Anyone ever protest excessive work hours. :-)

I wish I had the work ethic that some of you have. I complain about having to work 1 Saturday a month sometimes. Although Im Salary and I don't get paid any extra for being at work late...so my theory is...."why be there?"
 
It depends on your job situation and chance for advancement. If staying an extra hour or two helps get the job done and done well, making you and your boss/company look good, and your boss appreciates your work and efforts... when the time comes to staff a high-profile project or for advancement (or, in some cases, a permanent, non-contract position) they know you get things done. If you're the person with a shitty attitude, walking out the door at 5, no matter what... you're not the one who gets things done. If they treat you like crap or never recognize your hard work, time to find someone who will treat you better.

In general, behaving as if some task is beneath you, or 'not part of your job description,' is a recipe for a low ceiling. Even if you leave that company, people in the same industry know one another and will talk, off the record. Consider your reputation, at all times, especially if you think you should be treated/paid better than you are.
 
trailhugger said:
It depends on your job situation and chance for advancement. If staying an extra hour or two helps get the job done and done well, making you and your boss/company look good, and your boss appreciates your work and efforts... when the time comes to staff a high-profile project or for advancement (or, in some cases, a permanent, non-contract position) they know you get things done.
Click to expand...

That's why I work the hours I do. My first job out of college, I looked at all the people the same level as me...decided right then and there, I couldn't do the same job for the next 20-30 years. Nothing wrong with liking your job and feeling secure...just wasnt for me. In the last 6 years I've worked for 1 Big 4 CPA firm, a super regional CPA firm, a corporate headquarters for a grocery chain and 2 different aerospace companies...and 7 different roles within those companies. Started out at the absolute bottom rung, making enough money to put gas in my rig to get back and forth to work...to now being a controller for a manufacturing facility for a $15billion/year corporation. Some may look at that as job hopping...but I'll tell you, I've never had to look for a job. Bottom line, people notice when you voluntarily roll up your sleeves when shit gets messy, you get results, and do it with a smile on your face.
 
6BangBronk said:
We've been working 60+ hours towards 70 for 3 weeks going on 4 every single day of the week. So myself and 2 other guys I work with have refused to shave since the beginning of our OT streak until we get a day off. I / myself still have to meet with high profile clients. It's a rule in our handbook that we can't even have exposed tattoos and encouraged to present a good impression for the company. I've been getting some funny looks when I shake hands with a smile. :) It's starting to cover my lips now...

A guy on the other end of the building is refusing to bath. He's starting to get RANK!!!

I've GOT to have my bath... Just wondering if the non-bathing thing for excessive hour protest was common practice along with any other creative ideas? :)
Click to expand...


Have you thought to contact the board of labor to inquire as to the legality of forced OT?
 
As Cydney said, North Carolina is a right to work state. Several things to consider.
With as much of the work force out of work, there is someone who would love to work those hours in order to pay their bills
IIRC they can force you to work 6 days, but not 7, the 7th in volunteer.
By not adhering to the dress code, they can fire you, and unemployment benefits can be delayed for quiet some time.
on the other hand......

I was once in a position where I was working 90 plus hours a week, for months, on Salary. I kept hope that it would
change for the better, but it didn't. I tried to quit once, they offered help, for a short amount of time, and give me more money.
But it didn't change. So I left.
It all got me to thinking, What do I want written on my tombstone? Here lies Chip, he worked a lot of hours?
Here lies Chip, his kids missed his kids, because he was a good employee

So I went somewhere else, I made as good as far as money, and worked a lot less hours.

Now here I am, I got hurt at work, still to be released from the doctor, from an injury that happened at work, through no fault of my own. Two surgeries later, I am still having issues, but I received a letter the first of December that told me I was terminated due to being out of work for so long.

So what happens now? Once released from the doctor, I can get unemployment for a while, and then what?
If I were an employer, would I hire me? Answer, no. To much liability.

So, hang in there, regard the rules as close as you can, and when you can, if it don't look like it's going to change, seek other jobs. But, don't leave until you find something.
 
Most jobs out there right now are not even hiring for more than 32 hours s week. Can you live off of that ? My wife can tell you first hand about that. Just under where they have to give you health insurance. Jobs are getting harder and harder to find with just what you want. Either too few hours or too many hours. After 24 years in the military 80 hours a week is easy. Least you go home every night. Every time I think I got it rough I think about my brothers in arms still overseas and I go back to sucking it up. Life is too short to be miserable at work but is it that bad there really ? Remember the grass is usually not greener on the other side. I know this from experience.
 
We went through a three year period of mandatory OT at my work from Jan of 2005 through late fall of 2007. I would arrive at work around 6:45-7am, and typically leave between 6-7pm Mon-Fri. Saturday I would arrive at work by 7am, and leave between noon-2pm. I was still eligible for OT pay (1.5x), so I was making a lot of money which was very nice. At the end of the three years though, I was bitter about basically missing three years of my life. I did not have much time or energy to work on my projects during that three year period. I missed out on MANY trips with my friends. I only went camping and wheeling about three times during that whole three year period due to having to work every Saturday. That three year period taught me that I don't want to live the rest of my life like that. I guess in a way, I protested the mandatory OT by leaving 'on time' for the next few years once it ended.

Unfortunately, job hopping is necessary to receive increased financial compensation.
 
Last edited:
rockcity said:
That will go over real well with the employer!
Click to expand...


I agree, but IF they are legally in the wrong, only the board of labor will be able to correct it... Civil Disobedience will only get you fired, and will possibly have issues with your Unemployment. Termination in retaliation, while difficult to prove is pretty apparent if it immediately follows a complaint like that.
 
UTfball68 said:
^^^I would assume he has a very short ceiling and room to grow and is probably on a pretty short leash. I'm not saying it's right...but in most professional settings, that's just the case. Regardless of how good he at his skill set, I'm sure he's on somebody's radar to be out the door ASAP.
Click to expand...

They pay to send him to training all over the country still, he goes back to Philadelphia at the end of the month for some new training, so whatever he is doing... He is in the good graces of the right people apparently. He has discussed opening his own business though and probably will soon enough just because he has a group of drivers who followed him from Cooper Kenworth to Freightliner and thinks the business provided by them plus word of mouth would already be more than he could handle.

I would imagine you are right, but it really seems someone is looking out for him.
 
upnover said:
IIRC they can force you to work 6 days, but not 7, the 7th in volunteer.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that is accurate, had a job like that for a while, and they pushed like hell to get you in on that 7th day and if you wouldn't they held it against you.

Horrible job I didn't keep long at all.
 
There are some that will say to take as many hours as you can & be thankful. I remember my dad doing that & I never saw him. That same company closed its doors after 20 years. When I was single I did the same thing. Once I got married I looked for something that worked with my priorities of family time. Now I work mon-Thur 10 hr/day most of the time. When my son asks where I'm at when I'm not home he is only answered with "work" 4 out of 7 days. Yes our finances had to adjust, but his quality of life is more important to us than giving that time to a company. I'm valued where I'm at as well.

Maybe sit with your supervisor & talk. If you're a valued employee they may make an exception. Skilled labor that's dependable is hard to find.
 
We finally got our first breather this weekend so we all came back to work this week cleaned up. And I haven't had a second until now to look at this thread to see where it was heading. And just as I figured, the hard liners who march up hill both ways every winter barefooted would try to put this topic into negative territory. Especially since I'll bet over 50% is self employed. The very reason I came back to work after the recession.

I've worked my entire life since I was old enough to push a lawn mower. And was introduced the front door the day after I graduated high school and have bought every stitch of clothing to touch my back since then (besides gifts from wife, family and friends). And I've bought every piece of shit of a piece of metal with wheels ever to ride beneath me. My parents have given me absolutely nothing but maybe a phone call on my birthday since I got the boot. I for one don't plan on working my life away like I have in the past to make it to where I am today. I'm looking at "42" next week and not getting any younger.

For 3 1/2 weeks I came home only to sleep and not much else. I had to devote my first weekend off this past weekend to solely be with my wife to reaquaint especially since it was our 5'th Anniversary. If you ask me the guy that set the work hours at 40 instead of 25-30 should be hung. All the money in the world doesn't buy back valuable time. Excessive hours is not only tuff on you, but all of your family and everyone around you. What is life for if you work it away? Sure I see my bank account growing excessively but money becomes worthless when you don't have time to enjoy it. And the time lost and pain it causes on your family for your absence can never be bought back.

2 weeks ago I was forced to pass on a fishing trip to the beach with my dad. It's been 20+ years since we fished together and it has been his biggest request to go fishing with me again. His doctor recently gave him 4 years at most since he has full fledged Mesothelioma. That was the toughest phone call I've had to answer during this work period. I could tell he was starting to tear up as I got off the phone.

As for unemployed? I was taught the art of finding work. I found my first jobs by showing up with hammer in hand willing to work for free. I feel the only people out of work is plain lazy or just worthless to society. I thrived to expand my knowledge growing up and know many many traits to fall back on. As such when the company I work for fell flat for 4 years. I don't care if statistics was only 1 out of 10 with work, I promise you I will be working the rest of my life like it or not. But I only need 30-40 and do NOT appreciate being overworked.

I work for a very small Engineering Firm (based on comparison with competitors). If it wasn't for partnership, there's only 9 employees in my department/ down from a total of 16 when times were good. Been here 18 1/2 years. It's tremendously hard to not get a case of "burn out" since I've basically been nothing but a work horse since day one. We haven't had a raise or bonus in 10 years now. We recently lost 2 of our Hollidays down to 8 total. 401K is no longer available. And it's just the aerogant way the engineer / owner / and president makes you feel like he OWNS you. There's absolutely no "thank you's". And he'll make only the decisions that benifit him. And he makes you feel like it's your duty to work your life away.

Dress policy and code may be in the handbook but so is "excessive hours" as described to be "encouraged to take time off". I've got over 4 weeks saved up not by choice. And the only way I can get time off is to put in for it 2 months in advanced and not exceed 2 consecutive days. And even then he tries to talk you out of it at last minute. I'm accumulating faster than I can take the time off so what good is it?

All that said, hate to say but I have tremendous amount of "job security" if not working for someone else and I see absolutely no issue in protesting excessive work hours. It's unhuman to force it on anybody to work their life away.
 
Back
Top