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On a related note: I am UK developer working a 40 hour week with 32 days of holiday a year. I would really like to move to the US and work there, but is it real

by rjh29 13y ago

On a related note: I am UK developer working a 40 hour week with 32 days of holiday a year. I would really like to move to the US and work there, but is it really the norm to work 10-12 hours a day? Do people actually work solidly for that time, or is there a lot of slacking? I've become quite accustomed to a 40 hour work week and have no motivation to do anything longer (if anything, I'd work less and get paid less). Thanks in advance.

VLM 13y ago
"Do people actually work solidly for that time" I've been doing four tens per week (plus occasional disaster overtime, etc) for many years now. The key seems to be exercise at lunchhour including hot shower (if possible/applicable). Then it feels a heck of a lot more like five hour days. I'll never go back to five eights per week unless I absolutely have to.
necubi 13y ago
No, that's not the norm, at least not in SF. I work at a later-stage startup and do 8 hour days with the occasional crunch period at 9-10 hours. That's not to say shops with crazy time requirements don't exist, but it's definitely avoidable. Companies with older senior management are more likely to have sane work schedules. However, you'd struggle to find a job with European levels of vacation. Most jobs will start out with 10-15 days of paid vacation, plus ~10 holidays.
flyinRyan 13y ago
The thing that's going to hurt the most is vacation. In the US it's common to get 1-2 weeks and only after you've already worked a whole year. So that means working an entire year with zero vacation. The 4-6 weeks you can get in Europe is extremely rare in the US (where I worked, I finally got 3 weeks after 7 years of service).
- rjh29 13y ago
  Is it possible to take unpaid vacation? Is that generally looked down upon? Not sure I can go without 32 days a year, I'd go nuts I think.
  - flyinRyan 13y ago
    Depends on the place. In some places, unpaid vacation is a "perk" (I'm not joking, sadly). In other places it's simply not allowed. I've heard of places that allow it, though to get it in your first you will probably require negotiation.
deleted 13y ago
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by rjh29 13y ago

VLM 13y ago

"Do people actually work solidly for that time" I've been doing four tens per week (plus occasional disaster overtime, etc) for many years now. The key seems to be exercise at lunchhour including hot shower (if possible/applicable). Then it feels a heck of a lot more like five hour days. I'll never go back to five eights per week unless I absolutely have to.

necubi 13y ago

No, that's not the norm, at least not in SF. I work at a later-stage startup and do 8 hour days with the occasional crunch period at 9-10 hours. That's not to say shops with crazy time requirements don't exist, but it's definitely avoidable. Companies with older senior management are more likely to have sane work schedules. However, you'd struggle to find a job with European levels of vacation. Most jobs will start out with 10-15 days of paid vacation, plus ~10 holidays.

flyinRyan 13y ago

The thing that's going to hurt the most is vacation. In the US it's common to get 1-2 weeks and only after you've already worked a whole year. So that means working an entire year with zero vacation. The 4-6 weeks you can get in Europe is extremely rare in the US (where I worked, I finally got 3 weeks after 7 years of service).

rjh29 13y ago
Is it possible to take unpaid vacation? Is that generally looked down upon? Not sure I can go without 32 days a year, I'd go nuts I think.
- flyinRyan 13y ago
  Depends on the place. In some places, unpaid vacation is a "perk" (I'm not joking, sadly). In other places it's simply not allowed. I've heard of places that allow it, though to get it in your first you will probably require negotiation.

deleted 13y ago

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