Hours you work?

When not travelling I work around 40 hours per week, now home office based.

Travel to visit customers or for internal meetings about 40% of the time and will do 12 hr days whilst I do it. I work in senior management for a large American company that has been bought recently by a much larger American company. The pay and benefits are v. good.

Since I've worked in commercial roles I've always traveled significant amounts so it doesn't really bother me anymore
 
blue wang said:
Just started my own business being going for a year, so still in murky waters.

Entrepreneurship is terrifying stuff, not for the feint hearted.
Click to expand...

We might be operating in the same field (economics consultancy). A very big upside is that you can choose your clients and offload the ones that annoy or wont listen to advice. I was never able to do that when I was an employee.

I've been trading for 6 years now, and its the best thing I ever did
 
bugsyblue said:
True to an extent but look at countries like Sweden and Denmark. Work a lot less, yet have much better social and public services and allegedly a much higher quality of life.

Brits love to laugh at the French but again they seem to have a better balance than us. Money isn't everything yet sadly it's the principle factor in pretty much every political decision made in this country.
Click to expand...

they don't have our stupid housing costs and we subsidise their rail fares and utility costs lol !! Sad fact is many would call the French ( and Spanish and Italians etc ) lazy. Maybe they just have got it right?
 
lust overlord said:
Depends what you class as good things.
Time spent with loved ones?
Luxury items?
Click to expand...

For a lot of people it would mean being in a position to buy your own home.

Time spent with loved ones is incredibly important but for a working family on minimum wage and already struggling to make ends meet, sitting at home enjoying family time isnt an option they can afford.
 
bluethrunthru said:
they don't have our stupid housing costs and we subsidise their rail fares and utility costs lol !! Sad fact is many would call the French ( and Spanish and Italians etc ) lazy. Maybe they just have got it right?
Click to expand...

Ha.
We needed a replacement Italian part for the plant I work at last August.
Told it would be 3 weeks before we'd get it as the manufacturers had shut down for holidays for a month.
I spoke recently,to an Italian specialist that was involved in a project on the site I work at.
He was laughing at the amount of hours the British and Germans put in.
 
bugsyblue said:
The scandis have it right. Unfortunately we are becoming more and more like America except we can't match their wages!
Click to expand...

different societies and values - Americans champion "winners" - usually judged in terms of money. In the UK we have the good old class system and those of the "higher orders" see no reason to adequately reward the lower classes who exist solely to service their needs in their view.
 
blueinsa said:
For a lot of people it would mean being in a position to buy your own home.

Time spent with loved ones is incredibly important but for a working family on minimum wage and already struggling to make ends meet, sitting at home enjoying family time isnt an option they can afford.
Click to expand...


Successive governments are to blame for lack of affordable housing.
My kids can't afford to buy their own homes and rental costs are eye wateringly high.
Two have flown the nest.
My youngest son, age 23,mimimum wage,is still at home,and probably will be for years.
 
lust overlord said:
Successive governments are to blame for lack of affordable housing.
My kids can't afford to buy their own homes and rental costs are eye wateringly high.
Two have flown the nest.
My youngest son, age 23,mimimum wage,is still at home,and probably will be for years.
Click to expand...

Agree and its the single biggest issue facing our nation.

Low wages have to be addressed and work has to pay.
 
Some interesting replies so far and at times for many, it does seem like a race to the bottom.

Todays bills, mortgages, food costs, fuel, clothing, kids etc end up very expensive at the end of the month. When you see or read things on average wages being around 27k a year I really wonder how people get by.

However, my circumstances where I work long hours for the extra cash to make things financially easier does take it's toll and make you question whether it's worth it. But there aren't seemingly many professions for your average joe to take up that pays well and doesn't impact on your social/family life.

The only two of my mates who seem to have it pretty cushy are one that's an IT expert for a company he's been at for 20 years now and another who got a 1st at uni and is an accountant now.
 
I work 25 hours a week, plus about 6 in travel time, over 4 days. (through choice)

My income is low, but i find it's enough for me as a single man, my expenses are also very low.

I've done the opposite, having 50-60 hour weeks over 6 days, and had no time to enjoy any extra income.

Having 3 days off a week is amazing, i play loads of sport, teach myself skills, socialise more etc.

No doubt eventually i'll have to move back to more hours, but my work/life balance at the moment is fantastic.
 
I've gone from a highly paid job with long hours and three hours a day travel time, albeit with good holidays and pension, to 21 hours a week. The pay is good but obviously no where near as much as it was. Fortunately I don't have children around to fork out for anymore and that has meant the money's enough and I have more time to do the things I want, such as following City in Europe.
 
9-5 Monday to Friday office based but pretty much 24/7 - I work in shipping so it doesn’t stop. Currently operating 35 ships. Constantly checking emails for latest updates from the ships and various other issues and passing them to the correct parties, get calls most nights and sometimes in the very early hours. Time zones means people in the U.S and Brazil are in the office whilst I’m in bed.
Despite all this. I love my job.
 
I used to work in sales in an office ,the money was twice as much as I get now with the commission ,the hours were better in the office the conditions were better in an office,but it did my fucking head in, changed to a completely different environment ,I now work at Manchester airport on the ramp servicing aircraft,the company I first joined at the airport was to put it lightly a fucking disgrace, used and abused for 12 years ,I've just moved to another company, they invest in the staff only take on contracts that pay proper money so they can have the staff per aircraft they require,8.5 hours a day 6 days on 3 off, but the important thing is I'm happier in myself and that to me the most important thing. also I live 5 minutes away from the airport so for me a win win,also the lads/ladies you find at the airport are good lads,down to earth solid blokes/ladies.
 
Usually about 45..?dependant on work load which I control...so if I have to pull the odd all nighters it's usually my fault. Architecture is a lot more forgiving than it used to be...hours and pay wise.
Oh that's office and site hours....not much travel on top...blackley to manchester and back...15mins bus.
 
I start at 730 finish at 4pm an hour for lunch and earn a good pay... i love my job and my work colleagues.... way better than being self employed 60-70 plus hours a week ! And months away from home.....oh and my commute is 8 mins to work and 8 mins home ... i even take a packup lunch ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top