The 35-year-old Bank of America (BAC.N) investment banker who died from a blood clot earlier this month wanted to leave the U.S. bank because he was working more than 100 hours a week, according to an executive recruiter who spoke with him about seeking a new job.
I’ve always treated salary as basically the idea that I should average about 40 hours of work a week, but that I get to determine if I need to work 80 one week and then 20 for two or whatever. When it’s time to grind, I grind, and then I pull back on my hours. I don’t ask for permission, I simply manage my own time.
I’ve been fairly fortunate it seems. I got called in once for not showing up to work for four days. I explained I did six hours of remote work during those four days related to staff questions and projects, but that I had worked seven straight 12-hour days the week before. I was then told how much the person I was talking to works, and I said they should probably take some time as well, and I ended the meeting.
As far as I’m concerned, having a salary means you don’t have to pay someone to make sure I’m getting my work done. I manage my own tasks, I manage my staff, and I manage my hours. If they have a problem with that, they can take a flying fuck at a rolling donut, and I will go elsewhere to work.