For the last few years I’ve been working as an hourly part time full stack software engineer remotely, but now that school is done, I’m switching to a full time role. What are some things to keep in mind?
When I was hourly, I knew when to start and stop working because I’d simply clock in and out, but with a salary, it feels less clearly defined. There’s also “unlimited” PTO, but when is it acceptable to use it?
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Usually, even with salaried positions, you’re taking about a 40 hour week-ish. If it gets a lot more than that, it’s bad management, though there will be spikes and lulls.
Most companies with unlimited PTO have some guidelines. Like at mine, once you hit 160 hours (4 weeks) there’s another level of approval. So you can guess that four weeks is easy, more gets more scrutiny, but certainly isn’t impossible.
Every company is different. These are very reasonable questions to ask your manager. “Hey, I just wanted to make sure I understand expectations about…”
These are all great questions to ask your supervisor when you start. “What time do most people here usually start their workday?” is a super common question for people starting at a salaried position.
Check the employee handbook for details and definitions to see how they view PTO, etc. When I was originally hired they said my salary was calculated based on a 45-hour work week. While I usually fall an hour short, I do tend to work through my lunches (eat at my desk as I catch up on email or other lighter work) and there are a couple late nights or weekend events each year that balance that out.
Now: if I work a weekend event, I am told to take the equivalent time off elsewhere. That’s fair, and it’s nice to have the time back. If I have a dentist appointment or something, I can just go and come back. If I have to do an errand while shops are open, I can do that. As long as my work gets done it’s all good.
For day to day, I tend to show up & leave at the same time. They like that since it’s predictable for them. I’m usually a few minutes early and go home when I reach a stopping point. I found a vintage talking clock from the late 80s that still works and have it on my desk. I originally got it to annoy my office-mate but she thinks it’s funny and it actually reminds us to head home on time. Setting a recurring alarm to remind you it’s quitting time might help.
Overall I find salaried work more laid back, and setting your own routine helps keep a little structure for peace of mind. Just communicate to your supervisor about your comings & goings so they know how to plan.
Read up about your local laws about employment and what benefits you get. And don’t let the company screw you over. You don’t owe the company anything more than the contract says. The company won’t be loyal to you, so you don’t need to be loyal to it
