Quote:
Originally Posted by Hitch
I fully understand (from interviewing job prospects) that this type of work is considered "nuts" by (a large number of) today's younger people; there's an entirely different work ethic now. Of course...those aren't the people I hire; I look for people who at least are close to my work ethic. I suspect that most of the senior executives who came up as I did don't hire those folks--or at least, don't promote them, either.
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It's a race to the bottom. The one who works the longest for the least pay gets ahead the most, but in the end you have people that work forever for no pay. The employee always loses. That is the reason why there are laws in the Netherlands regarding minimum wages and maximum work weeks and maximum overtime hours per month (and maximum number of weeks of sustained overwork).
Something like karoshi (death because of work) in Japan could not happen here. At least at this point in time, a minimum wage (being €1421 gross, excluding vacation money and government benefits) and a maximum working time per month are guaranteed by law.
LAW
Also, regarding overwork, you reap what you sow.
I've worked for companies that were on the minute. Need to go early 10 minutes to catch a bus so you can just make it to drop off a package? Not possible. 5 minutes late because you missed the train connection? Huge problem right there. Logged in a minute late from break, or took a shit that took too much time according to the team leader? You're up for a 'discussion.'
Well... nobody ever volunteered for unpaid overwork or helping out on other projects.
My current company is easy-going; as soon as you put in a 40-ish hour workweek (approximately) and make sure the deadlines are met and projects are finished on time, almost everything goes. Need to leave an hour early? No problem. Missed a train connection? So what... get a cup of coffee and start after you finish it.
With that kind of a company I'm much more willing to do overwork if needed.