How many hours would you work

[justintime129]

This is aimed mainly at those on their way out or already out. How many hours a week are you working or would be prepared to work and what do you consider normal.

One thing the RAF taught me was working long hours, even a normal 0800-1700 working day had you down for 45hrs a week or a 40 hr week less dinner breaks was the norm. I've taking this into civvy street and regularly work 45 hours a week. I'm in the fortunate position of working 3 long days and getting my 37 1/2 hrs week over in 3 days. I then work an extra day as overtime. Mainly cos the extra money helps but also cos I've been used to it all my life. I still get 3 days off to do what I want but when you try to explain ro people that it is 2nd nature working long hours they look at you as if you are an idiot.

So what do you consider would be your perfect working week in terms of hours worked

 

[vim_fuego]

It would be dependant on the pay to be honest...If I was on 70K then they could have me for longer than if I was on 35k..For around 35k I think 40-45 hours is enough but its a tough thing to call...

 

[wolfy]

For me it depends on quality of life, as long as I have enough to do what I need to do then i'm ok eg about 37 ish is fine. If you are a money chaser then more overtime/longer hours could be an answer. If youre lucky some shifts have built in overtime.

You need to know whats the most important thing is for you.

 

[Stevienics]

Mr Clarkson once said something poignant.

He noticed that between 0730 and 0900 most of the cars on their way into the smoke were of the Ford and GM variety...........If you want to see the Daimlers and better class of Mercs, you need to be there between 0530 and 0630.

Says it all.

I don't really care what I drive to be honest, as I am acutely aware that I will be dead soon enough and every moment spent at work is a moment of my life better spent elsewhere, in all probability - plus that fact that the more hours you work as you get older, the faster you get to the grave.

So screw em.

 

[Soon To Leave]

I don't really care what I drive to be honest, as I am acutely aware that I will be dead soon enough and every moment spent at work is a moment of my life better spent elsewhere, in all probability - plus that fact that the more hours you work as you get older, the faster you get to the grave.

So screw em.

Victor Meldrew is still alive and kicking me thinks!

 

[Stevienics]

...........and fully intends to stay that way.

 

[252]

This is aimed mainly at those on their way out or already out. How many hours a week are you working or would be prepared to work and what do you consider normal.

One thing the RAF taught me was working long hours, even a normal 0800-1700 working day had you down for 45hrs a week or a 40 hr week less dinner breaks was the norm. I've taking this into civvy street and regularly work 45 hours a week. I'm in the fortunate position of working 3 long days and getting my 37 1/2 hrs week over in 3 days. I then work an extra day as overtime. Mainly cos the extra money helps but also cos I've been used to it all my life. I still get 3 days off to do what I want but when you try to explain ro people that it is 2nd nature working long hours they look at you as if you are an idiot.

So what do you consider would be your perfect working week in terms of hours worked

Not the most riveting thread ive come across in me short egoat career but...

I you are actually working hard ie factory,labouring,binns etc or using up a lot of brain power or a stressfull job then the hours tell on you more than if you have got yourself a cushy number like concierge or any job for the local authority.

Lenth of shifts also a big factor ie cushy job+longshifts=good number.

So i would say(having been in both positions and thankfully still in the later) that these are the biggest factors in determining how many hours you can do regularly and still enjoy life.

You should work to live not the other way around.DT_Xtremez_19:

 

[spanners]

Last week I worked 84 hrs and about 54 hrs this week, anything above 48 hrs is overtime, so that softens the blow. This is not normal hours though. I work in the Whisky Industry and we have just started up again after the summer shut down, our normal shift pattern is 4 on 4 off days/nights which are great for golf and the pub.

 

[252]

our normal shift pattern is 4 on 4 off days/nights which are great for golf and the pub.[/QUOTE]


Is there a golf section on the Goat?.

 

[Realist78]

If I can work out a scheme whereby I live somewhere with a lot better weather than here and on my pension, then the answer to the work hours question is feck all, diddly squat, cube root of zip!DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[MontyPlumbs]

37 1/2 hours a week - one second beyond that and I get upset, so very upset. DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

I work 37 1/2 hours for around 22K. That is basic and the standard for the non airline MROs. I can (if I wanted to and its available) work another 30 hours OT. Only did that once so far.. Usually its 10ish to pay my petrol bill!

 

[Shugster]

For me it depends on quality of life, as long as I have enough to do what I need to do then i'm ok eg about 37 ish is fine. If you are a money chaser then more overtime/longer hours could be an answer. If youre lucky some shifts have built in overtime.

You need to know whats the most important thing is for you.

You've hit the nail on the head there.

I worked 70 hour weeks in the USA... I had money but no life.

Then I moved sausage side and earn the same for a 40 hour week.

As someone said, if you're in the 60k+ bracket then your work time is as and when required and will mean working late in to the evening sometimes.

If you're on 20k then more hours must mean more pay.

 

[John Lloyd]

Being my own boss means you work the hours to complete the contract, if it means working through the night with a 3 hour kip and then back on your head then that's what it is.

Normal days run from 5.30 out and back in for about 8.00.

Taceval OTR's have a lot to answer for. But and this is the big but, It's my choice to work the hours for the reward at the year end profit party, with a guest list of one...Me.

And stuff the European Working Time Directive. Max 48 hours in a week (UK Exempt).

 

[RAF Bird]

I don't like to push out more than a couple of hour 'work' a day... as for after the service well I plan on having myself a rich 'Aircrew' god of a fella to keep me in the life that I have become accustomed to! DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[vim_fuego]

I don't like to push out more than a couple of hour 'work' a day... as for after the service well I plan on having myself a rich 'Aircrew' god of a fella to keep me in the life that I have become accustomed to! DT_Xtremez_42:

SSSHHHHHH! It's supposed to be our delicious secret...

 

[Rambling Sid]

I guess you do what you have to do, besides the RAF the longest job I had was salaried and the bosses expected you to be at their beck and call. It was OK for you to be called in on your "off duty" time, but they used to frown if in the middle of the day you decided to head off home. Job after that one was a nightshift position, if you worked 7 minutes over the end of your shift you got 15 minutes overtime. There was however a clear expectation that if the day shift didn't come in then you worked an extra 4 hours, with the evening shift coming in 4 hours early to split up the day. There was no penny pinching and never any weaseling about comp time, you worked it you got paid the overtime. Before I came to the states I did a lot of temping down in London. Clear cut, if you worked between 9 and 5 it was time, 5 through midnight was time and a half, and after midnight to 9 was double time. Those were the rates the agency charged the client and were passed onto the worker.

All I can say is that I am glad I am retired now....... seems I am back to the RAF way of working 23:58 out of the day, but my wife usually finds something for me to do for the remaining 2 minutes.

 

[Shugster]

I guess you do what you have to do, besides the RAF the longest job I had was salaried and the bosses expected you to be at their beck and call. It was OK for you to be called in on your "off duty" time, but they used to frown if in the middle of the day you decided to head off home. Job after that one was a nightshift position, if you worked 7 minutes over the end of your shift you got 15 minutes overtime. There was however a clear expectation that if the day shift didn't come in then you worked an extra 4 hours, with the evening shift coming in 4 hours early to split up the day. There was no penny pinching and never any weaseling about comp time, you worked it you got paid the overtime. Before I came to the states I did a lot of temping down in London. Clear cut, if you worked between 9 and 5 it was time, 5 through midnight was time and a half, and after midnight to 9 was double time. Those were the rates the agency charged the client and were passed onto the worker.

All I can say is that I am glad I am retired now....... seems I am back to the RAF way of working 23:58 out of the day, but my wife usually finds something for me to do for the remaining 2 minutes.

I had the same with my 70 hour week in uncle sam....

Travelling? You do that in your time... after all you would have to drive to the office wouldn't you?

If it's an hour I would maybe accept that, but flying into Texas via Atlanta from Newark, (6+ hours worth), was just, "extracting the wee", a bit. But if I wanted an hour or two to sort out a few weeks worth of expenses that was too much as I should do that in my time! DT_Xtremez_25:DT_Xtremez_25:

I don't miss working in the USA one bit, for a holiday it's nice, but working mental hours for 10 days holiday a year?.... I work so that my family and I can have the nice things in life, not to make someone rich at the expense of my physical, (and mental), health.

 

[Roobarb]

Sometimes employers actively discourage long hours.

In my current workplace we are contracted to 37 Hrs per week. Originally, there was a great collective work ethic and people would put in long hours to deliver a project. The building was open 24/7, and it was not unusual to see teams leaving in time to catch last orders. Then there was a company name change and the building started closing at 10pm each night, then 9, soon to be 8.

There is no better signal for home time than the air-conditioning being switched off at six, or the cleaner turning off all the lights soon after (without checking if you are doing anything dangerous or not). After a while people get the hint, but I wonder if the high ups ever compared the cost of the “free” work they got compared to the cost of a security guard and extra electricity.

 

[amfortas]

If I can work out a scheme whereby I live somewhere with a lot better weather than here and on my pension, then the answer to the work hours question is feck all, diddly squat, cube root of zip!DT_Xtremez_30:

Like wot I do, you mean.