[lavotu]

I always some trouble understanding these kinds of comments. They really don't mirror my experience. I have worked in a mix of small to multinational companies in France, small companies/startups in England (Cambridge). I would always do 9:30/6, often less. Sure I received "median" wages for that. Sure there was the occasional release where you work on Saturday, but that's once every 6 months, and I could say no if I wanted.

Some people would work more or much more (they ended up being "nudged" into management, the poor souls, they regretted it dearly), but as a software engineer the market is so much in your favour that you can always go somewhere else.