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Work Life Balance

  • 22-04-2014 9:19am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭


    I was reading a thread there a moment ago (www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057193329#) and I was thinking about the balance. I used to enjoy a pretty good balance between my work life and my personal life but not so much any more.

    My job increased the length of our working day back in 2008 (roughly) and told us it would be the case for 3 years yet they still haven't changed it back. As a result if has affected my evening because my working day is longer and the resulting traffic is heavier so it takes me longer to get home (about 30 mins extra travelling and the extra 30mins of work everyday). But these days the company don't really care that we have a life outside the job. They make you feel that if you are not constantly available to do overtime that you should feel guilty or like you're doing a bad job.


    So what say ye AH-ers. Do you have a good work/personal life balance?

    do you have a good work-personal life balance 109 votes

    Yes its good
    0% 0 votes
    It's so-so (could be better)
    56% 62 votes
    Not at all
    43% 47 votes


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭Uriel.


    I definitely don't.

    Work and college at night has meant that really it's just the summers that have any balance. Needed to use work leave for exams as well meaning, I essentially get two weeks a year away from the grind.

    It's tremendously difficult to leave the house at 7.30am and not return until 11ish 5 nights a week and spend 95% of the Saturdays and a fair few Sunday's studying and/or doing assignments.

    ...worth it in the end apparently... I'll never do anything like that again!:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,193 ✭✭✭✭jimgoose


    I'm a salaried engineer, so aside from the occasional panic overtime doesn't really enter into it. In short, yes - the work-life thing is fine! :cool:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    As a single carefree easygoing fella mine is excellent.

    If I was married with kids it would pretty terrible.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,858 ✭✭✭homemadecider


    We have a flexi time system in work so I can take a flexi day every month if I want to. I can also finish at 4pm if I want, or start at 10am. Once the work gets done, it doesn't matter.

    I also get time off if I've been travelling overseas and have had to work weekends. Plus I get a 'rest day' after I get back from a trip, mostly due to the fact that it usually takes 3 flights to get home.

    We tend to have a wee tea party for half an hour every Tuesday morning where we sit in the canteen eating cake that someone has made.

    So yes, I have a good work-life balance!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,987 ✭✭✭Legs.Eleven


    I work 'till 21.30 everyday, so no. Going back to uni in September so it's going to get worse.


    Deadly buzz.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,094 ✭✭✭SpaceCowb0y


    I've been studying for the last 4 years, finishing up in a few weeks for good! Going back as a "mature student" :pac: wasn't easy! Watching all my friends head away every year on holidays and away for weekends etc has been tough, i work part-time (50/50 with college) too but that just helps to cover bills! Im hoping that once college ends in May and i can work full time i will get my life back and start enjoying myself a bit more!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭Gannicus


    Uriel. wrote: »
    I definitely don't.

    Work and college at night has meant that really it's just the summers that have any balance. Needed to use work leave for exams as well meaning, I essentially get two weeks a year away from the grind.

    It's tremendously difficult to leave the house at 7.30am and not return until 11ish 5 nights a week and spend 95% of the Saturdays and a fair few Sunday's studying and/or doing assignments.

    ...worth it in the end apparently... I'll never do anything like that again!:(


    I'm the same. I have college on Monday and Wednesday evenings after work. I find it hard to set aside time for study and/or assignments.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,815 ✭✭✭imitation


    I find that a somewhat decent amount of people working long hours are doing it not because they absolutely have to, but because they feel they have to, out of guilt or some paranoia it will cost them there job. Thing is if they are willing to do it nobodys going to tell them to stop and they stuck in it. When they eventually do stop then they are asked why there performance has dropped or whatever. Its far better just to leave it to exceptional cases if you can at all.

    Not saying its everybody, plenty have no choice, but in some cases it is self inflicted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭Sugar Free


    I've been completing my masters for the last two years part time so forgotten what it was like to have a guilt free evening.

    That said, work-life balance isn't that important to me at present as my current company tends to recognise and reward those who go the extra mile faster than those who don't. Not so much in a 50 hour vs. 40 hour week rather than people showing a willingness to be flexible.

    Additionally, I'm at a stage in my career where the next few years can set me on a very good path so I'm happy to put in the work before kids or other responsibilities make it harder to do so.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,347 ✭✭✭No Pants


    It's something that you need to keep an eye on or it can get away from you. I worked a lot of extra hours this year and said in March that I was taking two weeks off in April. This isn't coming from my holiday allowance, it's overtime that I worked. If I hadn't kept a record and said I was taking it back, no one would have prompted me to.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    I work 'till 21.30 everyday, so no. Going back to uni in September so it's going to get worse.


    Deadly buzz.

    That's illegal

    Unless you're self employed :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    Bambi wrote: »
    That's illegal

    Surely that depends what time they start at?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭Sugar Free


    AnonoBoy wrote: »
    Surely that depends what time they start at?

    I believe Legs is a teacher in Spain, so I'm guessing there's siesta times and maybe other breaks between schools/classes factored in. Still a long day though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,288 ✭✭✭pow wow


    I'm a salaried manager so do far more extra hours than I would like. There's no-one above me as such so if things don't get done, targets aren't met etc. the buck stops with me. Most evenings I wish it didn't.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭pundy


    it's alright at the moment, but it's a bit sh!t... although, i live a walk from work, so i'm usually home and on the couch and all by about 5.20pm if i start my day at 9.30... so not too bad.

    im moving to spain in a year or so, so then i wont have to work full time , so i'll relax in the sun most of the time and do "life" things, and work in a part time job 2 days/nights a week to give me my disposable cash.

    im more interested in having time, over having money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,928 ✭✭✭✭rainbow kirby


    I work 8:45-5 Mon-Fri, plenty of time in the evenings and weekends to have fun. Pretty decent work-life balance tbh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,062 ✭✭✭Uriel.


    pundy wrote: »
    it's alright at the moment, but it's a bit sh!t... although, i live a walk from work, so i'm usually home and on the couch and all by about 5.20pm if i start my day at 9.30... so not too bad.

    im moving to spain in a year or so, so then i wont have to work full time , so i'll relax in the sun most of the time and do "life" things, and work in a part time job 2 days/nights a week to give me my disposable cash.

    im more interested in having time, over having money.

    You start your (work) day at 9.30? and home and all by 17.20? If that's a 5 day a weeker, that's an excellent work life balance in comparison to the norm I would say. How you could say that it's "sh!t" is beyond me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭pundy


    Uriel. wrote: »
    You start your (work) day at 9.30? and home and all by 17.20? If that's a 5 day a weeker, that's an excellent work life balance in comparison to the norm I would say. How you could say that it's "sh!t" is beyond me.

    nah i know it's great to be fair, but like i said, i've no interest in being "rich" or owning pointless belongings, so my time is the most important thing to me.

    the other reason it seems sh!t to me is because, like the op, i started out with half an hour less in my day and now it's half an hour longer - used to be able to come in at 10 and leave at 5. and yeah, it's a 5-day a week permanent job.

    oh i'm taking off january's too... so it's feb-december..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,775 ✭✭✭✭kfallon


    Start work at 8am, finish at 4.15pm, can't get more balanced than that if you saw a seal on a tightrope with a beachball on it's nose! :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,532 ✭✭✭Lou.m


    I work for myself at least three days a week sometimes four.

    I also work for a publishing company at least one day a week.

    The personal work time blurr into each other.

    I need to manage it better.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭Elessar


    Work 9am to 6pm each day, 45 hours a week not including occasional unpaid overtime (only paid for 40). I go to college in the evenings twice a week and all day saturday. I hardly have two minutes to myself some weeks.

    I remember in the boom working for an american company working 07.30 to 4pm (home at 4.10) and 3pm every friday.

    I'd happily take a small pay cut if it meant I could work less and get home earlier every evening. Like another poster said, time is worth more to me than money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,026 ✭✭✭0ph0rce0


    Good Balance for me, Used to do many hours more than i should but gave that shít up a long time ago. Not worth it at all. You get nothing for it and then it's expected of you all the time

    In at 9, out at 5. Anyone wants any work done outside them hours. Tough Shít i'll do it tomorrow.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭Gannicus


    I was literally just told that there is loads of overtime available over the coming weeks but there's no obligation to do it now but we will be expected to make to make ourselves available at a later date.

    Kindly told my boss I have college in the evenings and that they knew this when they decided to transfer me to the department and that I wouldn't be available.

    I was subtly told that closer to the end of the project that it won't be up for discussion that we would have to do it. So I told them to speak to HR.


  • Posts: 24,714 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Big Steve wrote: »

    I was subtly told that closer to the end of the project that it won't be up for discussion that we would have to do it. So I told them to speak to HR.

    You won't get far in a lot of jobs nowadays being that inflexible, especially bringing HR into it.

    Unpaid overtime is part and parcel of most decent salaried jobs, especially if you are looking to progress your career.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,026 ✭✭✭0ph0rce0


    You won't get far in a lot of jobs nowadays being that inflexible, especially bringing HR into it.

    Unpaid overtime is part and parcel of most decent salaried jobs.

    I myself would be looking for another job then, I would not give up having a bit of time to myself for any amount of money


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,520 ✭✭✭allibastor


    Balance is good now. I work a 15 min drive from home. leave home at 07:40 most days, in before 08:00. get to leave at 16:45. Home by 17:00.

    Used to work in Dublin, working 08:00-17:30. But working with a workaholic boss and a lickspittle, both used to be in at 07:20 in the morning and not leave till 18:00 or after. I used to get the train up and down so I was tied to times to leave work.

    Out of there now, A good bit happier. Just wish I could get the work-life-money balance right now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭Gannicus


    You won't get far in a lot of jobs nowadays being that inflexible, especially bringing HR into it.

    It not the unpaid bit (well minorly it is) but my gripe is the fact that when I was being transferred department the manager came to me and asked me if I had any commitments outside work that would make me unavailable for staying into the late evenings. I told them i had college on Monday & Wednesday evenings and I had assignments and exams in the coming weeks and they took me in (I didn't want to transfer) anyway and told me it was okay but now they're pulling a complete 180 on what they said. I'm sorry but that's out of line
    Unpaid overtime is part and parcel of most decent salaried jobs.

    My salary is far from decent for the old job I had (which I enjoyed) never mind the position I'm in now.


  • Posts: 24,714 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Big Steve wrote: »
    It not the unpaid bit (well minorly it is) but my gripe is the fact that when I was being transferred department the manager came to me and asked me if I had any commitments outside work that would make me unavailable for staying into the late evenings. I told them i had college on Monday & Wednesday evenings and I had assignments and exams in the coming weeks and they took me in (I didn't want to transfer) anyway and told me it was okay but now they're pulling a complete 180 on what they said. I'm sorry but that's out of line

    Well its a bit different in that case as you have made them aware that you have important commitments in the evenings at this moment in time.

    If it was just refusing so you could go home and watch tv it would be a different story. I'm all for working normal hours most of the time but its inevitable that at certain times there may be a few weeks here and there where long hours and/or weekend work are required to meet deadlines etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,297 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    Bad, but getting better!

    The state agency I work for dropped a load of staff between 2008 and 2010, but kept the work and redistributed it.

    This year money has become available for overtime, but at my grade I don't qualify for it - which was fair enough before because the salary was decent. Anyhoooo........now I can work the same hours as the staff I supervise and they get paid more than I do!

    So about 4/5 months ago I went part-time. Three days a week the w/l balance is not great, but on the two days per week I work privately it's pretty good.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,886 ✭✭✭✭Roger_007


    Could someone please explain the term 'Work Life Balance'. It seems to presume that your work/job is not an integral part of your life.
    Surely the work you do, whether paid or unpaid, is as much a part of your life as anything else you do. If your work is as a housewife or househusband, what is your 'work/life' balance. Does your 'life' begin when the kids are in bed?
    I work in IT, I enjoy my job. It is an integral part of my life. I play golf; also part of my life. I am in a relationship; also part of my life. Everything I do is part of my life. There is nothing to balance my life with because everything is included.

    The whole concept of 'work/life balance' is simply nonsense.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,094 ✭✭✭SpaceCowb0y


    Roger_007 wrote: »
    Could someone please explain the term 'Work Life Balance'. It seems to presume that your work/job is not an integral part of your life.
    Surely the work you do, whether paid or unpaid, is as much a part of your life as anything else you do. If your work is as a housewife or househusband, what is your 'work/life' balance. Does your 'life' begin when the kids are in bed?
    I work in IT, I enjoy my job. It is an integral part of my life. I play golf; also part of my life. I am in a relationship; also part of my life. Everything I do is part of my life. There is nothing to balance my life with because everything is included.

    The whole concept of 'work/life balance' is simply nonsense.

    I work to live i don't live to work!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,886 ✭✭✭✭Roger_007


    I work to live i don't live to work!

    But whatever work you do is still part of your life, is it not? Do you go into some sort of non-living state while you do your job?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,226 ✭✭✭boobar


    Pretty good at the moment.

    I am very very lucky in that I can drop my kid to school and be in work for 9.30.

    I take 30 minutes for lunch so get home at a reasonable time in the evening as well.

    I have carried leave from last year so this year, I plan to take a month off in August, I've never had this amount of time off work before.

    I enjoy my work and the hours are great, so all in all, I'd say the work life balance is pretty good.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,347 ✭✭✭No Pants


    Roger_007 wrote: »
    Could someone please explain the term 'Work Life Balance'. It seems to presume that your work/job is not an integral part of your life.
    Surely the work you do, whether paid or unpaid, is as much a part of your life as anything else you do. If your work is as a housewife or househusband, what is your 'work/life' balance. Does your 'life' begin when the kids are in bed?
    I work in IT, I enjoy my job. It is an integral part of my life. I play golf; also part of my life. I am in a relationship; also part of my life. Everything I do is part of my life. There is nothing to balance my life with because everything is included.

    The whole concept of 'work/life balance' is simply nonsense.
    I only work to fund the rest of my life.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,297 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    We spend all of our youth working so we can get a qualification that allows us to spend the rest of our lives working again. Then we get old and die. It's truly ridiculous.

    Not unless you find a job that you truly enjoy and is your passion, then it doesn't feel like work.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,094 ✭✭✭SpaceCowb0y


    Roger_007 wrote: »
    But whatever work you do is still part of your life, is it not? Do you go into some sort of non-living state while you do your job?

    Pretty much yeah... i would hardly say going in to work is truly living! It is a means to an end, albeit a necessary one! I need to earn to afford the lifestyle that i like to lead but i am constantly planning my next trip etc where i actually enjoy my life! There is no major enjoyment in mu work, imcontent with it and like the field that i'm in but i could hardly comapae a day in the office to a days snowboarding/scuba diving/surfing etc


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