Does DC turn people into workaholics? (time, about, message)

[Do a Barrel Roll]

When it comes to "what does DC turn people into?" workaholics is the least of my concerns; I can stand working 40-55 hours. It's how people are socially outside of the workforce that many newcomers may want to worry about.

[SandpaperTongue]

It certainly hasn't turned me into a workaholic. Or any of my coworkers. It just depends on the culture of your workplace. There are certainly many, many companies/firms/organizations where they work very hard. Luckily for lazy ole me, I've avoided them all.

[AeroGuyDC]

Depends. Will you be working in the private sector or for the Government? I left the private sector to work for Uncle Sam and have found myself really enjoying the work-life balance that I now have.

[smakawhat]

no place turns you into a workaholic YOU DO IT on your own free will and choice.

People do it because they either want to or think they have to and get swept up in it. I myself have never had to, and refuse and don't need to, and the places I've worked and been at, have reflected that. It's all up to you.

[nickelface]

Originally Posted by Emmy1128

I'm beginning to see that all of my friends out there work between 65 and 70 hours a week

OMG, I would kill to have those hours. I'm currently working 80 hours minimum (finance)

I'm in NYC, surprise!

Maybe I should move to DC for the relaxed life.

[DistrictDirt]

Judging by the number of crowded happy hours in this town every night of the week, its hard to believe that the majority of residents are working 70 hours every week. There used to even be an excel spreadsheet listing of all the happy hours that would get passed around via email forward. No one's sent it to me in a few years though. Any other District residents know if that thing still exists? :P

[KStreetQB]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Judging by the number of crowded happy hours in this town every night of the week, its hard to believe that the majority of residents are working 70 hours every week. There used to even be an excel spreadsheet listing of all the happy hours that would get passed around via email forward. No one's sent it to me in a few years though. Any other District residents know if that thing still exists? :P

I can't remember the last time I made it out before the happy hours were over.

That was an awesome spreadsheet. We had an intern working on updating it 2 summers ago, and it was a monumental task.

[terrence81]

In my office we just go to the nearest bar, Capital City, which happens to have $2 beers on Thursdays.

[Bluefly]

Keep in mind that there's always a rush hour between 4 and 7. If it were the norm to work crazy hours, there wouldn't be a rush hour at normal hours.

In the end, it's a government city and people in government are often penalized for working more than their 40 hours (or compensated extra, which is often looked down upon). Many people do work long hours though, but I wouldn't say it's the norm.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by smakawhat

no place turns you into a workaholic YOU DO IT on your own free will and choice.

People do it because they either want to or think they have to and get swept up in it. I myself have never had to, and refuse and don't need to, and the places I've worked and been at, have reflected that. It's all up to you.

I'm not sure it's that simple. A lot of people move to DC from the Midwest, New England, and South, all places with slower paces of life, and find themselves needing to work long hour because it's what's required to keep their job. I've lived in both major career cities and small lifestyle cities, and there's a massive difference in how people perceive their jobs and its relation to their sense of self-identity.

They could refuse to work longer, as you do, but there's no doubt a dozen people waiting to take their place.