Flexibility of hours for EEs

[John Tserkezis]

I would have made two phone calls if i was told to wear a tie at that
bench. The first call would be to OSHA, and the second to the TV news
to tell them both about the stupid, and dangerous work environment that
the new management had created, simply to make themselves look better.

This is in Australia, the early 90's, where OSHA (or our version
Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S)) didn't exist yet. Not in any real
capacity anyway.

And we hadn't caught up with the US as far as tabloid TV "current affairs"
programs (the only ones that would have aired this), so there was no real
media outlet that might be interested.

Even so, I doubt anyone would be interested nowadays anyway, there's enough
"interesting" trash happening here to occupy their air time not to have to
worry about several burnt ties.
Even OHS wouldn't be interested. "Just wear your overcoats and shut up"
would be management's response, and suitably comply with OHS requirements.

 

[John Tserkezis]

I would NEVER take a job where I was required to wear a dress!!!

Why? Was there a requirement to wear a padded bra as well?

 

[Vladimir Vassilevsky]

I would NEVER take a job where I was required to wear a dress!!!

If you are a reasonable person, that should be just the matter of money.
If you are not reasonable, then it is mutually beneficial not having you
for this particular job.
As simple as that.

Vladimir Vassilevsky

DSP and Mixed Signal Design Consultant

http://www.abvolt.com

 

[John Larkin]

If you are a reasonable person, that should be just the matter of money.

For most of us, money isn't the primary reason we are design
engineers, and we wouldn't dump a good job for a boring job just for
more money. Most of us have the talent to be doctors or lawyers, and
would make more money, but we wouldn't enjoy the work as much.

John

 

[Joel Kolstad]

If you are a reasonable person, that should be just the matter of money.

In the short term, sure. In the long term, no -- being a good engineer is
about a lot more than just making decent money; it's about having a passion
for what you do, performing to the best of your abilities, enjoying the
challenges you're given and feeling as knowing that you're contributing to the
company's bottom line, etc. For many people, having a strict dress code is
somewhat at odds with the rest of those desires, so long term it's not in the
best interest of those engineers to work at some places if it's avoidable.

But of course if you enjoy wearing a suit and tie to work, great -- more power
to you. It's just that most people feel it's a burden when it's done
arbitrarily...

 

[Don Bowey]

If you are a reasonable person, that should be just the matter of money.
If you are not reasonable, then it is mutually beneficial not having you
for this particular job.
As simple as that.

It's never as simple as that.

Two reasonable people can reasonably disagree on what is reasonable.

 

[mpm]

Hi there - I just recently graduated from college with a BSEE and have
been working at a new job since then. My employers is incredibly
flexible about my hours - as long as I put in an average of 8 hours
per day and am there by 10 or 11 they're happy. Also, there is no
dress code and most people just wear shorts and t-shirts.

My question is this: Is this a typical working environment for EEs?
When I interviewed with other companies, they all seemed much more
formal, so maybe I'm just lucky? Or maybe companies just try to be
really serious during the interview process?

Thanks,

-Michael

Many are laid back, and the rest seem to be stuffed-shirts.
Curiously, there doesn't seem to be much middle ground.

I can tell you this: the Engineer that arrives early and at the same
time each day, is the one that gets noticed. Often, this visibility
helps with later promotion.

-mpm

 

[qrk]

How about shoes ?

What ever came of Reson?

...Jim Thompson

I kept a moldy pair of shoes under my desk. Reson is still hobbling
along. It doesn't look very good right now, but they are trying to
dump the company. It will be interesting if they can find a sucker
buyer. New management spent all their money putting flowers in the
hallway and killed the core of the company. It's been pretty
interesting to see how investment companies run a niche medium-tech
firm.

BTW, clothing was filed under "software".

 

[Vladimir Vassilevsky]

John Larkin wrote:

For most of us, money isn't the primary reason we are design
engineers, and we wouldn't dump a good job for a boring job just for
more money. Most of us have the talent to be doctors or lawyers, and
would make more money, but we wouldn't enjoy the work as much.

John,

With all my respects due, I must say that the mankind had lost not a
doctor or lawyer, but the most wonderful clown in your person. As the
clown, you could probably make billions. Dilbert is nothing compared to you.

Vladimir Vassilevsky

DSP and Mixed Signal Design Consultant

http://www.abvolt.com

 

[Rich Grise]

It's not that unusual but then again you'll find employers who want their staff
to wear suits and be in on the dot at 9 am too.

I temped at a law office once, where "casual Friday" meant you didn't have
to wear a necktie.

I don't have to do that any more.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Ben Jackson]

Exactly. Pain is a sensation; it's only in your head. And burnt
fingers fix themselves.

And heat is a very slow sensation. You can dip your finger in boiling
water for a second and you won't feel it until your finger is out. I
had a science teacher who liked to demonstrate that...

 

[Rich Grise]

Settle down, we're real men. We don't need such instruments of convenience.

Such as, in the absence of needle-nose pliers within reach, you hold onto
the pigtail with your bare fingers while removing it from the board with a
soldering iron on the other side.

Exactly. Pain is a sensation; it's only in your head. And burnt
fingers fix themselves.
[/QUOTE]

Eek! Pain is Mother Nature's way of saying, "Don't do that!"

Cheers!
Rich

 

[John Larkin]

John Larkin wrote:



John,

With all my respects due, I must say that the mankind had lost not a
doctor or lawyer, but the most wonderful clown in your person. As the
clown, you could probably make billions. Dilbert is nothing compared to you.

I design electronics because I'm good at it. What are you good at?

John

 

[Vladimir Vassilevsky]

I design electronics because I'm good at it.

How do you know?

What are you good at?

I made a lot of different things however it wasn't anything really
distinguished or worth being proud of.

John

VLV

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

It depends.

1. From the business standpoint, it is obviously more convenient for the
company to have you at work from 7 till 5 and wearing the appropriate dress.
Thus you should consider the casual dress and flexible hours as a form of a
benefit. But nobody gives benefits for free. So, if they allow you something
like that, they are planning to make you work hard for it, and the other
benefits and rewards are likely to be smaller.

2. There are formal rules, and there are the informal rules also. What is
allowed to the senior engineer is not tolerable from the freshman right from
the college.

3. The important thing for making the career is the old good ass licking.
That means you have to be at work earlier then the boss, and you can go home
only after the boss. It doesn't matter if John Larkin is walking around the
office naked wearing only socks, your dress should be always neat and clean.

Vladimir Vassilevsky
DSP and Mixed signal Consultantwww.abvolt.com

Good accurate comments...especially #3.

TMT

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

An enlightened company will understand that ceding some "authority"
to the employee improves both productivity and production. One will
voluntarily work harder if it's made more enjoyable. They have
understood that even paid vacations are a positive, for both the
employee and employer. Some even have concierge services for
employees to lighten the "personal" load so they can concentrate on
the business workload.


...and verse visa. Often the "senior engineers" are more political
and meet with executives and customers, while the more junior
engineers work unseen in the "back room".


Need & clean <> "ass licking". No one should go outside their home
dirty and looking like a slob.

--
Keith- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Bullshit.

Manager?

TMT

 

[John Larkin]

How do you know?

Because it works better than my competitors' stuff, and because
serious scientific and aerospace users buy it for big bucks. But the
money isn't the real goal; it's a tool to build even better
electronics, and a public validation of the quality of the work.

John

 

[John Larkin]

Good accurate comments...especially #3.

TMT

Silly people, the electronics is what matters. Only fops care about
the clothes.

John

 

[Spurious Response]

Good accurate comments...especially #3.

TMT

Our guys wear shorts and sandals, even on days when the military and
government boys are over. Many of us ride bicycles to work, go to the
beach and surf for lunch, etc. We have a weights/running.etc gym,
Volleyball, and Basketball courts.

Most of the guys are in for nearly twelve hours a day, after the two
hour mountain trail riding lunch. :-], and the gym break, and the half
hour snack breaks.

Hell, some days when the Pres. has a meeting with us all, we get BEER!

I'm in by 5:45 and out by 14:45.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Why? Was there a requirement to wear a padded bra as well?

From the look of the production line, a lot of the old women didn't
even wear a bra.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida