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Unless its directly in your own interests, it's actually irrational to be working out of hours. If you're being paid for the extra work or you're the company o
by motters 17y ago
Unless its directly in your own interests, it's actually irrational to be working out of hours. If you're being paid for the extra work or you're the company owner or a major shareholder then it does make sense, but otherwise there's little benefit to be had. There might be other special circumstances, such as if you're working for a charitable cause where part of the benefit is in trying to improve the wider society, but in most for profit businesses this doesn't apply.
- eru 17y agoPerhaps if you'd liked your work?
- dpritchett 17y agoIf you like your work enough to put in 80 hours a week on it please ensure that the additional 40 hours reward you in some equitable way. If you want to work the extra 40 hours for free you can do it for a charity (or your own startup!) rather than your for-profit employer.
- eru 17y agoWhy so much respect for charities? They are often hopelessly inefficient. If somebody wants to work extra for their employer, let them do it.
- Tamerlin 17y agoIf I work them them, I'd rather the company fire the one who wants to routinely work 80 hours a week. It's not helpful -- and I don't want to waste my time dealing with their code.
- dpritchett 17y agoIt's the opportunity cost. When you provide an employer with unpaid labor they profit at the expense of your family/hobby/startup/charity/mental health. Your extra time could be devoted to the benefit of people, projects, or causes dearer than your employer's pockets.
- brianto2010 17y ago> "When you provide an employer with unpaid labor..." Programming jobs don't pay overtime?! With an extra 40 hrs/wk, regardless of the job, the employee should get a sizable compensation, right?
- dpritchett 17y agoCorporate programmers in the US are usually salaried. Salaried programmers are exempt from overtime thanks to the Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/fairpay/fs17e_computer.htm http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/fairpay/fs17e_compute...
- motters 17y agoIf people want to work long hours then fine, I've no objections to them doing that. But in my experience most people - outside of a very small number of vocational jobs such as farming or being a doctor - don't want to work long hours and have other interests in their lives that they wish to attend to.
- pw0ncakes 17y agoIn many companies, your career will stagnate if you don't put in at least 50 hours per week. You might even get fired. Of course, no one will express the specific reason, but your reputation will fall and eventually you'll get hosed. Also, most large companies are horrible about looking out for employees' advancement and education, so people who want any of that have to do it on their own time.