[btr41n]

I think a large part of not saying "We need to work longer" is that if the work is interesting and rewarding enough, then employees will WANT to work longer. As soon as a manager says "We need to work longer", it generates an environment driven by employer demands instead of employee happiness. If you manage the work load at your company well enough, and the work environment is positive, then employees will be inclined to work longer out of desire to see the company excel.

[eli_gottlieb]

>I think a large part of not saying "We need to work longer" is that if the work is interesting and rewarding enough, then employees will WANT to work longer.

Not necessarily, no. It's entirely possible your employees have lives outside work.

[btr41n]

Right, but I would say that the general startup mentality is that you will be working more than the average work day. So telling people to work longer, rather than inspiring people to work longer, is usually not the best way to go about it. To what extent can you actually require someone to work longer anyway?

[eli_gottlieb]

>To what extent can you actually require someone to work longer anyway?

You can reprimand and/or fire them if they don't. Seems to work for most American companies.

[dasil003]

Doesn't work for programmers though because unlike assembly line workers, there's no way to precisely monitor their productivity, so if you force them to stay late they can just mentally check out.

[eli_gottlieb]

Well yes, which is why you should be trying to get programmers to agree with you on their hours.