11 ms·

What the hell is this obsessing over 10 minutes?

1_player 11y ago
Agreed. When I was younger, for multiple reasons but mostly stupidity, I was 30m to 1h30 late at work every. single. day. And the official work day started at 9:30am, so it wasn't that bad to begin with. In my defence I must add that I never left before my full 8 hours were over. I was in good terms with everybody, managers as well, and I think in that stupid age I did some brilliant work I'm still very proud of. After a couple of years, when all the rumors about me being hired fulltime were materialising (I was working for them through an agency), they just decided to let me go. It hurt at the time, but it was a good decision that served me as a lesson[1]. Employers, unless you're a bank with set opening times, don't fret over 10 or 20 minutes. Programmers are productive only in a stress-free environment. Obsessing over 10 minutes is the total opposite of that. But please fire engineers like me, you'll do them a favour. 1: I stopped being so late in future jobs, but I also discovered I have some kind of DSPS. It's still bad, but I'm now a freelance (in Europe) working for US companies, my clients are having their coffee when it's 3pm here.
- dooptroop 11y ago
  Hey, I'm then-you now-me :) What is DSPS?
  - 1_player 11y ago
    Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_disorder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_disorder I haven't been diagnosed, but I've struggled with falling asleep at normal hours my whole adult life: I've tried sleep deprivation, advancing my sleep cycle[1], pulling all nighters to feel really tired in the evening and go to bed at an acceptable time, but it works only for a couple days, then I'm feeling sleepy a hour or two later than the day before, until I'm back going to bed at dawn. It's like having a circadian rhythm of 27 hours, instead of the normal 24/25[2] The only thing I haven't tried is melatonin, but apparently in the UK you need a prescription to buy it. 1: Basically going to bed later every day, until you go around the clock and are going to bed at the desired time. Not applicable if you have a full time job -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotherapy_(sleep_phase) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotherapy_(sleep_phase) 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm#Humans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm#Humans
    - realitygrill 11y ago
      Have you tried shortening your circadian rhythm with light therapy? Mine's about 26.5 hours and it's been quite helpful, though I have to sit in front of this light for a little over 2 hours every morning. http://www.cet.org/ http://www.cet.org/
yokohama11 11y ago
It seems like it's a direct IT support position. Meaning that someone is supposed to be there ready to answer calls/problems from 9AM to whenever. Clients, whether internal or external do not want to call in at 9:15 and hear that they can't be helped because XXX hasn't come to work yet, especially when they've got an agreement from you that you will be open at 9AM every day. If you are in support like that, you generally do need to be at work exactly on time. Same as being a cashier, factory worker, etc. It's not like being a programmer, sysadmin, etc where exact hours typically don't matter much as long as you're available for meetings and the work gets done.
- dooptroop 11y ago
  Sure, it's unfortunate if nobody answers the phone, or is not there to open a franchised store etc. I just don't buy into the whole 11 workers do 10% more work than 10, or that 8 hours is more productive than 7.5. In any business that is, not just "brain work". Far-east sweat shop exempt.
  - emir_ 11y ago
    I don't know. I've worked for grocery stores when I was in high school and one cashier running 15 minutes late was always noticeable, especially early in the mornings and late at night.

Agreed. When I was younger, for multiple reasons but mostly stupidity, I was 30m to 1h30 late at work every. single. day. And the official work day started at 9:30am, so it wasn't that bad to begin with. In my defence I must add that I never left before my full 8 hours were over. I was in good terms with everybody, managers as well, and I think in that stupid age I did some brilliant work I'm still very proud of. After a couple of years, when all the rumors about me being hired fulltime were materialising (I was working for them through an agency), they just decided to let me go. It hurt at the time, but it was a good decision that served me as a lesson[1]. Employers, unless you're a bank with set opening times, don't fret over 10 or 20 minutes. Programmers are productive only in a stress-free environment. Obsessing over 10 minutes is the total opposite of that. But please fire engineers like me, you'll do them a favour. 1: I stopped being so late in future jobs, but I also discovered I have some kind of DSPS. It's still bad, but I'm now a freelance (in Europe) working for US companies, my clients are having their coffee when it's 3pm here.

dooptroop 11y ago
Hey, I'm then-you now-me :) What is DSPS?
- 1_player 11y ago
  Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_disorder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_disorder I haven't been diagnosed, but I've struggled with falling asleep at normal hours my whole adult life: I've tried sleep deprivation, advancing my sleep cycle[1], pulling all nighters to feel really tired in the evening and go to bed at an acceptable time, but it works only for a couple days, then I'm feeling sleepy a hour or two later than the day before, until I'm back going to bed at dawn. It's like having a circadian rhythm of 27 hours, instead of the normal 24/25[2] The only thing I haven't tried is melatonin, but apparently in the UK you need a prescription to buy it. 1: Basically going to bed later every day, until you go around the clock and are going to bed at the desired time. Not applicable if you have a full time job -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotherapy_(sleep_phase) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotherapy_(sleep_phase) 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm#Humans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm#Humans
  - realitygrill 11y ago
    Have you tried shortening your circadian rhythm with light therapy? Mine's about 26.5 hours and it's been quite helpful, though I have to sit in front of this light for a little over 2 hours every morning. http://www.cet.org/ http://www.cet.org/

yokohama11 11y ago

It seems like it's a direct IT support position. Meaning that someone is supposed to be there ready to answer calls/problems from 9AM to whenever. Clients, whether internal or external do not want to call in at 9:15 and hear that they can't be helped because XXX hasn't come to work yet, especially when they've got an agreement from you that you will be open at 9AM every day. If you are in support like that, you generally do need to be at work exactly on time. Same as being a cashier, factory worker, etc. It's not like being a programmer, sysadmin, etc where exact hours typically don't matter much as long as you're available for meetings and the work gets done.

dooptroop 11y ago
Sure, it's unfortunate if nobody answers the phone, or is not there to open a franchised store etc. I just don't buy into the whole 11 workers do 10% more work than 10, or that 8 hours is more productive than 7.5. In any business that is, not just "brain work". Far-east sweat shop exempt.
- emir_ 11y ago
  I don't know. I've worked for grocery stores when I was in high school and one cashier running 15 minutes late was always noticeable, especially early in the mornings and late at night.