They must not share Starktech information.

R&D: Starktech's Research and Development Department is the largest of the departments. It's where all the products are thought of and created; Tony, when he's not forced into playing CEO and even when he is, often has a hand (or Extremis) in this department, and will often shuck off ideas and projects onto his R&D team that he doesn't have the time for. Developers are encouraged to create their own products as well, but all products must have Tony's approval before undergoing development and research.

All products created will be under a Starktech patent. Payment for the R&D team is a varying wage depending on individual evaluation, and is very worth the work put in.

Besides the main developers/researchers, the R&D team also has lab assistants and technicians. They are always juggling more than one product at a time.

The head of R&D is currently Dr. Camilla Ostermeyer.

Legal: This department handles all the legal matter in running a business--licenses, patents, hiring and confidentality contacts, etc. It also handles internal discipline of employees, should they get out of hand or create a scuffle between themselves. Violence and sexual harassment between workers is heavily punished, and any accused employees will undergo review boards to ensure just accusation and the appropriate punishment if convicted, whether it ends up as temporary suspension without pay or a complete letting go of them. They will also be reported to the police.

The legal department will also assist employees should they become victims of crimes outside of the workplace.

The head of legal is currently an NPC.

Accounting: A smaller department, but no less important. Accounting handles the company's money and resources, and also is responsible for employee paychecks. If any issues arise with your paycheck, here's where you go! Accounting also handles new equipment requests, though more often than not people will go directly to Tony.

The head of accounting is currently an NPC.

Marketing: The public-relations and marketing department. People here are responsible for taking a product when it's nearing sale-status and create advertisements and pitches that will sell them to their intended target audience. They have representatives they can send to interested parties and organizations.

The head of marketing is currently an NPC.

Security: The security is taken seriously around Starktech. The office and factory have security cameras throughout them, and personnel often take patrols around the perimeter; they do not often go into the office building, using instead cameras to watch goings-on; Tony would rather not make employees uncomfortable. The parking lots at both sites have gates drivers must pass through with verification of their company identity. The gates have automated retinal scans, but there is often also a guard stationed there.

All personnel are given safety training, a uniform, a flashlight, a nightstick, bluetooth hands-free comm sets, and a pistol. All personnel are required to leave their guns and comm sets in lockers at the office site once they finish their shifts. Any use of the gun outside of work will not be tolerated.

The security department is available on call for any employee.

The head of security is currently an NPC.

Labor Force: Not a department in its own right, but certainly a force with perhaps the largest number of people. The labor force for Starktech are the worker bees--the janitors, custodians, cafeteria workers, maintenance, and factory workers. They keep the office building clean and running, usually seen in night shifts as they clean the day's going-ons. Factory workers are the oil-and-callous-covered workers who assemble products in the Starktech factory, check for quality, and ensure the factory machines are doing their jobs.

It is extremely easy to get a job as manual labor.

Current Employees

All employees must have sent in applications and been interviewed (usually handwaved and talked out OOCly unless requested otherwise!). They are also given background checks.

Every employee is given a company ID that they can use to access various floors and rooms. Some IDs will not access all floors. Ex: the R&D floor is usually only available to R&D team members and workers.

Most job positions require characters to be eighteen or above. Other smaller jobs, like interning assisting, only require characters to be sixteen or above. Tony has a hand in every employee hired, but more often than not, Pepper Potts is the one who actually met and interviewed them.

All employees are susceptible to evaluation at any time.

Tony Stark: Your boss and CEO and overlord. His office is on the top floor and is always guarded by a tall, bald, black man in a suit. (His name is Rodney McGraw. He's an awesome NPC.) Sometimes Tony is in his office. Sometimes he's not. Sometimes he's in there but no one is let in because he's busy playing R&D. Besides R&D, he really only has frequent contact with the other departments through their department heads. He's rich. B)
Pepper Potts: Tony's personal assistant. She gets her hands into many of the departments and might be seen as more the CEO than Tony himself. Pepper works every day from 8am to 6-7pm and is probably running around a lot. Paid amazingly.
Camilla Ostermeyer: Head of R&D. Camilla has her own office near the labs and is responsible for the R&D team's productivity. She liaisons to Tony for any issue/problem or question/request. She oversees the other team member's projects as well as her own, if she can manage the time. The R&D team has no set work schedule, but they do have product deadlines, and the labs are always open to them any time of day or night. They are expected to work hard and long. Has a fixed wage plus bonuses for performance. Paid amazingly.
Bennett Halverson: One of the scientists on the R&D team. She has her own workspace near Topher's, but the main labs are shared by the entire team. The R&D team has no set work schedule, but they do have product deadlines, and the labs are always open to them any time of day or night. They are expected to work hard and long, and to get along. She has access to both the development labs and the research labs and is allowed free passage to either one at any time. Depending on performance, paid amazingly or decently.
Topher Brink: One of the scientists on the R&D team. He has his own workspace near Bennett's, but the main labs are shared by the entire team. The R&D team has no set work schedule, but they do have product deadlines, and the labs are always open to them any time of day or night. They are expected to work hard and long, and to get along. He has access to both the development labs and the research labs and is allowed free passage to either one at any time. Depending on performance, paid amazingly or decently.
Winifred Burkle: One of the scientists on the R&D team. She has her own workspace, but the main labs are shared by the entire team. The R&D team has no set work schedule, but they do have product deadlines, and the labs are always open to them any time of day or night. They are expected to work hard and long, and to get along. She has access to both the development labs and the research labs and is allowed free passage to either one at any time. Depending on performance, paid amazingly or decently.
Minion: One of the lab assistants for the R&D team. He is expected to do anything and everything required of him from the scientists, whether that's fetching those files over there or making sure those tests on that computer are run correctly. His hours are much looser in comparison to the scientists, and the R&D department has a lot of willing assistants to swap in and out of duty. Minion works only days, never nights. He goes where he's needed. He has a fixed income as according to the amount of hours worked. Paid decently.
Joan Holloway Harris: An office manager for the accounting department. She oversees the accounting office and sends reports to the accounting head (also usually to Pepper, who is kinda of Tony's acting hand in everything); she also gives input on developing policies. She also drafts correspondence, and whatever else an office manager does. Always works days, regular work schedule, has a fixed income according to hours worked. Paid well.
Mr. Rumplestiltskin Gold: A lawyer in the legal department. Gold handles cases as they come within the company, as according to Bete Noire law. He is apart of the board that gives internal employee cases their hearings and decisions and is also available to take cases for employees outside of the workplace. His day-to-day tasks include assisting the company with legal matters of the business sense, usually working within accounting. He has a fixed income as according to the amount of hours worked, plus bonuses for outside cases. Paid well.
Aramis: Security personnel. Aramis is most often stationed in the factory to patrol the perimeter and the workers inside, including the "mysterious" elevator in the back of the factory that only Tony himself is allowed into--even though no one but Tony himself can even open it. Aramis most often works days but may be called in for nights. He has a fixed income as according to the amount of hours worked. Paid decently.

Setting

Office Building
Fifth Floor: Tony's office, department heads offices, meeting room.
Fourth Floor: Research and development. Work spaces and labs.
Third Floor: Offices. Legal and accounting. Employee lounge area.
Second Floor: Offices. Marketing. Security.
First Floor: Reception/waiting area. Public lounge. Cafe. Gym. Security.

Factory
It's a big factory.

An in-depth description of the setting with pictures can be found in this log!