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I understand the issue with the long hours. I really think the workplace culture like this should be disclosed at the interview. So you can decide ahead of time instead of it being forced on you later. I realize I'm probably being simplistic. Further, overtime should be paid then if that's how they're going to "run the ship." Paid OT is a rare thing in America I think. Just my thoughts.
I agree about the culture; but sometimes it just sneaks up on you. A new contract. An industry event. A disaster. And it IS OPTIONAL, after all. You just won't "shine" potentially.
The OT isn't applicable to salaried/exempt employees, true. For hourly paid there are labor laws strongly in place. Yes, some places pull monkey business and some hourly employees work for free, too, then when the company gets "caught" they claim they didn't "KNOW" they shouldn't.
I worked for a grocery chain that worked me off the clock illegally. (clocked me out for a lunch break wtihout allowing the break). After three months of badgering them and their HR I finally gave an ultimatum that I was going to the NLRB and they paid me the back pay. And cut my hours from 40 to 4.
It's a balance and some people REALLY need the job and won't speak up.
Well commutes should be exlcuded from the equation as we can decide where we live. I have a short commute, in exchange for that I have a smaller apartment and pay more. It is a trade off.
But 45/50 hrs is hardly an onerous work schedule. 60/65 is a fair amount. I did that, or a bit more, for a few years and it did take a toll. I liked the work though.
Commutes can't be counted as "work hours," but they are essentially wasted hours that you want to minimize. I don't think anyone finds a great joy in commuting, it's often stressful, expensive, and it's minimally productive.
In many cases, commutes aren't easily avoidable. A couple could be working and living in one town, one lose their job and finds something a good ways away, but don't move because the house is underwater. Maybe you just simply can't afford to live close to your job.
I hate commuting. Can't stand the long drive that I have to make every day just to get to work. If I could I would cut that time by 2/3. As it is currently it takes me 15 minutes to get from my house to work. I would kill to have a 5 minute or less commute.
even with the way you described it, 9-7 with a 30 min lunch break is still only a 47.5 hour work week. 9-5 with a 1 hour lunch is only a 35 hour work week.
at most tech startups, it's not abnormal to work about 60 hour weeks so we're talking 9-9:30pm with a 30 min lunch break. that's if you're lucky enough to not work weekends. usually we'd work from around 9-7:30pm mon-fri and then put in another 10-4pm on sat and 1-6pm on sun.
i spent about 10 years working at startups...no more.
once i started working at big companies, i always hear "we work a lot of hours here and it's a really tough work environment"...i laugh inside, take the job, and find the hours a piece of cake.
For those who commute 45 minutes to 1.5 hours one way, working from home one day a week is HUGE.
I had one job where someone who drives in from out of state on Monday and stays in a motel until Thursday evening (he works 4/10 schedule), still drives less then the in-state person, but commutes 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Even working from home one day a week, he still exceeds gas usage of the out-of-stater. For the former, the company reimburses for the motel and mileage. IIRC, the later, only partially?
For those who commute 45 minutes to 1.5 hours one way, working from home one day a week is HUGE.
I had one job where someone who drives in from out of state on Monday and stays in a motel until Thursday evening (he works 4/10 schedule), still drives less then the in-state person, but commutes 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Even working from home one day a week, he still exceeds gas usage of the out-of-stater. For the former, the company reimburses for the motel and mileage. IIRC, the later, only partially?
That is cool that it works out so well for the out of stater. We have an ER Doctor that lives in a less costly part of the state. He flies in and works 3 days, sleeping in the Doctors sleep room while he is here. Then he hops in his plane and flies home. My wife works with an RN that lives in Bakersfield, about 1.5 hours away. She stays with her mom while in town, works her 3 days and then heads back home.
For those who commute 45 minutes to 1.5 hours one way, working from home one day a week is HUGE.
I had one job where someone who drives in from out of state on Monday and stays in a motel until Thursday evening (he works 4/10 schedule), still drives less then the in-state person, but commutes 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Even working from home one day a week, he still exceeds gas usage of the out-of-stater. For the former, the company reimburses for the motel and mileage. IIRC, the later, only partially?
I commuted 50 miles/1 hour for about two years and the company despised telecommuting, and still only allows long time employees to work from home one day a week.
From what I've observed so far it seems like more people are staying late because of the startup culture than because the actually have work. Even the recruiters and admin assistants stay until 7 which makes no sense to me. They shouldn't have nearly that much work...maybe I'm so new that my workload hasn't developed but so far I take short breaks every hour or so and I still get my stuff done and even get a good portion of tomorrow's work done.
For those of you that have worked in startups, was it THAT necessary for you to stay late? Why not be productive, get your **** done, and leave early? I can't believe someone needs 10-11 hours to get one day's work done (unless you're on the startup engineering team, which I can understand)
From what I've observed so far it seems like more people are staying late because of the startup culture than because the actually have work. Even the recruiters and admin assistants stay until 7 which makes no sense to me. They shouldn't have nearly that much work...maybe I'm so new that my workload hasn't developed but so far I take short breaks every hour or so and I still get my stuff done and even get a good portion of tomorrow's work done.
For those of you that have worked in startups, was it THAT necessary for you to stay late? Why not be productive, get your **** done, and leave early? I can't believe someone needs 10-11 hours to get one day's work done (unless you're on the startup engineering team, which I can understand)
I choose to work in startups that like to stick to. 9-5 give or take. I stayed at work late today because it was in office happy hour!
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