"Getting the sack" used to refer to a tradesman being handed back his tools in a bag.

A tradesmans tools were often built up over their working lifespan starting with their apprenticeship. Often part of the apprenticeship was to build the tools that they would be using throughtout their lives. Once an apprentice graduated they would have a thorough understanding of their trade from the ground upwards.

I can see the time coming where we are expected to turn up to the job with certain basics but as stated earlier, hardware is relatively cheap, the software costs are what kills you.

I know if you run a business you can offset certain costs against tax. I'm not sure if this could be applied to individuals in organisations or whether this would require a shift in employment practises and law so we all become self-employed. This would mean that a large swathe of responsibilities would devolve from the enterprise down to the individual.

I can see dangers in it and quite a few employment law changes.

In the UK to get rid of a permanent employee the company must go through due process which is time-consuming and lengthy - unless they are being got rid of for gross misconduct. To get rid of a contractor is relatively straight forward.

If the business model moves to employees bringing their own tools to the businesss then this would force a big shift from expensive proprietary systems. Something like SQL Server with its cheap developer edition would survive but some of the high end stuff would require a radical overhaul to bring their products within the reach of the development community.