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  3. Would you people seriously just *stop* doing unpaid work already?!?!

Would you people seriously just *stop* doing unpaid work already?!?!

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  • C chriselst

    I get paid an annual salary. For that salary I have to do a job. The time taken to do that job makes no difference to what I get paid. There is a nominal daily or weekly minimum of hours to be worked, but no maximum.

    Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

    J Offline
    J Offline
    jeron1
    wrote on last edited by
    #10

    I'm in the same boat. However, the OP looks to be under contract and not a salaried employee (maybe I'm wrong), he's getting paid for each hour worked, who cares what the other people are doing?

    "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst

    C 1 Reply Last reply
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    • C Corporal Agarn

      But I do not work on Betelgeuse, only vacation there.

      P Offline
      P Offline
      PIEBALDconsult
      wrote on last edited by
      #11

      Are you tired of Ursa Minor Beta? :confused:

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • J Jeremy Falcon

        Because overworked employees are not productive. Nor happy. No matter how much they fake it. Productive and happy people think better and produce better code.

        Jeremy Falcon

        J Offline
        J Offline
        jeron1
        wrote on last edited by
        #12

        I agree, the OP looks like he's billing for each hour worked, and getting paid for it, unlike the salaried people, they should be griping, not him IMO.

        "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst

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        • J jeron1

          I'm in the same boat. However, the OP looks to be under contract and not a salaried employee (maybe I'm wrong), he's getting paid for each hour worked, who cares what the other people are doing?

          "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst

          C Offline
          C Offline
          chriselst
          wrote on last edited by
          #13

          Quite. I read is as he's brilliant, and everyone else is shit, which is why he gets paid the big bucks as a contractor, but because the shit salaried people work longer hours than he is prepared to it makes his sticking rigidly to the clock and going home look bad. He isn't bad, he's good, he's better in fact. It's so unfair. Beats fists on floor, threatens to hold breath until passes out, and so on.

          Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

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          • C chriselst

            Quite. I read is as he's brilliant, and everyone else is shit, which is why he gets paid the big bucks as a contractor, but because the shit salaried people work longer hours than he is prepared to it makes his sticking rigidly to the clock and going home look bad. He isn't bad, he's good, he's better in fact. It's so unfair. Beats fists on floor, threatens to hold breath until passes out, and so on.

            Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

            N Offline
            N Offline
            Nagy Vilmos
            wrote on last edited by
            #14

            meeee-kin-owww! Put your claws back before you rip your handbag! :laugh:

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • C chriselst

              Quite. I read is as he's brilliant, and everyone else is shit, which is why he gets paid the big bucks as a contractor, but because the shit salaried people work longer hours than he is prepared to it makes his sticking rigidly to the clock and going home look bad. He isn't bad, he's good, he's better in fact. It's so unfair. Beats fists on floor, threatens to hold breath until passes out, and so on.

              Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

              J Offline
              J Offline
              jeron1
              wrote on last edited by
              #15

              You can't worry about what you have no control over.

              chriselst wrote:

              threatens to hold breath until passes out

              Oh goody! :)

              "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst

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              • A Alaric_

                No.Unbillable.Work! If the customer isn't paying for it, the customer doesn't get it. Call me crazy, but I bill for every single hour I work...like I am supposed to. It infuriates me when I get into a project with salaried employees that commit "heroic effort" to making their screw ups not look like screw ups and make my 40-45 hour a week billable commitment look diminished. I had a guy tell me first thing when we got in that he was working until 2:00 this morning completing something because the customer ballooned our scope but held firm to the original deadline. What does project management tell said customer when he did this? "Ok." The real problem is that giving project management what they want just reinforces to them that it is ok to start death marches; your reward for completing one is that you get to start your next. I get paid or you do not get work done. No. Unbillable. Work. STOP IT!!!!

                "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

                H Offline
                H Offline
                HobbyProggy
                wrote on last edited by
                #16

                :doh:

                if(this.signature != "") { MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature); } else { MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found"); }

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                • A Alaric_

                  No.Unbillable.Work! If the customer isn't paying for it, the customer doesn't get it. Call me crazy, but I bill for every single hour I work...like I am supposed to. It infuriates me when I get into a project with salaried employees that commit "heroic effort" to making their screw ups not look like screw ups and make my 40-45 hour a week billable commitment look diminished. I had a guy tell me first thing when we got in that he was working until 2:00 this morning completing something because the customer ballooned our scope but held firm to the original deadline. What does project management tell said customer when he did this? "Ok." The real problem is that giving project management what they want just reinforces to them that it is ok to start death marches; your reward for completing one is that you get to start your next. I get paid or you do not get work done. No. Unbillable. Work. STOP IT!!!!

                  "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  DaveX86
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #17

                  This girl I used to work with was complaining once about all the extra time we were putting in to get a job out the door...she said, 'All this extra time we're putting in reduces my hourly pay to "do you want fries with that?"' ...made me laugh...

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                  • J Jeremy Falcon

                    Because overworked employees are not productive. Nor happy. No matter how much they fake it. Productive and happy people think better and produce better code.

                    Jeremy Falcon

                    T Offline
                    T Offline
                    tgrt
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #18

                    Additionally, it sets expectations that the OP and others that may not be inclined to sell their soul have to suffer with.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • J Jeremy Falcon

                      Because overworked employees are not productive. Nor happy. No matter how much they fake it. Productive and happy people think better and produce better code.

                      Jeremy Falcon

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      DaveAuld
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #19

                      But salaried employees get bonuses, contract ones don't. The perceived effort/input/success of an individual employee can reward with significantly higher bonus than one who does the bare minimum. Contractors then moan that they don't get a bonus, well of course not, you are paid for what you do - your terms! ;P

                      Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

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                      • D DaveX86

                        This girl I used to work with was complaining once about all the extra time we were putting in to get a job out the door...she said, 'All this extra time we're putting in reduces my hourly pay to "do you want fries with that?"' ...made me laugh...

                        T Offline
                        T Offline
                        tgrt
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #20

                        This may not be a valid comparison if McDonald's employees get their way...

                        D 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • T tgrt

                          This may not be a valid comparison if McDonald's employees get their way...

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          DaveX86
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #21

                          Very true but then they're going to be replaced by vending machines and robots...McDonalds will become a cafeteria. More programming work for us... 'Woops, sorry!...the code threw an unhandled exception and injected special sauce into the cherry pie!' :)

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                          • A Alaric_

                            No.Unbillable.Work! If the customer isn't paying for it, the customer doesn't get it. Call me crazy, but I bill for every single hour I work...like I am supposed to. It infuriates me when I get into a project with salaried employees that commit "heroic effort" to making their screw ups not look like screw ups and make my 40-45 hour a week billable commitment look diminished. I had a guy tell me first thing when we got in that he was working until 2:00 this morning completing something because the customer ballooned our scope but held firm to the original deadline. What does project management tell said customer when he did this? "Ok." The real problem is that giving project management what they want just reinforces to them that it is ok to start death marches; your reward for completing one is that you get to start your next. I get paid or you do not get work done. No. Unbillable. Work. STOP IT!!!!

                            "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

                            P Offline
                            P Offline
                            PIEBALDconsult
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #22

                            I agree, but the bigger issue is that working "unbilled" hours will often adversely affect estimates for future projects. The project manager must know the actual time spent for the current project. Remember that "extra" hours spent on the current project are probably due to a bad estimate based upon what was understood from the previous project. While no estimate will ever be accurate, at least start with good data.

                            1 Reply Last reply
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                            • D DaveX86

                              Very true but then they're going to be replaced by vending machines and robots...McDonalds will become a cafeteria. More programming work for us... 'Woops, sorry!...the code threw an unhandled exception and injected special sauce into the cherry pie!' :)

                              T Offline
                              T Offline
                              tgrt
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #23

                              "special sauce" :~

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • J Jeremy Falcon

                                Because overworked employees are not productive. Nor happy. No matter how much they fake it. Productive and happy people think better and produce better code.

                                Jeremy Falcon

                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #24

                                I'd have to agree. It really surprised me: I had always been in an environment where you ate at your desk, worked long hours, some weekends - mostly unpaid, but for the occasional "thank you" - then I started a new job with a different company and on the first day I was told (with some impatience) that they were waiting to lock up the building at 17:02. On the second day, one of the order processing ladies "had a quiet word" and told me to stop working my lunch hour. They suspected that if I didn't they would have to start... :laugh: So I found myself working 09:00 to 17:00 (13:00 on Fridays) even after I was given the key to the building with a full hour off for lunch. And b*gg*r me! I was getting more done... :omg: I think it has two effects: you focus better while you are working, and the breaks let you relax and become more creative at the same time. So much so that I don't work a full hour any more: I take regular breaks and do something different - come here for example - and it works. Counter-intuitive, I know.

                                Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                                • D DaveX86

                                  Very true but then they're going to be replaced by vending machines and robots...McDonalds will become a cafeteria. More programming work for us... 'Woops, sorry!...the code threw an unhandled exception and injected special sauce into the cherry pie!' :)

                                  J Offline
                                  J Offline
                                  jeron1
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #25

                                  I thought it was apple pie[^] X|

                                  "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • C Corporal Agarn

                                    chriselst wrote:

                                    but no maximum.

                                    Yes there is, 24 hours in one day. ;P

                                    D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    DaveAuld
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #26

                                    And when the clocks go back? That takes you over 24hours for that day! :doh:

                                    Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • A Alaric_

                                      No.Unbillable.Work! If the customer isn't paying for it, the customer doesn't get it. Call me crazy, but I bill for every single hour I work...like I am supposed to. It infuriates me when I get into a project with salaried employees that commit "heroic effort" to making their screw ups not look like screw ups and make my 40-45 hour a week billable commitment look diminished. I had a guy tell me first thing when we got in that he was working until 2:00 this morning completing something because the customer ballooned our scope but held firm to the original deadline. What does project management tell said customer when he did this? "Ok." The real problem is that giving project management what they want just reinforces to them that it is ok to start death marches; your reward for completing one is that you get to start your next. I get paid or you do not get work done. No. Unbillable. Work. STOP IT!!!!

                                      "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #27

                                      Sorry, but if the dev is crazy enough to accept more work without moving the planning, then he/she should be bitten by it.

                                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

                                      P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • D DaveAuld

                                        But salaried employees get bonuses, contract ones don't. The perceived effort/input/success of an individual employee can reward with significantly higher bonus than one who does the bare minimum. Contractors then moan that they don't get a bonus, well of course not, you are paid for what you do - your terms! ;P

                                        Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        Jeremy Falcon
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #28

                                        I'm not dissing the salary concept, I'm simply stating that anyone that's overworked cannot be happy. Money is not worth trading your entire life for.

                                        Jeremy Falcon

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                          I'd have to agree. It really surprised me: I had always been in an environment where you ate at your desk, worked long hours, some weekends - mostly unpaid, but for the occasional "thank you" - then I started a new job with a different company and on the first day I was told (with some impatience) that they were waiting to lock up the building at 17:02. On the second day, one of the order processing ladies "had a quiet word" and told me to stop working my lunch hour. They suspected that if I didn't they would have to start... :laugh: So I found myself working 09:00 to 17:00 (13:00 on Fridays) even after I was given the key to the building with a full hour off for lunch. And b*gg*r me! I was getting more done... :omg: I think it has two effects: you focus better while you are working, and the breaks let you relax and become more creative at the same time. So much so that I don't work a full hour any more: I take regular breaks and do something different - come here for example - and it works. Counter-intuitive, I know.

                                          Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          Jeremy Falcon
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #29

                                          OriginalGriff wrote:

                                          Counter-intuitive, I know.

                                          It's true though. The brain is a muscle. And like any other muscle, it can be overworked and destroyed. We need to give our "thinking" brains some to rest and recoup to always be on our A game. The folks that rot in front of their computer and drug themselves up on coffee tend to act more like zombies than anything else. You just can't beat rest to keep the brain sharp.

                                          Jeremy Falcon

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