How much do you work?

[JustPlainBill]

Sooo... I'm guessing a 70 hour work week would be considered extreme?

I currently work in manufacturing management and I work typically 45 to 50 hours per week average, I am salary/exempt so I don't receive O.T. pay. These hours do fluctuate depending on production demands, though that usually means working more hours not less. When I worked in Automotive (Chrysler) as a manager last year, I typically worked 70 hours or more on average. We were retooling the factory for the new Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot and I was responsible for starting up the new instrument panel assembly line. It was a tough time and I could not sustain those kind of hours which is why I'm no longer there and I'm much happier now, when I used to work hourly as a machinist I welcomed as much overtime as I could, the extra money was welcome, but once you cross the threashold over to salary, overtime is hated.

 

[MerHearted]

I currently work in manufacturing management and I work typically 45 to 50 hours per week average, I am salary/exempt so I don't receive O.T. pay. These hours do fluctuate depending on production demands, though that usually means working more hours not less. When I worked in Automotive (Chrysler) as a manager last year, I typically worked 70 hours or more on average. We were retooling the factory for the new Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot and I was responsible for starting up the new instrument panel assembly line. It was a tough time and I could not sustain those kind of hours which is why I'm no longer there and I'm much happier now, when I used to work hourly as a machinist I welcomed as much overtime as I could, the extra money was welcome, but once you cross the threashold over to salary, overtime is hated.

Did you have time for much else when you were working 70? To me, that feels like get up, go to work, come home, sleep. I don't see how there is time for anything else?

 

[miles1]

Did you have time for much else when you were working 70? To me, that feels like get up, go to work, come home, sleep. I don't see how there is time for anything else?

I'm another two-career guy. I put in 70 or more hours per week at various times of the year. I work as the GM of a building engineering/inspection company, then share a home business with my wife doing bookeeping/financial work for physician practices. At my "full time" job, I work four, 9 hour days, then I'm on call 5 nights (which usually amounts to a few phone calls in the evenings each week.) After I get home, we usually have dinner with the kids and/or do the football/soccer/gymnastics routine, then settle down to work once the kids are in bed or otherwise entertained, for 3 or 4 hours. I usually put in one or two full days at the "part-time" job on the days I don't work the "full-time" job, so I wind up with 36 to 40 hours at the full time job, plus 30 at the part time job. My wife also has a 30 hour job outside the house.

Honestly, this has worked really well for us. Since our schedules are flexibile we're never had to send the kids to daycare, we just juggle things to make sure we have the bases covered. I'm really not into TV very much and I'm a light sleeper, so I don't mind the work at home in the evenings.

There are some times when it does stink, that being the week before we leave for WDW and the week after we come back. Since there's no one to cover for me when I'm gone, I usually have to break up that 65-70 hours and do half before I go and half when I get back, in addition to the regular 65 to 70 hours. It's still worth it.

So for my particular situation, I don't feel like its a big strain, and I feel I have enough free time.

 

[jesserin]

Personally I think it has to do (alot!) with where you're at in life.

Family? Kids? Those are also your responsibility so it could be tough to spread your time around evenly between your prioirties.


Without either of those... you'll probably have plenty of time for a 70 hour work week and enough down time to keep you satisfied until those 70 hour weeks settle down a bit.


Especially since it's only about a 3 month period. That'll keep your mind off the big move... and offer you a place to pour your heart and soul into while getting yourself settled in a new place.

I hope this one comes through for you Vince! :sohappy:



(Oh and if you're asking me personally... I'm a stay at home mom who just does book keeping and P/T Travel Planning... My hours usually consist of less than 10 a week... DH on the other hand works anywhere between 30 to 80+ depending on how busy our weeks are... being self employed has it's advantages, but during our busy season - it's a tough balancing act.)

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I currently work in manufacturing management and I work typically 45 to 50 hours per week average, I am salary/exempt so I don't receive O.T. pay. These hours do fluctuate depending on production demands, though that usually means working more hours not less. When I worked in Automotive (Chrysler) as a manager last year, I typically worked 70 hours or more on average. We were retooling the factory for the new Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot and I was responsible for starting up the new instrument panel assembly line. It was a tough time and I could not sustain those kind of hours which is why I'm no longer there and I'm much happier now, when I used to work hourly as a machinist I welcomed as much overtime as I could, the extra money was welcome, but once you cross the threashold over to salary, overtime is hated.

Sounds like me since I left the RAF, I worked as an operations manager in logistics , i would get calls from around 0600 am till around 1030 pm as the three shifts changed over and passed me up dates. My own hours were meant to be 0800 till 1630 but I was in for 0700 and left around 1800, with an hours drive each way. Over the last 3 years Ive worked 40% of the weekends, and yes no overtime and only 20 days holiday a year, very low for Europe. Yes I was well paid but whats the point if you don't have a life.
I was told I was being made redundant last Friday company bought out by venture capitalists ( or asset strippers as they are better known), there is the opportunity to go and do a similar role with a competitor, but I have decided to take less money and get some of my life back. I still get enough for my car and an annual WDW fix. Oh and theres regular trips to Holland and Munich :slurp:

In the end it becomes more about quality of life choices rather than maximum money.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Did you have time for much else when you were working 70? To me, that feels like get up, go to work, come home, sleep. I don't see how there is time for anything else?

That is exactly as it was, I was arriving at work at 5:00 AM and I wouldn't leave until 8:00 PM on the bad days. It didn't help that it was a 45 minute drive home either. I had to go in on our Christmas holiday as well, of course no pay, the hourly workers got double time. I didn't see my kids at all then, they were sleeping when I left for work and were all tucked into bed by the time I came home. I was depressed by that and stressed by being overworked. I most likely would have had a breakdown had I not left. The job wasn't like that when I first started. My job as a Production Supervisor in an automobile/truck brake manufacturer that I held for almost 20 years was eliminated when production was moved to China. I was hooked into the Chrysler management position by the large salary offered. It was like the senario about being in a pot of warm water that was slowly being brought to a boil, you didn't really feel it until it was too late. Had the pot been boiling when I jumped in, I would have jumped out imeadiately. I will never get into automotive manufacturing ever again, my family is more important. It was shortly after leaving that place last year that we made our plans to go to WDW this year. We're leaving in less than 12 days, we used the money I got from my bonus I received there, at least something good will come of that job. I'm currently working for a smaller company for a little less pay, but it's a good place, so far, and not nearly as stressful. By the way, my friend who was still there at the time told me that the guy they replaced me with lasted only two days before he walked out, he was smarter than me I did it for 8 months.

 

[JustPlainBill]

I was told I was being made redundant last Friday company bought out by venture capitalists ( or asset strippers as they are better known), there is the opportunity to go and do a similar role with a competitor, but I have decided to take less money and get some of my life back.
In the end it becomes more about quality of life choices rather than maximum money.

I hear you brother, I learned my lesson well!
I was turning into my own Father, I never saw him as a kid because he was always at work, I'm not making the same mistake with my kids.

 

[Nemo14]

I hear you brother, I learned my lesson well!
I was turning into my own Father, I never saw him as a kid because he was always at work, I'm not making the same mistake with my kids.

Good for you!!!! :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[SteveUK]

I like the good ol' quote about 'Work to Live, not Live to Work'. I think it is sometimes a bit too easy to get drawn into focusing all your energy on your working life and lose sight of what it is you are actually working for - to fund a nice life outside work.

But I also appreciate I am very lucky to be able to look at things that way. When you are not making much and struggling to make ends meet, I understand how difficult it can be. I don't make a lot of money, but am lucky that I don't have to worry about surviving day to day. It has taken me a long time to get into that position, and don't misunderstand, I still don't earn a lot (obviously, I work for the government), but I know things could be a lot worse, and are for a lot of people.

 

[Monty]

I work 37.5 hours/week on average. I'm in a salaried Government position with a Union-negotiated contract. I have a flexible-hours schedule that allows me to maximize my time spent with DS12, I come in later on days I drop him at School and leave earlier on days I pick him up. Days I'm doing neither are quite long, but it's worth it to me. If required, I'm willing to work overtime, but I get paid for it when I do. We have a very good health plan [supplemental to the Universal Health plan here in Canada] and a very good dental plan. I currently get 20 days' vacation, 12 Statutory holidays, 15 days' sick leave, 5 days' family-related, a volunteer day and a personal needs day per year, all paid.

 

[TurboCaroline]

I do about 50 hrs a week, but there have been weeks that I've worked 100+ hours due to labor requirements

It seems like you are on here for the 50 hrs..

 

[SallyfromDE]

I used to work as a manager in a dept store. I worked an easy 60 hour week, 4 weekends out of 6. After 12 years of doing that, I got sick of it. And besides the company really went down hill. They treat thier people like dirt. So I moved to a position that pays crap, in the same company, still treat people like dirt, but I'm much happier. And I keep my 5 weeks vacation plus personal time. I work M-F 5am to 2pm and my day is over!!

 

[scorp111]

I probably average 60+ hours per week, with a lot of it being travel. I have spent 60+ nights in hotel rooms this year. I am salaried/exempt as well, so it doesn't matter the hours it takes, I just have specific responsibilities and assignments that I have to get done.

But I am paid fairly well, and my work schedule allows for my wife to not work outside the home, and for us to still enjoy a decent lifestyle.

I could change careers and/or step down to a less senior/demanding position, but then either our spending habits would have to change, or my wife would have to gain employment somewhere that paid her.