Re: all you yanks out there ...

From: Darryl L. Pierce (mcpierce_at_myrealbox.com)
Date: 11/10/03 

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 22:36:41 GMT

Richard Reynolds wrote:

> Hope you don't mind this off topic question but this is the group I know
> best and would trust some replies from, I used to post quite regularly
> although I've been a bit too busy for a while now (doing up a new house).
> I work as a software engineer in the U.K. and I've been considering moving
> to the states, I have a few friends on the East coast who've frightened me
> a bit with the amount of time they spend working but none are in the
> software industry so I was wondering if you could give me a run down on
> general conditions of employment.

First, you'd need to find someone who will sponsor your H1B visa.

As for working conditions, I telecommute for a company based in NJ (I live
in NC). I work from about 6am (by choice) throughout the day, but always
during core business hours (10am-4pm). I'm normally asked to do work over
the weekends, but not major tasks normally. The company I work for is a
startup, so there's always the need for working like that.

Deadlines are always yesterday. Features always exceed the available hours
to implement them and are greater than the resources available on the
platform (I work in the MIDP and target mobiles). Yet, we meet our goals
and have a robust product. But, it's not easy and we put in alot of hours
to accomplish these goals.

> Here, I get 26 days annual leave (which
> will rise with time served)plus 12 days public holidays, a pretty good
> salary, 37.5 hour week with time off in lieu if I work over that or spend
> time travelling off site or to training courses etc.

Generally, you get 10 public holidays plus a graduated number of personal
vacation days based on service time, same as in the UK. However, the comp
time for working extra hours depends on your employer. If you're a salaried
employee, the company is under no obligation to pay you extra or compensate
you for the extra hours. If you're an hourly employee, though, the company
*has* to pay you for all hours worked, and (unless I'm mistaken) is
required to pay you time and a half for anything over 40 hours.

> Working hours are
> flexible, working from home is available and the atmosphere is relaxed,
> none of my managers watch the clock and there's not a lot of pressure.

This would depend on the company. When I was at IBM, I knew of several
managers who watched the clock. Mine didn't, thankfully. At my last job, we
had a CTO who was great about working: you had to be in for core business
hours, but when you came in and left only had to work out to 40 hours
weekly (he also had the policy that if you worked over 40 hours a week,
then it was *management* who was screwing up and *they* should fix it;
sadly, he didn't last with the company long and the death march came back
soon after he was released). My current job, I work from home and take
phone calls all day long from the PM and CEO, so I'm always available. The
other engineers work at the office and come in from 9-5.

> However, the weather here is CRAP!! plus I'm tempted by the wealth of
> opportunity for travelling/outdoor pursuits for kids (I have 4) over
> there.

Pick your destination wisely. Where I live (central NC) it's either too hot
to do anything (from late May until early October) and then things get
boring. Though, I take the lads out biking on the weekends and my wife and
I give them water bottles and shove them out back during the week <g>.

> I know the answers will be highly individual but I'd really. appreciate
> any details,

Those are my experiences, at least. YMMV. ;) 

-- 
Darryl L. Pierce <mcpierce@myrealbox.com>
Visit the Infobahn Offramp - <http://mypage.org/mcpierce>
"What do you care what other people think, Mr. Feynman?"

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