Engineering Intern Ethical Question

[Deeko]

Clearly you're new at being an intern if you haven't learned how to stretch your work. If you keep working fast and ask for more work, as an intern, you'll likely get dumped with the crap your superiors don't want to do.

 

[Triumph]

I always worked my hours when I was an intern. An hour lunch meant I stayed an extra half hour. Even if I didn't do anything, I considered it "time served." Hell, break open a technical book and read that, at least it is something you should be doing anyway and is kinda work related.

Now, meh. I work late if I need to, leave early if I want to, it all averages out.

 

[Scarpozzi]

If you don't have a relationship with your boss where you can ask a simple question like that either:

1. You need to work on communication skills and ask your boss
2. You need to find another place of employement (eventually) and ride it out as long as you can
3. Do what it takes to get 40 in and screw the lame schedule of everyone else....it's your job and you agreed to 40...if they don't work 40 that's not your problem.

They won't fire you for asking what they think the best schedule for you to get your 40 in. Just ask them if they have a preference.

 

[nissan720]

When you talk with the boss don't make it a formal conversation. Just ask him what he thinks when he has a free moment.

Describe how if you get less than 40 hours the "evil HR people" will send you dirty letters (keep the conversation light) and tell him the solution you are looking for. Just put the ball in his court and give him a while to think about it.

Nissan

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: orakle
If the boss invites you out for drinks/supper/whatever, he can't expect you to go back to work afterwards and stay until you've done your 8 hours for the day. Just bill 40 hours a week and don't worry about it.

I think that with the emphasis on the work accomplished rather than the number of hours worked, it's fine.

That's just lying. Are you a liar? You're an intern, do the work, make the hours. That's what my internship was/is like. 8 hours each day in a cubicle screwing around with Java garbage collection in my case. That's simply how it's done.

If I finished early, I'd just screw around on the internet for 45 minutes or so, or I'd just log less than 40 hours. Check with your manager to see what's acceptable in regard to the latter. If you want to impress him, request more work.

What's the difference between doing that and going home early?

Nothing. I don't log the 45 minutes, but it looks better to leave with everyone else.