undefined | Better HN

0 pointsborgia11y ago0 comments

If staff are consistently having to work overtime to hit targets then there's either:

- A problem with the staff - there's either not enough of them or they haven't the skills to do what is required

- A problem with the management.

I've never worked in a role where incompetent people were hired and couldn't get what needed to be done done, but I've worked under plenty of incompetent management.

0 comments

5 comments · 2 top-level

kagamine11y ago· 2 in thread

Alternative 3: a problem with the law. I know 'Murica loves it's free market, dog eat dog, each man for himself ideal. But to us Europeans it looks like many US companies are no better than slave drivers. No regulation, no life for employees. On the other hand, US corps can compete with the Chinese and Koreans, there are no tech giants in well regulated European countries (are there?) because after 3 or 4 in the afternoon we all go home to our children.

theintern11y ago

Not really true, Ireland has a large concentration of 'tech giants'. They may be setting up because of tax regulations but they pretty much all have sizeable engineering workforces in Ireland. Google Ireland for example employs more than 2,500 people.

If you instead mean homegrown tech giants then you have a definite point. The only European giants I can think of are Telefonica, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Nokia and SAP. It would be interesting to see the research on if the reason for that has much to do with the horrible work expectations in the US.

paulojreis11y ago

> , there are no tech giants in well regulated European countries (are there?) because after 3 or 4 in the afternoon we all go home to our children.

Well, that's not entirely true. Unfortunately, in Portugal, it's more like 6PM; 7/8PM for tech jobs. And no tech giants here, also. :)

brianpgordon11y ago· 1 in thread

Even the first option is a problem with management. They either need to hire more people, fire people, or train people.

borgiaOP11y ago

True, fair point.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse