Read a bit lower, and there are promises of perks galore: competitive compensation, free meals, free gym membership, free health and dental care and so on. But then comes the catch.
Each job ad contains a warning: “Please don’t join if you’re not excited about… working ~70 hrs/week in person with some of the most ambitious people in NYC.”
The website belongs to Rilla, a New York-based tech business which sells AI-based systems that allow employers to monitor sales representatives when they are out and about, interacting with clients.
The company has become something of a poster child for a fast-paced workplace culture known as 996, also sometimes referred to as hustle culture or grindcore.
In simple terms, it puts a premium on long working hours, typically 9am to 9pm, six days a week (hence “996”).
I’m an exempt employee. I wouldn’t trade back.
As with all things, needs are subjective. Sometimes I have to work at 2am because something breaks, and that sucks.
But not needing to worry about how many hours I’m going to be at my desk this week because any change might tank my paycheck is extremely valuable to me. I can take my kids to the doctor without missing pay, or to one of their school events, or take an afternoon off to do something fun, or just get the flu and be out for two weeks without worrying about the mortgage.
Sorry you have had shit experiences, but the world doesn’t exist only at the polar extremes.