Tech workers leave start-ups for larger firms.

In Silicon Valley, a Flight to Safety

March 7, 2008; Page A1

As the dot-com bust gave way to revival, many Silicon Valley engineers left large companies to join start-ups, drawn by excitement and the promise of fat payouts. Last month, Ameet Kher headed in the other direction.

From late 2006, the 35-year-old software engineer worked at a small telecommunications-equipment maker called Ditech Networks Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. Last year, the company swung to a net loss and laid off employees. Seeing headlines about an economic slowdown, Mr. Kher got nervous and started hunting for another job. Offers came from two tech start-ups, but he wasn’t interested in start-ups anymore. He wanted to join a big company.

By PUI-WING TAM

Full Story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120485185824018261.html?mod=hpp_us_inside_today