ive never worked at a proper full time job outside Pakistan so im just curious what the office work environment is like in some aspects coz i wana compare with our own here in pak
paki guppies r most welcome to respond too
this post is specifically for ppl who work in an indoor office, have a desk job, and have fixed timings…like IT ppl for example…or other ppl who work at computers…
i realise that a lot depends on the office/company culture too..but still…
is ur working time 9-5 with a lunch hour or 9-6 with a lunch hour? sat/sun off?
r u allowed breaks during these times? i mean, can u get up and leave to go out of the office for 15 mins or so? how many times in the day would it be ok to do that?
do u generally have a laid back atmosphere in the office about being able to get up from ur desk or r u guys required to stay at ur desk almost all the time?
coz, healthwise its recommended to get up from ur chair and walk about atleast after every hour
also, what r the requirements like for using IM for personal use, checking personal email etc? can u do that from ur office pc during work or is that not allowed?
is ur working time 9-5 with a lunch hour or 9-6 with a lunch hour? sat/sun off?
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No. I have flexible timings. When we are near to project deadlines it becomes much more than the usual 8 hours a day. But during "normal times" I am in office from 9.30 to 6 with 30 min. lunch break. It´s not a requirement to be in office at 9.30 though. As I said: Flexible timing. If I come to the office later, I am supposed to stay longer. If I come here earlier, I can leave earlier.
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r u allowed breaks during these times? i mean, can u get up and leave to go out of the office for 15 mins or so? how many times in the day would it be ok to do that?
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Nobody would stop me from doing that since most of the time I work on projects quite independently or in small groups led by me. But I myself wouldn´t just leave the office like that until it is really necessary.
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do u generally have a laid back atmosphere in the office about being able to get up from ur desk or r u guys required to stay at ur desk almost all the time?
coz, healthwise its recommended to get up from ur chair and walk about atleast after every hour
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In Austria there is a law that for every hour of "screen work" you can stand up from your desk for 5 minutes. That should be away from the computer though because in those 5 minutes you are supposed to give your eyes a rest.
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also, what r the requirements like for using IM for personal use, checking personal email etc? can u do that from ur office pc during work or is that not allowed?
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No problem doing that. It shouldn´t be done excessively though.
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is ur working time 9-5 with a lunch hour or 9-6 with a lunch hour? sat/sun off?**
---> i work 8.30-5pm but some ppl come in around 8am then leave early and some just stroll in around 9am with hours lunch.
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r u allowed breaks during these times? i mean, can u get up and leave to go out of the office for 15 mins or so? how many times in the day would it be ok to do that? **
--->when i start first thing i do (and the most important) is grab a coffee...thats 15 gone already... then its all casual frm there on... i.e getting up for tea/coffee, litte chat with fellow workers and doing down to shops for some snacks. this is kinda the norm here and its not just me doing it :) . this is generally whn one is not busy. if i have a deadline then these chats are less often and coffees are put on hold. but whn theres no deadlines to meet, its all good. :)
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do u generally have a laid back atmosphere in the office about being able to get up from ur desk or r u guys required to stay at ur desk almost all the time?**
--->laid back. as abv. but general talking over the desk while seated isn't considered nice (speacially whn u have Company Directors seating in a close proximity !). so u work while seated and u shouldnt b on phone (talking away with your friends, like that lady across the desk does !!! ) or such whn u supposedly are working.
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also, what r the requirements like for using IM for personal use, checking personal email etc? can u do that from ur office pc during work or is that not allowed?**
---> Strickly speaking, nothing specific like this is in the company policy but whn i joined this company we were told to use it 'appropriately' ..an extract of our Co. policies....
Improper Use of the Internet
When accessing the Internet from XXXX, XXXX staff shall ensure that they do not use the service in any way that may bring the company or individuals into disrepute.The following are deemed to be improper use:
accessing pornographic material,
accessing material that could offend others because of its racist or political nature conducting personal business transactions via the Internet e.g. selling, advertising, contributing to Internet newsgroups without being authorised to do so, anything which may bring the company or individuals into disrepute.
May cause loss or damage to the Group;
May result in your access to the system being restricted pending further investigation and May result in disciplinary action being taken against you, up to and including termination of employment and/or legal proceedings. <<<---- sounds scary ! but pretty much standard stuff.
I do have flexible timings, but my boss expects me to be at office at 07:30 AM as we have to do our routine check ups during that time .. I get to home earlier as I have a 38.5 hours weekly time. I come around 07:30 and go home around 04:00 PM, with half an hour of break.
I can leave office anytime I want, for as much as want, all I need is to cover my weekly time, or if I have done over time, I can go home earlier, it all depends on us. I do some work from home too and am on-call duty every month or so. As Umer said, we can do 5 minute break every hour, I do as I feel like taking a rest. As for checking privat email in the web, this is locked, I use GS from work, as long as my work is not being effected its alright, you should stay in the limit, others go out to smoke, I read GS.
