5 ms·

As a society we should figure out some sort of systemic work exchange program where people suffering from burnout can leave their career for 8 months to work in

As a society we should figure out some sort of systemic work exchange program where people suffering from burnout can leave their career for 8 months to work in a brewery or be a fire watcher or herd goats or whatever until they figure out that, "damn, my old job wasn't so bad after all." Either that or they become a full time goat herder...

s1artibartfast 4y ago
I think it would be really good for most people. Oddly enough, it probably wouldn't be that hard, or even trivial if you are already a contractor
bsenftner 4y ago
You do realize, illegal work environments and unreasonable expectations on developers is "best practices" in software development. As a society we need to end illegal best practices that require developers to work so hard they have physically damaged brain issues from the overwork and stress afterwards.
- sethammons 4y ago
  > You do realize, illegal work environments and unreasonable expectations on developers is "best practices" in software development. This doesn't match my decade+ of experience. 35-50hr weeks and open communication on project statuses and timelines. I've had two or three crunch-times. Worked at a startup that went unicorn.
  - bsenftner 4y ago
    Perhaps my ambition exposed me to the worst of our industry: Apple Macintosh pre-release developer (everything in Assembly), OS dev for both the 3D0 and the original PSX game consoles, was at E.A. during the E.A. Spouse Era, managed a game studio for several years while also coding on titles, was a director of R&D for the first Internet live video infrastructure provider, worked in feature film VFX across 9 features while earning an MBA, failed at a very ambitious VFX/Advertising startup, and worked more recently as principal of a leading facial recognition developer. Across all these specialties, I've had a career composed of 7 day 60-80 hour weeks for over 4 decades.
    - Workaccount2 4y ago
      Modern tech jobs (in the era of free money, which may be ending) have really put a clamp on long hours. Tech jobs were notorious for long hours until recently where it has flipped, and they are known for comfy work/life balance approach.
    - wnolens 4y ago
      Do you consider yourself a victim? Holding the titles of director and principal means you used your position to reinforce this pattern, no?
      - bsenftner 4y ago
        I generally work in small teams, where I look out and mentor those I work with, rather than work them into the ground as I was.
        bsenftner 4y ago
        You could say I consider myself a "Protecting Veteran".
    - s1artibartfast 4y ago
      What part was illegal exactly? My legal understanding is that there's no cap on salary working hours, no mandatory vacation or weekends, and a 3-day minimum on paid sick days (in california) .
- oaiey 4y ago
  Very true. Most agile principles are optimized to squeeze the most out of everyone. There is no space for breathing.
Mezzie 4y ago
It's not systemic, but I'm unironically doing this. I live in a LCOL city and I just walked away from my previous career path and am working in a lingerie shop. It's definitely not a forever thing, but the time to get my brain together is invaluable.
jesse__ 4y ago
I mean, depending on where we're talking here, I think my girlfriend would love being a f/t goat hearder.. can you hook me up?
saltcured 4y ago
But, would you want the burned out brewers, fire watchers, or goat herders placed in your development team for 6 months at a time?
- hirvi74 4y ago
  No, I wouldn't wish that evil upon them.

s1artibartfast 4y ago

I think it would be really good for most people. Oddly enough, it probably wouldn't be that hard, or even trivial if you are already a contractor

bsenftner 4y ago

You do realize, illegal work environments and unreasonable expectations on developers is "best practices" in software development. As a society we need to end illegal best practices that require developers to work so hard they have physically damaged brain issues from the overwork and stress afterwards.

sethammons 4y ago
> You do realize, illegal work environments and unreasonable expectations on developers is "best practices" in software development. This doesn't match my decade+ of experience. 35-50hr weeks and open communication on project statuses and timelines. I've had two or three crunch-times. Worked at a startup that went unicorn.
- bsenftner 4y ago
  Perhaps my ambition exposed me to the worst of our industry: Apple Macintosh pre-release developer (everything in Assembly), OS dev for both the 3D0 and the original PSX game consoles, was at E.A. during the E.A. Spouse Era, managed a game studio for several years while also coding on titles, was a director of R&D for the first Internet live video infrastructure provider, worked in feature film VFX across 9 features while earning an MBA, failed at a very ambitious VFX/Advertising startup, and worked more recently as principal of a leading facial recognition developer. Across all these specialties, I've had a career composed of 7 day 60-80 hour weeks for over 4 decades.
  - Workaccount2 4y ago
    Modern tech jobs (in the era of free money, which may be ending) have really put a clamp on long hours. Tech jobs were notorious for long hours until recently where it has flipped, and they are known for comfy work/life balance approach.
  - wnolens 4y ago
    Do you consider yourself a victim? Holding the titles of director and principal means you used your position to reinforce this pattern, no?
    - bsenftner 4y ago
      I generally work in small teams, where I look out and mentor those I work with, rather than work them into the ground as I was.
      - bsenftner 4y ago
        You could say I consider myself a "Protecting Veteran".
  - s1artibartfast 4y ago
    What part was illegal exactly? My legal understanding is that there's no cap on salary working hours, no mandatory vacation or weekends, and a 3-day minimum on paid sick days (in california) .
oaiey 4y ago
Very true. Most agile principles are optimized to squeeze the most out of everyone. There is no space for breathing.

Mezzie 4y ago

It's not systemic, but I'm unironically doing this. I live in a LCOL city and I just walked away from my previous career path and am working in a lingerie shop. It's definitely not a forever thing, but the time to get my brain together is invaluable.

jesse__ 4y ago

I mean, depending on where we're talking here, I think my girlfriend would love being a f/t goat hearder.. can you hook me up?

saltcured 4y ago

But, would you want the burned out brewers, fire watchers, or goat herders placed in your development team for 6 months at a time?

hirvi74 4y ago
No, I wouldn't wish that evil upon them.