Re: Tech Writer Lawsuit

[Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

Suzette Leeming wrote:
> It has been my experience that during an interview, a company will state
> that overtime without pay is sometimes required and when pressed, they'll
> say it's only a few hours a week. Then when in the job, the reality is that
> the overtime requirement is 50%+, and to me, that's unacceptable. I'm not
> working for a charity organization to whom I should donate my time for free.
> 
> 
> My job requires me to work 35 hours a week. I'll put up to 5 additional
> hours per week for no additional moneys. Anything over that is up for
> negotiation.

OMG, Suzette. That sounds so civilized, I know it must be in some 
culture older and more mature than the high tech corridors. I'll guess 
you work for a European company, or perhaps in the northeastern US or 
Canada?

Sorry to say that my work seems to want to own me. A forty hour week 
would be soothing compared to the slavish numbers of excess hours I 
regularly have to donate to my employer, who appreciatively points out 
that if I worked better, I wouldn't have to work OT.

The dream of a 35 hour week sustains me here in employment purgatory. 
I'm keeping a copy of this post in my secret shrine where I pray for 
winning Lotto numbers, 35 hour workweeks, and the eventual arrival of 
automation that actually makes my life better.


> 
> Some companies even try to get away with that at CNC machining jobs BTW.
> That's what my husband does and he has encountered that many times. Tooling
> wasn't ready on time so they expect him to stay late or come in on Saturday
> to get the machine set up, but they don't want to pay him overtime.
> 
> Regardless of the job, there should be respect and fairness for employees.
> 
> That's my opinion, anyway.
> 
> Suzette Leeming
> Stouffville, Ontario
> 
> 

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