One hour out of three is enough

[darkemeralds]

On my second day back to work, I've left the office at midday to let the washing machine repair guy into my house. (A broken washer is not what you want after a three week trip.) It was a pleasantly cool and cloudy ride home, and I really don't want to go back.

An extra-long staff meeting this morning had as its main topic "How can we be more efficient?"

One way might be to have shorter staff meetings, but that's just glib. What troubled me was the mention of "our ten hour workdays." It's not an official job requirement, just an insidious and constantly reiterated norm, that each of us will offer 25% extra time to our employer, gratis. It's the stressor I was so eager to take a vacation from.

So, "How can we be more efficient?" feels like code for "How can we get you guys to push that rock up the hill faster and more often for free?"

Yes, times are hard. Yes, this is the American way. Yes, I'm damned lucky to have a job at all, let alone a good one. But I'm on the verge of taking a big step down just to get out from under the Gaze of Disapproval.

I can't help it: offering up precious personal waking hours on the altar of the enterprise business system feels toxic to me--and all the more so because I managed to get away from it for three whole weeks.

Comments

[mecurtin]

It's not an official job requirement, just an insidious and constantly reiterated norm, that each of us will offer 25% extra time to our employer, gratis.

How much money does the head of the company make? Unless you guys are being paid in *profit shares*, you're being underpaid. I might even say "stolen from".

The only *possible* meaning of "How can we be more efficient?" that isn't grossly insulting is, "we need to toss 20% of what we're trying to do, to get back to 40 hour weeks."

[tehomet]

I imagine it feels toxic to you because it is toxic. Unfortunately.

It does seem to me that there's a culture of 'presenteeism' for want of a better word in some American offices. Would you be fired if you just work the hours that you're getting paid for, the hours of your contract? Are you in an union?

[(Anonymous)]

I get all passive-aggressive to people trying to exploit me like this. Whereas I will go the extra mile/hour for a fair boss.

[branchandroot]

I start to say "oh my goodness, that's appalling!" and then I count up my own hours as a teacher. Compared to what I'm /theoretically supposed/ to be putting in. *shifty look* This is the bugger about feeling a calling to my work. They don't even have to lean on me to get me to do this.

But I have no hesitation to say that leaning on you for it, in the name of a business that doesn't seem to be giving equivalent loyalty back to you, is most definitely appalling!

[cookiemom6067]

I agree with you and support you, spiritually and emotionally in challenging a "status" that should not be "quo." I agree it has that "2 Bobs...TPS report...there's no 'I' in 'team'" quality of "Dance, monkeys, Dance!!!" that corporate America is all to prone to.

I recognize that it may not be practical or even desirable for you personally to challenge these unhealthy norms. But...uh...I agree with you? Does that help? Probably not, dang.

[lyr]

I think that's very toxic. No one should expect you to contribute your own time for free. More and more, it feels like employers are abusing workers on the belief that we should be grateful to work at all. I hate capitalism.

[writerscramp]

I am constantly fighting to maintain this boundary. I'm fortunate to have a lot of freedom and flexibility, and the culture of long workdays isn't quite as militant as what you're facing. It can get competitive at times -- as in, "I was working until midnight last night", "yeah, I feel you...I was still answer email at 2 AM" -- but we encourage each other to take days off, leave early when we get the chance, work from home, etc. Still, there are definitely times when it feels like the number of hours are judged as proof of your dedication to the organization, as if you have to justify that you're always giving everything you've got to the place.

I've been vocal and stringent about keeping my boundaries where I want them. I may choose to work more, but I make it clear that it's something I will do on my terms and will retract at will. You're in a tougher situation due to the pressures from without as well as within the organization, so I recognize that it's a lot harder to set that boundary and keep it there. If you possibly can, though (in whatever way would make the most sense or have the best likelihood of success), I can attest that it makes a significant difference.

"I can't help it: offering up precious personal waking hours on the altar of the enterprise business system feels toxic to me"

Because it is. They're effectively stealing from you, and stealing your most precious resource, at that. Your time and mental energy are your most valuable assets. Your employment is not a favor, it's a business arrangement. They wouldn't feel entitled to 25% extra from any other vendor; there's no reason they should feel entitled to expect it from you (or their other workers). Again, I recognize that I'm simplifying here (BELIEVE me, I totally understand the dynamics), but there's a reason you're feeling what you're feeling. Trust your instincts.

[ruric]

You know my position as a Brit. 40 hour weeks are pretty much standard here - and yeah at my old place I often did a 50 or 60 hour week but that was MY choice (and no one would have batted an eyelid if I cut back) and we did get TOIL and flexi to compensate.

I'm amazed that the US functions at all - your entire workforce must be operating in a permanent state of mental and physical exhaustion!

I'm all for pitching to your boss that you drop extra tasks or go with the working less hours but do the work more efficiently because you wont be so damn tired. 25% extra for free is just not on.

I know redundancy is something you guys don't get but that was my position last year. Do I want to work for an employer who expects the same or more from me but is going to down grade my job and expect me to take a 20% salary cut? Uh huh. Luckily taking the money and running was an option but I'd've been looking for other opportunties if not,

Your life is worth more than killing yourself during the week just to have a few hours R&R at the weekend.

Good luck!

[cat63]

An extra-long staff meeting this morning had as its main topic "How can we be more efficient?"

Sounds uncannily like the thinking where Rob works...

It's not an official job requirement, just an insidious and constantly reiterated norm, that each of us will offer 25% extra time to our employer, gratis.

Bugger that. Vigorously. With a pineapple.
A few minutes here and there if it's really needed perhaps, but if they seriously expect that from you they're a pack of crooks.