is 8 to 5 normal working hours
Discussion
NordicCrankShaft said:
Not sure what normal is these days. During my time in London as a high flying chef 70 hours a week was normal.
These days as a carpenter in Norway 8-3 is a normal working day.......finish at 2 on a Friday
Worked in a different industry, but for 20 years 70 hours a week was not seen as unusual. Never bothered me either, was doing a job I loved and it just seemed the norm.These days as a carpenter in Norway 8-3 is a normal working day.......finish at 2 on a Friday
I work for a great company but a fairly average day for us in Finance (not London) is an 8am start, lunch eaten at your desk while working, and start packing up around 6.
Nobody complains but if you need to be out the office for whatever personal reason on the odd occasion, nobody bats an eyelid either.
We're not forced to work more than our 37.5 hour contract but those who don't are still on the same grade as they were 10 years ago.
You get out what you put in.
Nobody complains but if you need to be out the office for whatever personal reason on the odd occasion, nobody bats an eyelid either.
We're not forced to work more than our 37.5 hour contract but those who don't are still on the same grade as they were 10 years ago.
You get out what you put in.
You know I do find this quite surprising, since I setup probably a few hundred large Payroll systems in my time and I am sure if I'd seen 45 hour work patterns as standard I'd have remembered. The vast majority were 35 and 37.5 hours.
Are the guys on here saying they do 45 hours a week as the norm actually contracted to do so, or is it like the guy who mentioned you get out what you put in?
I do remember a few places who had a work pattern which was 0800-1700 Mon-Thu and Friday knocked off at 1400. That seemed to be more the norm for manufacturing type firms.
Are the guys on here saying they do 45 hours a week as the norm actually contracted to do so, or is it like the guy who mentioned you get out what you put in?
I do remember a few places who had a work pattern which was 0800-1700 Mon-Thu and Friday knocked off at 1400. That seemed to be more the norm for manufacturing type firms.
Pints said:
I work for a great company but a fairly average day for us in Finance (not London) is an 8am start, lunch eaten at your desk while working, and start packing up around 6.
Nobody complains but if you need to be out the office for whatever personal reason on the odd occasion, nobody bats an eyelid either.
We're not forced to work more than our 37.5 hour contract but those who don't are still on the same grade as they were 10 years ago.
You get out what you put in.
That's where it all goes wrong. If everyone did the best job they could in the 37.5hrs then the management could pick the people best for promotion based on time during that period. Instead you look more 'keen' or are 'putting more in' by working 45-50, despite the fact that in many cases people are so inefficient that it takes then many more hours than others.Nobody complains but if you need to be out the office for whatever personal reason on the odd occasion, nobody bats an eyelid either.
We're not forced to work more than our 37.5 hour contract but those who don't are still on the same grade as they were 10 years ago.
You get out what you put in.
Extra should not be the norm, it should be occasional. Seems to work ok in Norway and Germany.
johnwilliams77 said:
That's where it all goes wrong. If everyone did the best job they could in the 37.5hrs then the management could pick the people best for promotion based on time during that period. Instead you look more 'keen' or are 'putting more in' by working 45-50, despite the fact that in many cases people are so inefficient that it takes then many more hours than others.
Extra should not be the norm, it should be occasional. Seems to work ok in Norway and Germany.
While inefficiency might be a driver, there are very few of those in our team and if you try "putting in extra hours" while you have the productivity of a sloth, you're very quickly called on it.Extra should not be the norm, it should be occasional. Seems to work ok in Norway and Germany.
I should probably add that it's not always that way that we have to work longer hours but when the demand is such that extra workload is an inevitability (as is currently the case), and you're packing your bag at 4.59, you can understand why you're not going to be a consideration the next time a promotion is on the cards.
I'm lucky enough to work with colleagues who (mostly) pull their own weight. Running a fairly lean structure means there just isn't much room for slackers, inefficiency and unproductive buggers who keep the water coolers propped up. A few rounds of restructures and redundancies over the years have helped take care of that.
I am contracted 40 hours, but have phone calls with customers in Japan (8AM) and California (4:30PM), so this sets the rhythm of my working day. (usually 07:30 till 17:30 and shorter working on Friday)
Work are very flexible though, so if I need to do something during the day it is not an issue.
30 minute lunch, usually sat at my desk.
Mike
Work are very flexible though, so if I need to do something during the day it is not an issue.
30 minute lunch, usually sat at my desk.
Mike
Pints said:
While inefficiency might be a driver, there are very few of those in our team and if you try "putting in extra hours" while you have the productivity of a sloth, you're very quickly called on it.
I should probably add that it's not always that way that we have to work longer hours but when the demand is such that extra workload is an inevitability (as is currently the case), and you're packing your bag at 4.59, you can understand why you're not going to be a consideration the next time a promotion is on the cards.
I'm lucky enough to work with colleagues who (mostly) pull their own weight. Running a fairly lean structure means there just isn't much room for slackers, inefficiency and unproductive buggers who keep the water coolers propped up. A few rounds of restructures and redundancies over the years have helped take care of that.
If you're regularly doing all those extra hours and you're all a good productive team then your management needs to employ another person so you can work the hours you are contracted to. Instead you all work extra to try and get the next job.I should probably add that it's not always that way that we have to work longer hours but when the demand is such that extra workload is an inevitability (as is currently the case), and you're packing your bag at 4.59, you can understand why you're not going to be a consideration the next time a promotion is on the cards.
I'm lucky enough to work with colleagues who (mostly) pull their own weight. Running a fairly lean structure means there just isn't much room for slackers, inefficiency and unproductive buggers who keep the water coolers propped up. A few rounds of restructures and redundancies over the years have helped take care of that.
Having worked for myself from home for the last 5 years, my hours are pretty much what I want them to be.
I am quite surprised at the amount of people on here saying that a 9am start is the norm.
Even about 4 or 5 years ago, when I last tried applying for jobs, I don't remember any with a 9am start.
They were all either 8am or 8.30am. I think 9-5 is becoming a thing of the past (in my industry anyway)
I am quite surprised at the amount of people on here saying that a 9am start is the norm.
Even about 4 or 5 years ago, when I last tried applying for jobs, I don't remember any with a 9am start.
They were all either 8am or 8.30am. I think 9-5 is becoming a thing of the past (in my industry anyway)
johnwilliams77 said:
That's where it all goes wrong. If everyone did the best job they could in the 37.5hrs then the management could pick the people best for promotion based on time during that period. Instead you look more 'keen' or are 'putting more in' by working 45-50, despite the fact that in many cases people are so inefficient that it takes then many more hours than others.
Extra should not be the norm, it should be occasional. Seems to work ok in Norway and Germany.
A decent/competent manager should know how long the job takes. He should also know the workload across his team so he hopefully he/she knows who in his team are putting the extra hours in and who are watching the clock.Extra should not be the norm, it should be occasional. Seems to work ok in Norway and Germany.
Pretty much everywhere I've worked since Uni has had flexible working hours so you can start work when you want and finish when you want (as long as you're in the office during core hours). It works great, helps with staff retention, helps with a decent work-life balance.
It's year end at the moment so it's pretty much 60 hours per week but normally it's 35 hours (7:30 - 3 for me).
It's year end at the moment so it's pretty much 60 hours per week but normally it's 35 hours (7:30 - 3 for me).
Countdown said:
Pretty much everywhere I've worked since Uni has had flexible working hours so you can start work when you want and finish when you want (as long as you're in the office during core hours). It works great, helps with staff retention, helps with a decent work-life balance.
It's year end at the moment so it's pretty much 60 hours per week but normally it's 35 hours (7:30 - 3 for me).
thats where I am at now. Really helps with job satisfaction It's year end at the moment so it's pretty much 60 hours per week but normally it's 35 hours (7:30 - 3 for me).
My Mrs is a teacher and works 7.30-10pm mon Thurs, Fridays home by 6 and usually have that evening off and then most of Sunday evenings. She's also away on a management thing today, overnight and half Sunday (3 of these per year).
I predict she'll not live to retirement age at this rate.
On other other hand, I work 4 days per week (29.75hrs),child care on Mondays.
I predict she'll not live to retirement age at this rate.
On other other hand, I work 4 days per week (29.75hrs),child care on Mondays.
johnwilliams77 said:
If you're regularly doing all those extra hours and you're all a good productive team then your management needs to employ another person so you can work the hours you are contracted to. Instead you all work extra to try and get the next job.
It works for the staff, it works for the management and it works for the company. We're paid well enough to put in the extra hours when the demand requires it.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff