Re: not enough real programmers? (was Re: Byte Magazine: 18 Vintage issues, 1985-1986)

[Victoria Welch <vikki@oz.net>]

Ian Thompson Bell wrote:
> 
> Howard S Shubs wrote:
> 
> > .
> >
> > These days, I don't believe in overtime unless it's -very- rare, paid or not.
> > I've got a contractor mentality; unpaid work time is a contradiction in terms.
> > --
> > Howard S Shubs
> 
> Then you will never progress far.  Unpaid work is a contradiction in terms but you
> need to realise that payment comes in many forms.

My point and I think Howards is that there was (in my/our experience) NO
compensation for it, unless you consider continual harrasment and demand
for more to be compensation.  12 - 16+ hours a day on a continual basis
IS abusive and detrimental to rational organizational goals (this is
where burned out people come from).  Sure, it saves the company a lot of
money, but they sure do not get much quality from exhausted and stressed
out workers.

IF there had been any compensation in any form for it, I probably would
not be upset about it.  I got a *LOT* of promises and absolutely NO
follow up on those promises.  

In case you misses it in my original post, I left after 150 hours of
completely un-remunerated overtime (which, BTW is illegal in this state,
something they have no concerns about and do continually).  I was not
the only one getting this kind of abuse and mine was not as bad as
some.  I could certainly see the results in the pathetic quality of
their products and "services".

Your response seems to be a typical management response here.  Or erhaps
you work at some place where the employees are compensated in some form
and not continually run into the ground and discarded.  Major difference
to what I experienced.

Take care, Vikki.
--
Victoria Welch, WV9K, DoD#-13, Net/Sys/WebAdmin SeaStar.org,
vikki.oz.net
"Walking on water and developing software to specification are
easy as long as both are frozen" - Edward V. Berard.
Do not unto others, that which you would not have others do unto you.