I hear a major American financial market data organisation is having big problems trying to recruit staff in London. The pay package sounds interesting and the company is one that would look good on the CV, until they tell you how many hours a week they expect (45 hours) and how little holiday you're going to get (15 days). I've heard tales of people laughing and walking straight out of interviews on being told this.

To put this in perspective a pretty typical UK job is around 37.5 hours a week with around 25 days holiday, assuming there's around 10 statutory holidays a year as well, that's 1687.5 hours per year. These chaps however wanted 2115 hours, and were they willing to pay the 25% extra for the 25% extra hours? Nope. That's just dumb, why alienate your workforce from the very first day they sign up? I can't imagine that a tired, pissed off workforce are very efficient.