Working Late

Posted on 2006/03/13 24:18:56 (March 2006).

[Monday 13th March]
For the first time ever since starting this job I managed to out-work my colleagues - the other guys on my immediate team all buckled and left before me, although it did mean it was almost 9 by the time I left the office. Unusually though I didn't mind staying late that much, I took the bold step today of - gasp - actually writing some software, rather than the usual endless reams of documentation. I realised I actually quite like my profession, when I'm allowed to do what I'm actually qualified to do.

It was around 9:30 when I got home, and superbly Chie had dinner waiting for me - I felt very much like a typical Japanese "salary man".

What you're qualified to do? What you're actually qualified to do is write big, fat documents and talk loudly in wine bars about how functional languages can be used in parallel systems. That's all you're actually qualified to do.

Don't have any faith or trust in your company, they have none in you. A corporation is a non-human entity that will drop you as it needs. That's the nature of it. Don't think that being a salary man is actually helping you, mate.

Just worried that you're going to turn into a drone.

Posted by Rob Lang at 2006/03/13 14:37:43.

Sounds like its too late Rob, he has already been assimilated!

Posted by Kev at 2006/03/13 15:31:34.

True, Rob, about the Corporation thing. However it *is* good if you can work in an area you actually, vaguely like! And I guess you PhD-types have more analytical and creative brains than most of the rest of us (ok, me!!) It's just finding a field you like to use those skills in.

My Dad worked for Rolls Royce designing bits of jet-engines for most of his working life. And he *loved* aeroplanes so he was in seventh-heaven!

Posted by Nigel at 2006/03/13 19:35:55.

Fear not, I haven't become a drone!

Not yet at least...

Posted by John at 2006/03/14 12:02:31.

yes, John, but you've been programmed to say that! Also any further answers can be put down to clever AI ;)

Can you play Tic-Tac-Toe ?

Posted by kev at 2006/03/14 01:03:26.

Looking at Rob's comment it made me think about my latest vicessitude that involved that big argument with my boss. I decided to comply, not to be a rebel anymore, but in a way I still feel bad about this decision, as I feel I am getting "assimilated" by the system... Maybe John is feeling the same way?

Posted by Lox at 2006/03/14 05:06:40.

Nope, I don't feel that Borg-ish yet actually. This was a good example of a day where I just did my job the way I thought it should be done. Consequently I got some really good work done, and even enjoyed myself!

Posted by John at 2006/03/14 09:15:51.

Just to remind the gang that John Alastair Hawkins weighed in at 9lbs 6oz on 15 March 1977. Sqwuaking, complaining and hungry. Not much has changed.
Love him to bits.

Posted by Mum - a rebel all her life at 2006/03/14 09:36:25.

I weigh more than 9lbs 6oz at least now...!

Posted by John at 2006/03/14 14:41:25.

John, did you work more hours than contracted?

If so, you've been assimilated and you're too far gone to really notice anymore. You're not working for yourself as you did for Photostudio or other Stuffwareness, you're working for the fat corporation that is bleeding you to please shareholders.

It's not about rebelling. Far from it, it's about keeping an even keel, a balance between giving and taking from the company. Give them during the hours that you must but go no further. They will not reward your extra work.

Posted by Rob Lang at 2006/03/14 15:10:27.

You might be thinking: "I get overtime". But is that money really worth the time taken away from being with family, friends or Chie? I think not. Money is nice to have but life and time is essential and you have remarkably little of it left.

Posted by Rob Lang at 2006/03/14 15:11:41.

In this instance I worked late because I wanted to - I was doing something that I took some pride in, and I got a lot of satisfaction out of really making a polished product...

I'm not the sort of person who would be pressured into working long hours against my will - when it doesn't suit me, I just won't do it.

...I agree, friends and family are a million times more important than work, which is, after all, just a means to an end!

Posted by John at 2006/03/14 15:25:49.

I have heard a rumor that John weights exactely 100lbs 5oz...

Posted by Lox at 2006/03/15 09:28:13.

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