“Over time workers are a complete menace to the working culture of a company.”
It was the time when I joined my company along with 13 others. We were put together in a 90-days program called the Common Induction Training. All had to sit in an AC conference hall and sleep - this was the ‘official’ work that we were doing. Sometimes we played ‘cricket’ with paper balls and sometimes ‘truth or dare’. We used to be together throughout the day playing, chatting and sleeping. Those were the coolest days of our life – we got paid for doing no work.
After completion of the Common Induction Training, all of us got posted in our respective departments.
A week later…
It was half past five in the evening. I was waiting for my friends outside the company. Nobody showed up! My first innings of tea and bajji got over, then the second, then the third and then the lack of financial stock made me stop. I was still waiting for my friends thinking we’d be together as we were two weeks before. Nobody showed their faces. This repeated the next day and the next and finally I gave up. This was the incident that made me write this blog.
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Get into an office and search for over-time workers, half of them will be bachelors (of the age group 22-28) and remaining half would be married and settled (of the age group 35-45). Let’s analyze the reason behind this. When we ask a bachelor his reply would be “I have nothing to do at home. In the office, I get tea, snacks and of course free and unlimited browsing with centralized AC. So I don’t mind spending extra time here“. The office over-time traffic increases especially when a female employee chooses to work after hours.
If the other group (age 35-40) is enquired, a majority of them would answer that they worked longer in order to spend their maximum time away from wives.
What is the consequence of this?
First..
As a new employee, you will create a nice impact and impression to your boss by working for long hours. You will be given more responsibilities and greater respect compared to others. You will be treated as “the boss’ pet”.
Next..
Your boss will start expecting this from others. He will expect everyone to work like you. This will result in a cold war between you and your colleagues.
Finally..
Soon after your marriage you will have to be home early. Your concentration will be split between your home and work. Then the impression of excellence created in your boss’ mind will start to decline. This might become the time of revenge for the other employees.
Once Narayana Murthy mailed to all Infosys staff:
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC. PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME!
Working after office hours does not show your determination or perseverance. Rather you are proving that you are incapable of completing your work within the stipulated time. According to CDA rules, working after office hours is a crime. (If you are working after office hours for which you are not paid then you are getting an income by some illegal means) Working over-time destroys the working culture of a company.
Our Life is short. Why can’t we spend our precious time usefully or just relax? Bachelors can spend their time watching movies, exercising, playing their favourite sport, listening to music or reading novels. If you still don’t find a way to spend time, you can read my blog four times a day!!!
It was the time when I joined my company along with 13 others. We were put together in a 90-days program called the Common Induction Training. All had to sit in an AC conference hall and sleep - this was the ‘official’ work that we were doing. Sometimes we played ‘cricket’ with paper balls and sometimes ‘truth or dare’. We used to be together throughout the day playing, chatting and sleeping. Those were the coolest days of our life – we got paid for doing no work.
After completion of the Common Induction Training, all of us got posted in our respective departments.
A week later…
It was half past five in the evening. I was waiting for my friends outside the company. Nobody showed up! My first innings of tea and bajji got over, then the second, then the third and then the lack of financial stock made me stop. I was still waiting for my friends thinking we’d be together as we were two weeks before. Nobody showed their faces. This repeated the next day and the next and finally I gave up. This was the incident that made me write this blog.
*****************************************************************
Get into an office and search for over-time workers, half of them will be bachelors (of the age group 22-28) and remaining half would be married and settled (of the age group 35-45). Let’s analyze the reason behind this. When we ask a bachelor his reply would be “I have nothing to do at home. In the office, I get tea, snacks and of course free and unlimited browsing with centralized AC. So I don’t mind spending extra time here“. The office over-time traffic increases especially when a female employee chooses to work after hours.
If the other group (age 35-40) is enquired, a majority of them would answer that they worked longer in order to spend their maximum time away from wives.
What is the consequence of this?
First..
As a new employee, you will create a nice impact and impression to your boss by working for long hours. You will be given more responsibilities and greater respect compared to others. You will be treated as “the boss’ pet”.
Next..
Your boss will start expecting this from others. He will expect everyone to work like you. This will result in a cold war between you and your colleagues.
Finally..
Soon after your marriage you will have to be home early. Your concentration will be split between your home and work. Then the impression of excellence created in your boss’ mind will start to decline. This might become the time of revenge for the other employees.
Once Narayana Murthy mailed to all Infosys staff:
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC. PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME!
Working after office hours does not show your determination or perseverance. Rather you are proving that you are incapable of completing your work within the stipulated time. According to CDA rules, working after office hours is a crime. (If you are working after office hours for which you are not paid then you are getting an income by some illegal means) Working over-time destroys the working culture of a company.
Our Life is short. Why can’t we spend our precious time usefully or just relax? Bachelors can spend their time watching movies, exercising, playing their favourite sport, listening to music or reading novels. If you still don’t find a way to spend time, you can read my blog four times a day!!!
