4 ms·

You might be selling hours. I'm selling value. When I was hired, I said "I'm going to make X happen - this will give you Y competitive advantage over competito

You might be selling hours. I'm selling value. When I was hired, I said "I'm going to make X happen - this will give you Y competitive advantage over competitors Z1, Z2, and will generally do what I can to increase shareholder value". I made no promises about hours worked, and my employer isn't paying attention to that. I "stand to my rights" when dealing with the police, government and other hostile parties - my employer and I have a collaborative relationship. We create value together and share in the proceeds. If the terms (the vast majority of which cannot be explicitly stated in a contract) no longer are mutually agreeable, we'll separate.

acqq 12y ago
So how many hours per week do you actually work and is there any number of hours stated in your contract? I need these two variables to be able to reason about your claims.
- yummyfajitas 12y ago
  Nothing is stated in my contract, and I don't carefully track my hours. I'd guess between 35 and 55. So I guess you can't reason about my claims.
  - acqq 12y ago
    Thanks. Can the other side of your contract complain if you simply don't come to work on some days? If they can complain then I believe you must have something specified, when not hours, then days.
- Amezarak 12y ago
  Most Americans in salaried positions are not signing any kind of contract, and certainly not one that talks about hours.
smhg 12y ago
I agree. It's mainly semantics, but "shareholder value" sounds a bit narrow for me. I would say the goal would be to improve the employer's idea/product/business. Or even a step further: society as a whole. Although shareholder value is the consequence in many cases, I personally wouldn't be motivated if I worded the goal of my collaborative relationship like that. Also, while money is a useful result of this relationship, creating progress/improvement is the awesome part.
branchless 12y ago
For most people they are doing generic work for a company. If you finish a task they give you another. There is an infinite amount of work to do. Therefore for the majority of people your statement means little. The employer would like them to work all hours to deliver more value. Every hour you work over 40 hours per week is a win for them and they are insatiable.

acqq 12y ago

So how many hours per week do you actually work and is there any number of hours stated in your contract? I need these two variables to be able to reason about your claims.

yummyfajitas 12y ago
Nothing is stated in my contract, and I don't carefully track my hours. I'd guess between 35 and 55. So I guess you can't reason about my claims.
- acqq 12y ago
  Thanks. Can the other side of your contract complain if you simply don't come to work on some days? If they can complain then I believe you must have something specified, when not hours, then days.
Amezarak 12y ago
Most Americans in salaried positions are not signing any kind of contract, and certainly not one that talks about hours.

smhg 12y ago

I agree. It's mainly semantics, but "shareholder value" sounds a bit narrow for me. I would say the goal would be to improve the employer's idea/product/business. Or even a step further: society as a whole. Although shareholder value is the consequence in many cases, I personally wouldn't be motivated if I worded the goal of my collaborative relationship like that. Also, while money is a useful result of this relationship, creating progress/improvement is the awesome part.

branchless 12y ago

For most people they are doing generic work for a company. If you finish a task they give you another. There is an infinite amount of work to do. Therefore for the majority of people your statement means little. The employer would like them to work all hours to deliver more value. Every hour you work over 40 hours per week is a win for them and they are insatiable.