40-hour weeks (was Re: FWD: Lack...)

[Geoff Hart]

Chris Borokowski noted: <<My comments had to do with the efficiency  
of the workplace process, not the sincerity or work ethic of the  
people involved. The work process does not need to take as much time  
as it usually does.>>

Amen to that. You'll also see companies that are insanely  
exploitative of their workers, and would rather work everyone an  
extra 10 hours per week than hire an additional worker. Coming from  
that dangerously socialist nation north of the U.S. border <g>, I  
confess to also being strongly prejudiced in this direction. There  
are plenty of unemployed who could use that work.

That being said, I've done my share of overtime when the work demands  
it, but I've always made it clear to my employer that when overtime  
becomes systematic rather than an occasional thing, it's time they  
hired someone else to shoulder part of the burden. I've also pointed  
out how someone else's shoddy planning led to the problem, and made  
appropriate suggestions for improvement in the doofus' next  
performance appraisal. Someone has to say these things, and I've  
always had the tremendous luxury of being able to shoot off my mouth  
and remain employed*. YMMV.

* In large part because they always knew they could count on me to  
get the job done anyway, even if someone else had been insanely  
negligent. Don't try this trick at home unless you're awfully  
confident of the security of your position!


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www.geoff-hart.com
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