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Discussion on: Tight Deadlines & Long Hours or Relaxed Timelines & Lower Pay?

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️ • Edited

My boss at my first 100% web development role (back in the early 2000s) always made a big thing out of us always working no more than the hours we were contracted to work. She believed firmly in a good work-life balance. I've stuck to that ever since - pay has never come into it.

In my experience, hard deadlines rarely actually exist (and you'd be crazy to set them) - but when they do, the consequences of missing them are generally minor. If you achieve them, great! If not, life goes on.

Just do the best you can, without:

  • Burning yourself out
  • Working longer than normal hours
  • Cutting corners to meet arbitrary targets
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amananandrai profile image
amananandrai

Totally agree with your thoughts.

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tracygjg profile image
Tracy Gilmore

Jon,
I could not agree more.
There is another problem with working all the hours you can - you have nothing more to give. I have worked with colleagues who regularly worked 60+hrs a week and when the project required a sprint to the finish they could offer nothing more. Invariable such behaviour has other negative side effects.: Failed marriages, declining health, compromises in quality, etc.
Regards, Tracy