Comments on: Demand more time off!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:19:18 +0000

I started my career in Poland (where I come from) from the beginning of my university years (half-time) and worked for 3 years after completing my courses (full-time). That wasn't too bad at the beginning but as my company was getting more and more contracts the boss was going crazier. Questions like: "What? You're going? It's just 4pm? (after 8 hours)" became normal. Later: "I think you should come on Saturday as well…". Ok, they paid for that but what about efficiency? I believe that you can not do any creative work for more than 6 hour a day. The rest may be used for paper work. Working over-hours began to affect my private life (I almost split with my girlfriend). So after three years of full-time (and over-time) frustration I decided to change a job and move to some other country with slightly higher standards in this field. I currently live in Ireland (still working in embedded) where all my stress is gone Mac

By: simplefulllife

simplefulllife — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:35:00 +0000

Here in Vancouver Canada, we are 40hour work week typically, but expected to work overtime when needed up to 45. At least we have a banking policy above 45.I think my company is fairly typical in starting at 3 weeks off, then adding one day for each year served up til 6 weeks I think.G

By: Nigel Jones

Nigel Jones — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:02:00 +0000

I think you have touched upon a larger issue, which is how employers treat engineers in general. I think I’ll make this a topic of a post in the next week or two.

By: K1200LT Rider

K1200LT Rider — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:30:00 +0000

I’m 46 years old in the U. S. and just made a move to a better position work-wise to a big company, but I’m starting out new just like a fresh-out from college: 2 weeks earned vacation a year along with a standard paid shutdown between Christmas and New Years. Not bad, but not great compared to Europe. I’m not complaining too loudly, though. At least I’m generally happy (so far), and I’m employed! In fact, we’ll need to hire a few software engineers in the coming months!What I would like is the option to have more vacation with a correspondingly-lower salary. Why is that at least not an option anywhere? Or maybe be allowed to work 4 10-hour days a week permanently. I would love the 20% lower vehicle usage and necessity to put up with high-stress traveling while dealing with idiotic, highly agressive fools on the freeway who literally endanger my life every day.- Brad

By: Steve Egerter

Steve Egerter — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:18:00 +0000

I work with a wide variety of engineers in every segment of the electronics industry so I know that a lot of engineers, especially those who consult, work upwards of 12 hours per day to meet deadlines. I think that engineers are more productive in the US than in many other countries but I seriously doubt that they are happier.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:33:00 +0000

1. Why comments are not visible by default?2. Is worth to add how many problems was resolved during sitting in loo.. isn’t it? /GregK

By: Reid

Reid — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:58:00 +0000

I live and work in Australia. Working conditions are rapidly approaching those of the US, though not quite as bad in terms of leave.* 40 hour work week* Unpaid overtime is expected from time to time, average 4 hours per week* Annual paid leave of 4 weeks* Long service leave after 10 years service, 0.86 weeks per year of serviceTaking several weeks off at a time is generally OK, provided you give sufficient notice (i.e. several months in advance).I agree with the idea of solving problems while not at work – I ride a push bike to work and this is where I solve most of the tricky problems.