3 ms·

I can't afford to leave my job, I would only be able to sustain myself for ~1 year. I think I would be satisfied if I only had to work half as much: 4 hours a d

by ptato 4y ago

I can't afford to leave my job, I would only be able to sustain myself for ~1 year. I think I would be satisfied if I only had to work half as much: 4 hours a day, 20 a week. Now I just need to find that job...

Cthulhu_ 4y ago
In my country (Netherlands), most employers are amenable - if not legally required - to allow you to work part-time, IIRC over half the workforce here works part-time - could be 36 hours (so you get an afternoon a week off, or a day off every two weeks, or a day off if you work 4x9 hours), 32, some even work only 24 hours. So basically it is possible, and I think in the US too you can negotiate to work less hours.
- Aeolun 4y ago
  Working 24 hours is the holy grail, but now that I’ve been working 40/week for years I kinda feel like I’d suddenly feel my workweeks are too short.
- morelisp 4y ago
  I believe it's legally required here in Germany, but in most cases you'll be first on the chopping block for layoffs, and you generally need to hide that you'll ask during interviews. (It's illegal to refuse an employee asking but not illegal to not hire you.) Really bluntly, just as value-per-hour starts falling off rapidly after some point, it also increases super-linearly up to some point before that. Most overhead is constant regardless of if you work 24 or 40, you'll miss opportunities when you're not there, and you'll need to spend more time catching up when you are. That doesn't mean you can't work effectively, but I've watched multiple junior-mid devs think they've hacked the system but instead just forgo most learning/advancement opportunities. If you're happy with the current salary and don't need any more fulfillment from your career than turning-the-crank, I guess go for it. (In the US they'll just fire you, maybe even just for asking.)
giaour 4y ago
I remember Amazon making a bunch of noise about offering 80% time and 60% time jobs a while back; they may still be doing so. If not, there are plenty of "full time" roles in big tech that only realistically require 24 hours/week.

by ptato 4y ago

Cthulhu_ 4y ago

In my country (Netherlands), most employers are amenable - if not legally required - to allow you to work part-time, IIRC over half the workforce here works part-time - could be 36 hours (so you get an afternoon a week off, or a day off every two weeks, or a day off if you work 4x9 hours), 32, some even work only 24 hours. So basically it is possible, and I think in the US too you can negotiate to work less hours.

Aeolun 4y ago
Working 24 hours is the holy grail, but now that I’ve been working 40/week for years I kinda feel like I’d suddenly feel my workweeks are too short.
morelisp 4y ago
I believe it's legally required here in Germany, but in most cases you'll be first on the chopping block for layoffs, and you generally need to hide that you'll ask during interviews. (It's illegal to refuse an employee asking but not illegal to not hire you.) Really bluntly, just as value-per-hour starts falling off rapidly after some point, it also increases super-linearly up to some point before that. Most overhead is constant regardless of if you work 24 or 40, you'll miss opportunities when you're not there, and you'll need to spend more time catching up when you are. That doesn't mean you can't work effectively, but I've watched multiple junior-mid devs think they've hacked the system but instead just forgo most learning/advancement opportunities. If you're happy with the current salary and don't need any more fulfillment from your career than turning-the-crank, I guess go for it. (In the US they'll just fire you, maybe even just for asking.)

giaour 4y ago

I remember Amazon making a bunch of noise about offering 80% time and 60% time jobs a while back; they may still be doing so. If not, there are plenty of "full time" roles in big tech that only realistically require 24 hours/week.