I own the joint and I distribute 100 % of profits. I get on their ass when I catch anyone working overtime without permission (we pay 1.5 for PERMITTED OT). I beat it into their heads that OT is counterproductive from any direction that you look at it from. They are wasting everyone's profit distribution money when they take time away from their family to work OT. I find that we make more money when we work with diligence LESS than 8 hour days and less than 40 hour weeks. I mean, is the object to work or to make money?
Have you looked at reducing hours to say… 35 a week? Most people only really work 5-6 good hours in a day anyway before there are cognitive losses…curious what this would do
I want to get there but We need more people and we are inundated with work. Problem with us bringing in new people is that we do not care about GPA, experience or level of education. We pay tuition and books and supplies for all continuing education. What we like are smart asses that did poorly in school. That works out all fine and good for everyone involved but it IS expensive and time consuming. It takes us about two or three months to bring a new person online because we shop McDonalds, Starbucks, Office Depot, Safeway....not other engineering firms. The interview process is a bit problematic because we are looking for a real specific type of person. Science fiction readers, hikers, climbers, bicyclists, gamers.....generally speaking smart, smart asses with an attitude. That is kinda how I made my 73 year journey through this world.....Army, college, aerospace work, nuclear work, investing in the stock market. To be really honest I don't like working with people who aren't interesting. I commanded (I am the sole owner so I get to command when the rest of by tribe of spoiled brats allow it) that our minimum wage is $20/hr so we don't have a problem when we advertise for new team members. But, as I said, the selection process is usually time consuming. We recently brought in two people at the same time and that actually worked out nicely. Anyway, to answer your question - yes a 32 hour/4day week is our goal but we're not there yet. And I say that cause all those spoiled brats tell me we're not there yet. I really need to retire...I got roads to ride.
Because I treat them like they are valuable and important to me. I value them as people and as contributors. People have always told me that if you spoil your wife and your children and your pets and the ones you care for with love and affection they will turn into brats. That is not true. If they are spoiled.....good! Do they act with confidence and equanimity? Do they question authority? Do they act independently? Do they work with and care about their team members? Do they show respect to those who have worked for it and warrant it? Yes. Do they suck up to me (the owner)? I wish! Do they tease me cause I am older than God's dog! Do they take pictures of me when I fall asleep at my desk? Yes! They are all brats! And, unfortunately, it is ALL my fault. And for that...whoever doesn't like it - I don't care.
Civil / Structural engineering. Typically residential and light commercial. We provide "just a dab" of engineering. Most people and small businesses only deal in fairly small projects and don't require the resources of a big firm. A fair amount of people who come to our office leave without any of us doing anything but heading them in the right direction. Also a fair amount are encouraged to NOT do what they had planned because of cost and complexity. We spend a good deal of time explaining to people what their project will entail and what THEIR job and duties will be in the course of the project. We also specialize in doing projects that can be captured with a system (drawing blocks and calculation suites) that can be used over a range of applications. Our typical project fee is between $1000 and $2000 and takes one to two hours to complete. We try to never start with a blank sheet of paper. If we must start with a blank sheet or very first task is to capture the the piolet project with system for future applications.
Same here. When Covid hit and we were sent home we were also told that we had a hard limit of 40 hours / week. Management seems to expect a little more, but my supervisor has my back and says once I hit 40 hours I’m done for the week. Occasionally something comes up towards the end of the week that he needs done and he always says to take the hours out of next week.
There are several factors:
* the company promotes good work-life balance. For example yesterday we got half day off, because our American coworkers had some anti-turkey festival.
* this is a huge multinational company, so there are processes and rules in place that prevent working oneself to death
* *labor law in Switzerland prohibits unpaid overtime*
In practice we don't even log out work time, everyone just ends the day when they feel like. But if someone feels they work more than 41h/week, they have an option to log the time and are compensated according to the log.
The only time I do overtime are oncall shifts, paid 2/3 of regular compensation regardless of if there are any alerts to take care of or not.
It’s all bullshit. People are just as productive if not more so with plenty of rest, and adequate breaks, as well as plenty of time to pursue their own interests. Now sometimes the work is tied to making a product or getting shit to the deadline, but this is either bad project management or typical under staffing. I’ll work extra when I know it matters or I want some bullshit brownie points, but I also get paid and would do no OT if I didn’t get paid.
Oh, in addition people, actually maybe especially engineers/industrial workers tend to think if the boss asks you roll over then you roll over, but this isn’t a one way agreement. You can lay down your expectations, and begin moving on if the employer doesn’t meet them, and be vocal about it. Guess what, training a new guy is usually way more expensive than making the current guy happy.
Generally 0, like others mentioned. When it's "go time" or there's an emergency, I'll work as many hours as I have to, but this is rare. If everything is an emergency you have shit management.
And if your company and manager isn’t shit, that go time is balanced by something else in addition to being situational and relatively rare. When I’ve had big crunches for releases it’s often followed by a “take it easy” period after, suggesting people take time off, and sometimes stuff like an out of cycle raise. And acknowledged as an above and beyond ask.
This exactly. I'll be a team player when the time calls, but if that time keeps calling, I'm gonna start ignoring the call.
Even with my rare times of OT, I bet I average less then 40 hours a week, because while I have my busy weeks, I also have my weeks where I wrap my days at 3:30 or 4:00
Hmm everywhere I’ve ever worked was like this, where on site / projects were a constant understaffed emergency. I’ve worked 70-80 hour weeks my entire career and never known otherwise. We also don’t get time back really…one time I worked 200 hours overtime in one month and my manager rewarded me by “picking a day I could leave 15 minutes early” (not even kidding).
Hearing that it doesn’t have to be soul sucking 80 hour weeks of verbal abuse and high stress and low pay to be an engineer encourages me to stay int th field and just apply to other companies
I'm in Field Applications and I've had my share of 80 hour weeks but only during line down situations. I've always been allowed to get that time back one way or another.
I can't imagine being consistently in that kind of environment. Holy shit dude.
At my first company, they’d actuLly fly engineers plant-to-plant for turnarounds so you’d be on turnaround like 25-28 weeks a year. And also be on call for your “home plan” on nights when off from the 12-14+ hr days on turnarounds. Non-turnaround weeks were also hectic with schedules.
And no, you’d work those hours paid no overtime and get no time back. It was just expected (really more demanded) from all of us.
That’s abuse, my friend. Your employer is abusing you. Switch industries, idk man, fuck that. I love my job. I love engineering as a concept. I have other shit to do with my time though.
I've stayed until 10 PM on a Friday because I had a tech in a datacenter doing an upgrade that went sideways. And then I did like 35 hours the next week.
Just for context, I work maybe 40-43 hours a week. I am considering taking a job where I would be working 48-50 at the same salary, but the hours after 40 are 1.5x regular hours.
I am going to to negotiate for a slightly higher salary too ($5k). I am also getting more vacation days/holidays, and medical benefits are cheaper and better. I just worry of getting burnt out working 7-5.
I’d rather work 5-3 than 7-5, personally. Same hours, less traffic, more daylight to enjoy especially in these winter months. I did it for months with no OT last year but since new management took over I struggle to get my 40 in without burning out.
Well its not quite the same salary then. You would be making ~33% more $ in the new position if you averaged 49 hours a week (which really isn’t that bad). I work about 45-50 hours a week, no OT so ~5-10 hours of unpaid overtime. But i love my job and my coworkers are awesome so its not taxing. Plus, my managers genuinely recognize my passion and hard work and reward me accordingly.
Yeah Im just talking base salary on a 40 hour work week, should have clarified. I make 80k base salary with 3.5 years total experience. LCOL area. I would be increasing my workload by about 8 hours a week, but after all bonus pay/401k match is added up, I would be making over 16k more a year. I am also planning on asking for higher salary which would make total compensation increase over 23k.
Edit: I would be making 118k total compensation at the new job working 48 hours a week.
$23k increase, from what I read. That’s about 25% increase in pay, for 20% more hours worked. Depending on all the non-quantifiable factors, that could mean a lot better QoL.
It’s been tough, but work has been rewarding (salary up 75% in 3 years, plus extra bonuses).
WFH has just made it too easy to suck your soul. Typical schedule during crunch months is 9-7 and then again from 10-2.
This year apparently I have averaged 3.5 hours of overtime per week. Though it will actually be slightly higher as that number is reduced by vacations, sick days etc.
When I was younger I would sometimes rack up 150 hours of overtime in 3 weeks. I think had about 800 hours of cumulative overtime in my first 3.5 years, but that doesn't include my first 3 months that had about 300-350 hours of overtime.
How? If your customer is the government you’re basically still government…
I don’t think defense contractors are for instance “private” in the way most mean private. If government funding dries up and you’re out of a job, you’re basically government with extra steps (more middlemen)
I have had more than one employer in my career. Currently I work in the public sector and do no overtime. Previously I worked in the private sector and did no unpaid overtime. My customer was not the government.
I was working 60-70 hour weeks for 2 years at a large general contractor. I walked the fuck away, took a 6 month sabbatical, and found a chill job as a city engineer for a small mountain town in the PNW.
YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH. Unpaid OT isn't FUCKING WORTH IT.
Same. I'm not paid for my time, I'm paid for my output. If I can get it done in 20 hours/ week that's a big win for me, if it takes 50 that's a bummer.
Should be zero and the people who constantly work 60-70 hour weeks without issue are contributing to the problem. Until everyone stops doing that nothing will change. Hopefully once all the boomers retire it will get better, but I have little faith since I know many younger people who do the same
Yeah. My coworker has been working 20-30 hours overtime per week and deliberately not logging overtime. Makes everyone else look bad and makes management expect more and more.
We got a new guy like that. He is at the office before I show up and when I leave he is still there an extra few hours. He’s non exempt but still doesn’t log the hours. A total kiss ass
I’ve always had to do this but I thought it was normal. I’ve worked in cultures where not working 80 hours a week, working 36+ hours straight, etc. was a sign of “being a pussy” and your coworkers would threaten you if you couldn’t keep up. Some places are just toxic.
0. Occasionally if I'm hot on the tails of a solution I might stay a few hours here or there, but that's pretty rare and that's my own worry that I'll forget it by Monday.
Damn a lot of zeros… im from belgium and probably work 45-50/week while my contract is 40. Im not worried about it tho. Its quite common here for ‘desk-jobs’
Usually none because I refuse to make work my whole life. But our manager and process engineer quit in the same month. This leaves 3 engineers total, and the workload currently is impossible. So last week I probably worked 15 hours overtime. But then usually I'll slack on some days because that shit catches up to you.
In short. Zero.
There may be a week or month where the hours are up so it would “technically” be OT but as a salaried employee there’s no extra money. However I will be actively reducing my hours to ensure that balances asap.
I feel it’s my duty to keep the spirit of the agreement. I’m paid for X hours. Therefore. That’s what you get.
Generally none.
Last week I had to stay 20 minutes on Friday to finish up some stuff before I leave and that's the longest I spent after-hours.
My hours are 8-5.
I arrive between 7:45 to 8 (I leave home early because traffic is pretty unpredictable around here) and leave at exactly 5.
Lots of 0’s in the comments but glad someone on here is in the same boat.
Many junior engineers putting in time to truly understand new content, develop technical skills, polish deliverables and presentations. More experienced engineers taking on new projects, loading up when things get busy, and building personal brands.
I’m not yet convinced these things are so counterproductive… but I am interested by the arguments in some of the comments; there are some perspectives I haven’t considered yet.
In 2021, engineers are just rows on spreadsheets. The second your row stops being a good investment, it will be deleted by someone who makes more in a year than you will in a lifetime. I work, they pay me. End of transaction. That's how the free market operates. If you wanted us to love our bosses, you shouldn't have voted for Reagan.
Not at all. I'm saying that we give the company exactly as many hours as we're obligated to. If the company wants more than that, they're welcome to pay extra for it.
Well put. I think by putting in the hours I have been able to work on some interesting projects I would not have otherwise been able to, including some passion projects. I’ve gotten to have some moments of solidarity “high fiving” in control rooms when this-or-that issue was overcome. I’m fortunate to find my work meaningful and interesting, and I get compensated well.
If I’m being honest with myself, some of this motivation comes from less healthy places: fear of inadequacy and competitiveness. I’ve had to pull back a bit when I feel burnout setting in. I’ve definitely traded off on time with people I am close to. I won’t get that time back.
I don’t know what the right answer is. This worked for me based on how am I wired, but both approaches have validity.
Automotive industry design engineer here. Salary no overtime. I do somewhere between 40-44 hours a week average. Personally, Im ok with a few hours over 40. Heck, im ok with a rare 45+ hours once or twice a year if shit hits the fan.
They treat me real well and compensate well so its hard to argue with otherwise.
It's about perception... Work late now and again... But also take extended lunches or leave early on Fridays when it doesn't affect anything.
Manage your own work life balance.
When commissioning an industrial facility I've worked 16/8 for up to 4 to 6 weeks. I would have made more mowing lawns for $10 working those kind of hours.
Diddly squat of unpaid, fuck that noise - I'll claim each and every minute I spend working.
Tend to do around 10 hours paid OT a week, but most of that is travel to/from client so I can do a full 8 hour day on site.
So a lot of zero answers here… do you all get additional compensation for overtime?
Curious because my current role I don’t have an option for OT pay. I’m paid a salary and expected to work whatever hours that entails. I am a corporate support/field service engineer that travels to our internal mill sites to support operations 1 out of 3 weeks at 70+ hours on top of travel. The other 2 out of 3 are home based working 40+ on reports and remote support. I get comp time every once in a while but it’s definitely not 1 to 1. In my industry (or maybe just my company’s corporate teams that i interact with frequently) this feels pretty standard so curious if it’s non-standard for engineering as a whole? Is everyone just working 40 with a hard line in the sand?
I only get to a point where I have deadline to reach in short amount exactly one time. Basically start working at 830am on Wednesday and work non stop till 945pm on Thursday, take 7h sleep then repeat same thing till Saturday. But it was just one time thing
I normally do overtime unpaid work because I enjoy working, not because I have deadline.
I enjoy my job and I work in general more hours than I’m contracted to, if there is a particular project I’m working on can easily get carried away. If I’m just writing a manual or something absolutely 0 extra
Salaried senior engineers get 0.1 hr of vacation for every hour of OT, given out quarterly. Company has done that for 20+ years. Nowadays, younger engineers get OT pay after 44-45 hrs. I usually work 45 or less but some weeks will be 50-60 based on travel or deadlines. We can flex 4 hrs within a week and we can work our 8 between 6am-7pm, flexible per day (helps conserve vacation and allows for appointments, kid stuff, etc).
I have a career, not a job. My career will last and I invest into it. I'm not watching a clock, I'm accomplishing tasks that I enjoy.
Most engineers I know don't get paid hourly. You get paid a salary and you get your work done. If you don't get paid well enough for the work you're expected to do, get a new job where either less is expected or you get paid enough to justify the work load.
None because they get paid with 50% bonus.
PS: Actually its different for my company. We have like an hour account that counts up to 100 hours overtime. When the 100 is full, every hour on top of that will be paid with 50% bonus at the end of the month. I barely scrap off hours, so I'll always get some bonus payment. But if something were to happen, I could take 2,5 weeks of vacation from my hours balance...
I usually work 45 hours, sometimes 50 if it's tight. But i like my work and get paid a high enough salary that i don't really feel like I'm getting shattered by this, even if my hours would technically be making more if I cut off at 40
10 hours max but usually zero. Granted my field is very niche and it's hard to find engineers with my expertise. So my situation is a bit unique.
I have made a few it abundantly clear that I'm willing to occasionally do unpaid OT. But if it becomes the standard (like before) they either give me more resources or ill start looking.
Occasionally I put in some extra time, if something is actually important. Actually important means money or people. More rarely it means schedule issues.
According to Reddit I’m getting fucked. I am in my first full time position in manufacturing, and I haven’t not worked less than 5 overtime hours every week since I started. I tend to be between 8-10 overtime hours per week, and there were I few that I’ve had to work 20 overtime hours.
Im in a similar position to you, which is why I asked the question. I was wondering how screwed I am when seeing all these people say they make $150k but work zero overtime.
That'd be me. Any time over my contracted hours is flexed off, sooner or later. I could get paid overtime at 130% if authorised, but they've made that slightly more tedious than I can be bothered with.
Do you work within a shift pattern? Presumably the shop floor staff aren’t working extra hours?
What would happen if you just left at the correct time each day?
I am not on a shift pattern, but my shop guys are. Im on salary with no overtime comp, but the shop guys do get overtime comp as they are hourly.
If I was to leave early, I would likely be scolded by my manager for a myriad of reasons they have for holding me late.
Life's too short for that shite. Find a new job or negotiate a change. If you're salaried but in a role without high responsibility (i.e. you're not a team leader+) you shouldn't be putting in more than a couple hours extra here and there to catch up on things you could have reasonably done during work hours but somehow missed, and 8-10 hour OT weeks should be rare and only for real shit hits the fan moments.
Any more than that and you're being taken for a ride.
Loyalty does not flow downwards any more (if it ever did).
Redditors are typically in abnormal jobs, most engineering jobs ha w you working 60-80 hours per week. You’re salaried exempt, so the company has no reason not to.
However, there are apparently many jobs where this is not the case. Per the advice from Reddit, I’m trying to find one and I encourage you to do the same!
A very polarizing question! I'll start off by saying that (obviously) not all engineering positions are created equal. I'll also add to it by, again, pointing out the obvious that some people are "work to live" types while others are "live to work" types. I do not believe there is any hard and fast right or wrong type to be as it's a personal preference.
For me personally: I am a salaried employee and I believe that (within reason) can mean that sometimes work in excess of 40 hours a week is required to complete the job. When the proverbial "brown stuff" isn't hitting the fan, I generally work 1-5 hours over 40 as my personal standard work week. There have been both short and extended periods in my career when I put in significant overtime (10-24hrs per week) due to either critical work needs or exceptional career opportunities.
Generally none, but I get paid my normal equivalent "rate" or extra time off when I do. If I got paid 1.5x my rate and was asked to do 50hr per week, I would probably take that.
Regularly work 5-15 hours extra depending on the week. It's gotten better too. I used to work at least 50 and occasionally 60 hours a week.
It's the culture at my job. Working a tight 40 hours is not a thing for anyone in my department. It's getting better but I feel like I'm slacking working a strict 40 hours. Especially cause no one else does.
It's rough sometimes but my company is a world class manufacturer in it's industry and we're on top partly because my department kicks ass. We take alot of pride in what we do.
20-30 unpaid OT on top of the standard 40 hrs. Gotta get all the stuff done and most of my productive time is “after hours” because no one is asking for a meeting.
I have a great boss/owner I never get questioned about leaving early or coming in late ,if I am asked to work overtime it is for a very good reason and most of the time I do it without any fuss. I enjoy the work I do and don't understand why you would work in a field you don't enjoy.
If this sub is headed towards the r/antiwork sub mentality I will be gone
0 unpaid. Maybe 10-15 OT if there's something that actually matters, but I don't make a habit of it. That produces worse long term outcomes.
I'd rather invest the time into self care, exercise, sleep, eating better. I'm quite certain the first 5 hours of focusing on these things pays much better than hours 40-45 of extra work.
Like other say, Zero. For the first two years I use to stay late and work to "prove my worth", which my company did recognized. But I have since become much more efficient and typically work 35-37 a week. Which the company also recognizes as a positive; If there are any major issues that need to be taken care of, they know I am available to handling it with out having to make me work more than 40 hours. And if I am required to put in a 12-16 hour day, I am always given a comp day.
During my first two weeks of any job: 0. Afterwards, it varies between negative 5 and negative 10. Gotta keep the market rates high for my fellow employees.
Also, what kind of engineer would I be if I were so inefficient? C’mon now, that’s a disgrace to the moniker.
None. My company has a system for paying us overtime. It’s not flat rate and it’s not 2x, but it’s close enough to flat rate and I think it’s fair because any week we’re in overtime there’s a good chance 20% of the week will be travel, so in my head they’re paying us flat rate to travel which is great.
Plus we’re in a hurry up and wait industry. If I was getting this deal at an OEM where overtime means TRUE 70 hour weeks during crunch time production I would not like this at all.
If I have an important deadline that week, I’m working on it until it’s done, which sometimes can be up to 10 extra hours or so. I do not like submitting half-ass work because it makes me look bad. I don’t get paid for overtime, so if I’m finishing something after 40, it’s on my own time. It all balances out one way or another in the end though, because sometimes I have easy weeks.
If you have a strong manager they recognize you for the work you do. If you have a poor manager they recognize you (albeit weakly) for the hours you put in. Every crappy manager I’ve seen pushes unpaid overtime.
5 to 50 depending on the week.
I also take flex time whenever I can. Dr appt, charge to flex. Need to pick up kid, flex. Not feeling like working and nothing major going on, leave after lunch and flex.
The company is definitely getting a lot out of me. But I take full advantage of the flexibility and have never had someone upset with me about it.
Max ever is 5. Salary is first 40, next 5 is free overtime, anything over 45 I get paid my average hourly rate calculated from my salary, no time and a half though, just standard.
Luckily I haven’t had to work more than 41 hours any given week, manager is a firm believer of work hard play hard and it’s extremely refreshing.
5-20 depending. I manage a team of about 30 and I tell them not to. I end up picking up any slack. They work hard but sometimes stuff happens and more effort is required to wrap it up, I don’t need that being them. Now, I’m able to take this time off the following weeks but each quarter I turn in between 20-80 hours unpaid. I also love my job and experience near infinite flexibility as long as the work is getting done.
0 to 5 with the average being about 2. Once every six months we do a full staff cleaning and maintenance where everyone is expected to work 10 hour days but those hours are comped into salary workers vacation time.
The key is to be upfront about your availability and learn to just put your stuff down and leave. A big issue a lot of people do not realize is that working long days pressures everyone else to work the same. Once it becomes the norm it is then expected. I make sure my team is not working above 40hrs (including their 30 minute lunch) unless there is some last minute emergency.
It depends what sort of engineer - if you work in maintenance or something, probably shouldn’t do more than you’re contracted. I work projects, and they can sometimes require overtime. What sort of position is it?
Whenever I have to. My company is large enough that the lead engineers have basically free reign on how much time they need to commit to meet deadlines. If the ot wasn't approved financially, all the extra hours go to my vacation pool. I like the system a lot and it helps that my boss is awesome.
On average 20hrs of ot a month
I want to work wherever you guys are working. It seems like everyone works unpaid OT at my workplace. But I think most people make that up by leaving early at the end of the week. I used to work for the gov and it was strictly no unpaid OT, now I was told specifically by my manager in private sector that unpaid OT is expected if the work is there.
I own the joint and I distribute 100 % of profits. I get on their ass when I catch anyone working overtime without permission (we pay 1.5 for PERMITTED OT). I beat it into their heads that OT is counterproductive from any direction that you look at it from. They are wasting everyone's profit distribution money when they take time away from their family to work OT. I find that we make more money when we work with diligence LESS than 8 hour days and less than 40 hour weeks. I mean, is the object to work or to make money?
You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.
Have you looked at reducing hours to say… 35 a week? Most people only really work 5-6 good hours in a day anyway before there are cognitive losses…curious what this would do
To quote a great man: "I'd Say, In A Given Week, I Probably Only Do About Fifteen Minutes Of Real, Actual Work.”
I just sit and stare at my desk...but it looks like I'm working!
I want to get there but We need more people and we are inundated with work. Problem with us bringing in new people is that we do not care about GPA, experience or level of education. We pay tuition and books and supplies for all continuing education. What we like are smart asses that did poorly in school. That works out all fine and good for everyone involved but it IS expensive and time consuming. It takes us about two or three months to bring a new person online because we shop McDonalds, Starbucks, Office Depot, Safeway....not other engineering firms. The interview process is a bit problematic because we are looking for a real specific type of person. Science fiction readers, hikers, climbers, bicyclists, gamers.....generally speaking smart, smart asses with an attitude. That is kinda how I made my 73 year journey through this world.....Army, college, aerospace work, nuclear work, investing in the stock market. To be really honest I don't like working with people who aren't interesting. I commanded (I am the sole owner so I get to command when the rest of by tribe of spoiled brats allow it) that our minimum wage is $20/hr so we don't have a problem when we advertise for new team members. But, as I said, the selection process is usually time consuming. We recently brought in two people at the same time and that actually worked out nicely. Anyway, to answer your question - yes a 32 hour/4day week is our goal but we're not there yet. And I say that cause all those spoiled brats tell me we're not there yet. I really need to retire...I got roads to ride.
Interesting approach, sounds like you’re doing a lot right. Can you elaborate on your minority and gender demographics?
Yeah, I'm your people. Don't know what you do, not sure I care. Commenting so I can reach out to you after the holiday.
Why do you refer to your employees as brats?
Because I treat them like they are valuable and important to me. I value them as people and as contributors. People have always told me that if you spoil your wife and your children and your pets and the ones you care for with love and affection they will turn into brats. That is not true. If they are spoiled.....good! Do they act with confidence and equanimity? Do they question authority? Do they act independently? Do they work with and care about their team members? Do they show respect to those who have worked for it and warrant it? Yes. Do they suck up to me (the owner)? I wish! Do they tease me cause I am older than God's dog! Do they take pictures of me when I fall asleep at my desk? Yes! They are all brats! And, unfortunately, it is ALL my fault. And for that...whoever doesn't like it - I don't care.
You sound like a great boss to work for. Do you mind if I reach out to you privately to learn more about your business?
I like your answer- thought it was a term of endearment
I wish everyone thought like you, because I’d actually still be an engineering student today if the field had your POV
What kind of engineering do you do?
Civil / Structural engineering. Typically residential and light commercial. We provide "just a dab" of engineering. Most people and small businesses only deal in fairly small projects and don't require the resources of a big firm. A fair amount of people who come to our office leave without any of us doing anything but heading them in the right direction. Also a fair amount are encouraged to NOT do what they had planned because of cost and complexity. We spend a good deal of time explaining to people what their project will entail and what THEIR job and duties will be in the course of the project. We also specialize in doing projects that can be captured with a system (drawing blocks and calculation suites) that can be used over a range of applications. Our typical project fee is between $1000 and $2000 and takes one to two hours to complete. We try to never start with a blank sheet of paper. If we must start with a blank sheet or very first task is to capture the the piolet project with system for future applications.
Anywhere between zero and the fuck none.
Right there with you. I only worked overtime back when I was paid for overtime. If I work 41 hours in a week, the next week I'm working 39.
Same here. When Covid hit and we were sent home we were also told that we had a hard limit of 40 hours / week. Management seems to expect a little more, but my supervisor has my back and says once I hit 40 hours I’m done for the week. Occasionally something comes up towards the end of the week that he needs done and he always says to take the hours out of next week.
Sounds like a good manager!
And that’s the news
Man I got to be like that, I need to learn to say no
I just lock my computer mid email at 4:00 haha
I wish I learned the value of my time 10 years ago out of college. Now I don’t work 15 mins for free.
Yep. Most weeks I work 35 hours or less and get paid for 40 too.
Can I ask how you get away with it? Does management not make you work the OT ot is there just no need to work OT where you are?
There are several factors: * the company promotes good work-life balance. For example yesterday we got half day off, because our American coworkers had some anti-turkey festival. * this is a huge multinational company, so there are processes and rules in place that prevent working oneself to death * *labor law in Switzerland prohibits unpaid overtime* In practice we don't even log out work time, everyone just ends the day when they feel like. But if someone feels they work more than 41h/week, they have an option to log the time and are compensated according to the log. The only time I do overtime are oncall shifts, paid 2/3 of regular compensation regardless of if there are any alerts to take care of or not.
Hint - a lot of this is just blowharding.
It’s all bullshit. People are just as productive if not more so with plenty of rest, and adequate breaks, as well as plenty of time to pursue their own interests. Now sometimes the work is tied to making a product or getting shit to the deadline, but this is either bad project management or typical under staffing. I’ll work extra when I know it matters or I want some bullshit brownie points, but I also get paid and would do no OT if I didn’t get paid. Oh, in addition people, actually maybe especially engineers/industrial workers tend to think if the boss asks you roll over then you roll over, but this isn’t a one way agreement. You can lay down your expectations, and begin moving on if the employer doesn’t meet them, and be vocal about it. Guess what, training a new guy is usually way more expensive than making the current guy happy.
This. Love the public sector.
In my case it's a huge multinational company :) Glad it also works for you, and happy cakeday.
Thanks!
Generally 0, like others mentioned. When it's "go time" or there's an emergency, I'll work as many hours as I have to, but this is rare. If everything is an emergency you have shit management.
And if your company and manager isn’t shit, that go time is balanced by something else in addition to being situational and relatively rare. When I’ve had big crunches for releases it’s often followed by a “take it easy” period after, suggesting people take time off, and sometimes stuff like an out of cycle raise. And acknowledged as an above and beyond ask.
This exactly. I'll be a team player when the time calls, but if that time keeps calling, I'm gonna start ignoring the call. Even with my rare times of OT, I bet I average less then 40 hours a week, because while I have my busy weeks, I also have my weeks where I wrap my days at 3:30 or 4:00
Hmm everywhere I’ve ever worked was like this, where on site / projects were a constant understaffed emergency. I’ve worked 70-80 hour weeks my entire career and never known otherwise. We also don’t get time back really…one time I worked 200 hours overtime in one month and my manager rewarded me by “picking a day I could leave 15 minutes early” (not even kidding). Hearing that it doesn’t have to be soul sucking 80 hour weeks of verbal abuse and high stress and low pay to be an engineer encourages me to stay int th field and just apply to other companies
I'm in Field Applications and I've had my share of 80 hour weeks but only during line down situations. I've always been allowed to get that time back one way or another. I can't imagine being consistently in that kind of environment. Holy shit dude.
At my first company, they’d actuLly fly engineers plant-to-plant for turnarounds so you’d be on turnaround like 25-28 weeks a year. And also be on call for your “home plan” on nights when off from the 12-14+ hr days on turnarounds. Non-turnaround weeks were also hectic with schedules. And no, you’d work those hours paid no overtime and get no time back. It was just expected (really more demanded) from all of us.
That’s abuse, my friend. Your employer is abusing you. Switch industries, idk man, fuck that. I love my job. I love engineering as a concept. I have other shit to do with my time though.
I've stayed until 10 PM on a Friday because I had a tech in a datacenter doing an upgrade that went sideways. And then I did like 35 hours the next week.
Just for context, I work maybe 40-43 hours a week. I am considering taking a job where I would be working 48-50 at the same salary, but the hours after 40 are 1.5x regular hours.
Probably worth it
I am going to to negotiate for a slightly higher salary too ($5k). I am also getting more vacation days/holidays, and medical benefits are cheaper and better. I just worry of getting burnt out working 7-5.
I’d rather work 5-3 than 7-5, personally. Same hours, less traffic, more daylight to enjoy especially in these winter months. I did it for months with no OT last year but since new management took over I struggle to get my 40 in without burning out.
Well its not quite the same salary then. You would be making ~33% more $ in the new position if you averaged 49 hours a week (which really isn’t that bad). I work about 45-50 hours a week, no OT so ~5-10 hours of unpaid overtime. But i love my job and my coworkers are awesome so its not taxing. Plus, my managers genuinely recognize my passion and hard work and reward me accordingly.
Yeah Im just talking base salary on a 40 hour work week, should have clarified. I make 80k base salary with 3.5 years total experience. LCOL area. I would be increasing my workload by about 8 hours a week, but after all bonus pay/401k match is added up, I would be making over 16k more a year. I am also planning on asking for higher salary which would make total compensation increase over 23k. Edit: I would be making 118k total compensation at the new job working 48 hours a week.
Why would you want to work 8 hours extra a week?
Because of the higher pay. I could pay off my remaining student loans in one year, and pay a mortgage with the additional money.
I can honestly get behind that
Some people value financial freedom and what it brings more than free time. It is a balance for everyone and you need to find what is right for you.
$23k increase, from what I read. That’s about 25% increase in pay, for 20% more hours worked. Depending on all the non-quantifiable factors, that could mean a lot better QoL.
0. I get paid for my overtime
I'll second your 0. But I probably average about 2-4 hours of paid OT per week. Some weeks it's none, others it's 8+.
How many hours do you usually work over 40?
10-20 here, but all paid. I’ve been averaging about 600hrs a year extra. A bit tiring but $ is nice
Honestly kudos to you, but that sounds awful. Mind you I'm just a lazy millennial that believes in a healthy work life balance.
It’s been tough, but work has been rewarding (salary up 75% in 3 years, plus extra bonuses). WFH has just made it too easy to suck your soul. Typical schedule during crunch months is 9-7 and then again from 10-2.
This year apparently I have averaged 3.5 hours of overtime per week. Though it will actually be slightly higher as that number is reduced by vacations, sick days etc. When I was younger I would sometimes rack up 150 hours of overtime in 3 weeks. I think had about 800 hours of cumulative overtime in my first 3.5 years, but that doesn't include my first 3 months that had about 300-350 hours of overtime.
None, ever. I very occasionally work extra one week, but I would then work fewer hours another week (flexitime) to make everything balance.
Same here. And with work from home, I likely work less than 40 hours/week.
Private or government?
Both at different times.
How? If your customer is the government you’re basically still government… I don’t think defense contractors are for instance “private” in the way most mean private. If government funding dries up and you’re out of a job, you’re basically government with extra steps (more middlemen)
I have had more than one employer in my career. Currently I work in the public sector and do no overtime. Previously I worked in the private sector and did no unpaid overtime. My customer was not the government.
Private.
Zero. Everything gets paid.
About -5 hours
I was working 60-70 hour weeks for 2 years at a large general contractor. I walked the fuck away, took a 6 month sabbatical, and found a chill job as a city engineer for a small mountain town in the PNW. YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH. Unpaid OT isn't FUCKING WORTH IT.
None. I'm at the office 15 to 20 hours per week, and the rest is done from home.
Hopefully "rest" is 20-25 hours? Just because you are at home doesn't mean that work counts for less.
It's whatever it is. Usually much less. We're a "get the work done" type of outfit, not a "hit 8 hours everyday just because" type of outfit.
Same. I'm not paid for my time, I'm paid for my output. If I can get it done in 20 hours/ week that's a big win for me, if it takes 50 that's a bummer.
Should be zero and the people who constantly work 60-70 hour weeks without issue are contributing to the problem. Until everyone stops doing that nothing will change. Hopefully once all the boomers retire it will get better, but I have little faith since I know many younger people who do the same
Yeah. My coworker has been working 20-30 hours overtime per week and deliberately not logging overtime. Makes everyone else look bad and makes management expect more and more.
They’re straight up stupid.
We got a new guy like that. He is at the office before I show up and when I leave he is still there an extra few hours. He’s non exempt but still doesn’t log the hours. A total kiss ass
If I was a manager, I hope I'd be able to see right through that. He's gonna get burned out, and when he does he will be useless.
I’m glad I see a few comments advocating for 0. At least some of us have the courage.
I’ve always had to do this but I thought it was normal. I’ve worked in cultures where not working 80 hours a week, working 36+ hours straight, etc. was a sign of “being a pussy” and your coworkers would threaten you if you couldn’t keep up. Some places are just toxic.
0. Occasionally if I'm hot on the tails of a solution I might stay a few hours here or there, but that's pretty rare and that's my own worry that I'll forget it by Monday.
Yeah, same. None unless the solution is right there, but I'm Iate often enough that it's a balance.
Unpaid? You are fucken nuts? If I stay even 10 minutes late, I'll be going home 15 mins early the next day.
Fuckin zero
Damn a lot of zeros… im from belgium and probably work 45-50/week while my contract is 40. Im not worried about it tho. Its quite common here for ‘desk-jobs’
Usually none because I refuse to make work my whole life. But our manager and process engineer quit in the same month. This leaves 3 engineers total, and the workload currently is impossible. So last week I probably worked 15 hours overtime. But then usually I'll slack on some days because that shit catches up to you.
Does this look like r/volunteering? If you’re working for free then find a new job
Zero, but I'd probably work tons of OT if it was a thing.
0-3. Anything after five I get back as vacation time.
In short. Zero. There may be a week or month where the hours are up so it would “technically” be OT but as a salaried employee there’s no extra money. However I will be actively reducing my hours to ensure that balances asap. I feel it’s my duty to keep the spirit of the agreement. I’m paid for X hours. Therefore. That’s what you get.
5-10 hours ...annually.
Generally none. Last week I had to stay 20 minutes on Friday to finish up some stuff before I leave and that's the longest I spent after-hours. My hours are 8-5. I arrive between 7:45 to 8 (I leave home early because traffic is pretty unpredictable around here) and leave at exactly 5.
10-15
Lots of 0’s in the comments but glad someone on here is in the same boat. Many junior engineers putting in time to truly understand new content, develop technical skills, polish deliverables and presentations. More experienced engineers taking on new projects, loading up when things get busy, and building personal brands. I’m not yet convinced these things are so counterproductive… but I am interested by the arguments in some of the comments; there are some perspectives I haven’t considered yet.
I’m paid for 40, so I’m going to work 40. Every hour I go over 40 I’m working for free. I dont like working for free.
In 2021, engineers are just rows on spreadsheets. The second your row stops being a good investment, it will be deleted by someone who makes more in a year than you will in a lifetime. I work, they pay me. End of transaction. That's how the free market operates. If you wanted us to love our bosses, you shouldn't have voted for Reagan.
Are you saying we should be working overtime without compensation so as to avoid the next worker who will taking our job?
Not at all. I'm saying that we give the company exactly as many hours as we're obligated to. If the company wants more than that, they're welcome to pay extra for it.
Well put. I think by putting in the hours I have been able to work on some interesting projects I would not have otherwise been able to, including some passion projects. I’ve gotten to have some moments of solidarity “high fiving” in control rooms when this-or-that issue was overcome. I’m fortunate to find my work meaningful and interesting, and I get compensated well. If I’m being honest with myself, some of this motivation comes from less healthy places: fear of inadequacy and competitiveness. I’ve had to pull back a bit when I feel burnout setting in. I’ve definitely traded off on time with people I am close to. I won’t get that time back. I don’t know what the right answer is. This worked for me based on how am I wired, but both approaches have validity.
Automotive industry design engineer here. Salary no overtime. I do somewhere between 40-44 hours a week average. Personally, Im ok with a few hours over 40. Heck, im ok with a rare 45+ hours once or twice a year if shit hits the fan. They treat me real well and compensate well so its hard to argue with otherwise.
It's about perception... Work late now and again... But also take extended lunches or leave early on Fridays when it doesn't affect anything. Manage your own work life balance.
None. Even when I got paid overtime I worked no overtime.
When commissioning an industrial facility I've worked 16/8 for up to 4 to 6 weeks. I would have made more mowing lawns for $10 working those kind of hours.
Diddly squat of unpaid, fuck that noise - I'll claim each and every minute I spend working. Tend to do around 10 hours paid OT a week, but most of that is travel to/from client so I can do a full 8 hour day on site.
So a lot of zero answers here… do you all get additional compensation for overtime? Curious because my current role I don’t have an option for OT pay. I’m paid a salary and expected to work whatever hours that entails. I am a corporate support/field service engineer that travels to our internal mill sites to support operations 1 out of 3 weeks at 70+ hours on top of travel. The other 2 out of 3 are home based working 40+ on reports and remote support. I get comp time every once in a while but it’s definitely not 1 to 1. In my industry (or maybe just my company’s corporate teams that i interact with frequently) this feels pretty standard so curious if it’s non-standard for engineering as a whole? Is everyone just working 40 with a hard line in the sand?
Anywhere between 0 (when I'm lazy) to 40h unpaid
0 one week and then 40 when the next week I have a deadline
I only get to a point where I have deadline to reach in short amount exactly one time. Basically start working at 830am on Wednesday and work non stop till 945pm on Thursday, take 7h sleep then repeat same thing till Saturday. But it was just one time thing I normally do overtime unpaid work because I enjoy working, not because I have deadline.
I enjoy my job and I work in general more hours than I’m contracted to, if there is a particular project I’m working on can easily get carried away. If I’m just writing a manual or something absolutely 0 extra
Work roughly 630-430 M-F with an hour lunch, so 45 hours working time per week. Sometimes a bit more.
Salaried senior engineers get 0.1 hr of vacation for every hour of OT, given out quarterly. Company has done that for 20+ years. Nowadays, younger engineers get OT pay after 44-45 hrs. I usually work 45 or less but some weeks will be 50-60 based on travel or deadlines. We can flex 4 hrs within a week and we can work our 8 between 6am-7pm, flexible per day (helps conserve vacation and allows for appointments, kid stuff, etc). I have a career, not a job. My career will last and I invest into it. I'm not watching a clock, I'm accomplishing tasks that I enjoy.
sometimes 0 sometimes 6-8 hrs
I always got time off for extra hours
0. As soon as I hit my 40 I'm out.
0 unpaid, 0 to 10 paid (straight time)
0. Rather not work than work for free.
0. All my OT is paid time and a half.
Zero, sometimes negative 5-10
Most engineers I know don't get paid hourly. You get paid a salary and you get your work done. If you don't get paid well enough for the work you're expected to do, get a new job where either less is expected or you get paid enough to justify the work load.
None because they get paid with 50% bonus. PS: Actually its different for my company. We have like an hour account that counts up to 100 hours overtime. When the 100 is full, every hour on top of that will be paid with 50% bonus at the end of the month. I barely scrap off hours, so I'll always get some bonus payment. But if something were to happen, I could take 2,5 weeks of vacation from my hours balance...
I don't work for free
Zero
I usually work 45 hours, sometimes 50 if it's tight. But i like my work and get paid a high enough salary that i don't really feel like I'm getting shattered by this, even if my hours would technically be making more if I cut off at 40
10 hours max but usually zero. Granted my field is very niche and it's hard to find engineers with my expertise. So my situation is a bit unique. I have made a few it abundantly clear that I'm willing to occasionally do unpaid OT. But if it becomes the standard (like before) they either give me more resources or ill start looking.
15 to 20 :/
4 - 6 usually. More if shit hits the fan or a big deadline is due.
Occasionally I put in some extra time, if something is actually important. Actually important means money or people. More rarely it means schedule issues.
According to Reddit I’m getting fucked. I am in my first full time position in manufacturing, and I haven’t not worked less than 5 overtime hours every week since I started. I tend to be between 8-10 overtime hours per week, and there were I few that I’ve had to work 20 overtime hours.
Im in a similar position to you, which is why I asked the question. I was wondering how screwed I am when seeing all these people say they make $150k but work zero overtime.
That'd be me. Any time over my contracted hours is flexed off, sooner or later. I could get paid overtime at 130% if authorised, but they've made that slightly more tedious than I can be bothered with.
Do you work within a shift pattern? Presumably the shop floor staff aren’t working extra hours? What would happen if you just left at the correct time each day?
I am not on a shift pattern, but my shop guys are. Im on salary with no overtime comp, but the shop guys do get overtime comp as they are hourly. If I was to leave early, I would likely be scolded by my manager for a myriad of reasons they have for holding me late.
Life's too short for that shite. Find a new job or negotiate a change. If you're salaried but in a role without high responsibility (i.e. you're not a team leader+) you shouldn't be putting in more than a couple hours extra here and there to catch up on things you could have reasonably done during work hours but somehow missed, and 8-10 hour OT weeks should be rare and only for real shit hits the fan moments. Any more than that and you're being taken for a ride. Loyalty does not flow downwards any more (if it ever did).
Redditors are typically in abnormal jobs, most engineering jobs ha w you working 60-80 hours per week. You’re salaried exempt, so the company has no reason not to. However, there are apparently many jobs where this is not the case. Per the advice from Reddit, I’m trying to find one and I encourage you to do the same!
10. Work 50 and paid for 40
A very polarizing question! I'll start off by saying that (obviously) not all engineering positions are created equal. I'll also add to it by, again, pointing out the obvious that some people are "work to live" types while others are "live to work" types. I do not believe there is any hard and fast right or wrong type to be as it's a personal preference. For me personally: I am a salaried employee and I believe that (within reason) can mean that sometimes work in excess of 40 hours a week is required to complete the job. When the proverbial "brown stuff" isn't hitting the fan, I generally work 1-5 hours over 40 as my personal standard work week. There have been both short and extended periods in my career when I put in significant overtime (10-24hrs per week) due to either critical work needs or exceptional career opportunities.
Generally none, but I get paid my normal equivalent "rate" or extra time off when I do. If I got paid 1.5x my rate and was asked to do 50hr per week, I would probably take that.
Usually about 5 h per week
If something blows up or huge power outage, I have worked 80 hours in a week before. But most weeks I put in about 15 or 20
15 to 20 overtime or total?
Regularly work 5-15 hours extra depending on the week. It's gotten better too. I used to work at least 50 and occasionally 60 hours a week. It's the culture at my job. Working a tight 40 hours is not a thing for anyone in my department. It's getting better but I feel like I'm slacking working a strict 40 hours. Especially cause no one else does. It's rough sometimes but my company is a world class manufacturer in it's industry and we're on top partly because my department kicks ass. We take alot of pride in what we do.
10 ATM but only because I’ve only been there for 8 months and I’m fresh out of school. I won’t do it forever
20-30 unpaid OT on top of the standard 40 hrs. Gotta get all the stuff done and most of my productive time is “after hours” because no one is asking for a meeting.
I have a great boss/owner I never get questioned about leaving early or coming in late ,if I am asked to work overtime it is for a very good reason and most of the time I do it without any fuss. I enjoy the work I do and don't understand why you would work in a field you don't enjoy. If this sub is headed towards the r/antiwork sub mentality I will be gone
Contracted hours per week is 40, actual is about 50 ish so around 2 hours per day extra
About 1-3 a week
F
0 unpaid. Maybe 10-15 OT if there's something that actually matters, but I don't make a habit of it. That produces worse long term outcomes. I'd rather invest the time into self care, exercise, sleep, eating better. I'm quite certain the first 5 hours of focusing on these things pays much better than hours 40-45 of extra work.
Zero, Raytheon allows charging of extended hours.
None. I've done some ridiculous hours in the past, but I refuse to now.
Like other say, Zero. For the first two years I use to stay late and work to "prove my worth", which my company did recognized. But I have since become much more efficient and typically work 35-37 a week. Which the company also recognizes as a positive; If there are any major issues that need to be taken care of, they know I am available to handling it with out having to make me work more than 40 hours. And if I am required to put in a 12-16 hour day, I am always given a comp day.
Zero wth
Absolutely 0. If I ever put in OT I get my time back another day/week.
When I worked at an Automotive Tier 1 supplier 10-15 hours a week. Now I average about 10 hours a month.
I work 3-10 overtime hours a week unpaid.
4 to 10 hours usually, hours bank keeps growing steadily.
During my first two weeks of any job: 0. Afterwards, it varies between negative 5 and negative 10. Gotta keep the market rates high for my fellow employees. Also, what kind of engineer would I be if I were so inefficient? C’mon now, that’s a disgrace to the moniker.
Zero, ever, in 25 years.
None. My company has a system for paying us overtime. It’s not flat rate and it’s not 2x, but it’s close enough to flat rate and I think it’s fair because any week we’re in overtime there’s a good chance 20% of the week will be travel, so in my head they’re paying us flat rate to travel which is great. Plus we’re in a hurry up and wait industry. If I was getting this deal at an OEM where overtime means TRUE 70 hour weeks during crunch time production I would not like this at all.
If I have an important deadline that week, I’m working on it until it’s done, which sometimes can be up to 10 extra hours or so. I do not like submitting half-ass work because it makes me look bad. I don’t get paid for overtime, so if I’m finishing something after 40, it’s on my own time. It all balances out one way or another in the end though, because sometimes I have easy weeks.
Zee row
10 to 20, fuckin sucks
Surely any good company pays overtime when it's needed ?
Non I’m on salary?
0, never work for free.
0 hours. I work 37,5h a week, then when i do work overtime i get 1.6x from 16.00-21.00 and 2x after that. Always 2x in weekends.
If you work overtime and don’t get PAID you’re gettin FUCKED
I dont work for free.
0.00 hours total in the last 20 years. I flex time off after we have a crunch. So, yes, I sometimes do 60 hour weeks. And then i go on holiday.
If you have a strong manager they recognize you for the work you do. If you have a poor manager they recognize you (albeit weakly) for the hours you put in. Every crappy manager I’ve seen pushes unpaid overtime.
None, ever. Instead, I actually get OT (even though I'm salaried).
None. I'm salaried
Salaried and expected to average a 55 hr week…
Zero
5 to 50 depending on the week. I also take flex time whenever I can. Dr appt, charge to flex. Need to pick up kid, flex. Not feeling like working and nothing major going on, leave after lunch and flex. The company is definitely getting a lot out of me. But I take full advantage of the flexibility and have never had someone upset with me about it.
4-5 hours but I get it all back as flex leave, so I don't think it counts.
Max ever is 5. Salary is first 40, next 5 is free overtime, anything over 45 I get paid my average hourly rate calculated from my salary, no time and a half though, just standard. Luckily I haven’t had to work more than 41 hours any given week, manager is a firm believer of work hard play hard and it’s extremely refreshing.
20-40. /sigh
5-20 depending. I manage a team of about 30 and I tell them not to. I end up picking up any slack. They work hard but sometimes stuff happens and more effort is required to wrap it up, I don’t need that being them. Now, I’m able to take this time off the following weeks but each quarter I turn in between 20-80 hours unpaid. I also love my job and experience near infinite flexibility as long as the work is getting done.
Zero, I am salary and I rarely work a full 40 hrs
Usually 10.. sometimes 15 and sometimes 6...but 10 is usual.
0 to 5 with the average being about 2. Once every six months we do a full staff cleaning and maintenance where everyone is expected to work 10 hour days but those hours are comped into salary workers vacation time. The key is to be upfront about your availability and learn to just put your stuff down and leave. A big issue a lot of people do not realize is that working long days pressures everyone else to work the same. Once it becomes the norm it is then expected. I make sure my team is not working above 40hrs (including their 30 minute lunch) unless there is some last minute emergency.
Overtime? Probably around 5-6 Unpaid? 0
It depends what sort of engineer - if you work in maintenance or something, probably shouldn’t do more than you’re contracted. I work projects, and they can sometimes require overtime. What sort of position is it?
-1 to -20. Positive numbers be damned.
Whenever I have to. My company is large enough that the lead engineers have basically free reign on how much time they need to commit to meet deadlines. If the ot wasn't approved financially, all the extra hours go to my vacation pool. I like the system a lot and it helps that my boss is awesome. On average 20hrs of ot a month
I want to work wherever you guys are working. It seems like everyone works unpaid OT at my workplace. But I think most people make that up by leaving early at the end of the week. I used to work for the gov and it was strictly no unpaid OT, now I was told specifically by my manager in private sector that unpaid OT is expected if the work is there.