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I interviewed with them a bit over a decade ago for an engineering position after I got my master’s degree. The interviewer straight up asked me if I was okay w

I interviewed with them a bit over a decade ago for an engineering position after I got my master’s degree. The interviewer straight up asked me if I was okay working something like 60 hour weeks. I said nope right then.

thorin 3y ago
At least he came out with it. Although if he said 60 he probably meant even more. In the UK or Europe it would probably have been illegal to mention this. I wish someone would have just come out and said this at a startup I worked at.
- SilverBirch 3y ago
  Under EU law it is illegal to work more than 48 hours a week.... unless you opt-out. So everyone just opts-out.
  - thorin 3y ago
    I was forced to opt out in my last few jobs. It's kind of weird.
askafriend 3y ago
They're currently raising at a $150B valuation so you would have been retired and on a Yacht by now (and yes they do tender offers, so your equity wouldn't be illiquid).
- deepgrey 3y ago
  Pfft. My health is more important than money.
  - askafriend 3y ago
    60 hrs a week and you're already posturing about health? I mean you can do whatever you want - but for most of history people have been working far more than that. 60hrs a week is not bad, especially if the work is interesting and you get to work with talented people. It's not like you would have had to work there for the rest of your life. Just a couple years there would have meant never needing to work ever again. Sounds healthy to me!
    - 2rsf 3y ago
      > for most of history people have been working far more than that. Are you sure? can you support the "most" part?
    - deepgrey 3y ago
      1. If they say 60 up front, it’s likely much more than that. 2. I don’t do good work when I’m tired. 3. I have some health issues that make managing 40 hours difficult sometimes, so I’m not “posturing.” Also, I’m pretty sure stock options didn’t vest until like four years or something. IIRC, Musk’s companies were well known for chewing up young engineers and spitting them out. Their modus operandi seemed to be taking advantage of young idealistic graduates who would work themselves to death for some “cause” (and not enough compensation).
      - askafriend 3y ago
        All of that is fair. Sorry to hear about your health issues - that's totally understandable. Just wanted to push back a little against your initial snark :)

thorin 3y ago

At least he came out with it. Although if he said 60 he probably meant even more. In the UK or Europe it would probably have been illegal to mention this. I wish someone would have just come out and said this at a startup I worked at.

SilverBirch 3y ago
Under EU law it is illegal to work more than 48 hours a week.... unless you opt-out. So everyone just opts-out.
- thorin 3y ago
  I was forced to opt out in my last few jobs. It's kind of weird.

askafriend 3y ago

They're currently raising at a $150B valuation so you would have been retired and on a Yacht by now (and yes they do tender offers, so your equity wouldn't be illiquid).

deepgrey 3y ago
Pfft. My health is more important than money.
- askafriend 3y ago
  60 hrs a week and you're already posturing about health? I mean you can do whatever you want - but for most of history people have been working far more than that. 60hrs a week is not bad, especially if the work is interesting and you get to work with talented people. It's not like you would have had to work there for the rest of your life. Just a couple years there would have meant never needing to work ever again. Sounds healthy to me!
  - 2rsf 3y ago
    > for most of history people have been working far more than that. Are you sure? can you support the "most" part?
  - deepgrey 3y ago
    1. If they say 60 up front, it’s likely much more than that. 2. I don’t do good work when I’m tired. 3. I have some health issues that make managing 40 hours difficult sometimes, so I’m not “posturing.” Also, I’m pretty sure stock options didn’t vest until like four years or something. IIRC, Musk’s companies were well known for chewing up young engineers and spitting them out. Their modus operandi seemed to be taking advantage of young idealistic graduates who would work themselves to death for some “cause” (and not enough compensation).
    - askafriend 3y ago
      All of that is fair. Sorry to hear about your health issues - that's totally understandable. Just wanted to push back a little against your initial snark :)