I just wondered what sort of hours fellow forum members worked. I have been in my new job (third one this year!) almost three months and, with overtime, am averaging fifty-two hours per week.

What about you?

Jeez....never worked that long a week in my life.

I typically do between 33 and 37 hours a week 'in the office'. I also do a couple of hours writing / software writing each day.

Joe :)

I average around sixty hours a week,salaried too.so no overtime:loopy:

32.5 - 35 hours pw in the 'office' plus several hours planning/catching up at home.

Originally posted by deano
I average around sixty hours a week,salaried too.so no overtime:loopy:

Sixty hours, That's a long week. I've been there, too but at least I've always got paid extra for doing it.

Hey, Joe: I spend a lot of time in the 'office'. I write regularly (Sheffield Forum Column plus other stuff) which takes up quite a bit of time and I have also just started AS level psychology - and I swim two or three times a week.

The rest of the time I sleep.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Sixty hours, That's a long week. I've been there, too but at least I've always got paid extra for doing it.

Hey, Joe: I spend a lot of time in the 'office'. I write regularly (Sheffield Forum Column plus other stuff) which takes up quite a bit of time and I have also just started AS level psychology - and I swim two or three times a week.

The rest of the time I sleep.
Yeah i know,really can't explain why i do it,think it's some kind of in built work ethic,it's not like i'm on a good wage either,that's why i want to work for myself,if i did those hours i'd be a millionaire:thumbsup:

I work shifts on an IT helpdesk.

Week 1 Days - mon-thurs 0730-1630
Week 2 Nights - mon-thurs 2230-0800
Weeks 3 OFF - fri-thurs
week 4 Weekend days - fri-mon 0730-2000
week 5 Weekend nights - fri-mon 1930-0800
followed by evenings tue-thur 1230-2300

Somelong shifts but plenty of time off. A whole week off every 5 weeks.

Originally posted by coopster1974
I work shifts on an IT helpdesk.

Week 1 Days - mon-thurs 0730-1630
Week 2 Nights - mon-thurs 2230-0800
Weeks 3 OFF - fri-thurs
week 4 Weekend days - fri-mon 0730-2000
week 5 Weekend nights - fri-mon 1930-0800
followed by evenings tue-thur 1230-2300

Somelong shifts but plenty of time off. A whole week off every 5 weeks.

Man, plenty of variation there. Life can't be boring for you. The time off makes up for the unsociable hours. Bet it's great, actually.

Its great - I now see more of my wife and kids than I ever did working 9-5.
Although some weekends, like now, I dont see em at all.

But the huge shift allowance makes up for it ;) My wife certainly approves!!!

Also working 2 weekends on the trot means my liver get a bit of a rest! But I will be making up for it next friday :)

60 - 70, sometimes more, rarely less.

I werk' 26 hours a day, and I get up 2 hours before I goto bed to goto work!

I dunno, you lot are just loafers!

*cough*

No, I dont work at all. Although im on 24 hour "on call" for friends and family PC problems

Originally posted by Tony
60 - 70, sometimes more, rarely less.

Well, that's the record up to now. Come on, workaholics, lick that!

when i used to work on security think i once did a 89 hour week lol
was knackered bless me

now im on 37 hours a week

9-5 mon-fri

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Well, that's the record up to now. Come on, workaholics, lick that!
I said i averaged sixty hours a week,have done seventy five,nearly killed me though!!

Originally posted by deano
I said i averaged sixty hours a week,have done seventy five,nearly killed me though!!
Ps that's in a five day week.

I have bankers hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Salary too so no such thing as overtime. I get by with doing about 45 hours a week but I know my boss would prefer me to do more. She'd like me to come in on Saturday to catch up too. Stuff that! I'd rather go without a lunch break and eat at my desk. My days off are sacred.

60-70 hours also.
work around europe a lot so changing time zones ever day kinda plays with your head.
work a lot from home, but sometimes Sheffield or London office.

What we should really ask is how effective the hours worked are.

I write software for my day job - I agree my deliverables with my manager or client and then deliver. If I nede more hours to deliver, then I'll work them.

However, I've worked with people who do 10 hour days and their productivity is often dreadful. I recently worked with a guy who started at 7-30am and left around 5-30 pm; however, by 3pm was making stupid errors. I got so peeved with him (this was a team project - if he dropped the ball we all suffered) that I suggested he came in at 9am, took a proper hour for lunch and went home at 5-30. He'd still work his hours but the hours spent would be productive, as opposed to having to spend a quarter of his time re-working stuff that he was capable of doing right first time if he had his mind on the game.

There is a big difference between hours spent in the office and hours actually spent doing productive work. Shame that management doesn't actually 'get' that.

Joe

I work about 20-30 hours part time a week, cutting down though cause I'm starting college again 2morrow...

So by next week it'll be about 12 hours at work and 20-30 hours a week at college

I work 57 hours a week on nights, so I have time with my wife and kids in the day.

Week 1:Mon/Tue 18.45 - 07.15 Wed/Thur off Fri/Sat/Sun 18.45 - 07.15.

Week2: Mon/Tue off. Wed/Thurs 18.45 - 07.15 Fri off Sat/Sun 07.15 - 18.45.

Could do with scrapping the 18.45 start and the 07.15 finish for a 6 - 6 streight 12 hour.

Long hours but I don't do overtime on top of it.

I work on average 60hrs a week,mainly due to staff shortages and sickness,how-ever im now cutting down,due to the above situation being rectified.So now im down to to 52 hrs mon-wed-fri i work 7 till 7 tuesday and thursday i work 7am till 3pm!
plenty of time for my cycling and living

8-4 Monday to Friday.

It's a breeze compared to the hours I used to put in a few years ago: 12 hour days Monday to Friday with 6am-2pm on a saturday and 8am-1pm on a Sunday.

They were compulsory. I was never so relieved to be made redunant.

7 - 3.30 basic hours during the week,sometime work till 5,then occasionally 7 - 11 saturday mornings,but i don't make many of those!

7am - 3.30pm (Longer if needed) Mon - Fri :D , Thats the wonderful Flexi Hours system for you..

37-45 hours + Overtime if available..

Normally 9am-8pm, 55 hours or less.
Last week was hectic 9am-11pm Monday to Friday, 70 hours.
We knew it far from productive but got stuck and no other choice.
I've found British people are very hard workers.

Work 37 hr Flexi like Deejay. Core hours are 10 - 3 with max of 2 hour lunch. Some weeks I do oooodles of hours, others I dont. It's greeeeeat !

Originally posted by deano
Yeah i know,really can't explain why i do it,think it's some kind of in built work ethic,it's not like i'm on a good wage either,that's why i want to work for myself,if i did those hours i'd be a millionaire:thumbsup:


A work ethic is something you want to get rid of PDQ. Only two valid reasons for working long hours, - extra cash you really need and/or promotion. In my experience hard work and dedication don't often work for you in the promotion stakes unless you can also adopt the 'promotion posture'...ie your nose up someone's backside and your foot on someone's neck.

I gave it up many years ago after I slipped a disc by maintaining the posture for far too long...[and I was losing my sense of smell]; since then I've done what I'm paid to do and aimed to give value for money. I never try to dissuade transient line-managers from sweeping everything aside with their new brooms, but do make careful notes of dates, witnesses and the long standing procedures they throw overboard - against the inevitable wrath that comes tumbling down the hierarchical ladder.

I now work only 25 hours a week, relying on a pension from a previous job for the bulk of my income and am looking forward to very soon becoming an OAP, in which happy state I shall be significantly better off than I am now.

To all you workaholics out there I would just say think about your health, not just your wealth...which is of little use if you haven't the time to spend it on anything but stress relief, and stress can age you as much as smoking fifty fags a day.

And who could argue with that.

Originally posted by Greybeard

To all you workaholics out there I would just say think about your health, not just your wealth...which is of little use if you haven't the time to spend it on anything but stress relief, and stress can age you as much as smoking fifty fags a day. [/B]

Wise words there greybeard...but not so easy to live up to.
I know I work too many hours alot of the time..but pressure to keep up and do a good job is always there. I don't think its just about the work ethic but making sure the company I work for know they are getting getting their moneys worth. As I'm as sure we'll all know jobs aren't for life and I need to be indispensable!

I agree though..I 'like' working hard as it pays me well...just sometimes I'm too knackered to spend it...

I can't believe how many hours a lot of people do here. It seems the majority go over the 48 hour limit specified by the government. I thought about 40 was the norm.

Originally posted by t020
I can't believe how many hours a lot of people do here. It seems the majority go over the 48 hour limit specified by the government. I thought about 40 was the norm.

Yes, it's sad, it really is. I signed a declaration to say that I didn't recognise the maximum forty-eight hour week when I got my new job recently. (how could I tick the other box, really!)

Doesn't bother me, in particular: I'll work what's ever needed to get the work out (within reason). but I must say it does seem to be some sort of 'British Disease' all this overtime.

Originally posted by threecolours
Wise words there greybeard...but not so easy to live up to.
I know I work too many hours alot of the time..but pressure to keep up and do a good job is always there. I don't think its just about the work ethic but making sure the company I work for know they are getting getting their moneys worth. As I'm as sure we'll all know jobs aren't for life and I need to be indispensable!

I agree though..I 'like' working hard as it pays me well...just sometimes I'm too knackered to spend it...

The problem is that doing a good job is not necessarily equivalent to working long hours!

And as for being indispensible, I'd get used to teh idea that you're not. Any job can be outsourced, relocated, usurped, replaced or modified.

Slog your guts out for the company and give yourself a nervous breakdown and you'll get replaced. I've known people who've died because of the hours they worked and their employer couldn't be arsed to send a representative to the funeral.

Be nice to yourself, your significant other, your family and your pets. Watch sunsets, take dandilion breaks and take tiem out to enjoy yourself; no one ever found tehmselves on their deathbeds wishing they'd worked harder!

Joe

I have to be the biggest slacker on here then :) work 15/16 hours a week and get around £90 for my trouble I try and do overtime when I can (and if I feel like it :wink: ) but now its getting to that time where I have to return to Uni and think about my final year project eeeeek :wow:

Originally posted by t020
I can't believe how many hours a lot of people do here. It seems the majority go over the 48 hour limit specified by the government. I thought about 40 was the norm.

I agree. I think if people routinely work over this limit you're meant to sign some some of document saying you don't mind! Something to do with wiavering (sp?) your legal rights or health and safety? Has anyone had to do this or am I completely wrong?

(PS - my real reason for replying is that I've just noticed your signature. Made me smile as realised how true it is/guilty I am - I've a bit of a 'problem' with daily mail readers..must try harder..must try harder..)

Originally posted by JoePritchard
The problem is that doing a good job is not necessarily equivalent to working long hours!

And as for being indispensible, I'd get used to teh idea that you're not. Any job can be outsourced, relocated, usurped, replaced or modified.

Slog your guts out for the company and give yourself a nervous breakdown and you'll get replaced. I've known people who've died because of the hours they worked and their employer couldn't be arsed to send a representative to the funeral.

Be nice to yourself, your significant other, your family and your pets. Watch sunsets, take dandilion breaks and take tiem out to enjoy yourself; no one ever found tehmselves on their deathbeds wishing they'd worked harder!

Joe

I definitely agree that long hours don't equal good workers and everything else you've written I also agree with in principle. I've worked in lots of different places and the 'long hours' culture is rife! Probably guilty of partly supporting that but with everything happening so quickly if you're not around at the time you've more **** to pick up the next day. It's not that easy to cut your hours but suggestions welcome.

I'm now looking forward to a week at work being dispensable...may have a lie-in and go in late!

Threecolours - you are absolutely right. If you work over the prescribed hours you are required to sign a waiver to acknowledge that you wish to 'opt-out'.

Are you referring to the working time directive?

Yes Lickszz, sorry I should have mentioned the legislation.

Originally posted by Tony
Threecolours - you are absolutely right. If you work over the prescribed hours you are required to sign a waiver to acknowledge that you wish to 'opt-out'.

Thanks Tony - although if I'm ever asked to sign it (and I bet they won't ask) I'm gonna try to take Joe's advice and say I want a life and I ain't signing...best get my coat/P45 then..

I've explained that I've done this in a previous post on this thread. The point is, if I hadn't signed the waiver, I wouldn't have got the job.

If the going gets tough, I quit and get something else. Simple as that.

Might be agency work to start with, but there is plenty of that sort of stuff out there to get me going.

Originally posted by Greybeard
Only two valid reasons for working long hours, - extra cash you really need and/or promotion. In my experience hard work and dedication don't often work for you in the promotion stakes unless you can also adopt the 'promotion posture'...ie your nose up someone's backside and your foot on someone's neck.


Could not agree more.

Originally posted by Greybeard
In my experience hard work and dedication don't often work for you in the promotion stakes unless you can also adopt the 'promotion posture'...ie your nose up someone's backside and your foot on someone's neck.


Don't agree with that part - in my experience anyway...had numerous discussions with friends about this...why some people want promotion and get it, why some don't want promotion and why those that want promotion don't get it etc..
I've done ok with my job...been promoted and it was through hard work. I even enjoy it sometimes..Why does it have to seem to some people that to 'get on' you have to put 'your foot on someone's neck'? Maybe its different in other companies though.
I've got a life outside work and it doesn't mean I'm lacking something/or 'brown-nosing' (I think its called?) cos I work hard and want to do well..I like nice things and work to pay for them.

Either that or get me a 'sugar daddy'! who'll buy it for me (joke)

Work hard, but make sure you bloody play hard - that's my motto. Long hours = lots of treats.

Cheers for that Sam - couldn't agree more!

surely the secret is to do as little as possible for as short a time as possible for as much money as possible?

when you're dead you're dead - work and the funds it brings are just a means to enjoying your life.

Well I would like to nominate myself for the person who works least hours in a week in a paid job. My paid job is 6hrs 40mins a week.

But ............ I also do two part time college courses and have 2 kids to look after so I'm not exactly idle! I'm planning now for the long term.

I'm "part time" but still do around 40 hours for a 4 day week. It's pretty harsh for £4.50 an hour.

from 11 hrs paid a week to a lot more, depending, self employed u see, so thats about £265 at the least for 11 hrs.just startin up so the rest of the time is used building my business and all sorts.

14 hours per week on average, sometime a little more sometimes a little less.

That's paid work anyway.

Monday - Friday 8.20 - 3.10 contracted hours 32. Besides being the secretary for a local community group, mother, housewife, cook, cleaner and Jill of all trades.:confused:

My week works out pretty much like this:

Monday - no school so I'm off to work, if I have a job, which I do now so hopefully I'll be getting 8 hours of paid work in then. Otherwise, I guess I'd be reading or tidying notes/re-writing etc for school...

Tuesday - School all day....

Wednesday - School until 12, then off to work if they need me.

Thursday - Voluntary job at a primary school all morning. Then off to school in the afternoon.

Friday - School all day...

Saturday - Working and driving lesson.

Sunday - Probably working from now on...


I technically need at least £145 a month to survive, as I have rent to contribute to, food and then there's my mobile phone bill. So on an average week, earning £4 an hour, I need to do 9 or 10 hours.... I can easily do that, I just got to get it to fit in when I am available :-)

35 hours over five days working a very low pressure job. That's supposed to be full time, but looking at some people's hours it seems like a saturday job!

37 hours a week, and only for 39 weeks of the year.

Rarely do 'overtime' though have put a few extras in lately will give me the chance to go early every so often when it gets quieter later in the year.:thumbsup: