That is a good example of the work/life balance. Weird work hours that seem to work for you by allowing you to do other things that you want to do. That is quite different to the idea of people just staying late at an office. In the latter it just implies to me that either (a) there needs to be an additional resource or (b) that the person is incompetant and unable to do their work

Dave

Agree, NM has found something that suits his lifestyle which is great.

I think the biggest problem with people staying late is that, and afliction seems worse in the US and Australia, but a culture has been created where you are expected to work back. I have found it not as bad in Europe, I have been in Warsaw for the past couple of weeks for work and everyone clears out at 5pm pretty much on the dot. I guess its that old saying: "Americans live to work, Europeans work to live". But I do believe in most instances it comes down to (a) not (b) of course the culture of working long hours creates this problem in the first instance.

My description is that I work to is a means to an end rather than the end itself, but v similar. I think that I have managed to get most people in my group to realise the validity of this and none of our group work silly hours

Dave

Reading this thread's posts, can you say karōshi?

Hard for me to judge, since I'm still young...and single...and, professionally speaking, immature (I just finished Uni; starting a PhD next year).

I don't mind weird hours as long as it's consistent. Might change once I get married and start a family, but it's easier to work around a consistent schedule than otherwise.

As well as that, I have a goal to avoid the 40 year plan...somehow... :)

A more innovative idea if you have money and your other half has time - take them with you as you travel?

I seem to be in quite a good position with my work. I'm a self-employed contractor/consultant, so I get to travel a lot (mostly by choice at my own expense; out of my pre-tax earnings though).
In my current position it is great - turn up at 8:30am on the dot, sometimes a bit later. We finish at 5:30pm to the minute - If anyone at my work is there at 5:35pm, you get left in the dark. I do have occasional weekend and late night work for other various clients, but this isn't that regular.
I enjoy my job because apart from the regular 8:30-5:30, my extra hours are very flexible, and i can manage it and work it into my regular activities.

But I agree totally with Dave - I work to live, I don't live to work. There's much more important things in life than your career - i.e., your family, friends, health and well-being. With the whole materialistic focus of our western lifestyle, I think we all need to look at the situation and find a healthy balance between the two.

Cheers,

Josh

Dave, I may have misled and that was not the intention.

As with NM I work longer to be away shorter. It is the thing i do because i must do it to achierve my companies goals.

Therefore, in line with your comment my motto is work to live not live to work.

I dont work set hours, that is my rule. And as a 30 year old working in a senior position for a public company, reflecting what Bensyd said that is rare. Most come in on cue then there is the last to leave mexican santd off.


I am however very happy to work longer when i am away for no other reason than that is better than sitting in a room on my own. I do however have a rule that says those who work with me must go home to their families rather than entertain me because I am there

The point is, if i had a choice between staying home with my wife or travelling, home would win everytime, irrespective of the benefits of travel.