Developer == Long Hours

[Jan de Boer]

I have worked for several companies in the Netherlands and mostly 40 hours is 40 hours, and if you work more hours, you get them paid. There was one company though, lead by a owner-founder, not that big, but not that small either, 50 people. The guy said if your product was not finished on time, it's your own fault and you have to work overtime. But if you delivered him a planning he would say, the customer thinks it's too expensive, it must be done in less time. Hence I worked 60 hours and was paid 40. The guy then complained I did not socialize enough. Well I was working very hard in a for me new technology. It was complete hell. It gave me neck and shoulder problems, RSI. The owner-founder, to make it even worse, constantly claimed that in his company you would have more freedom and more responsibilities, and this was the best place to work in. To me it seemed that you worked like a free lancer, on (virtual, semi) 'time contracts', but was paid as a employee, and the difference, he would put that in his own pocket. Nice freedom!

I left that company after 16 months. I guess this kind of boss is more common, and I have been lucky.

[Luke Kolin]

Jan de Boer wrote:I left that company after 16 months. I guess this kind of boss is more common, and I have been lucky.

I think the opposite - that kind of place is uncommon, and you were unlucky. This is one area where being "social" is in your best interests; having a good network gives you an idea of what places to avoid.

Cheers!

Luke

[Bill Clar]

This thread is mowing the green grass on the other side of my fence. Maybe things aren't so bad at my job...

[Jan de Boer]

Luke Kolin wrote:

Jan de Boer wrote:I left that company after 16 months. I guess this kind of boss is more common, and I have been lucky.

I think the opposite - that kind of place is uncommon, and you were unlucky. This is one area where being "social" is in your best interests; having a good network gives you an idea of what places to avoid.

Cheers!

Luke

Ah, well to tell you the truth this experience makes me cautious when considering changing jobs. I sometimes think, what if it is like company-X again? Then I am in trouble since in this crisis, quickly changing jobs is difficult. Thanks for the advice.

[chris webster]

Jan de Boer wrote:Ah, well to tell you the truth this experience makes me cautious when considering changing jobs. I sometimes think, what if it is like company-X again? Then I am in trouble since in this crisis, quickly changing jobs is difficult. Thanks for the advice.

I don't know what it's like in the Netherlands, but as a contractor I've worked in lots of places in the UK and Germany, and I've only seen one or two places that were as bad as your example.