Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [work]

38 questions
86
votes
1 answer

Are light-on-dark colour schemes for computer screens better for programmers?

There is somewhat general scientific agreement that in general case for reading, dark text on light background is more readable than light on dark. However, most studies have shown that dark characters on a light background are superior to light…
vartec
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2 answers

Does working over 40 hours a week make you less productive?

Does modern research prescribe 40 hour workweeks, and agree that increasing hours doesn't proportionally increase productivity you turn in less and worse work, and risk dangerous mistakes longer workweeks turn counter-productive after some…
Jesvin Jose
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57
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2 answers

Can you have your lunch at your work-desk in France?

According to this NPR article and this podcast episode (published June 2022): The French labor code prohibits workers from eating lunch in the workplace. Is this a real French law, and does violating it have actual legal consequences, or is it…
Agnishom Chattopadhyay
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46
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1 answer

Do London underground drivers earn more and work less than NHS doctors?

This Facebook photo protesting the recent London underground (Tube) strikes claims that London underground drivers earn more money and have less working hours than National Health Service (NHS) doctors: Alternate image with sources Train Drivers…
March Ho
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38
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3 answers

Is it legal to hire only beautiful people?

Josephine Fairley wrote a column in the Telegraph claims that it is perfectly legal to hire only beautiful people. But while it's illegal to discriminate on the grounds of gender, sex, race, religion, age or disability, there's nothing on the…
march
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33
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1 answer

Is professional software development discriminatory?

It's quite a common experience that there are fewer women and African (-American) people in programming as warranted by the natural proportions. It is not so obvious whether this is due to discrimination or cultural differences (the difference being…
Sklivvz
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28
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1 answer

Is it preferable to use a computer in a darkened room?

In his latest blog post, Jeff Atwood states: We computer geeks like it dark. Really dark. Ideally, we'd be in a cave. A cave … with an internet connection. The one thing that we can't abide is direct overhead lighting. Every time the overhead light…
Sklivvz
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22
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1 answer

Is it true that "People Over 40 Should Only Work 3 Days A Week"?

EatLiveGlow claims that Recent research by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research found that, whilst working up to 30 hours a week is good for cognitive function in the over 40s, any more than that causes performance to…
Sklivvz
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22
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1 answer

Did a US software developer outsource his own job to China?

I heard this story repeated by various news sites about a software developer in the US who outsourced his own job to China, without his employer's knowledge The original source is is Verizon's Security Blog. The story has been reported widely: CBC…
Biff MaGriff
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19
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1 answer

What study showed that using headphones to drown out office noise is detrimental?

I was watching an interview with Spolsky and he mentioned some study that showed listening to music with headphones caused a drop in having "deep thoughts" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF8ZVB-v3IM#t=23m17s I can't find this anywhere; what was the…
Nick T
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19
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1 answer

Does working at a standing desk consume more calories than sitting?

src I've heard conflicting claims: Site that claims it maks a crap load of difference Site that claims it doesn't make a shred of difference What does science say? You may find this question about the general health effects also interesting
Sklivvz
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18
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Is the average office worker only productive for 3 hours a day?

A recent answer on StackExchange linked to a blog post claiming that: Research suggests that in an eight-hour day, the average worker is only productive for two hours and 53 minutes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American…
Elmy
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17
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1 answer

Does caffeine increase productivity in office jobs?

There is a common conception amongst coffee drinkers (including myself) that drinking coffee increases productivity in office jobs. Is this true? Have there been any definitive studies which link caffeine consumption to productivity? This is the…
Dara Java
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16
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1 answer

Were only half of US college graduates from 2006-2011 employed full-time in 2012?

According to an online article SmartMoney magazine titled, "The Jobless Class of 2012": Only a half of those who graduated since 2006 are now employed full time, according to a recent Rutgers University survey. Here's a link to the PDF report…
blunders
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15
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Do longer work weeks result in less productivity for knowledge workers?

There are lot of articles on the internet that talk about diminishing productivity in relation to overtime and include graphs like the following: but I cannot seem to find a reputable and scientific study. What studies are there to prove this…
Dan
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