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I don't think the fact that developers make hundreds of thousands of dollars means they have to put in more work. They are being paid to create a certain amoun

I don't think the fact that developers make hundreds of thousands of dollars means they have to put in more work. They are being paid to create a certain amount of value, and capture what is generally a small fraction of it. How does your logic scale? If a dev making $200k per annum has to put in 10 hours a day, does an executive making $600k per annum have to put in 30 hours per day?

morgante 10y ago
It's not that making more money inherently means you have to work more, it's that if you're making a lot of money it's ridiculous to complain about the hours. Developers are not a subjugated underclass. If you really only want to work 40 hours a week, there are tons of employers who will happily hire you as a developer (at a lower salary). There's no reason you should be entitled to both a high salary and a short working week.
- asdfasdfa11112 10y ago
  But now you're making a subjective statement about the pay. Without context (supply, demand, how much revenue you generate for your employer), how to determine what is highly paid? I fully reject the idea that more hours should be a requirement for good pay. Further, as a startup founder myself, I don't want my employees working much more than a 40 hour week. I have found* I prefer the work produced by someone with work-life balance, than someone who works all the time. * subjective sampling of colleagues/coworkers/direct reports/hires.
  - morgante 10y ago
    No, I'm making an objective statement. If you are being paid more than the median American, and have options which would still pay more than the median while working less, then complaining about being overworked is ridiculous. There are simple solutions of just getting a different job. If you don't want people working more, by all means manage your company that way. The market will decide if its an effective strategy.
    - asdfasdfa11112 10y ago
      I don't share your opinion that because other people have it worse, you cannot be dissatisfied.

morgante 10y ago

It's not that making more money inherently means you have to work more, it's that if you're making a lot of money it's ridiculous to complain about the hours. Developers are not a subjugated underclass. If you really only want to work 40 hours a week, there are tons of employers who will happily hire you as a developer (at a lower salary). There's no reason you should be entitled to both a high salary and a short working week.

asdfasdfa11112 10y ago
But now you're making a subjective statement about the pay. Without context (supply, demand, how much revenue you generate for your employer), how to determine what is highly paid? I fully reject the idea that more hours should be a requirement for good pay. Further, as a startup founder myself, I don't want my employees working much more than a 40 hour week. I have found* I prefer the work produced by someone with work-life balance, than someone who works all the time. * subjective sampling of colleagues/coworkers/direct reports/hires.
- morgante 10y ago
  No, I'm making an objective statement. If you are being paid more than the median American, and have options which would still pay more than the median while working less, then complaining about being overworked is ridiculous. There are simple solutions of just getting a different job. If you don't want people working more, by all means manage your company that way. The market will decide if its an effective strategy.
  - asdfasdfa11112 10y ago
    I don't share your opinion that because other people have it worse, you cannot be dissatisfied.