I am a software developer, I worked at a few different companies, each one had a different policy, let me explain:
1 - First company made you log all your time against tasks. What I mean is your manager assigns you some tasks, each task has an estimate for how long it should take you, and you log how much it actually takes you, then at the end of the day you submit your tasks to your manager. All the time you log in one day has to equal at least 8 hours (but no overtime pay if it's more than 8). They often review tasks to make sure people aren't too much over the estimate. This job was terrible, I was there for 9-10 hours a day in order to log 8 hours of work. It also created an atmosphere where people never want to help each other because the time you spend helping someone you can't work on your own task so you risk going over estimate. Very stressful, and I was not happy or productive.
2 - This next company was much better, you have to log your time but not against tasks. At the end of each day you just fill out what time you came in, when you took your lunch break, and what time you leave, and what you were doing while you were there. There was different "codes" you had to log, like 1 for programming, 2 for testing, 3 for meetings, 4 for writing documentation, 5 for breaks, etc. You have to log 8 hours a day but if you work less than 8 that's ok you can work more than 8 the next day as long as your total for the week is at least 40. This was much better than the above company although still not ideal.
3 - My company now, there is no logging at all. Officially I'm require to work 8 hours a day but they trust me enough that they dont' make me log anything to prove it. I find this actually makes me the most productive cause I don't have to spend time worrying about where I'll log my time, and I am able to spend time helping coworkers if they need it. As long as you finish your work on time they don't care if you work 12 hours a day or you work 4 hours a day and spend the other 4 surfing the net. I get much more work done than at the other places. After working here, I will never agree to work at another place like the 1st company, even for a 50% pay increase. The 2nd company is not ideal but I didn't mind it too much.
What is it like at your job?
1 - First company made you log all your time against tasks. What I mean is your manager assigns you some tasks, each task has an estimate for how long it should take you, and you log how much it actually takes you, then at the end of the day you submit your tasks to your manager. All the time you log in one day has to equal at least 8 hours (but no overtime pay if it's more than 8). They often review tasks to make sure people aren't too much over the estimate. This job was terrible, I was there for 9-10 hours a day in order to log 8 hours of work. It also created an atmosphere where people never want to help each other because the time you spend helping someone you can't work on your own task so you risk going over estimate. Very stressful, and I was not happy or productive.
2 - This next company was much better, you have to log your time but not against tasks. At the end of each day you just fill out what time you came in, when you took your lunch break, and what time you leave, and what you were doing while you were there. There was different "codes" you had to log, like 1 for programming, 2 for testing, 3 for meetings, 4 for writing documentation, 5 for breaks, etc. You have to log 8 hours a day but if you work less than 8 that's ok you can work more than 8 the next day as long as your total for the week is at least 40. This was much better than the above company although still not ideal.
3 - My company now, there is no logging at all. Officially I'm require to work 8 hours a day but they trust me enough that they dont' make me log anything to prove it. I find this actually makes me the most productive cause I don't have to spend time worrying about where I'll log my time, and I am able to spend time helping coworkers if they need it. As long as you finish your work on time they don't care if you work 12 hours a day or you work 4 hours a day and spend the other 4 surfing the net. I get much more work done than at the other places. After working here, I will never agree to work at another place like the 1st company, even for a 50% pay increase. The 2nd company is not ideal but I didn't mind it too much.
What is it like at your job?