Forwarding the views of a highly respected person, please read and think......
(If you do not know who Mr. Narayana Murthy is, Please stop reading immediately)
Mr. Narayana Murthy's views on staying late in the office!
It's half past 8 in the office but 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 - some male species of the human race! Look closely... 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 to do after going home... here we get to surf the Net, AC, Phone, Food, Coffee.. that is why I am working late... most importantly no boss!
This is the scene in most Research centers and Software companies and other Off-shore offices.
Bachelors "time-passing" during late hours in the office just because they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what are 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 starts expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors, let me tell you, life changes when you get married and start having a family... Office is no longer a priority, Family is... and that's when the problem starts... because you start having commitments at home too!
1. For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become an "early leaver" even if you leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.
2. People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers...
3. Girls who thankfully always (it's 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 are 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, Exercise etc.
Importantly, Get a girlfriend or boyfriend, take him/her around town...
And for heaven's sake, Internet cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no firewalls) 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!
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING AND 100% COMMITMENT ETC.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME.
That's the Bottom Line... SIMPLE!
Narayan Murthy.
From India, Bangalore
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6(If you do not know who Mr. Narayana Murthy is, Please stop reading immediately)
Mr. Narayana Murthy's views on staying late in the office!
It's half past 8 in the office but 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 - some male species of the human race! Look closely... 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 to do after going home... here we get to surf the Net, AC, Phone, Food, Coffee.. that is why I am working late... most importantly no boss!
This is the scene in most Research centers and Software companies and other Off-shore offices.
Bachelors "time-passing" during late hours in the office just because they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what are 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 starts expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors, let me tell you, life changes when you get married and start having a family... Office is no longer a priority, Family is... and that's when the problem starts... because you start having commitments at home too!
1. For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become an "early leaver" even if you leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.
2. People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers...
3. Girls who thankfully always (it's 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 are 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, Exercise etc.
Importantly, Get a girlfriend or boyfriend, take him/her around town...
And for heaven's sake, Internet cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no firewalls) 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!
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING AND 100% COMMITMENT ETC.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME.
That's the Bottom Line... SIMPLE!
Narayan Murthy.
From India, Bangalore
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I think Wipro had a dating allowance or something like that, but it got into trouble with somebody's wife. Otherwise, girlfriends are not a bad idea. There has to be some opportunity cost and some opportunity lost to prevent the company from being a 24-hour host:- They will hate staying late when they find a mate. Send them on a date. Who knows, it may turn out to be their permanent fate?
From India, New Delhi
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From India, New Delhi
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Hi Geetha,
Thanks for this nice eye-opener. I don't think there is a more candid analysis or viewpoint than this on working late. The insight is absolutely so good, and the vision of its effects on work culture is something one needs to understand and ponder about.
Prasad
From India, Mumbai
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Thanks for this nice eye-opener. I don't think there is a more candid analysis or viewpoint than this on working late. The insight is absolutely so good, and the vision of its effects on work culture is something one needs to understand and ponder about.
Prasad
From India, Mumbai
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Hi,
Nice article, but I don't think that the kind of words used in this article, such as "typical Indian mentality," are used by Mr. Murthy. He himself is Indian and has written lots of articles that discuss why we believe what foreigners are doing is the right thing.
Moreover, this article was published in LIFE, one of the supplements of the Times of India, last week. Nowhere was it mentioned that the thought is of Mr. Murthy.
Sandeep
From India, Delhi
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Nice article, but I don't think that the kind of words used in this article, such as "typical Indian mentality," are used by Mr. Murthy. He himself is Indian and has written lots of articles that discuss why we believe what foreigners are doing is the right thing.
Moreover, this article was published in LIFE, one of the supplements of the Times of India, last week. Nowhere was it mentioned that the thought is of Mr. Murthy.
Sandeep
From India, Delhi
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All, This has been a really nice and inspirational article. I think we all should try and imbibe this in our working culture and encourage people not to sit late. Great article guys!! Preeti
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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Hi Shalini,
Thank you for your feedback on the article. It's great to hear that you found it interesting. I agree that the mentality you mentioned is prevalent in many workplaces. It's unfortunate that some companies and bosses do not always value smart work over hard work.
I'm glad to know that you enjoyed reading the article. Your support is appreciated. Please continue to check for more updates.
Thank you once again for your kind words.
Best regards,
Shalini
From India, Pune
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Thank you for your feedback on the article. It's great to hear that you found it interesting. I agree that the mentality you mentioned is prevalent in many workplaces. It's unfortunate that some companies and bosses do not always value smart work over hard work.
I'm glad to know that you enjoyed reading the article. Your support is appreciated. Please continue to check for more updates.
Thank you once again for your kind words.
Best regards,
Shalini
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Mr. N R Narayanamurthy,
Before advising others, get the Hosur Rd traffic and transport organized.
For your kind information, some of the appointed subordinates from North India are not fit to be managers or process managers. We personally abhor you for having stated that Bangalore candidates and Karnataka candidates have more choices. In a way, you too are into politics.
So many complaints against North Indian managers and their fascist attitude, because of their feudal culture in their genes, have gone unnoticed. People who belong to this land never get recognition for their quality work. They are hindered in ways by the North Indian scum (which I would not like to explain).
Why ape Cisco's diversity and EEO policy when your company cannot manage it 100% accurately as Cisco Inc.? The BPO sector suffered more than 48% (shameful) attrition in April 2006, and your recruiters are busy hiring and pampering North Indian candidates who are really bad at people management skills.
It's such a shame!
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Before advising others, get the Hosur Rd traffic and transport organized.
For your kind information, some of the appointed subordinates from North India are not fit to be managers or process managers. We personally abhor you for having stated that Bangalore candidates and Karnataka candidates have more choices. In a way, you too are into politics.
So many complaints against North Indian managers and their fascist attitude, because of their feudal culture in their genes, have gone unnoticed. People who belong to this land never get recognition for their quality work. They are hindered in ways by the North Indian scum (which I would not like to explain).
Why ape Cisco's diversity and EEO policy when your company cannot manage it 100% accurately as Cisco Inc.? The BPO sector suffered more than 48% (shameful) attrition in April 2006, and your recruiters are busy hiring and pampering North Indian candidates who are really bad at people management skills.
It's such a shame!
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