I agree that way too many employers pay too much attention to whether the employee *looks* like they're putting a lot of effort in rather than at asking themselves whether the employee is actually doing that. However, I fear I must disappoint you in that you're likely to find the same situation in Europe (or Switzerland, at least, though most Swiss would probably recoil at my implicit suggestion that Switzerland is somehow a part of Europe). In my experience - and in the experience of my friends - European employers tend to be just as unreasonable and the image of Europe as a "worker's paradise" is probably more a stereotype than a reality.
George Chernikov | Homepage | 11.01.06 - 5:06 pm | #

Great point.
It's really just a matter of quality vs. quantity.

To be honest with you, lately, my work days have been consisting of 5-6 hours of work. Funny thing is, I get just as much if not more done than ever before. Why? Exactly what you said. Quality vs. quantity. When you give yourself 5-6 hours, you do the things that really matter, and you do them efficiently. And with more time to relax and rest your brain, it makes tomrorow's 5-6 hours even more productive because you don't feel completely drained.

I'm a huge advocate of doing work in terms of tasks and goals, vs. hours. Having a plan is half the battle. If you have a plan for your day, you will be more productive because you will look at it in terms of having to do A, B & C in 6 hours, as opposed to having to sit somewhere for 8 hours and doing whatever you feel like at the time.

If I accomplish my tasks for the day, I stop working. If I don't, I keep working until I do. But the latter is rare. As long as you have a plan and you are realistic with it, you'll usually be able to accomplish a hell of a lot of work in 8 hours a day or less.

- Anthony
Anthony | 11.01.06 - 5:29 pm | #

George - thanks again for the great comment. My percetption of Europe is completely based off of the stereotype and my brief interaction with the European division of the company I worked for...so I'm sure you are correct.

Anthony - you are dead on. I think your way of having a set of tasks for the day is the way to go. Right now I'm working through mine for the day and I think I'll finish them in the next hour or two so my Friday night will not be work related
Adam | Homepage | 11.03.06 - 3:38 pm | #