Your average working week - hours.

connundrum · 25-03-2009 09:18AM #1

Don't know if this has been done before, a quick search didn't throw much up.

I ask as my week has extended since the recession hit, and I feel the need to get in earlier and stay later to prove my worth (rightly or wrongly). I am completing more work by extending the hours - so its not like I'm just stretching the time out and staying around for the sake of it.

Very few people in the office stick to the 9-5 day now, whereas they used to up to last summer.

Average day is 8 - 6, Mon to Fri, occasionally working until 10pm some days, and occasionally working a few hours at the weekend. My phone is on 24/7 and I take calls from staff and clients untill approx 11pm.

I guess my average week would involve approx 55 - 60 hours excluding out of hours phone calls received.

petes · 25-03-2009 09:23AM

Standard 37.5 hours here. Jaysus 55-60 hours. You mus be wrecked every week!

here.from.day.1 · 25-03-2009 09:42AM

42 and a half here.

Blazer · 25-03-2009 09:46AM

normally 7.30-4pm.
I'm on call also full time so I always leave the office at 4pm barring an issue.
You have to balance your time and work otherwise you'll end up hating the bloody place..
oh wait..i already hate the bloody place..now where's my cheque?

KTRIC · 25-03-2009 09:48AM

I'm in work for 40 hours per week. Probably spend only 50% of that working.

gar120 · 25-03-2009 09:50AM

51.5 hrs a week:(

CiaranC · 25-03-2009 09:54AM

connundrum wrote: »

I guess my average week would involve approx 55 - 60 hours excluding out of hours phone calls received.

Ever hear of work/life balance?

connundrum · 25-03-2009 10:04AM

CiaranC wrote: »

Ever hear of work/life balance?

That'll come into play when I have a couple of years in this place under my belt I hope.

I'm 25 and getting married later this year. I don't see another job where I can earn this money and by God do I need it, so I'm willing to put in the leg work for the foreseeable future.

Apart from that, the general concensus amongst friends is that at this stage one should do anything it takes to hold onto a job - again, rightly or wrongly.

If the 50+ hour weeks continued for a few years, then it'd be time to reconsider.

Mmmm_Lemony · 25-03-2009 10:09AM

Used to work in a job and had to work at least 60 hours a week (5 x12) to make ends meet. Still working shift, but only 40 a week on average and get paid twice as much... Communism rules

jackblack99 · 25-03-2009 10:09AM

8-6:30. half hour for lunch

Have an Hons engineering degree

Get less than 30k a year.

Im getting rode

mikemac · 25-03-2009 10:16AM

8 - 7:00. 30 minutes for lunch only
Used to finish up at 9pm regularly

Hell ya I pull overtime for this! Some months it's one third of my salary.
Yes, I'm aware overtime is not guaranteed and can pulled at any stage. Not going to happen in this place though.

They let of staff go, the remaining staff simply cannot manage so stay late on overtime rate.
Staffs costs don't go so much after all, what management we have :rolleyes:

Iago · 25-03-2009 10:23AM

connundrum wrote: »

If the 50+ hour weeks continued for a few years, then it'd be time to reconsider.

Start reconsidering!

I had the same attitude as you starting off and 10 years I'm still averaging 50+ hours a week. The better you do, the more you have to do, and after the while it becomes habit and you start scheduling your day around the extra couple of hours you have when nobody else is around and bothering you.

I enjoy my job so I don't mind so much, but I doubt you'll get to go back to your standard 37.5 or 40 hour week

connundrum · 25-03-2009 10:32AM

Iago wrote: »

I enjoy my job so I don't mind so much, but I doubt you'll get to go back to your standard 37.5 or 40 hour week

I agree that I probably will never go down to the basic week, and half of me doesn't think that'd be a good thing.

I'm in middle management at the minute and can see that with the extra responsibility comes the extra workload, and I couldn't get my job done in 40 hours (despite many attempts initially). So unless I start going backwards, choose to go backwards or become a director of the company, the hours probably won't go down.

CiaranC · 25-03-2009 10:41AM

I dont understand this mindset. Why would you work more than the hours you are paid for?

Rabies · 25-03-2009 10:47AM

Last week I did 73hrs.

Usually I do 45-55hrs a week.
I've just hired another manager. Over the next two weeks I expected her to be trained enough so that I can spread some of the workload around and cut my hrs back to 45-50 and be able to concentrate on other areas that I need to.

Iago · 25-03-2009 10:48AM

CiaranC wrote: »

I dont understand this mindset. Why would you work more than the hours you are paid for?

Why wouldn't you?

In simplified terms say you've two options open to you

Option 1
Start in a company aged 21 and work your 37.5 hours a week, no more and no less. Take the basic increases and any bonuses you might get for as long as you're there. Maybe a few years down the line you decide to move company, and you get a decent increase in salary to go with it.

Rinse and repeat above for the rest of your career and retire at 65.

Option 2
Start in a company aged 21 and work whatever hours (say 50+ a week)are required to over deliver on your objectives. Get a higher pay increase and bonus every year and be first in line for promotion within your area as well as being considered for roles elsewhere in the company. Get a promotion, a pay increase and more repsonsibility, work whatever hours are required to over deliver on your objectives in your new role. Get another promotion, or switch company but going for a more senior role. Get another decent increase in salary and more experience.

Rinse and repeat above for the rest of your career and retire at 45.

Which is preferable?

Even outside of the above, there's a certain pride to be taken in your work and often that means going an extra couple of yards to make sure that things get done. To be honest I couldn't imagine being any other way inclined.

CiaranC · 25-03-2009 10:57AM

Fair enough. Id rather enjoy life now, while I am young, than when I am older I guess. Ive never been one for this 'sacrifice the present for the future lark'. Each to his own I guess.

Also, in my (technical) industry, people are promoted based on their ability and knowledge, not on their willingness to work for free. Maybe its different elsewhere.

Iago · 25-03-2009 11:03AM

CiaranC wrote: »

Fair enough. Id rather enjoy life now, while I am young, than when I am older I guess. Ive never been one for this 'sacrifice the present for the future lark'. Each to his own I guess.

Also, in my (technical) industry, people are promoted based on their ability and knowledge, not on their willingness to work for free. Maybe its different elsewhere.

Yeah I see your point but who said anything about not enjoying life? I work long hours but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy life.

In the last 12 months I've been to Manchester, Berlin & New York on weekends away. I spent 2 & 1/2 weeks in Cape Town & I was at the Champions League final in Moscow. Add the weekends spent with my family and friends and the fact that I play football with my mates once a week and I think I've a pretty balanced lifestyle.

As for promotion I don't think it's much different anywhere else, but when two candidates have a similar skillset, the one that seems most committed is more likely to be preferred.

Blazer · 25-03-2009 11:23AM

jackblack99 wrote: »

8-6:30. half hour for lunch

Have an Hons engineering degree

Get less than 30k a year.

Im getting rode

christ you are...hell you'd prob fit a fist up your ass and you wouldn't notice it at this stage.:eek:

John Mason · 25-03-2009 12:54PM

35 hours here

with an flexi option

Owen · 25-03-2009 12:57PM

I do somewhere around 68-70 hours a week. I work 6 days a week, 9-6 without taking lunches, and work in a band 2 nights a week roughly.

Sir Oxman · 25-03-2009 05:54PM

37.5hrs a week - kind of custom and practice, leave when specific workload is completed, there is a chance I would have to do extra for *nothing but it pans out.

Over a 4week period, I average 35hrs pw

*not really nothing as it's swings and roundabouts - would have no problem giving time back if and when required.
That's how a good job should be run IMO.

kaimera · 25-03-2009 06:00PM

37.5 when i'm in ireland.

~time and a half/double when I'm not.

wmpdd3 · 25-03-2009 11:41PM

55-60 on a good week.
5 days Mostly 8-6 ish

And that's just to delegate, imagine if I had to do the work too.

Remember this when somebody tells you the manager isn't here today, they can't live in work.

leeroybrown · 26-03-2009 08:25AM

I'm normally in the 40 - 50 range somewhere with occasional weeks where more is required. I don't really mind the extra hours too much as I like my job and I have the flexibility to take short weeks whenever I need to. As far as I'm concerned I get paid fairly well to do a good job and don't mind putting in a few extra hours within reason.

Shelflife · 26-03-2009 01:38PM

Currently myself and my wife are doing 70+ each per week , 7 days , started a new project in jan.

Mink · 26-03-2009 01:42PM

37.5 but hopefully getting about 5hrs of OT over next while.
3 nights a week I paint til 10 & throughout most of the weekend - haven't sold any paintings this year so far so not exactly getting remunerated for it.

Mrs OBumble · 26-03-2009 02:27PM

CiaranC wrote: »

I dont understand this mindset. Why would you work more than the hours you are paid for?

Because it's better than seeing yourself made redundant ('cos the company is in trouble), or facing discinplinary proceedings (because you're not getting enough work done).

Because you genuinely love what you're doing.

Because you're at the beginning of your career, and committed to learning as much as you can.

Because the job has seasonal highs and lows, and you have to work the extra time during the highs.

All sorts of reasons really.

Personally, I've worked with a clock-watcher once, and he was a pain. No matter what time he arrived, he didn't start work until exactly 8:35am (the scheduled time). Expected us all to rigidly take breaks, and troop off to have tea together during them (yeah, right ... you want a coffee, you grab it!). If the phone rang 1 minute before the scheduled lunch-time, he wouldn't answer it because "whatever" was going to take longer than he had available. Etc. Never again ...

rain on · 26-03-2009 03:06PM

38 hours AND NOT A MINUTE LONGER

I have been known to come in on weekends to get things finished, but that's very rare. I can get all my work done in the 38 hours and I got extra bonus in my last performance review for exceeding expectations, so I don't really feel a need to do any more than that.

Xcellor · 26-03-2009 03:56PM

37.5 on salary with flexi time with paid overtime.

8:30 - 4:30.

doolox · 26-03-2009 05:51PM

Used to work 42 hrs a week when I had a job. Other people on regular work week had a 39 hr week but unpaid lunch break which equated to a 41.5 hr week.
Because of the shift patterns and the need to cover long hours they often worked 10 hour days to cover the support needed by the shift workers.
In all the shift pattern was a better deal because you got paid overtime for every extra minute you worked but some of the regular work week people didn't.
Things against the shift was working bank holidays, weekends and nights and working Christmas etc but overall these things are not important when you are older and don't have a hectic nightlife or social life.
I wouldn't dream of working extra hours for nothing unless I was developing a relevant, marketable, transferable and generic skill which I could use to either increase my earnings or transfer to a better paid job.
Sometimes people work long hours for that reason and it can increase their bargaining position and earning power.
Other times they are living on false promises and get shafted in the end when they go looking for payback................

Carpenter · 26-03-2009 05:59PM

Holy god I did 108 working hrs last week where does that put me LOL

geurrp the yard · 26-03-2009 06:09PM

Carpenter wrote: »

Holy god I did 108 working hrs last week where does that put me LOL

Is that legal?

geurrp the yard · 26-03-2009 06:12PM

CiaranC wrote: »

I dont understand this mindset. Why would you work more than the hours you are paid for?

Spot on.

26-03-2009 06:15PM

We're on flexitime so I generally work 7.30-4 with a half hour for lunch
builds up the clock then I can take a day off

Not interested in doing 100s of hours extra like some though, if I have extra hours I will do and previously have done 10-4 days

Cormb · 26-03-2009 06:22PM

I probably do 40-45 hours a week.
not sure how much of that is actual work though

Volvoboy · 27-03-2009 02:57AM

91 Hours most weeks.

craichoe · 27-03-2009 02:15PM

Lot of folks aren't allowed to work more than 37.5 hours a week where i work.

The lads that aren't unionised can end up putting in some crazy hours though ... they get paid savage money though.

Carroller16 · 27-03-2009 02:18PM

32.5 hours with flexi

doolox · 27-03-2009 04:45PM

The chances of being able to get reduced working hours in this recession are slim.
There was a time when each successive generation improved on their working conditions regarding hours worked, protection from unethical practices like bullying, unfair dismissal etc. and wages.
Now the recession will mean people will have to work longer for less, if they can get a job at all.
Hopefully the government will intervene to dole out the available pool of work more equitably to avoid social unrest and avoid exploitation of those still in a job.
I won't say lucky enough to have a job because we are in for hard times and employers demand more for less from their workforces and those in work will only be marginally better off overall than those out of work.
What will happen is that jobs will gravitate towards minimum wage and all the manufacturing jobs will go leaving only retail and other customer-intensive jobs around which can be very stressful and intensive to do.

themadchef · 27-03-2009 05:13PM

Winter time i work around 15 hrs a week. Generally Sat and Sun.

From May to End of August it's 7 days a week and any thing up to 12 hrs a day. Balances out i think over the year. I'm paid a salary so i never count my hours as such because it doesnt matter..15 or 75 i get paid the same.

If i have to take a day off in the summer, i take it. It's a case of make hay while the sun shines. I love my job so the hours are never a problem. If i want time off i take it in the Winter.

BubbleWrap85 · 27-03-2009 11:44PM

Work 9.20 - 3, 5 days a week.... with 40 mins for lunch each day, so I guess that makes it about.... 25 hours a week? Yes us teachers have it easy! [By the way, I actually do prep work outside of those hours so you can probably add on at least another 8 hours]. . . . .

Gotta say, I'm shocked at the lengthy hours some of you work on here. I wouldn't do it. I know sometimes [particuarly now] there may be no alternatives, and it may be a means to an end, but I couldn't ever work anything like 60, 70, 80 or even 90 hours?! Madness!! Ye'll burn yerselves out!!

Mena · 28-03-2009 06:28PM

I did 5 years at 60 to 80 hours a week. Had a 1 week break (as in no contact with work) during those 5 years, though I did take other time off, it just meant working from home/road or wherever. For 100k+ a year it was well worth it.

Now I'm down to 40 hours a week or less, very little money, but so much time to spend with the wife and kid it's worth it. Much happier now.

Climate Expert · 28-03-2009 06:37PM

Iago wrote: »

Why wouldn't you?

In simplified terms say you've two options open to you

Option 1
Start in a company aged 21 and work your 37.5 hours a week, no more and no less. Take the basic increases and any bonuses you might get for as long as you're there. Maybe a few years down the line you decide to move company, and you get a decent increase in salary to go with it.

Rinse and repeat above for the rest of your career and retire at 65.

Option 2
Start in a company aged 21 and work whatever hours (say 50+ a week)are required to over deliver on your objectives. Get a higher pay increase and bonus every year and be first in line for promotion within your area as well as being considered for roles elsewhere in the company. Get a promotion, a pay increase and more repsonsibility, work whatever hours are required to over deliver on your objectives in your new role. Get another promotion, or switch company but going for a more senior role. Get another decent increase in salary and more experience.

Rinse and repeat above for the rest of your career and retire at 45.

Which is preferable?

Even outside of the above, there's a certain pride to be taken in your work and often that means going an extra couple of yards to make sure that things get done. To be honest I couldn't imagine being any other way inclined.

Option 2 just does not happen in reality. You will need to be promoted to some massively senior position, ie the CEO to even think about retiring at that age. If you look at all the CEOs in companies they all then to stay in that position as long as possible sometimes into their 70s.

Getting promoted is all about being good at your job and not about putting in pointless face time to make up for your other shortcomings.

I do 34 hours a week net for a lot of money and expect to do so for the next 40 enjoyable years of my career.

For 100k+ a year it was well worth it.

I doubt it was when you factor in tax, working two weeks in one, damage to health physical and mental.

wmpdd3 · 28-03-2009 09:12PM

"I do 34 hours a week net for a lot of money and expect to do so for the next 40 enjoyable years of my career."

OK I have the enjoyable bit can I have the 34 hr week bit please, I can start Monday!!

Mena · 28-03-2009 10:02PM

Climate Expert wrote: »

I doubt it was when you factor in tax, working two weeks in one, damage to health physical and mental.

Your take home is in and around 6k per month. It was worth it.

CiaranC · 28-03-2009 10:07PM

Mena wrote: »

Your take home is in and around 6k per month. It was worth it.

I wouldnt do it for 10k per month. Depends where your priorities lie.

sonneti · 28-03-2009 10:39PM

60 hrs+ per week starting my new business which I'm loving.. the weird part is I'm the laziest man alive when working for anyone else.

ixoy · 29-03-2009 12:20AM

37.5 hours in general, sometimes more (about 43 this week). Not meant to do overtime because it costs the company more.

CiaranC wrote: »

I dont understand this mindset. Why would you work more than the hours you are paid for?

Umm many jobs require you to do unpaid overtime at specific times. That's often the way with salaried wages.

Iago · 29-03-2009 11:49AM

Climate Expert wrote: »

Option 2 just does not happen in reality. You will need to be promoted to some massively senior position, ie the CEO to even think about retiring at that age. If you look at all the CEOs in companies they all then to stay in that position as long as possible sometimes into their 70s.

Just because it's not the norm doesn't mean it doesn't happen in reality. I fully intend to be retired by the time I'm 45. Retiring early is possible for anybody that is clear about what they are trying to achieve and has the drive to get themselves there. I see my current extended hours as short-term pain for long-term gain.

Climate Expert wrote:

Getting promoted is all about being good at your job and not about putting in pointless face time to make up for your other shortcomings.

If the extra hours you put in are just for the sake of being seen then you're correct, it's a pointless exercise and won't serve you anything. If however the extra hours you put in result in actually delivering more value for the company then it gets rewarded. It's all about individuals of course, we each have our own goals and short, medium and long term plans to get there.

Climate Expert wrote:

I do 34 hours a week net for a lot of money and expect to do so for the next 40 enjoyable years of my career.

Good for you, it's important to be clear about what you want. I do 50+ hours for a lot of money and fully expect to do so until I retire at 45.

snollup · 29-03-2009 12:03PM

Carpenter wrote: »

Holy god I did 108 working hrs last week where does that put me LOL

So you drive a taxi then?

Adout 38 with flexi time.

1.25hrs for lunch though & finish an hour ealier on Fridays.

Your average working week - hours.

Average hours per week. 149 votes

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