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In corporations this is a classic prisoner's dilemma: If EVERYONE agreed that they'd be sane and work optimal 40-50 hour weeks, it'd be great. But someone always 'defects', going to 80+ hours in an effort to show off. The result is actually lower efficiency, but since most corporations do very little track efficiency and results (they track effort, instead), it doesn't get caught.

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I think I must be doing my bit by making sure I don't ever go over my 40 hours, even if I work in teams where others or the manager works long hours.

I wish I could upvote that at least twice - once for the game-theory bit, and once for the tracking-effort bit. Those are both excellent insights.

Thanks. I actually run a company - I have to constantly watch people and make the effort/results separation. Folks never understand when they get a negative review "for putting in 12-hour days." See, it's because you spend 4 hours/day running in circles.

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