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Office Work Ethic In the IT Industry?

Posted by kdawson on from the asok-could-tell-you dept.

An anonymous reader writes "As a recent graduate entering industry for the first time at a large software and hardware company, I have been shocked at what seems to be a low standard of work ethic and professionalism at my place of employment, especially in this poor economy. For example, at my company, the large majority of developers seem to each individually waste — no exaggeration — hours of time on the clock every day talking about football, making personal phone calls, gossiping, taking long lunches, or browsing the Internet (including, yes, Slashdot!). Even some of our subcontractors waste time in this manner. Being the 'new guy,' I get stuck with much of the weekend and after-hours grunt work when we inevitably miss deadlines or produce poor code. I'm not in any position to go around telling others to use their time more efficiently. Management seems to tolerate it. I would like to ask Slashdot what methods others have used to deal with office environments such as this. Is my situation unique or is it common across the industry?"

6 of 709 comments (clear)

  1. Peter.... how's it going? by ipX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Get ready to work Sundays.

    1. Re:Peter.... how's it going? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's why I'll take my signals at work from Thomas Anderson (Neo) rather than Peter. Remember when Neo gets that call from Morpheus that allows him to escape the cubicle farm? Peter Gibbons should have taken THAT call.
      Come to think of it, can you imagine a mashup mix of "Office Space" and "The Matrix"...that would be awesome! Lumbergh could team up with Agent Smith. Lawrence (Peter's next door neighbor) could make inappropriate remarks about Trinity's boobs at various times to break the tension.... I'd pay money to see THAT movie over Avatar any day!

  2. Hey, is that you Arun? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's you, isn't it. You're the little douche bag who keeps bitching about us taking breaks. We actually have a pool going on how many times you'll say yes to extra hours before you crack. Hey, you got something brown on your nose.

  3. Those mines aren't going to sweep themselves. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Glad you got that degree aren't you?

  4. Subject by Legion303 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I would like to ask Slashdot what methods others have used to deal with office environments such as this."

    I usually dump my extra work on the new guy so I have more time to relax and goof off. You should pressure your company to hire someone newer than yourself.

  5. Re:People aren't robots by suso · · Score: 5, Funny

    At "05:37AM"??

    FAIL.

    The earth is round and not all people live in the same place on it. As the earth rotates, the sun illuminates a little over half of it and generally people like to work and shop during this time. Society has quite simply divided this time up this into time zones so that 8am for one part of the planet is at a different actual instance as 8am for another part. So while it might be 5:37 where you are, it is working hours for someone else. Next time we meet, we can go over the metric system.