[FlyingSideKick]

How can workers change corporate culture from within to demand work-life balance? I asked an executive VP this at a one of the worlds largest company’s here in Seattle and she said “If the young talent we need coming out of school across the board demanded shorter days and more vacation we would have to comply. But they don’t instead they are awed by an extra $10k on a hiring bonus they might or might not get after two years and they’ll work 60 hour weeks because that’s what they think ‘normal’ is because their peers are doing it.”

So how from the ground up can we make corporate culture in America more focused on the social health of their employees?

[wmeredith]

Unionize. That’s how we got things like the 40 hour work week.

[rwmj]

Yes I was very surprised there is no mention of unions in the article. The writer has supposed to have thought deeply about this issue, but doesn't come to the (to me) obvious conclusion?

[sotojuan]

Yeah. Very eye opening how many of my friends in my age group (early and mid 20s) outside of the tech industry work. And none of them bat an eye - "That's just how it is".

[lostcolony]

Inform. Even in such a culture, one person refusing to do it (not rudely, just passively; go home at the right time, not checking stuff) is enough to change things. We know from every bit of research that 60 hours is not more productive than 40 hours. The one person who refuses is going to shine. And their good habit, if they know to commit to it, and to socialize it, will help empower the others.

I know as a team lead I've tried to empower the people under me to manage their own time, and actively encouraged them to ignore workplace communication after hours

[bambataa]

That VP’s logic seems sort of circular to me. Young grads take the sign on bonus because that’s what the companies are offering. It would be interesting to see what would happen if a major tech firm (for example) started making offers with a range of specified working hours at different salary levels.