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by bootsz 2812 days ago
Same. I’ve never worked anywhere where I had to work more than 8 hours. Startups, mid-size, and FANG alike. I have occassionally done stretches of 60-ish hour weeks for 1-2 weeks at a time, but mostly by choice, and this is the exception. 40 hours is typically ample time to get things done. 60 hours is a lot of time to be spending at work.

It boggles my mind that some of my friends (mostly in other industries) toil away for what they claim is 80+ hours per week. I can’t fathom being able to do that and actually be productive for that amount of time for more than 1-2 weeks.

There are definitely tech companies with the crazy-hours workaholic culture but in my experience it’s easy to spot this from a mile away and I simply refuse to work for them. There’s tons of great companies where you can do cool stuff and still have a sane & balanced life.
1 comments
emodendroket 2812 days ago
> It boggles my mind that some of my friends (mostly in other industries) toil away for what they claim is 80+ hours per week. I can’t fathom being able to do that and actually be productive for that amount of time for more than 1-2 weeks.

They're not actually productive for that much time.

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bootsz 2812 days ago
That's basically what I've concluded. I think it pretty much boils down to status signaling (creating the appearance of "putting in longs hours"). There was another article posted here last week that touched on that phenomenon.

It's just sad to see people I care about get caught up in that culture when I know they are talented enough to work somewhere else and still make really good money and not have to live like that. But I think workaholism can definitely be addictive and a lot of times it is purely self-inflicted by choice whether conscious or unconscious.

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ryandrake 2812 days ago
At the few places I’ve worked where long hours were the norm, these “long hours” people were not working all 12+ hours they were in the office. You’d walk by their desk and this rockstar was picking his nose, or browsing Facebook, or playing a video game (on his workstation!).

Im convinced most of the long hours culture is an elaborate signaling exercise and “facetime show”.

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