December 2001 - January 2002

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On Working Too Many Hours…(October-November 2001)

According to the International Labor Organization, the average American worker logs nearly 2,000 hours on the job each year. In regards to your survey titled "Are We Working Too Many Hours?" I have this response:

As I figure it, there are 2,000 hours in a 50-week, 40-hour-per-week year. Since two weeks' vacation is not traditionally a starting point for most employment, I don't see how this is too many hours. And as an engineer, I'd love to get away with working only 40 hours a week.

The number of hours worked is usually tied to the position. It has been a very long time since I was paid by the hour. But, I would love to get paid for the hours I have put in for free. So, NO! I don't think the "average" worker puts in too much time. Try working the unpaid hours engineers do, and then we can talk.

— M. Holcombe
IEEE Member
Houston, Texas

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