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Comment by jbarham | Hacker News Reader

Seconded. Being home for supper w/ wife and two-year-old son is the highlight of my day.

Read a different way "Last night there were at least 400 people eating dinner at 8:00PM" means that there were at least 400 people who either don't have families or for whatever reason felt it was better to stay at the office than to be at home w/ their families. The novelty of eating in a company cafeteria wears off, the long-term grind of working for a company where there is pressure to put the company ahead of your personal life does not.

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"Last night there were at least 400 people eating dinner at 8:00PM" means that there were at least 400 people who either don't have families or for whatever reason felt it was better to stay at the office than to be at home w/ their families.

Welcome to Silicon Valley.

Most of the Googlers I know with kids don't stay for dinner, or they'll grab dinner and go (which technically you're not supposed to do, but they work hard the rest of the day...)

The 400+ people at the Googleplex at 8:00 PM is mostly a reflection of the relative youth of the employee base (median age: 28). When you're young and single, hanging out with friends for dinner certainly beats going home and eating alone.

I totally agree. Most don't stay for dinner. Many go home, have dinner with their family, and get back on line from home later. Everyone is free to do what they need to do. There is no pressure from anyone.

Google feels a lot like a college campus. Lots of people around at all hours of the day and night. People have different work schedules, but you never feel alone.

Most don't stay for dinner. Many go home, have dinner with their family, and get back on line from home later.

Does anyone work strict eight hour days, five days a week?

I think there are some. I know some people who go home around 5:15, every day. I'm not entirely sure when they get in, but I think it's around 9:00, +- 15 minutes.

I've been working pretty consistent 8 hour days lately, noon to 8. Granted, in my last project, I was often working 11-12 hour days + weekends. I think that's only typical if you're on a high profile project with a company-wide push to get it out the door, though. There are 20,000 Googlers; most of them are not on such projects.

When you have a family and lots of outside obligations, you lose the ability to take risk and gain large rewards in favor of increased stability. It's not a matter of one being better than the other. These people work extremely hard and contribute in ways that they find meaningful. Nobody should be criticized for being dedicated.

How is working for Google, one of the world's most profitable companies, taking a risk?

I'm not averse to risk but I am skeptical that everyone working late at Google is doing so because they're having so much fun as "rock star" engineers that they can't wait to get back to work.

When you have a family that you love and enjoy you already have the large reward. Work you enjoy is icing on top of that. The reason you may seek less risk with family is that the upside is relatively small (it will always be dwarfed by family), and the downside is large (losing your home, putting financial stress on your family, etc..).

But I agree, they shouldn't be criticized for being dedicated to their job. But I do think posts, like Don's, seem to implicitly criticize those people who aren't at the cafeteria at 8pm.

Ken, There is NO implicit criticism of people who don't work nights, and none was intended. Sorry if you came away with that impression.

Google is all about achievement...not which hours you choose to work. The fact is that most employees do not stay for dinner. Google people have different work schedules. Some come in early, some stay late, some work 9 to 5 at the office, and get back online at night after the kids go to bed. Some people work from home. There is no pressure to conform to some schedule.

Google is like a college campus. There are people everywhere, all working different schedules. There is always someone around so you never feel alone.

Don

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