While I don’t disagree with the gist of what y’all are saying (people should be fairly paid for the hours worked, startup culture is somewhat toxic, etc), it is mildly amusing to see 50-55hrs held up as a “long week”.
Talk to some scientists or doctors; 55hrs is barely warming up. In a medical research lab, 60hrs would be considered a fairly light week. When it gets busy, 80hr+ weeks are routine.
I once spent six months straight running rats in the lab midday-to-midnight seven days per week. Didn’t see my friends or any pre-midnight TV for half a year.
I’m not recommending this type of work culture as sane, just or sensible…but it is worth keeping in mind as a reference point, especially when the techbros start with their “we earned all this money by working hard at our startup” rants.
