Working Off the Clock, How Much Is Too Much? 582
The Wall Street Journal has word of yet another suit against an employer who required an "always on" mentality to persist because of easily available communications. Most of us working in some sort of tech related job are working more than 40 hours per week (or at least lead the lifestyle of always working), but how much is too much? What methods have others used in the past to help an employer see the line between work and personal life without resorting to a legal attack? "Greg Rasin, a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP, a New York business law firm, said the recession may spawn wage-and-hour disputes as employers try to do the same amount of work with fewer people. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act says employees must be paid for work performed off the clock, even if the work was voluntary. When the law was passed in 1938, 'work' was easy to define for hourly employees, said Mr. McCoy. As the workplace changed, so did the rules for when workers should be paid."
That's OK... (Score:5, Funny)
I make my time back by slacking off at least 75% of my time at work.
The key is to *look* busy... and leave the cursor on the minimize icon.
Jiu-Jitsu (Score:5, Funny)
I informed my boss that my personal life involves me choking people and applying pressure to joints, and clarify that if my work life enters my personal life, then my personal life will enter my work life. Haven't had a problem since. You can't just let people walk all over you just because they have the title of "boss".
Re:Don't like it? Too bad (Score:3, Funny)
The only solution is to find another job. It may not be right. It may not be fair. That IS how it is.
Not how it is for me. Fortunately, I'm not a pussy who will walked all over. It's all fun and games until I fuck you over with extortion and blackmail. 1 primary goal of mine in any job is to infect my superior with a nice trojan. I call it "Job insurance". Any and all dirt i can get on them I will proceed to use in the event of a a legitamate excuse about family and health. I've ruined a couple of marriages this way.
Re:That's OK... (Score:5, Funny)
I had such a hair trigger on my alt-tab that one time I was doing actual work when my boss walked up and bam I popped up slashdot from pure reflex. Any more I care very little.
A better question would be... (Score:5, Funny)
... How many Post-It Notes can I steal before I'm fired?
One? A pack? A crate?
Working overtime and not being paid is the equivalent of the company stealing your time.
Now, I'm a reasonable guy. I'll go home half an our late and not put in for overtime / TOIL. But you better believe that I'm taking some Post-Its with me.
Re:A better question would be... (Score:3, Funny)
And by "post-its" you mean 500gb external hard drives right? no-one follows the backup policy anyway.. They're just going to waste!
working on the weekend (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Get Clear First (Score:4, Funny)
If your fire department is constantly fighting fires, I would say it is high time for some public education on fire prevention.
They would, but they're too busy fighting fires, you insensitive clod!
Re:US laws are not the best (Score:5, Funny)
Commie!
Re:Begin here (Score:3, Funny)
I look forward to your factual citations to relieve my ignorance!