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Comment by patrickmn | Hacker News Reader

One of the things that bothers me the most about the United States is the ubiquity of "ass-in-seats" thinking. Somehow, the appearance of sacrifice (commuting two hours a day and being there at 9) means much more than the results you deliver in many companies.

It should be "smart work," not "hard work." Hard implies it's all just the transfer of energy--what seems to excite MBAs--when all that should matter is delivering results. Isn't that what capitalism is supposed to be?

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I've heard the "smart work" mantra many times, but it's actually quite difficult to implement in practice. I've been told many times "we don't care when you come and go, we just want the tasks done", but what they usually mean is "you can't leave at 5 if the tasks aren't are done".

Because if you manage to finish the tasks early and leave at 2, they'll make sure you have enough tasks so that this doesn't happen again.

"Because if you manage to finish the tasks early and leave at 2, they'll make sure you have enough tasks so that this doesn't happen again."

Yes. I've had managers get offended at the idea of taking a break when tasks are complete because you should be jumping on the next thing.

From what I've noticed, though, jumping on that next task doesn't help your career at Big Corp in any way and usually doesn't significantly lead to more personal accomplishment.

Taking some time to reflect can have a big impact on what you accomplish, though.

helping your career at Big Corp.

1. make sure you have "cover" as high up the chain as possible. Someone that signs your praises, defends you in the right meetings. Usually not your front line boss at larger corps.

Your ass in your seat, taking minimal vacation (with your Blackberry), justifies my existence and competence as your manager in Big Corp.

There's gotta be some kind of Schroedinger's cat type joke here. If you're not in your seat, you don't exist.

Also "hard work" is easy. Sit and do some meetings to look busy

Shipping and solving problems is harder

Shipping useful stuff and solving actual problems is even harder

do some meetings to look busy

This book is pretty great! https://www.amazon.com/100-Tricks-Appear-Smart-Meetings/dp/1...

This definitely isn't a 'big corp' problem though. In fact, employees at 'big corp' will often have better hours and more vacation that employees at 'hot new startup'.

> One of the things that bothers me the most about the United States is

I don't think that is limited to the USA and IMHO the "ass-in-seats" mentality is as bad or worse in most other countries.

Moreover, the thing about the "results-only" approach is that it can lead to precarious employment where you get vicious "rank-and-yank" style management. The complaint in the article is that people are feeling that they can't get ahead even if they work hard.

Perhaps this isn't even really about "ass-in-seat" vs "results-only"? I think its about opportunities getting snubbed.

Fair point. I can qualify that by saying it's much more pronounced here than where I'm from, Northern Europe.

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