Time Off

09-05-2019 04:27PM #1

I'm in a privileged position where I have got a good bit of time off work, just wondering how people who work very long hours cope.

I finished at 3pm on the button today, would normally be closer to 3.30pm by the time I get out, but was a bit lucky today. Also have what would be considered long holidays by private sector workers.
Just thinking about it this evening as I passed offices where hundreds of people are still going. Is any job worth giving say 45 hours a week to with only four weeks off a year? It surely can't be good for you, but a lot of people in the private sector are doing it and even more at times.

dashoonage · 09-05-2019 04:29PM

well dont you have a sunny disposition on life.

whomitconcerns · 09-05-2019 04:29PM

All very easy to say when you have working hours such as yours. Other people usually don't get to think if is worth it or not

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 09-05-2019 04:30PM

It depends on the pay, career prospects and the commitments individuals have.

SusieBlue · 09-05-2019 04:30PM

Some people don't have a choice.

marvin80 · 09-05-2019 04:31PM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

It surely can't be good for you, but a lot of people in the private sector are doing it and even more at times.

The majority of people have no choice if they want to get by.

What's your occupation? Teacher?

Rubberchikken · 09-05-2019 04:33PM

i work 48 hours a week always at night. the tiredness can be brutal at times but as the nights are rostered with different days off its better than always weekends off. more variety

amcalester · 09-05-2019 04:38PM

I'm paid for 37.5 hours per week so that's what I do. I get in at 7:30 and leave at 4. If something is urgent or needs finishing I'll stay but 9 days out of 10 I'm finished at 4.

I prefer to eat at my desk when it is busy, so actually doing more than 37.5 but not much more.

Pauliedragon · 09-05-2019 04:39PM

This thread is either the worst troll or the best wind up.

topper75 · 09-05-2019 04:52PM

How do we cope. Fair question. Ignore the snide 'responses'.

I barely cope. Things often don't get done at home. Sometimes important things even go by the wayside. Birthdays are forgotten. DIY tasks can take up to a year between problem ID and an ultimate fix. My wardrobe if full but of junk like old t-shirts. Sometimes a day maybe composed of work, a little grocery shopping and maybe one TV show before bed and the harsh beeping of the clockradio at the start of another repetition. I tumble on from week to week like a matchstick down the rapids and hope for the best. Many days I come in to work I am dog tired and get little done. I heard a TU guy on the radio this morning saying their movement will now be focusing on a 4-day week. I can see it happening in our lifetimes. When it comes through, possibly first though the public sector and later filtering into private industry, we'll wonder why it wasn't always thus and will shudder at the thought of the 5-day week the way we nowadays look upon our 19th century forbears toiling all days but the sabbath.

09-05-2019 04:52PM

SusieBlue wrote: »

Some people don't have a choice.

TBF everyone has a choice at the start, although I would acknowledge that if you are a bit older and have a mortgage it can be complicated. But there's no need for anyone to go into a career where you work 45 hours or even more.

magic_murph · 09-05-2019 04:56PM

totally depends on the job, location, what the sacrifices are, what are the rewards, do you enjoy the work and the people you spend so much time with.

SusieBlue · 09-05-2019 05:05PM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

TBF everyone has a choice at the start, although I would acknowledge that if you are a bit older and have a mortgage it can be complicated. But there's no need for anyone to go into a career where you work 45 hours or even more.

With the exception of teaching, there are almost no careers that would allow a person work short hours, yet still be able to afford to pay rent or get a mortgage, let alone living expenses.

If there were options, people would take them. There is a reason that the majority of the workforce work a minimum of 37-45 hours a week, and its because its the only choice they have to get by.

With the exception of teaching, how would a person working 22 hours a week get approved for a mortgage or pay €1500 a month in rent?

09-05-2019 05:12PM

Teaching is a good option, but there are other ways I'm sure, obviously teaching has quite good time off, although it is very tough going.

09-05-2019 05:15PM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

Teaching is a good option, but there are other ways I'm sure, obviously teaching has quite good time off, although it is very tough going.

I'm starting to doubt your sincerity.

Strumms · 09-05-2019 05:24PM

magic_murph wrote: »

totally depends on the job, location, what the sacrifices are, what are the rewards, do you enjoy the work and the people you spend so much time with.

This, you can have a nice 8-4, Monday - Friday. Good cash, like the work, good holidays and not far from home...all that but if you are working with lazy gormless twats and a **** boss it’s not going to be worth it.

I was in a scenario where I was payed quite well for the type of work but with lazy cûnts and a supervisor who I didn’t get on with at all..got out of there despite the good cash, best thing I’d ever done.

OldMrBrennan83 · 10-05-2019 05:38AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Had a lot of time off the last few years and been using it to try set myself up with the fabled four-hour workweek. Hopefully I'll get there some day.

Time off is important. More important than material possessions and a new car anyways.

To some.

I've never found anything I like doing so I don't need more time. I'd take the possessions any day.

sk8erboii · 10-05-2019 05:40AM

Isnt it a bit depressing when your entire life revolves around working? Especially when its soul crushing and meaningless.

This thread kinda opened my eyes. No wonder Afterhours is full of bitter people

Sonny noggs · 10-05-2019 05:43AM

sk8erboii wrote: »

Isnt it a bit depressing when your entire life revolves around working? Especially when its soul crushing and meaningless.

This thread kinda opened my eyes. No wonder Afterhours is full of bitter people

How is the leaving cert study going?

OldMrBrennan83 · 10-05-2019 05:46AM

sk8erboii wrote: »

Isnt it a bit depressing when your entire life revolves around working? Especially when its soul crushing and meaningless.

This thread kinda opened my eyes. No wonder Afterhours is full of bitter people

For a lot of people it has to. What else are they going to do, go outside and pick money off the magical money tree? You looking down your nose at working people just because you had a bit of luck along the way is a far bigger example of what people are like.

Kirby · 10-05-2019 05:55AM

SusieBlue wrote: »

With the exception of teaching, there are almost no careers that would allow a person work short hours, yet still be able to afford to pay rent or get a mortgage, let alone living expenses.

Postal operatives (postmen) work short hours. I know because I've done it. Most are in at 6-7am and are home by 12-1pm. It's sort of merit-based which is novel enough. If you are a fast sorter and know your route well.....you'll be home in jig time.

If you have a heavy route or are slow you won't be but the majority are and still get paid for the 40 hours.

sk8erboii · 10-05-2019 05:56AM

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

For a lot of people it has to. What else are they going to do, go outside and pick money off the magical money tree? You looking down your nose at working people just because you had a bit of luck along the way is a far bigger example of what people are like.

Thats a lot of projection mate. Notice how i wasn’t criticizing working people at all, only BITTER people.

Also, I work for money like everyone. But unlike most people ‘with no options’ i dont spend it in the pub.

Red Lightning · 10-05-2019 05:58AM

SusieBlue wrote:

With the exception of teaching, how would a person working 22 hours a week get approved for a mortgage or pay â‚¬1500 a month in rent?

Teachers work a lot more than 22 hours a week. They have unpaid cover, majority have a **** load of correcting in the evenings and secondary school teachers bring their students in on their own time to help prepare them for exams.

10-05-2019 05:59AM

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

To some.

I've never found anything I like doing so I don't need more time. I'd take the possessions any day.

Enjoying your possessions is something you like doing. It's just more expensive than a lot of other hobbies.

OldMrBrennan83 · 10-05-2019 06:02AM

sk8erboii wrote: »

Thats a lot of projection mate. Notice how i wasn’t criticizing working people at all, only BITTER people.

Also, I work for money like everyone. But unlike most people ‘with no options’ i dont spend it in the pub.

That's some contradiction there. You're just basically making assumptions and looking down your snout at people.

10-05-2019 06:10AM

sk8erboii wrote: »

Thats a lot of projection mate. Notice how i wasn’t criticizing working people at all, only BITTER people.

Also, I work for money like everyone. But unlike most people ‘with no options’ i dont spend it in the pub.

Criticising people in the same conversation as acknowledging where their problems stem from, and then saying that most people who have financial problems are in that situation because they spend it on alcohol.

Ignorance really is bliss at 23 years old I suppose.

Sonny noggs · 10-05-2019 06:12AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Criticising people in the same conversation as acknowledging where their problems stem from, and then saying that most people who have financial problems are in that situation because they spend it on alcohol.

Ignorance really is bliss at 23 years old I suppose.

23? I thought he was still in school?

Gimme A Pound · 10-05-2019 06:34AM

topper75 wrote: »

How do we cope. Fair question. Ignore the snide 'responses'.

What snide responses? (Quote marks unnecessary).

The post just looks like an exercise in "I get to work really short hours with long holidays, and you don't - naana!" They can protest all they want. Of course not everyone has a choice - even at the start. Very few jobs have the short hours they describe. It's pretty rude to be saying "why can't everyone just get a job with short hours like I did?" Because somebody has to do the jobs with long hours.

I work 42.5 hours a week, including lunches and breaks. I cope fine because it's completely standard.

gozunda · 10-05-2019 06:35AM

SusieBlue wrote: »

With the exception of teaching, there are almost no careers that would allow a person work short hours, yet still be able to afford to pay rent or get a mortgage, let alone living expenses.

...

The only other one I'm aware of tbh is local goverment. The local county council employees are normally finished around 3 - 3.30 with a 9 am start. They also get a very nice holiday arrangement ...

con___manx1 · 10-05-2019 06:53AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm starting to doubt your sincerity.

Good teachers do alot of work outside school hours such as correcting and class planning. I used to think the same as you but i have seen this first hand. A teachers work doesnt finish at 3pm. There are alot of hours done that they are not paid for.
This is where there hollidays come in i supppse.

Sonny noggs · 10-05-2019 07:11AM

con___manx1 wrote: »

Good teachers do alot of work outside school hours such as correcting and class planning. I used to think the same as you but i have seen this first hand. A teachers work doesnt finish at 3pm. There are alot of hours done that they are not paid for.
This is where there hollidays come in i supppse.

I thought all teachers corrected?

Time Off

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