I regularly read some programmers blogs. Most of them look like advertising to Despair, Inc. products. 

None of them is complaining about money. Still they are most demotivated people I “talk” to. Most of them are complaining about very small things, like the desk phones distribution.

In emerging markets (and I live in one) IT professionals are in a sellers market. You have to search them and keep them. Salaries are growing, agency fees are growing, and all the acquisition costs are growing. There is no single reason not to try keeping your programmers. Still, almost all blogs shows highly demotivated people.

It’s so easy – in terms of budget and management attention – to create a pleasant work environment. I did it and I know how to do it. Few of my people returned after a onlz a couple of months with another employer. And returned to a salary with 20% lower than offered by my competition.

Their arguments: the team, the environment, and the managers.