COO overcommited features to our client so now we have to do overtime until June so that we can save his ass.

Its his fault, why the fuck are we responsible for his incompetence.

What? No. You aren't responsible. Why do you HAVE TO work overtime? Being forced to work overtime is pretty illegal in most countries.

@filthyranter How about overtime with no pay and no offset? It is very rampant in my country.

@silly-symphony he did not consult the developers about the features and timeline LOL.

@filthyranter unfortunately, we are not "most countries" 😐 employer can require us to work overtime for as long as we are paid for it. But still, I think it is unfair we are shouldering commitments we did not make.

@Devnergy here is how it usually goes:

1. Client ask for an estimate
2. The management, being the clueless fucktards they are, immediately commits a timeline.
3. Management ask devs if they can do it in X months, if not do overtime.

Gather all your votes and send a no-confidence letter to the Board of Directors and get him fired

Oh, I LOVE when that happens! Without any sarcasm!

In such cases I deliberately no not try to work my ass off. Overtimes? Sure. One or two days - not a problem. Later on my performance will drop and new bugs will appear biting everyone in their asses.

I loooove to see clueless managers burn when their imaginary estimates, deadlines and agreements begin to fall apart. Then the financial loss comes into the picture. Then - the client goes away. Devs are exhausted and can no longer save the sinking ship, so they can as well grab some popcorn and watch the rest of the clients going away.

The company is now dead because some tiny-dicked middle management guy thought he could do devs' [minions'] work better than the devs themselves :)

I DO love a good mgmt fuckup :)

@silly-symphony For your point number 2. Management commits as fast as they can for a timeline because they want to make a sale OR close the deal to the client LOL. Secure the deal first then solve problems later lol!

Good for you, you are paid with overtime. In my country, no OT pay and no offset most of the time.

@netikras if the company's client goes away then the jobs of the developers are in great danger most of the time.

As long as the developer have high income skills then he/she can get another job.

@Devnergy devs are in high demand. Finding another job should not be a problem :) however killing the company is a great loss for all the owners. Hence it's in their best interest to keep their 'minions' warm and happy :)

Here, bosses can demand overtime if it's due to things out of their control.

Like, a boat shop and a storm flood announced so that everything has to be moved to upper floors. Or a massive wave of influenza knocking out half of the staff.

However, accepting more orders than they have staff doesn't count, than boss either has to decline or do his job and get more staff.

It's your responsibility because if it ain't done, your company will lose money. Do that enough and you will lose your job, long before the coo does

@martygeek OR, you (and your colleagues) could just look for another job from the start, and leave the stupid COO to burn alone in his own mess. Natural selection, baby!

@martygeek An old American Native wisdom says, a horse without rider is still a horse, but a rider without horse isn't a rider anymore.

My client asked me to do overtime too because he couldn't sell to the business that it would take another 3 months. Well, I replied that I'm very willing to do overtime but I cannot promise it because I have other obligations in my free time. So, I ended up doing just a couple of extra hours now and then. He does pay for each extra hour though but he cannot put this on us. It sucks that you can't sell it to the business but that's life. We just cannot work faster and the product needs extensive third party testing too which will take at least one week.

Bottom line: you can always say that you are very willing to do overtime but cannot promise it due to other (private) priorities. This way you manage his expectations up front without turning him down. Later, if he says that you promised to work overtime,.you can always say that you would have done so if you could. No explanation in regard to private circumstances is required.

Why would the COO commit anything?

@mundo03 'cause he's a git.

@endor yes. You gotta have lots of high income skills. High chance that will help you get another job as soon as possible.

@CodeMasterAlex good thing your boss/client pays you overtime. In my situation = no overtime pay + no offset. Now that's satisfying 😂