More and Faster
Tue, Sep 19
This session will get us thinking about work-life balance: does such a thing really exist? Working heroic hours, especially before a launch, is a tech job stereotype. But 80-hour workweeks can take a huge toll on one's health and well being, and not everyone thinks it's a good idea to devote every waking hour to work. Today we'll try to work out what really makes sense for both productivity and personal development.
To help us out with this, we'll be joined by Jason Schlessman, a Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat Research and father of two little girls. Jason will tell us about his own path in the technology industry and how he balances professional and family responsibilities, while still carving out some time for himself.
We have three main in-class learning goals. By the end of lecture today you will:
- Learn the warning signs of burnout, and some strategies to avoid it.
- Consider the structure necessary to have both a family and career in technology.
- Envision alternatives to the 9-5 workweek, including ones that facilitate more or less work, depending on the circumstances.
The slides for today's lecture.
Read This:
Erin Griffith in the New York Times asking Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?
Ken Reitz on The Reality of Developer Burnout
Ann Helen Peterson in BuzzFeed News on How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation
Derek Thompson in the Atlantic on how Workism is Making Americans Miserable
Also in the Atlantic is Olga Khazon, who wants you to Give Up on Work-Life Balance
Dan Lyons reports for the New York Times on Silicon Valley, where Working 9 to 5 is for Losers
Anand Iyer in Tech Crunch on the Work-Family Imbalance
Bourree Lam investigates Why Tech is the Leading Industry on Parental Leave in the Atlantic
Olga Mecking makes the Case for Doing Nothing in the New York Times
There is an enormous amount of recent writing on how one should spend their time. These optional readings will help give you further perspective on what is perhaps the most pressing dilemma for the early career worker:
Maybe We All Need a Little Less Balance
What Happens When We Work Non-Stop
The Compelling Case for Working a Lot Less
Why Women Still Can't Have it All
Why I Put My Wife's Career First
Google Employee Alleges Discrimination Against Pregnant Women in Viral Memo
How to Recognize Burnout Before You're Burned Out
Do This:
Writing Reflection 03
See the instructions posted on the assignment's page.
This writing reflection is due on 9/26 at 5pm.
This Week's Dialogue Group Meeting
Find at least one hour to meet with your group to discuss the prompt of the week: How are you preparing for your job search in the technology industry?
Reading Quiz 04
The form for Reading Quiz 04 follows below. If you can't see the form below, try this direct link.