1

I sometimes get the impression that people outside of IT view us as workaholic geeks with no social life. That makes it kind of easy for them to exploit IT workers with rediculous on-call schedules with “soft” comp-time policies. You know, “We’ll give you comp time” but that time never comes. I’ve heard some horror stories.

How many of you fit that description? Now I’ll be honest, I usually spend an hour or two after work each day reading up on a technical issue or articles on SW just for the hell of it. I love what I do and I live, breathe and eat it. But I have family and personal obligations and I know when to call it quits.

Do any of you have any problems (internally or externally) maintaining work/life balances.

7 Spice ups
2

When I was a consultant, I’d say a definite yes. We typically broke up our work days with 4 hours at one client, then 4 hours at another client. Half hour drive in-between. Except that you can’t really get anywhere in a half hour so that was usually and hour. Hour commute in the morning and evening. Then, once home usually spend 2-3 hours “catching up”. That was internal communications, project/opportunity updates, timecards, remote support etc.

I’m now the IT manager at a single place and wow, what a difference. It’s nice to get my life back. It’s great getting to play with my daughter any time she wants, and running out during lunch to run an errand.

3

According to my wife I still have those problems…

But when I started here I was working 12+ hour days and not having much time for anything else. But then I started telling myself that the problems I’m having today will still be here tomorrow, no matter what time I leave. I’ve managed to work down to 8.5 to 9 hour days before I say screw it and leave.

4

Quite the opposite for me to be honest. I work flat out during work hours and beyond if it is essential but as soon as I get home I do not even think about work.

The weekends are my time and not one second is wasted thinking about work.

5

I don’t generally have trouble with it, but I’m expected to have the blackberry handy whenever I’m not in office, naturally. I do leave it on a shelf when I’m home during weekends, and just check it periodically - I won’t have it grafted to me constantly. what gets annoying is when things come up that only I can resolve, of the three IT staff. i.e. I am the main guy for mobile phone items, so whenever there’s a BB issue I have to work on it, be it a weekend, evening, whatever. Naturally that’s when people travel, so…you get the picture. Ditto for VPN issues sometimes.What’s more of an issue is when someone thinks something that isn’t a crisis for the user cannot wait until Monday to get fixed, or discussed with 25 emails. :slight_smile:

6

I’m a slave driver to myself to be honest. Wake up…go to work. Go home…go to work. Trying to get in a little fun on the weekends. But now I hate that stupid “everybody’s workin for the weekend” song b/c I feel like it’s defining me.

7

Typically I don’t have the issue. There is the occasional server upgrade or issue that needs addressed in a more timely manner but overall I keep it pretty much 8-5.

8

I generally do complicated server maintenance out of hours but otherwise work finishes at 5.15pm (when the office closes).

Because of travel, I only have maybe 4 hours an evening to chillax so I need those for me!!!

9

James4139 wrote:

Quite the opposite for me to be honest. I work flat out during work hours and beyond if it is essential but as soon as I get home I do not even think about work.

The weekends are my time and not one second is wasted thinking about work.

You must work in a team environment, right?

10

Pretty kmuch - I agree with CJM - there are occasions when you need to put in the extra hours and when I travel to foreign office that’s never great - but apart from that I work my contracted hours and tend to leave work at work.

I work to Live NOT live to work.

11

Personal time? Please define?

12

Actually my wife is more guilty of this. She keeps the blackberry on the night table at night! at least I got her to turn off the alerts.

13

I’ve had four days off since February (that includes weekends!!!) so I think you know the answer.

14

Ptty easy to keep work and personal apart. When I’m home, I’m always involved with a remodel.

15

Nope. Im 2 years in to IT, so im studying for certs and whatnot. Im pretty much always working on something to do with my career goals. Sometimes i wish i had a job that doesnt change and i could go home and not do crap that has to do with “work”, but i think id get bored.

16

Scott Alan Miller wrote:

I’ve had four days off since February (that includes weekends!!!) so I think you know the answer.

Because you want to or because you have to (no, SAM, really)?

17

<Ptty easy to keep work and personal apart. When I’m home, I’m always involved with a remodel.>

@rmuniz - well that’s better than Tiger Woods, when he’s home he is involved with a model… or three. (I couldn’t resist)

18

I find myself working outside of work hours a fair amount. I love working in IT but it does require keeping up to date on everything. I have my phone with me at all times, I get emails at all times. I have configured things so that I can access everything from a laptop with a dedicated WWAN connection no matter where I am at. I work in a health facility that is open 6 am - 11 pm everyday. Most people don’t bother me after around 7 pm but the Dr’s don’t seem to care. I had one call me at 2 am because he couldn’t log in. The numbnuts was clicking on the wrong application.

Do I work to much - yes

Do I spend quality time with my kids - yes

Is my life balanced well if you ask others I am not balanced to begin with.

19

Well since I went to work for a non-profit I’m much happier. I find it very easy to balance work/life. When I leave here the job stays here. I have flexable work hours and plenty of time off. Fortunately I’m on the down hill slide of my career anyway. Only a few years to go to 55 then I retire. My days of working in an environment where you’re expected to put work before family aka being owned by the company are long gone. Live, eat and breath the company…stop it. Just stop it right now. I’ve seen too many people give their all to a company only to have the company say “See ya” for one reason or another. Remember one hand washes the other.

20

Louie Beans wrote:

Well since I went to work for a non-profit I’m much happier. I find it very easy to balance work/life. When I leave here the job stays here. I have flexable work hours and plenty of time off. Fortunately I’m on the down hill slide of my career anyway. Only a few years to go to 55 then I retire. My days of working in an environment where you’re expected to put work before family aka being owned by the company are long gone. Live, eat and breath the company…stop it. Just stop it right now. I’ve seen too many people give their all to a company only to have the company say “See ya” for one reason or another. Remember one hand washes the other.

Words of wisdom indeed. I’m at the other end of the spectrum career-wise, but the part about loyalty to a company is correct. I’m currently revising my thinking on the matter. At this point in my career I’m more loyal to myself and investing in myself than I am to the company. Luckily, my interest in my professional reputation benefits my company. However, there will be a time when my professional reputation speaks for itself and I can wind down the overcommitment.

To all young workers, don’t let anyone confuse your investing in yourself and your career with company loyalty. Sometimes its good to stay in a tough situation for career reasons. For one it builds character and it makes you good at what you do.

However, no one on their deathbed regrets not spending more time at work. In the grand scheme of things work isn’t all that important.