25th April 2012, 01:57 PM
Marcus said "I (almost) completely agree with Unit on this, I've heard some appalling rumors recently about people being dispatched to the other end of the country with no accommodation, subsistence money or money for petrol being provided."
Presumably these weren't "permanent" employees? I can't believe that even archaeologists would be that daft! I assume that these were people local to the head office, as it were, but employed on a fixed term contract for a specific project at the other end of the country? I'm not really sure whether to mark that down as exploitation see it is "well don't do it then..." Which is unfortunately the bottom line really. Employers do it because they can.
On the other point, yes there is certainly a culture of additional "free" working in other professions, predominantly in private practice (I once had a LA architect, in a meeting with me, literally stop mid-sentence and declare that it was 4pm on a Friday and he was off as he didn't get overtime. We had to re-convene on the Monday). For a lengthy period I used to work well into every evening and all weekend. I now regret it. It brought certain rewards (including of course more "status" = even more work.....) but what does that say to anyone who wants to go home at 5.30? Do the over-workers get rewarded for their efforts - unfair on those who work contracted hours - or do you reward those who work less?
Presumably these weren't "permanent" employees? I can't believe that even archaeologists would be that daft! I assume that these were people local to the head office, as it were, but employed on a fixed term contract for a specific project at the other end of the country? I'm not really sure whether to mark that down as exploitation see it is "well don't do it then..." Which is unfortunately the bottom line really. Employers do it because they can.
On the other point, yes there is certainly a culture of additional "free" working in other professions, predominantly in private practice (I once had a LA architect, in a meeting with me, literally stop mid-sentence and declare that it was 4pm on a Friday and he was off as he didn't get overtime. We had to re-convene on the Monday). For a lengthy period I used to work well into every evening and all weekend. I now regret it. It brought certain rewards (including of course more "status" = even more work.....) but what does that say to anyone who wants to go home at 5.30? Do the over-workers get rewarded for their efforts - unfair on those who work contracted hours - or do you reward those who work less?