asked for a bigger raise today...

[IndyColtsFan]

I bought up this argument with a coworker and he said he works extra for the knowledge, because he wants to learn and grow technically. I'm in engineering.

Overtime isn't paid, but the guy did get promoted to project manager this year so it's like.. good job. But in the end, I make around the same as him and never put in more than 40.

I don't think there is anything wrong with working a little extra when you start out with a company, but once you've established yourself, you need to dial it back IMO. You can also learn things on your own without having to slave away at the office. I learned most of my profession on my own time.

I used to work a ton of extra hours, got top reviews and awards for my work, and what did it get me? It got me bigger raises but the extra stress, headaches, and lack of life was not worth it. I cut back my hours and found I still got the same reviews, awards, etc. so I regret wasting all those extra hours for nothing.

I'm going to jump on my soap box here -- probably the most disturbing thing to me are the people who leave vacation days on the table every year and lose them. No excuse for that but yet, people make excuses:

1. "I can't afford to go anywhere!" No problem -- take the day off and sit on your patio, nap, play games, or engage in hobbies. You don't have to go somewhere.
2. "I can't be seen as a 'slacker' or I might get laid off in these tough times!" If you and your coworkers are made to feel like slackers by taking vacation days, my advice is to take them and use them to look for another job.
3. "I'm too busy at work!" No one is "too busy at work" that over the course of an entire year, you can't find time to fit in 10-15 days off (typical vacation time for most). If you really have no time to take these vacation days off, I suggest you work on your time management skills.
4. "I'll come back to a big mess!" Work getting done in your absence is not your problem, it is the company's problem. Come back to a pile of work that wasn't done? Oh well -- other things will just have to wait while you finish it.

*The above doesn't apply if you own your own business.

 

[purbeast0]

I don't really understand the "naysayer" part.

read the thread.

 

[PricklyPete]

Congrats!

 

[Kev]

I don't think there is anything wrong with working a little extra when you start out with a company, but once you've established yourself, you need to dial it back IMO. You can also learn things on your own without having to slave away at the office. I learned most of my profession on my own time.

I used to work a ton of extra hours, got top reviews and awards for my work, and what did it get me? It got me bigger raises but the extra stress, headaches, and lack of life was not worth it. I cut back my hours and found I still got the same reviews, awards, etc. so I regret wasting all those extra hours for nothing.

I'm going to jump on my soap box here -- probably the most disturbing thing to me are the people who leave vacation days on the table every year and lose them. No excuse for that but yet, people make excuses:

1. "I can't afford to go anywhere!" No problem -- take the day off and sit on your patio, nap, play games, or engage in hobbies. You don't have to go somewhere.
2. "I can't be seen as a 'slacker' or I might get laid off in these tough times!" If you and your coworkers are made to feel like slackers by taking vacation days, my advice is to take them and use them to look for another job.
3. "I'm too busy at work!" No one is "too busy at work" that over the course of an entire year, you can't find time to fit in 10-15 days off (typical vacation time for most). If you really have no time to take these vacation days off, I suggest you work on your time management skills.
4. "I'll come back to a big mess!" Work getting done in your absence is not your problem, it is the company's problem. Come back to a pile of work that wasn't done? Oh well -- other things will just have to wait while you finish it.

*The above doesn't apply if you own your own business.

I always feel sorry for people who humblebrag about working long hours for a company. What a waste of time.