What kinda hours do you work?

This is from an email conversation i had with Chris Storay. i'll post my reply (with permission!) and then elaborate a bit.

i average about 45 hrs a week, and no, i don't take work home. there are a couple of web guys here that will on occasion, but i think it's a slippery slope. they pay me for work here and i give that my full attention- however, they do not pay me enough to take work home and make them money on my time, and my equipment. i do have a life, and my own ambitions, and i separate my employers workload form that. Now, this is not to say that occationally, last minute projects and crunch times do not happen... When they do, i'm more than willing to go the extra time and effort to see things through. However, these whould be the exception, not the rule- good management and good project planning can minimise the likelyhood of a "last minute crunch" from happening, and lessen the impact when they do.

it is a fundamental mistake to think in terms of trading time for compensation. it is a much better world view to think in terms of trading VALUE for compensation. unfortunately, here at RSA time is king, and the work flow suffers for it (i punch a clock!).

now, you are young, and presumably single. when i first started working in 3D, i had a pillow and a blanket under my desk. i spent 16-20 hour days working, would take a nap while rendering, and then start again. unfortunately, this work ethic led my employers to take advantage of me, rather than compensate me for my enthusiasm. however, now, i have commitments to my wife and home, and the desire to be something other than a robot working to make someone else money. i understand from talking to others that this is a natural progression, and i'm not alone in thinking this way.

basically, what i'm saying is, at some point you have to draw a line in the sand between what you're willing and/or able to give, and what is fair compensation, and what an employer can take from you. if it's a supportive relationship, then both parties can benefit from the value you bring. however, working someone to death with the attitude that the employer owns the employee's time, is a mutually destructive relationship that will result in severe burnout for the employee and the ultimate loss of productivity and creativity for the employer.