There's a strong startup community in the UK (well London at least), also lots of games companies, and then you have the financial sector where the rewards are very high (if soul destroying). So yeah there's lots going on.
Obviously it depends which company you work for in terms of how well you're treated, that's obviously an intangible. For example I employ several developers now, and I very, very rarely ask them to work out of hours.
If they have ever done it then it's because they wanted to, I also will stop them working excessive hours - which stops the peer-pressure aspect of the long-hours culture.
I give clear ownership of key areas of our product to developers, so they feel a sense of pride and responsibility for what they're doing.
I will also offer pay rises when I feel they're underpaid, I don't want to wait until they're halfway out of the door before offering what they're worth. Also I'm flexible with working-hours and remote working.
It's not hard to have a basic respect for your staff.
Even the games industry which I said didn't pay well, with long hours etc. is good to work in as a young developer. It's a very creative environment to be in, and most of the programmers I worked with were hyper-talented and have gone on to running their own startups, or are high up the food chain now.
So in terms of learning ones trade and gaining long term contacts it's great.
Obviously it depends which company you work for in terms of how well you're treated, that's obviously an intangible. For example I employ several developers now, and I very, very rarely ask them to work out of hours.
If they have ever done it then it's because they wanted to, I also will stop them working excessive hours - which stops the peer-pressure aspect of the long-hours culture.
I give clear ownership of key areas of our product to developers, so they feel a sense of pride and responsibility for what they're doing.
I will also offer pay rises when I feel they're underpaid, I don't want to wait until they're halfway out of the door before offering what they're worth. Also I'm flexible with working-hours and remote working.
It's not hard to have a basic respect for your staff.
Even the games industry which I said didn't pay well, with long hours etc. is good to work in as a young developer. It's a very creative environment to be in, and most of the programmers I worked with were hyper-talented and have gone on to running their own startups, or are high up the food chain now.
So in terms of learning ones trade and gaining long term contacts it's great.