Work And Life Balance As Software Developer
Hi I want to mention some hardships faced during software development duration,especially the ones related with overtime.Everyone has right to live with their family without being busy with the job after normal working hours for example between 08:00 a.m and 05:00 p.m.Statistics show us almost every developer experiences the overtime except apprioximately 10.9% minority in 2020 [1]
But there is a desire and also unfortunately reality too.Actual subject I wondered is why this overtime being prefered or dictated.The life is more important than work.If we think salaried software developers,the contract between developer and the employer is based on exchange our time with their salary.Because we need money to sustain our life in capitalism.We didn’t establish this system but found ourselves in this system.
Despite of this reality,It seems we must draw a border to the capitalism to the extent that we will not be overwhelmed by the job in our private life.I don’t believe overtime is useful in long term.
“It has been shown that overtime is offset by fewer productive hours, or undertime (for example, a working Sunday is followed by a relaxed Monday; if work is done through the night, the following morning is unproductive due to meetings that cannot be finished). Given that these hours are unpaid, overtime is never seen on anyone’s timesheets. Undertime is equally invisible, but it would be reasonable to assume a correlation of one hour of undertime for every hour of overtime.” [2]
As you see in the above ,every overtime brings its undertime because of not being involved in the private life.Also overtime will not benefit anyone in jobs using the brain.Because a developer can work in a flow from 1hour to 4 hours.I should explain the flow.Great ideas and creative things comes in a flow time without distraction and noises and interuptions.The rest of work hours in a day is related with mouse and keyboard activities like a keyboard operator.So we must not spare flow time in a day.
“A number of studies on software projects show that, beyond a certain limit, working more hours does not increase overall productivity. Once you get above 120 hours per week, productivity can actually fall into decline (more rework is required than actual original work). There is an optimum productivity range of between 60–80 hours per week. However, nobody can keep going for much more than 40 hours per week at the pace and effort required by creative work. People under pressure do not think any faster.” [2]
After 40 hours,ineviatably the productivity decreases.If we categorizes the working styles generally,There are 3 types working styles.Lets examine these styles.
1.
In this style,there is no work after 05:00 p.m or another finish time.Unfortunately there is in a minority.Maybe someone among you say why you are saying “unfortunately”,I am respecting them.Also i will mention these work styles that could not be in this style.This is the most ideal working style.But somehow majority of developers are not in this group.This work style generally belongs to bank,IT of big company that is actually not software company.Developers develops feauture and projects that are not oriented to sell it to outside of company.I mean it is inhouse development.
2.
In this type,usually there is overtime as several hours in some days in a week after 05:00 p.m.Majority of developers are in this group.These group’s developers belong to software company developing tailor made software for a customer or small and middle software companies or some startups.
3.
I think this is the worst work style.This originated from ”Work hard,play well” [3].Generally this can be found in Startup culture.It comes to the ear as cool thing but I don’t agree.These work style may be startups struggling to grow or searching investor.Also this style maybe small software company belonging to one or more bosses who are working in person to write code or having some developers in which they are analyzing software and expanding customer size.I think this workstyle is the worst style.Because work is everywhere of developer life.Almost there is no time to engage with kids and also ourselves…etc,
There some exceptions that overtime is worth to make and but again is not productive.For example you are making a project that all humanity benefit it.It is not related with directly money purpose.It is for the benefit of humanity.In these days,maybe there can be micro chips that is even smaller than a cell and can beat pandemic viruses by injecting the human body via vaccine.I realized this sample was figment of imagination very much :).In future why would not it occur?
Life is too short.Everybody should find their life meaning and follow it.We are sacrificing our most valuable time to a company as salaried,one company as founder.It should be worth to engage in our work.As mindful workers,we must be engaged in creative works that excite us.Thank you.
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