Who's paying for this time?
Who's paying for this time?
(OP)
All,
It's pretty clear that many of us devote a considerable amount of time responding to posts on Eng-Tips.
By curiosity, what do you charge this time to? i.e. I'm not exactly sure where to assign the last 30 minutes (that I spent on the site) when filling out my time sheet.
How do you handle this?
e.g: Charge the current project?, Business development, Training, IT, Make up the time by working later...
Just curious.
tg
It's pretty clear that many of us devote a considerable amount of time responding to posts on Eng-Tips.
By curiosity, what do you charge this time to? i.e. I'm not exactly sure where to assign the last 30 minutes (that I spent on the site) when filling out my time sheet.
How do you handle this?
e.g: Charge the current project?, Business development, Training, IT, Make up the time by working later...
Just curious.
tg





RE: Who's paying for this time?
Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Who's paying for this time?
I get many new or great ideas by perusing these forums...
RE: Who's paying for this time?
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
www.muleshoe-eng.com
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
"It is always a poor idea to ask your Bridge Club for medical advice or a collection of geek engineers for legal advice"
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Use of system voids warranty.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
By curiosity, what do you charge this time to? i.e. I'm not exactly sure where to assign the last 30 minutes (that I spent on the site) when filling out my time sheet."
1. You should not be spending "Company time" on Eng-Tips unless there is a problem and you have been directed by your supervisor to find help solving that problem and you tell them where you intend to look for help.
2. Your lunch hour is your own time. Check Eng-Tips while you eat that ham sandwich.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Killing time should be on your time.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
I'd MUCH rather my junior engineers spend their intellectual down-time browsing Eng-Tips than surfing stuff that has far less to do with their profession! Everybody who is realistic knows that having universal Internet access on every workstation is a double-edged sword- it makes access to information far easier, but it also represents a temptation to waste time.
Every company retaining professionals has to expect that they're going to spend some of their time, ON THE CLOCK, building their skills and knowledge. Whether that's reviewing and responding to posts on Eng-Tips, reading journal articles or trade magazines or attending courses or vendor presentations etc. is really not all that important.
Properly that time should be billed to non-chargeable (overhead) time, rather than being billed to projects or clients, since the clients/projects are paying an overhead-burdened rate for the time already.
I've learned enough here to justify every moment I've spent. Except in the Pub of course- that comes out of uncompensated overtime...
RE: Who's paying for this time?
The original poster obviously does not work for the same company as you do or was never told it was okay to surf "Technical" web sites for professional self improvement during "down-time". He was evidently experiencing pauses in his productive work flow and was doing what you suggest but had a lot of guilt about doing it.
My posting was not clear but what I intended was: If the Company does not allow it then don't do it.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
However, if I have a couple down minutes at work, I will quickly peruse the structural board or check the responses of threads in which I am involved.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
One of my former bosses did this when he worked for a local authority, after 5 years working for them he ended up racking up about 12k in 'photocopying'.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
OJT is an accounting method of allowing HR to reduce their costs. Costs are absorbed by unpaid overtime.
- Steve
RE: Who's paying for this time?
For the record, it's rare that I'll spend more than 3-4 minutes on this site, approx. 2 times/day. More time over the lunch hour.
The 30 minutes of the other day was an anomaly. I don't feel particularly guilty about it, and I am one of the supervisors here.
I usually don't bother charging the time specifically, kind of like most of the above posters.
I've told several of our young engineers about this site (but I haven't told them my handle), and I'm hoping they won't abuse it.
tg
RE: Who's paying for this time?
ANY FOOL CAN DESIGN A STRUCTURE. IT TAKES AN ENGINEER TO DESIGN A CONNECTION."
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Things have really changed in the working world, I can't say I never looked at a text book during working hours or actually had to read the code in the office to know what direction to go. But, when a new code came out, I read it and learned it on my own time, not during working hours. With few exceptions, when I ran into a problem I couldn't solve, I went to the boss for help (mentoring, etc.), or went on to something else, and then studied that night so I could solve the problem the next morning, and I never gave this situation another thought, except to think I really should have known how to handle that problem, that's what I'm getting paid for. You guys have many more diversions these days that you think must be attended to instantaneously or the world will stop turning, not on my time, please. And, you have many newer means of gathering information some of that good, much of that info. overload, and time wasting info. crap.
The guys who are on their own can spend 23hrs. a day here, it's their nickle, but you guys who are being paid by the company better use your time here very judiciously and carefully, you are not getting paid to socialize on the internet, on a forum. And, if you don't know the answer to the problem, you better figure it out on your own time, with my help, that's what I hired you to know, and you assured me you did know most of that stuff.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
You should only look at the things you're interested in.
Most posts are much to theoretical.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
If I'm taking a 10 min break, it's invisible, like a smokers break.
If I'm looking for something or posting a on a work related subject, I caulk the time up on the project.
If it's Saturday AM and I just find it more interesting than the banal nonsense that seems to permeate all media, it's a moot question.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Firstly, thank you for sharing your experience & knowledge, it is much appreciated by all. Your work ethic is inspiring in today's world of searching for the quick and easy way. I also admire your respect and relationship building with superiors.
I am curious,
how can you pick out the imposters?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Oh... it's really pretty easy, would anyone with even a basic engineering background ask that question, that way, and then argue with you when they started getting honest answers. Some of them should say they don't know, and then listen, they might actually learn something. But, you have to be smart enough to ask an intelligent question, or brave enough to admit you can't. And, they shouldn't be relying entirely on CAD and FEA for their engineering expertise.
I have no problem explaining to a draftsman or mechanic why we are doing something or even at some level how we went about getting to this or that detail as a solution to a problem, and as often as not, I can learn something from them too. But, if through puffery or the way someone presents their question or problem, they imply that they are an engineer or doing some great engineering job, but then don't have the very basics such as strength of materials, applied engineering mechanics, statics, dynamics, a basic knowledge of materials, etc. etc., I get frustrated or perturbed fairly quickly. Be honest with us, we are actually here to help, because we care and want to, we are giving of our time, so then don't B.S. us about your knowledge level. And, don't B.S. your boss by coming here for an answer and then presenting it as your own, if you don't really understand it, do your own homework, so you do understand. If you are honest with your experience level, we at least know how to, and at what level to, start addressing the question, and most of us, on most days, are happy to do that at any level. There isn't any reason to be ashamed of being a draftsman or a tech., they are an important part of the team too, and being an engineer doesn't make me some sort of god, but buy being honest about our own experience levels, it goes a long way toward building a meaningful and constructive interaction.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Who's paying for this time?
With all of that in mind, I credit Eng-Tips for a great deal of my technical aptitude. I do a lot of reading on my own, but this forum has exposed me to many, many problems in a short period of time. It has helped me develop an understanding of so many topics.......... I would easily consider it time well spent and I think I could easily make that case to my employer if I needed to. This forum has essentially been my mentor. I come a lot less for direct help now than to keep up with interesting threads, but I'm always learning where I can - and this is one of the best places!
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
I think you have it about right. This certainly isn't someplace you should be coming for knowledge you should already possess given what you told me your experience level was. You should come here for third through fourteenth opinions or a point of view that maybe your area hasn't seen yet or an unusual situation. But, you have to be smart enough to know if responses really fit your situation or if it's just so much smoke being blown up your leg. You also have to do your own homework because that really sticks with you. If you have sharp guys around you in the office, they really care about the well being of your office and generally want to help you and know the local stds., maybe a prof. from school or another engineer from an engineering association, etc., they really care about you and your well being and these interactions grow into meaningful relationships. And, I think a young engineer looks all the better for asking intelligent and meaningful questions rather than bumbling along alone to the wrong solution. The fact that you can be looking at the same plans, and specs. and pointing at the same detail as you ask your question gets you an answer with less ambiguity, and the fact that the senior engineer can draw you a sketch of what he is saying leaves less doubt. Keep up the good work. I'm not really surprised by the variety of questions we get, but I am somewhat distressed by the number of people pretending to do engineering on projects and products which could do real harm, when by the nature of their questions, they don't have the vaguest idea what they are doing or designing. And, I don't know if that is them claiming to be something they are not or if that is their boss not being smart enough to know the difference btwn. real engineering ability and knowledge, or maybe not caring as long as they produce something and liability insurance will take care of the rest.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
I agree. Unfortunately, I've worked with some who would rather make a mistake then ask a question, because in their opinion that would make them look stupid.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
For what it is worth; Eng tips is a great site for information and knowledge. I consider it a appropriate tool. There may be people out there who do not have a mentor or resources or support at their place of work and this site serves as a substitute. Not everyone knows everything and people in this forum are happy to share what they know to help someone along. Think about it this way ENG TIPS reaches out world wide, and thousands of people. 928 000 helpful heads are better than 1 or 2. Another thing that is great about this site is differing opions are expressed in a professional manner, which is a lesson in itself being passed on to the less tactful.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
I'll also do a little 'quid pro quo' - i.e. if I'm getting work related questions answered, I'll maybe spend a little work time answering other folks Questions.
Most of my time on here is during lunch breaks, tea breaks etc.
My old manager was fine with my time on eng-tips. My new manager's never expressed and opinion, I've never asked, and I've scaled my posting on company time back some.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
My time on eng-tips is like a tea break, without the tea.
tg
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Without the lung cancer, or the brain rot (or grounds for dismissal) that many other "coffeebreak" sites might provide!
RE: Who's paying for this time?
Our company doesn't allow eng-tips use. I tend to agree with them. This site is frightening at times because you can see where it's being used as a crutch.
I think a lot of people on here have post forum addiction. I'm not sure those are the best ones to be mentoring young engineers.
RE: Who's paying for this time?
RE: Who's paying for this time?