Ask HN: Refusing 24x7, What's Your Experience?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33676271

by dm03514 • 4 years ago

5 7 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Anyone out there refuse to go on 24x7? How'd you do it? What was your experience?

US here. They flipped 24x7 on 3 of us on our team, no warning, 3PM Friday, before week long holiday. I'm furious and I'm trying to figure out best way to proceed.

I didn't say "no" on Friday, even though I'm perfectly comfortable saying it, because it would have screwed my 2 coworkers over (who were equally undeserving of the decision), so trying to figure out strategy for when we get back. Would love to hear about your experiences.

Thank you

NickRandom• 4 years ago

I'm confused - Do you mean you were asked to work/be on-call 24 hours per day, seven days per week? If so - hell no. Hopefully I misunderstood what you meant by 24x7! [Edit to update] If that is in fact the case, I would suggest you ask for all of the Directors' cell-phone numbers and call them at 2am or 4am etc and if they don't answer then ask them why they expect you to do something they don't do themselves but I honestly think I must be misunderstanding the 24x7 bit

dm03514• 4 years ago

Yes, there was misalignment on service ownership and management decided on Friday that our team would cover 24x7 on call for 10 days of holiday (we have a company holiday the week of us thanksgiving).

The 10 days were split between 3 team members (myself and 2 others).

The situation is a failure, feels arbitrary and makes me livid.

——-

Would love to do that :p get their numbers tell them to make sure they have internet at all times and be within 5 minutes of their laptop at all times.

lostdog• 4 years ago

Sounds like this service can be without support for a while. After all, it wasn't important enough for someone to figure this out in advance. I'm sure if it goes down overnight the business will be fine.

yuppie_scum• 4 years ago

Quit.

The job market is in the job seeker’s favor. You can can certainly find a job with better understanding of work life balance.

thedevindevops• 4 years ago

That isn't in my contract but if you want to talk about contract re-negotiation, I'm up for talking about all those inflation-busting raises I've missed over the years...

iceburgcrm• 4 years ago

Say no it is not in your contract.

Or ignore the page/call and tell them you are too sound of a sleeper.

Don't let your co-workers decisions change your own because they may be looking for leadership from you.

solardev• 4 years ago

If they're paying you time and a half for every minute you're on call just waiting around that week, I'd consider it. Otherwise I'd refuse that if I were you. No job is worth your sanity like that. Leave if you must and find someone who respects you more.

Ask HN: Refusing 24x7, What's Your Experience?

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