tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post6262402809260135249..comments2024-03-06T06:34:42.881-05:00Comments on EconoSpeak: If you're explaining, you're losing...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post-3422534308154127412015-07-11T19:01:56.211-04:002015-07-11T19:01:56.211-04:00To restate this. If the expectation that a 'go...To restate this. If the expectation that a 'good company man' will stay on the job for 47 hours and cut corners with OSHA or other regulators then that will become the norm. And if you don't have enough work to actually fill those 47 hours you have two choices: one stretch the work out by 'looking busy' or two asking for more work. And the second course is a good way to find yourself cold-shouldered by co-workers resentful for you 'showing them up', or in some workplaces of having unfortunate industrial 'accidents'.<br /><br />Now if people are being paid hourly and/or are covered by mandatory overtime there are obvious ways and even more obvious incentives for supervisors and managers to control for this, heck I have a couple of books on Cost Accounting on my shelves that would give you a good start. But there is less incentive to even care if you are talking about salaried workers who are for whatever reason 'exempt' from overtime. Who cares that they are spending 47+ hours on the job and you are spending that same amount of time 'working' right along side. All that effort looks good to YOUR boss. So why NOT let the work expand to fill the expected work time.<br /><br />Which will make the new Obama overtime rules kind of interesting. The expectation among some is that employers would rather hire additional employees than compensate existing ones a time and a half. But the result might equally be for employers to demand that white collar workers actually accomplish their work during work hours. That is to treat them more or less the way they already treat blue collar workers subjected to various forms of Taylorism. Which might seem a little harsh on some of those white collar types. Until they figure out that they are getting seven-plus hours of extra leisure and still making the same money as before.<br /><br />Which is okay by me. Personally I myself tend to 'work for the weekend'. Which doesn't mean not giving my best effort when I am put in the game. Just that I am only getting paid for that 40 hour week that my predecessors in labor literally fought, bled, and too often died for. Job hour bloat simply in the interest of some bastardized Protestant Work Ethic is bullshit. You want something done, pay me to get it done. Then let me have the rest of my time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04849952583072660993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post-68478244629136157842015-07-11T18:38:15.958-04:002015-07-11T18:38:15.958-04:00If the key to currying favor with the boss, or per...If the key to currying favor with the boss, or perhaps the key to not getting fired, is pegged more to hours spent in the workplace than actual productivity, then people will stay late. Maybe they won't get shit done during the morning, instead nursing hangovers at their desk or talking about 'the game' the night before, but sure enough by ramping up there effort at around three when everyone else is thinking about picking up the kids at school or getting dinner ready, is an excellent way of catching the boss's eye. And maybe of snagging some after work time with the boss getting that next day's hangover installed.<br /><br />Most people have seen variations on this over their careers. People with families often have to leave on time, young guys on the make have the time to suck up to the boss by staying overtime. And sure enough it is those late nighters turned drinking buddies that end up with promotions. But it often has eff all to do with actual productivity.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04849952583072660993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post-85742532700688227082015-07-09T23:06:02.626-04:002015-07-09T23:06:02.626-04:00Could we get Congress to do something.Could we get Congress to do something.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977868106173983411noreply@blogger.com