Hi Steve, I am very sorry to hear about your friends; I just had one of my oldest friends pass away last year as well and he was only 44. Life is too short. When I was at my 25th high school reunion, a friend told me that we've passed the threshold where we will be going to more funerals than weddings. I hope that time does not come for a couple of more decades as I am planning on getting married in 2014.

I read another article where they were talking about how the average worker works longer hours, with fewer days off than surfs in the middle ages. I wish the companies in the U.S. and Asia would adopt the European standard of about a month of vacation a year,as opposed to two weeks. I think the standard of living would actually increase as there would be more people needed to work and overtime would be a thing of the past, with a few exceptions, for when something unplanned happens. Unemployment would go down and people would live longer, with less stress. I also think that's why heart disease is lower in Europe as well.

It would be nice, but contemporary business thinking has been so inflexible. HR departments tend to frown on unconventional work schedules. Comp time is also another area HR does not like. I think as long as you do good work and present value for your company, the working hours should be between you and your boss.