Comment Overwork in High Tech (Score 1) 131
The book Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder is definately topical. It roughly describes a similar story as in Microserfs, but as an external/managment view analysis. Furthermore, it is non-fiction.
Roughly it points out how the employees were exploited and how they convinced themselves that they were okay with being exploited. After the project was complete, many of the workers left the team or the company, often because they were too burnt out to continue.
This book is relevant to the discussion as it deals with both how the high tech industry exploits its employees, and how those employees convince themselves it is okay to be exploited. Personally I doubt that unions are the best solution but the problem is very real. I myself am in a reasonable company but there is still no overtime pay. Some areas are well managed and little overtime is needed but others do have late night sessions. The "midnight oil" projects are quite common in companies. For instance, the Alpha chip at DEC was a "black ops" project for a while (no budget, not acknowledge to exist, done at night/on weekends). These issues should be dealt with ... somehow.
Roughly it points out how the employees were exploited and how they convinced themselves that they were okay with being exploited. After the project was complete, many of the workers left the team or the company, often because they were too burnt out to continue.
This book is relevant to the discussion as it deals with both how the high tech industry exploits its employees, and how those employees convince themselves it is okay to be exploited. Personally I doubt that unions are the best solution but the problem is very real. I myself am in a reasonable company but there is still no overtime pay. Some areas are well managed and little overtime is needed but others do have late night sessions. The "midnight oil" projects are quite common in companies. For instance, the Alpha chip at DEC was a "black ops" project for a while (no budget, not acknowledge to exist, done at night/on weekends). These issues should be dealt with
