If you're lucky enough to get hired by a top company, you better be prepared to put in long hours. One could say that the 10-hour work day is the new eight-hour work day. You also better be prepared to spend at least one weekend day in the office. You pretty much have to, as everyone else is doing this. That's how you make managing director or partner.

At places like Goldman Sachs (GS Goldman Sachs news) the hours are even more strenuous. But does this assumption of heavy work extend to the support staff? That question is being posed now by Hope Smith, who has sued the Blackstone Group (Blackstone Group news) for non-payment of overtime wages.

According to Reuters, Smith, of Cambridge, Mass., said the esteemed private equity company ordered her to work up to 50 hours a week at its Boston office from November 2007 through August 2009, but the firm did not see fit to pay her overtime wages as it considered her position the "lead administrative assistant." This should have all been spelled out in the employment agreement, but it does highlight the plight of support staff. At firms across the industry, she may have some silent supporters. 

For more:
- here's the article

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