Ed, I can confirm that this is still happening, even within the US federal government work-force. I was working with a group there for a couple of years, when Y2K came along. We were asked to design an emergency response that could assist governments and organizations in some 70+ countries to 1) avoid and 2) recover from Y2K computer/software problems. We averaged about 14.5 hours a day, (on weekends, no vacations) for about 9 months. We got the job done, had immense satisfaction from the success, and were viewed as 'heroes.' And all this in the midst of widespread criticism of and concern for the organization, on other grounds. The motivations came from within the team, and a few managers outside and above the team. The motive was to 'save the world' <smile>, rather than advance institutional interests. And, yes, there was regular comment and boasting on how hard we were working, but it felt legitimate and appropriate, given the stakes and our tasking. I am reminded a bit of it when I read about the Tour de France, and how 'suffering' is a positive part of the Tour's mythos.
Cheers, Lawry > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Ed Weick > Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2002 9:29 AM > To: Tom Walker; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Research on Reduced Work Time Options and Unions > > > Tom, just a short comment. A few years ago, when I did some work for the > federal department I had left a decade before, what struck me was how much > people talked about the long hours they were working. One would > say he/she > was there till ten last night. Another would top that with ten thirty. > They would say it was terrible, in fact unendurable, but you could also > detect a masochistic self-satisfaction in it. Of course, many > people still > worked normal hours, but they were not viewed as being among the > indispensable elite. > > Ed > > Ed Weick > 577 Melbourne Ave. > Ottawa, ON, K2A 1W7 > Canada > Phone (613) 728 4630 > Fax (613) 728 9382
