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Would you ever work for free?
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Not currently since I'm employed. I spent 2 summers working full time as an unpaid intern during Law School but that was kind of par for the course, it also led me to my current job so in that sense it was worth it. Now that I'm in a union though, fuck that noise. 35 hours of work a week, my ass is out the door at 5 barring extremely unique circumstances (happens like once a year)
Not if I had a choice, but working in a university means I often stay well over my contracted hours for my fixed salary, and the last 9 months of my PhD were entirely unpaid...
Sure. I love my job and my role is valuable to the community around me. So I'd have no problem working a couple extra hours.
Yes. If my boss had some kind of rush project that needed me to stay back an hour or two, sure why not. As long as it's not a regular occurrence. I'm salaried so there's no hourly rate for me. Also there's tons of downtime in my job so I wouldn't mind paying that back sometimes.
Also, things like volunteering would probably fall under this so that's another reason to say yes.
Also, things like volunteering would probably fall under this so that's another reason to say yes.
Not if I was hourly, no. As someone on salary though that doesn't have to input any kind of time worked, I usually work about 45 hours a week even though I get paid for 40, granted I would get that even if I worked 30 so it's whatever.
I normally get paid for extra hours I work, but I don't keep a sharp eye to it. I'm sure I've worked a few hours for free, but I'm also salaried and will take an hour here or there during normal work hours to slack off. It's close enough to evening out that I'm not going to dig further
If it's absolutely necessary that I work a few hours over my set hours, my boss will happily let me take them off the next day or something.
I'd rather not do it but sometimes it's needed and I don't mind it as it's appreciated and recognised
I'd rather not do it but sometimes it's needed and I don't mind it as it's appreciated and recognised
No. If you're there To move the business forwards in a capacity, they're making money off it. That means you should be making money off it.
Internships should be paid as well. It can be less, or a token amount ,but it should still be paid.
Internships should be paid as well. It can be less, or a token amount ,but it should still be paid.
I spent the last year working for the reading corps and though they did pay me a tiny amount, they could have paid me nothing. I was in it for the experience of working at a school and making some connections.
Not anymore, but when I was starting out in web development professionally I did two non-profit org websites back in the mid-2000s. Both were for organizations that I was involved with volunteering, and I ran their digital operations for one of them. I can say both of those projects, especially one of them, were really instrumental in my career. It was good timing too, 2005, 2006, doing WordPress development was right around when WordPress was transitioning from just blog software into the broader CMS ecosystem, so I was really an expert in WordPress development from about 2007-2016 or so, and I made a lot of money off of that experience. And WordPress development was super lucrative from like 2011-2016.
Doing large scale organizational websites was good for me, too, because I had been doing just small scale websites for individuals... Rarely charging more than $1000, usually in like the $500 and $600 range, and once I realized the money and effort in a large, coordinated organization... I never did those personal sites again, which were a waste of time.
Doing large scale organizational websites was good for me, too, because I had been doing just small scale websites for individuals... Rarely charging more than $1000, usually in like the $500 and $600 range, and once I realized the money and effort in a large, coordinated organization... I never did those personal sites again, which were a waste of time.
I'm salaried and I'm a teacher. There is no possible way I get all my work done in my 7 - 2:30 contractual hours so...
It really depends on the situation. I'm obviously fine with doing volunteer work depending on the project. And I don't mind staying a bit late a work occasionally.
No, as a matter of fact i was let go from a contract 11 years ago because they asked me to work OT for free and I said no.
I told them if they wanted me to work OT without being paid, that they needed to hire me full time. They made their choice, and I quickly moved on.
I told them if they wanted me to work OT without being paid, that they needed to hire me full time. They made their choice, and I quickly moved on.
For hourly jobs, hell no. For salaried work, I'm okay with informally working a bit longer here and there as long as it's reciprocated and not one-sided.
I worked an unpaid internship about 10 years ago, so there's that knocked off, but it did help me get an actual job elsewhere so I can't complain too much. I'm currently a salaried employee, so any hours I work over 40 are "unpaid", but I typically don't work more than that unless necessary. The salaried designation is pretty bullshit for a lot of jobs.
I work for free when I'm helping my Dad with his job like once a year, but I don't see it as working working. It's more like helping my parents out here and there.
Otherwise no. With my regular job I might occasionally check emails at night if I'm waiting on something from the otherside of the world and can't wait to play phone tag. Beyond that I work during my time frame and that's really it.
Otherwise no. With my regular job I might occasionally check emails at night if I'm waiting on something from the otherside of the world and can't wait to play phone tag. Beyond that I work during my time frame and that's really it.
I've done free work for friends or family like siding, flooring, plumbing, bathroom renos, etc but never for an employer.
Yes, if I can develop myself and help others. If i'd never have to work again I'd probably pick up an endless string of study classes.
I've volunteered my skills for community work that helps out local people and developed them at the same time by working on things I don't normally. It's not exactly an unpaid internship and the benefit goes to people who need it rather than lining already heavy pockets. I wouldn't give my company free time though.
If I won an obscene amount of money in the lottery I'd continue to do my work because I like it, but it would be on a volunteer basis and a shorter schedule that benefits me.
If I won an obscene amount of money in the lottery I'd continue to do my work because I like it, but it would be on a volunteer basis and a shorter schedule that benefits me.
You better bet your ass I will be working fewer hours later. My workplace is pretty cool about flexing time later if you go over though so I don't have to raise a stink about it.
That said: no compensation, no work. Don't let yourself be known as the "go to" person who you can lean on when you procrastinated or poorly planed your projects.
An internship or volunteer work is different. I totally have worked for free in those situations.
That said: no compensation, no work. Don't let yourself be known as the "go to" person who you can lean on when you procrastinated or poorly planed your projects.
An internship or volunteer work is different. I totally have worked for free in those situations.
Situations that I would:
1. Volunteer/charity work
2. If I own the business and making it prosper is in my best interest (not really free)
3. If I lived in some theoretical socialist utopia where all my needs (medicine, food, housing, entertainment are taken care of and I have no use for money and would work like everyone else to sustain that situation)
Otherwise, no.
1. Volunteer/charity work
2. If I own the business and making it prosper is in my best interest (not really free)
3. If I lived in some theoretical socialist utopia where all my needs (medicine, food, housing, entertainment are taken care of and I have no use for money and would work like everyone else to sustain that situation)
Otherwise, no.
I usually start work half an hour before I'm contracted so I do free work every week of the year. If it's my choice I don't mind working a bit more to get something done. If I was requested to do it then I'd probably want that time back in lieu as it's not my decision.
Depends on what it was, when I was doing it, and what kind of lifestyle I'll be able to maintain without labor income.
I could be down with something like:
- A job that plays to my strengths (communication, team-building, and creative problem-solving)
- A three day work week
- All of my needs and wants (within reason) are taken care of
I could be down with something like:
- A job that plays to my strengths (communication, team-building, and creative problem-solving)
- A three day work week
- All of my needs and wants (within reason) are taken care of
Depends what is to be gained. I have worked extra hours to see a project completed even if I was a salaried employee and the bonus at the end of the year didn't come close to making up for all the extra hours. That said, I don't make a habit of it.
Also not counting volunteering or pro bono work.
Also not counting volunteering or pro bono work.