Read on PK_ an article about overtime and long working hours in Hong Kong. Interesting read since it gave a view of why everyone stay late at work. It echo many views from talks with friends when I was in Hong Kong last year.

Working live is different in Canada, at least from what I see. Most people, especially those with family, live a pretty regular life. By regular, I mean 9-to-5ish working hours, supper home with families, work on garden on weekend, etc.... ok, maybe I generalize a bit, but the thing is people here have a life after work; Work is important, but they put emphasis on a balance life style.

From personal experience, I live in Canada and work for a telecom R&D shop here in Ottawa. I am a late to work type, usually back to office around 9:30am, then I stay to 5ish before go home. But from time to time, I got my lab shift in the early evening after 5pm and will stay to 8-9pm or even later. I also work weekend and such sometimes when there is a need and I feel it worth it. At work, we are pretty easy on the 7 working hours part, I'm fine as long as I'm keeping up with my schedule. Probably due to the nature of my line of work, it is relatively flexible at work. I can go to dental appointment for an hour or so during the day, then back to work. Often I go home early, have supper, watch some TV, _than_ drove back to work for a night shift. Also, I could setup remote access to do work from home, but I didn't because I don't want to take works home.

Even those management is flexible, there are cases that people were asked to work longer hours and weekend, even over X'mas (the campus actually suppose to be shutdown). Fortunately, there is OT pay allow is or able to bank the time for vacation. Some people I know may not be as lucky; They got so much work that overtime is almost like expected and a must. But these are not a wide-spread cases that I can see.

Am I a workaholic? I don't think so. I seem still have a life.

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