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Controversial opinion: I think this is an acute USA/Silicon Valley problem. I was in similar situation, working 50-55 hours a week for US corps and it was taki
by FlyingSnake 11y ago
Controversial opinion:
I think this is an acute USA/Silicon Valley problem.
I was in similar situation, working 50-55 hours a week for US corps and it was taking its toll on me. I think the American dream makes people think that work is the the only goal in life.
Then I moved to Europe and boy what a change! People here work 32-40 hours max and take bucket loads of vacation. The quality of work these guys produce is really top notch too.
I wish more people understand that working to death isn't a healthy choice.
- da02 11y agoAny countries or companies in particular?
- elros 11y agoI've been working in Germany for three years now. Can back up OP completely.
- anon4 11y agoAny European country. I think Germany is pretty strong on the IT front, together with the UK. In every single country in the EU, you're guaranteed a minimum vacation of 4 weeks, and I think in Germany it's a minimum of 6 weeks. Just DO NOT work for game studios. The lesson I learned from friends who lived that life is NEVER EVER, unless you're in charge and have enough capital to burn on a creative venture. In that branch people do work for 48 hours, sleep at the office and generally run on constant crunch time to ship at a specific date.
- bildung 11y ago> and I think in Germany it's a minimum of 6 weeks. By law its 4 weeks minimum in Germany, too (more if you are younger than 18). But many industries gained 6 weeks through collective bargaining/unions.
- FlyingSnake 11y agoGermany, NL, Nordic Countries, Poland and CZ are pretty relaxed about work.
- switch007 11y ago> Then I moved to Europe and boy what a change! People here work 32-40 hours max and take bucket loads of vacation. Let me guess: you didn't move to the UK? Generalising about Europe is difficult. I know people on a 42.5 hour contract, 1/2 hour lunch! My last job was 9am-6pm with 1 hour lunch (40 hour contract (plus 1 hour commute each way)). I'm now happily on a 37.5 hour contract with 1 hour lunch.
- eterm 11y agoCompared to the US, the UK's legal minimum of 28 days[1] vacation is a bucket load! And most full time UK workers are 40 or 37.5 hours, which is still well below what many US workers report their hours as. [1] https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/entitlement https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/entitlement (This includes bank holidays, typically companies will mandate the bank holidays and give 20 days to be chosen freely.)
- switch007 11y agoTrue, the point about vacation time is valid. Although I'm talking contracted hours. I haven't looked up any stats of reported hours in the UK.
- paulojreis 11y agoNor Portugal, nor Spain...
- scott_karana 11y ago> Let me guess: you didn't move to the UK? Generalising about Europe is difficult. Half the time, the UK pretends it's not part of Europe, and the other half of the time, complains for not being included. I think we both knew that GP meant "continental Europe". ;)
- FlyingSnake 11y ago> Let me guess: you didn't move to the UK? Germany. But I've heard from friends and family in NL, Spain and PT that it's similar laid back attitudes in those countries too. No idea about UK, but I've heard they've ~25 vacation days too.
- hwstar 11y agoUS companies have shown they can't police themselves on this matter. We should write our US Representatives and strongly suggest that the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 be reformed and be harmonized with the European Working Time Directive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Time_Directive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Time_Directive
- hengheng 11y agoGerman here, working in an emerging start-up where every day is full of surprises, as to be expected (positive as well as negative). I do 40 hours, and it keeps me sane, creative, thorough and relaxed.