This question is directed at those who are or have recently been game programmers, or who are friends with such people. I'm trying to get a feel for the amount of hours per week spent on the job, and the expectations of the employers these days. I know it can vary depending on where you are in the cycle (and who you work for), but with that in mind I'd like to get an idea of the overall workload from those who have specific knowledge. Also I'm curious about the vacation/holiday policies of the company you (or your friend) work for. [Edited by - BS-er on November 18, 2005 9:16:15 PM]

Typically a 40 hour working week.

Some studios offer a flexi-time policy. There are usually hours you're expected to be in - 10am-4pm for example plus whatever other hours to make up the 40.

Overtime is expected when necessary, and is usually not paid. (not where I've worked anyway - in crunch time you have to get things done - bad project management can make this suck royally.)

In the UK, holiday is ok-ish, around 14-21 days paid per year, plus the occasional bank holiday. Paid sick leave is often accrued based on time served, but you can usually expect about 2 weeks per year (sometimes gained at a rate of say a day a month). These practices can vary from studio to studio, and in some cases from project to project, if tight timescales are involved.

I know of no UK developers who pay for overtime. The one I was at I think was 20days holiday; the one I recently turned down was the same I think, although it built slightly as you stayed longer.

Sick days often increases from maybe 20-per-year when youstart to 60+ after a few years.

Where I worked it was a 40-hour week most of the time, a few extra hours hear and there and the inevitable few days of working till 9pm every couple or 3 months.

In the US I couldn't say - don't normal programmers get worked harder than in the UK?

Usually work 6:30am to 4:30pm. So that's 45 hours/week. Sometimes I come in on a weekend for a little crunch action, but its rare to hit 60.

60 sick days? You people in the UK need to eat a LOT better if you're that sick. Wow. My last job gave 5 days for your first year, period. I used two days in 5 years and those were just days I didn't feel like waking up. It's been nearly 8 years since I've had anything that's lasted more then 48 hours. I like your vacation time though, but I assume you're salary if you get no O/T?

Regular week is 40 hours, regular hours are from 8:30 to 5:30 with 9 to five being mandatory, near milestone we sometimes do 45 to 50 hours, more if things are realy going bad.

We get two weeks vacation and the office is closed 2 weeks for christmas and the new year, but only one week is paid, so we take acumulated time(overtime) to get that other week paid.

The amount of sick days in the UK is to protect the employer. Most companies in the UK (regardless of the industry) will allow employees to self-certify for up to 4-5 consecutive days, after which they need a letter from the doctor. The 20/60 day figure above is not indicative of what you're expected to take off, but to say that if you have long-term illness you will remain on full pay for that period. After that, it typically goes down to a percentage of your wage. If you managed to take that many days on self-certification, chances are that you wouldn't be working there for much longer...

Over here in Holland:

- 40 hours per week
- you get free time in return for crunch time
- full payment if you're sick for one year at most
- about 25 holidays which you can use each year (you still get paid)

(but we pay lots of tax :)

At the last company I worked for, it was 40 hours a week for the first 5 months of the project, and for the last 2 months of the project it was 50 to 70 hours a week. No paid overtime.

I happen to know a leading games programmer for a very successful xbox game series.

It is not uncommon for him to get to work around 10-11pm and be leaving at the early hours of the morning.

They even have a bed in the office.

If the company is a balls-out serious games company where every employee is worked to the max and enjoys their job (like he does), then don't expect these 40 hour weeks that are bounded around.

Expect low pay and high hours, but great rewards at corporate events, like driving ferraris around etc, and going to stringfellows nightclub all expenses paid.

Up to you really.

The bigger the studio, the less the expectation i guess.

If you ever go for interview, as to talk to a general member of staff 'alone' to get the truth.