The See Saw... OF DOOM!

Last weeks blog was formulated. Well, meagerly outlined. Okay, fine, I had a topic. That being admitted, I worked my ass off last weekend. 13 hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sunday was only 8.5...

The Work/Life balance...

"Work" is something you have to do. Paying bills is important, granted. "Life" is something that we get one of, and it is a finite resource. So, finding a balance between the something you have to do, and something you want to do.. Yeah... Let's do that.

First, as the "balance" aspect is relatively a new concept, barely a decade or so old, I want to share where it became sharply brought into focus for me. Story time, kiddos.

I worked for a company, and my manager was an ex-engineer. Engineers are very "parameter driven". Give them what they expect to see in precise coordinates and measurements... otherwise they get bitchy.

In the month of January, possibly 2003 or 2004, I and my fellow developers put in at least three 60 hour weeks. In the first week of February, I had to remedy some of the tasks that I was not able to get to due to my exorbitant hours at work. Namely, I was stuck in the DMV for an extra long lunch to get my license renewed.

I remember it mainly because the parking lot had a large billboard. I don't remember the what was on the billboard per se, but I do remember getting shit on by one of the myriad birds who were socializing on said billboard. My car was also deluged with droppings. I have driven through quieter hail storms.

So, after getting cleaned up, I headed back to the shop.

Next week, turning in my timesheet, I was honest. My total hours for the week came to 39.5. My engineer boss was expecting to see 40.

"Doug, we need to talk about your timesheet."

"Turned in on time, Bob."

("Office Space" flashbacks, anyone?)

"We can't have 39.5 hours. You are supposed to be here 40 hours a week."

"Um... DMV hosed me... What about the 60 hour weeks I pulled last month?"

"Well... we need 40. Don't let it happen again."

I could tell he was sympathetic on a human level, but as an engineer and a manager, the company line was towed... Thus, instead of arguing further, I relented.

"No problem, Bob. You will get your forty."

Guess who has two thumbs and needed presidential decrees to get him to stay one minute over 40 hours after that?

From that point on, unless I am getting paid in either money or comp time, I do not work over the time set forth in the employment agreement.

I value my time away from any place of employment. I do not care if it is sitting with a thumb up my ass watching the damn dog lick the chair. Two things... One... Yes, Lily will like the chair... because it is flavored? Two, I did not specify whose thumb...

The point is, if I agreed to give the employer 40 hours, they get 40. I rarely miss a hard deadline and I give estimates based on an 8 hour day. Do I pad it for other things interrupting? Of course. That is the nature of my line of work.

If I do miss a deadline, there will be a clear cut reason and it will be known before the deadline is upon us. It will not be because I only work 8 hours a day...

In my current job, I have had a couple of bosses. Two of them understood that things come up. I built up some "good will" time, where I would put in a couple of hours extra, work on a Saturday, or come in early. This would be so if I had a cable guy coming, or a dental cleaning, there would be no paperwork... Just get it done, and carry on.

My new boss, well... She is insane. We just had a year and a half project come to fruition. It went live this last Monday. In this time, she has maxed out her comp time earning potential. She will have to use or lose her vacation time before the end of the year.

She has admitted that her hourly rate is probably that of migrant bean workers in South America, in the 1930's..

She puts in all these insane hours... I almost feel bad for her... I still leave after my 8 though...

I told her in my yearly review, "Boss, you have a work ethic and dedication that I hope to never attain." I meant every syllable of it too.

I also made mentioned to the Boss, in regards to this monstrous project that was looming over us all, "Boss, this project could go live with out a single error. Rainbows could shoot out of people's asses with the glee over the ease of the implementation... Champagne could flow from the spigots... Trumpets... Doves... and you would still not get a parade.

This project could blow up, and causes riots and fires. Servers could catch on fire and melt. Calamity on an epic scale could ensue, and NO ONE would have the balls to say you did not work hard enough on this project."

Changed nothing. As I mentioned... insane.

X3 was an educator. If you know teachers, you will know that there are good and bad ones. If the teacher you know puts in 12 hour days, they are one of the good ones. If not, they are in it for the summers off. X3 did a lot of 12's... Many 16's....

Here's a list of the happiest countries in the world by dailyfinance.com. They looked at the workers and working conditions... *spoiler alert* U.S.A. - not in the top ten...

For fuck's sake, Israel is #6... A place where a valid excuse for being late is "A fucking bomb exploded" has a happier workforce than us. That should really make ya think.

Companies (and municipalities) will spout during interviews, that they promote a healthy work/life balance. Of course, that 24 year old kid, who is not married, no kids, and no other obligations puts in about 60+ hours a week... Killing themselves to get that extra 2% on their raise... Making you look like a non team player for pulling your agreed upon 40. Enjoy that 2%, Chief. Hope it helps support that cocaine habit...

Companies see Coke Boy putting in all those hours, and it becomes some unwritten rule that you are supposed to as well... Companies do nothing to remedy the situation either, as it is more cost effective to have a slave labor force. With dental.

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Not to get all Tyler Durden on you, faithful reader, but it is like he said... Man was not meant to be in a cubicle or office all day.

Work is something to maintain what you have and where you are at. Life is something you do to move forward as a human being.

I guess after working twelve days in a row, the most painful lesson I learned was: If you are caulking and have hairy legs, wear jeans.

Pulling my hair out,

d

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