Overtime work loads in project

Question

Hi. I am working in company as Android developer since last 14 months. My question is on overtime work load in company. We had a project which has very tight dead lines. That project was also in iOS. So we had spent over night hours like reach company at 10:30 morning and come back home at late night 3 4 or some times 5-6 AM. We were doing such works due to less experience for 2 monhts. Yes we worked like this for continues two months for 14 to 16 hours with no saturday/sunday leaves. We couldn't oppose that we could not work much without pay. Because due to over load of work it affects my health and body cycle was changed and late night food put me in trouble of weight problem. After completion of project coz I haven't taken any leaves since last 9 monhts when I applied for leaves they refuse to give some of them. They just said me you are unprofessional. When I told them that I worked so and you are not giving me leaves which are mines they told that if you had problem in project you should told to your project leader at that time that you could not work after 8:30 PM (which is over company leaving time). Added that you are only responsible for your health when I told them about my health probem (like eyes distance number back pain elbow etc). Its true that whole year this problem is not there. Like 8 monhts are good to pass with enjoying work and 4 months are heavy loaded which replaces 8 months work. Second is they were not going to hire any other senior person right now due to salary problem. Another project is also coming which has also very tight dead line say 2 months and I am only one who has responsibility. They just answered we are going to hire someone to reduce your load but till date no any fruitful result i see. Can you suggest me or make a glance that do I need to forget all things and do overtime works like 14 to 16 hours without extra pay or as professional (as per them I am unprofessional) I kindly say them to hire another person and will not work late night for 2 months.

Jean Paul · Answer

I agree to replies by Dear Chandra & Sandeep. Health is Wealth Idea can fetch Money! I would like to add my thoughts as well. Life is not just about Work unless Work is our Passion Again BODY-MIND-SOUL all three should be in good conditions preferably happy. I do not remember the book where i read the total problems of the world is due to GREED. Your company is greed for money so you have to work hard put pressure on health your mind can lose tolerance levels - so the ORIGINAL Greed propagate to other layers. One thing i am sure If a person die through hectic work the company cannot give the Life Back. Surely there will be insurance but NO LIFE BACK! 100% I CAN SAY - LIFE IS NOT TO WORK LIKE THIS - ANY COMPANY MAKING PEOPLE WORK SO IS AGAINST LAWS OF HUMANITY! In a different view I can say PEOPLE OUT OF PASSION work like this Bill Gates Mark Z are those who work 12 16 20 hours like this & some time 48 hours. But clearly this is their own interest they are self-motivated. In your case you are almost forced to do the stretched work which is bad. I remember the years where i worked like this. In 2003 I worked for 12 hours daily that too including holidays. But i cannot see the killing work style strategy made the company big like Microsoft. The company was collapsed as developers changed company too often. So KILLING WORK is not any way the best solution for long term NEVER stick to such company. In 2010 i was in another hectic product company where a Greedy Director was there. He used to push us with hectic targets result was I had to work 21 hours per day to be on safer side. Later i found there are other people who just work 3 hours per day & earn more money than me. These all made me think I am in the WRONG PLACE! I will put a spiritual thought too :) The outer world reflects what is in the inner world. So our inner negative energies about job safety thrust to push ourselves might have attracted the outer negative scenario. But there is no proper way of measuring it. I recommend you to take a step back learn Yoga Meditation etc. where you can cool down the mind increase energy levels cope with stress regain health etc. I hesitate to recommend this to anybody because amateur people might take it as funny but i realized it to be GOOD. My simple advice is never adapt a working style where You cannot Enjoy work Your Thoughts will be lost Your health is in problem. If you end up in such situation Move to more convenient position asap. In the long term productivity scenario I prefer 50% utilization of our Energies per day plus strategic thoughts. For example we can use ideas to reduce the work - creating custom components in short term takes 20% extra work but in long term saves 20000% work. Learning money creation though investment make your 1 lakh to 10 lakh instead of working and earning the 10 lakh. So energy + idea could be the right long term solution. After all Each problem in life is asking us to learn something  Once we learn it the problem starts disappearing. Right now you have to learn - How to work 8 hours on average enjoy work maintain health. You can even think Why i had to work like this? Is money is the reason? Financial Freedom is the permanent solution to solve this problem? How to achieve Financial Freedom? etc. In the solution part i can recommend - Find out other companies with the same skill sets ensure they have a cool working style strategically switch to such company. Make sure the company is good through glassdoor.com reference reviews. There are other labor office complaints & things but it is self-blasting way to punish your company. As you already approached them & revealed problems I cannot see any chance of re-negotiating with them on better job environment. They are greedy they should learn from employee turnover.

Sandeep Singh Shekhawat · Answer

Sir please don't mind I am junior developer but giving an advice.. Make high priority family and your health. Because we earn for our health and to make happy and easy life of our family. But never give resign from current job until you don't have another job in hand. Health is wealth.

Chandradev · Answer

Hi Health is more important than job. If you will be healthy then so many jobs will come and go. It depends on you which one you love more.

Jean Paul · Answer

You are welcome dear Chintan! After all the corrupted indian officers are also behind your problem :) >> If they had properly executed law preventing extra-hour-working then companies dare to do so kya karoon only option we have is change to higher place! Regarding your further question: YES If the company is not perfect then they can think so so delete the question after few days :)

Chintan Rathod · Answer

@chandradev @sandip and @Jean sir Advices what you have given are very much helpful. And specially Jean sir this time also you give me an excellent advice to come up with problem. Thank you very much from bottom of my heart. :) I have one another question is I have posted my problem here. Will be there any situation in future like other company visit this page and show such question and I will be working over there and they have negative impression ?