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Doing work email off the clock for no pay
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ultimatebob
Lifer
When I was salaried, I used to catch up with my e-mails on Sunday evening so I wasn't bombarded by people requesting status updates on their "important" projects on Monday morning.
Besides, it was a good chance to see what the weekend shift was doing while I was out (usually nothing, lucky bastards!)... and it made me look good to my many bosses.
Did I get any raises or bonuses from my extra work? Eh... no. That's one of the many reasons why I quit the job and went into consulting. Now I don't mind working holidays and weekends at all, because I get PAID for it 🙂
Just one piece of advice, though: Don't make a habit of checking your e-mail EVERY weekend, or people will start to EXPECT those weekend replies. Management will always try to squeeze every minute they can out of you, and it's important not to let them abuse your generosity.
Besides, it was a good chance to see what the weekend shift was doing while I was out (usually nothing, lucky bastards!)... and it made me look good to my many bosses.
Did I get any raises or bonuses from my extra work? Eh... no. That's one of the many reasons why I quit the job and went into consulting. Now I don't mind working holidays and weekends at all, because I get PAID for it 🙂
Just one piece of advice, though: Don't make a habit of checking your e-mail EVERY weekend, or people will start to EXPECT those weekend replies. Management will always try to squeeze every minute they can out of you, and it's important not to let them abuse your generosity.
5 minutes of work during off-work hours can save a hell of a lot of hassle when I come back to work.
I don't feel obligated to check work emails or anything, but if I'm sitting at the computer anyways and I've got a couple free minutes, I will. I'd rather know what's going on before I get to work than be completely bombarded by hosts of issues when I walk in the door in the morning that I know nothing about before I even get a chance to sit down at my desk.
it's also nice to know what conditions are like at the office... if I know it's slow, I might decide to come in late, or if I know it's going to be a super busy day, I might think ahead and bring dinner with me just in case.
I don't feel obligated to check work emails or anything, but if I'm sitting at the computer anyways and I've got a couple free minutes, I will. I'd rather know what's going on before I get to work than be completely bombarded by hosts of issues when I walk in the door in the morning that I know nothing about before I even get a chance to sit down at my desk.
it's also nice to know what conditions are like at the office... if I know it's slow, I might decide to come in late, or if I know it's going to be a super busy day, I might think ahead and bring dinner with me just in case.
LittleNemoNES
Diamond Member
I check email every night before going to bed -- this way I know what to expect the next day when coming in.
I think OP is full of fail in his mentality, but I will say this:
Before email and cell phones, people were more cautious with their after hours work. For the most part, they really couldn't work anyway, and managers would be less intrepid with their request to have people work on the weekends. Violating family time was a more serious offense.
Now, email, cell phones, text messages, etc. violate every area of our personal time. It's getting worse, and it's to the point where if a person says "Oh, I didn't see that email" you're met with looks of horror. I have clients that email me almost 24 hours a day, send requests on the weekends, etc. I have nowhere to hide. Everywhere I go I feel the burning sensation of someone else's priorities in my schedule.
So, times have changed. OP is living in older times, especially given his line of work. I think there needs to be a balance though, because there is a point where working for free is little to the benefit of yourself, especially if no one takes notice. spidey's point about the boss looking like he's working is a valid one here, because it's likely the case. Anyone fairly savvy in playing the corporate game knows the art of making people take notice of your efforts without making it too obvious.
/longer reply than anticipated; just had my morning espresso
Before email and cell phones, people were more cautious with their after hours work. For the most part, they really couldn't work anyway, and managers would be less intrepid with their request to have people work on the weekends. Violating family time was a more serious offense.
Now, email, cell phones, text messages, etc. violate every area of our personal time. It's getting worse, and it's to the point where if a person says "Oh, I didn't see that email" you're met with looks of horror. I have clients that email me almost 24 hours a day, send requests on the weekends, etc. I have nowhere to hide. Everywhere I go I feel the burning sensation of someone else's priorities in my schedule.
So, times have changed. OP is living in older times, especially given his line of work. I think there needs to be a balance though, because there is a point where working for free is little to the benefit of yourself, especially if no one takes notice. spidey's point about the boss looking like he's working is a valid one here, because it's likely the case. Anyone fairly savvy in playing the corporate game knows the art of making people take notice of your efforts without making it too obvious.
/longer reply than anticipated; just had my morning espresso
Leros
Lifer
In addition to what everybody else has said:
Working after hours is a natural transition after college. In college you typically do many hours of work every night of the week. You also work on the weekends. Doing a little bit of e-mail or something after work probably seems normal (and not bad at all) to most college graduates.
Working after hours is a natural transition after college. In college you typically do many hours of work every night of the week. You also work on the weekends. Doing a little bit of e-mail or something after work probably seems normal (and not bad at all) to most college graduates.
rh71
No Lifer
I'm salary but I check my emails at night sometimes just so I have a clean slate in the morning. I also get OT but I never record my evening hours just checking/responding to email. I may adjust by starting later the next day though, but I know I will be "clean" as I said before so it shouldn't be a problem to do so.
Deviant Grasshopper
Banned
I'm salaried and I work off-hours a LOT. The downside is I don't really think my boss notices since most of it is server related not email related but meh. I guess the uptime shows it.
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