3 ms·

While we're considering things that won't happen - how about working less? I love my job in software, but I think I'd have a better QoL with a 32 hour work wee

by skylark 10y ago

While we're considering things that won't happen - how about working less? I love my job in software, but I think I'd have a better QoL with a 32 hour work week. I feel like my productivity wouldn't go down by 20% (but it's hard to tell without trying it for an extended period.)

stefs 10y ago
after nearly burning out on the last ~42 hour job, at the current company i tried 30 hours and i love it. they do want to convince me to go full time, but for now i refused (stating that i don't think i'd be as productive and just cost the company more money without delivering another 33% of work). a lot of my colleagues and even friends at other companies downgraded to 30 hours (or never upgraded after finishing university). i earn enough to get by but don't save as much as others at my age (for reference, i'm 35). i work 6 hours a day, 5 days a week (others work 7.5 hours a day and just take friday off). i don't get paid overtime but be do have comp time. the upsides, in my opinion: * i'm better rested, more concentrated and productive so the company gets more bang for the buck * i spend a lot of my free time in the gym (this hopefully means i'm reasonably healthy which would be a plus for the company due to less sick time off) * the rest of my free time i spend programming interesting private non-commercial projects; i.e. free education and experience that benefits my employer (sometimes it also leads to open source libraries we can use at work) * the other rest of my free time i spend reading about IT (things like HN), which, again, +experience * when schedules get tight i tend to accumulate overtime, as soon as that passes i tend to take time off. this means the company doesn't have to pay me for twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the clock in my opinion it's mostly a win-win situation for both me and my employer.
- skylark 10y ago
  Interesting, I was considering negotiating with my employer for part time where I'd take every Friday off - have you found 6 hour days to be better? I feel like if I took a 20% pay cut I'd want to avoid commuting for that extra day off, but I can see how shortening the workday might be more pleasant.
  - stefs 10y ago
    i'm a bit of a special case here - i'm a night owl, late riser and usually show up quite late (around lunch). also, my commute isn't that long and this way i can circumvent the notorious drop in concentration after 6 hours (which, in my experience, isn't universal). there are several more downsides to the 5d6h model, but i personally don't care much for those right now and i could switch any time. most of my friends and colleagues choose the 4d7.5h work week and i think it's the better option for most people.

by skylark 10y ago

stefs 10y ago

after nearly burning out on the last ~42 hour job, at the current company i tried 30 hours and i love it. they do want to convince me to go full time, but for now i refused (stating that i don't think i'd be as productive and just cost the company more money without delivering another 33% of work). a lot of my colleagues and even friends at other companies downgraded to 30 hours (or never upgraded after finishing university). i earn enough to get by but don't save as much as others at my age (for reference, i'm 35). i work 6 hours a day, 5 days a week (others work 7.5 hours a day and just take friday off). i don't get paid overtime but be do have comp time. the upsides, in my opinion: * i'm better rested, more concentrated and productive so the company gets more bang for the buck * i spend a lot of my free time in the gym (this hopefully means i'm reasonably healthy which would be a plus for the company due to less sick time off) * the rest of my free time i spend programming interesting private non-commercial projects; i.e. free education and experience that benefits my employer (sometimes it also leads to open source libraries we can use at work) * the other rest of my free time i spend reading about IT (things like HN), which, again, +experience * when schedules get tight i tend to accumulate overtime, as soon as that passes i tend to take time off. this means the company doesn't have to pay me for twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the clock in my opinion it's mostly a win-win situation for both me and my employer.

skylark 10y ago
Interesting, I was considering negotiating with my employer for part time where I'd take every Friday off - have you found 6 hour days to be better? I feel like if I took a 20% pay cut I'd want to avoid commuting for that extra day off, but I can see how shortening the workday might be more pleasant.
- stefs 10y ago
  i'm a bit of a special case here - i'm a night owl, late riser and usually show up quite late (around lunch). also, my commute isn't that long and this way i can circumvent the notorious drop in concentration after 6 hours (which, in my experience, isn't universal). there are several more downsides to the 5d6h model, but i personally don't care much for those right now and i could switch any time. most of my friends and colleagues choose the 4d7.5h work week and i think it's the better option for most people.