Just a random post from some old emails.
this is how an office should look like after 5.30pm
Narayana Murthy’s views on staying late in the office.
It’s half past 8 in the officebut the lights are still on…PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing…and who’s at work? Most of them??? Take a closer look…All or most specimens are 20-something male species of the human race…Look closer… again all or most of them are bachelors…and why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!! Any guesses??? Let’s ask one of them…Here’s what he says… “What’s there 2 do after going home… here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee.. that’s is why I am working late…importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!! This is the scene in most research centres and software companies and other off-shore offices. Bachelors “time-passing” during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they’ve nothing else to do…Now what r the consequences… read on…”Working”(for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.With bosses more than eager to provide support to those “working” late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback,(oh,he’s a hard worker… goes home only to change..!!). They aren’t helping things too… To hell with bosses who don’t understand the difference between “sitting” late and “working” late!!! Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra workinghours. So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married andstart having a family… office is no longer a priority, family is… and that’s when the problem starts… becoz u start having commitments at hometoo.For your boss, the earlier “hardworking” guy suddenly seems to become a “early leaver” even if u leave an hour after regulartime… after doing thesame amount of work.People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers… Girls who thankfully always (its changing nowadays… though) leave on time are labeled as “not up to it”. All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on “working” not realizing that they r spoiling the work culture at their own place and never realize that they would have to regret at one point of time.
So what’s the moral of the story?? Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!! Never put in extra time “unless really needed”. Don’t stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause
inconvenience to you and your colleagues. There are hundred other things to do in the evening..Learn music…Learn a foreign language…try a sport… TT, cricket………and for heaven’s sake net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change. Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: “Life’s calling, where are you??”
Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don’t stay back till midnight to forward this!!!
I hope that due to the fuel price hike many would NOT resort to this lifestyle. I personally have tried it myself and it is not productive at all and the worst part is it corrodes your life slowly. You will find yourself losing touch of your own life, your physical health will begin to deteriorate and you will start to criticize and complain about every single thing you come in contact with.
Try to leave work where it belongs. Never take it back home with you especially for those very decisive personalities. If you do your life WILL suck. Trust me. Been there done that. Go exercise more often, sweat it out. Eat healthy and talk to others more.
You have only ONE life. DON’T WASTE IT!
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