The value of time

After having worked here in China for several weeks, I'm starting to understand the dynamics of the Chinese architectural practice.

There are a few things of note. First, employees do not benefit from the 40-hour work week that we enjoy in North America. Workers are paid monthly. Although a salary guarantees the amount of money made, it does not guarantee a set number of hours. This allows the employer to squeeze as much time out of the worker as possible, because it doesn't cost the company anything more. Overtime becomes standard, and workers do not complain because there is always a good supply of unemployed people on the fringe who could work cheaper and longer.

Having said that, the system works because employees do not demand much. Their lives revolve around work, and they have little to do outside of work. The work day is divided into two parts, separated by an hour and half "siesta". People generally use the spare time after lunch to sleep. At the studio, there are foldable cots for sleeping- quite an interesting phenomenon. However, aside from the brief pause during the day, there is no other time to take a break.

Although this sounds abusive by North American standards, it is a lifestyle here in China. People accept the long hours, and fruitful designs are produced as a result of it. Dinner is provided if people stay late- not so much to entice people to stay longer- but as a basic necessity for willing employees to extend their day. Perhaps a side benefit is that people enjoy working when they do not need to count every single hour. Profitability is not longer strictly based on efficiency... (and since when was design ever efficient?)