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The 5+ day work week is complete bullshit

Hoho for breakfast

Hoho for breakfast

Member
I don't know or care how it happened but I do know that it's not healthy and it does not give people time to do what they want and live their lives. I've always hated work and always will, but I can find some acceptance if there is a 3 or 4 day work week as opposed to the current 5 (or more!) days that many people deal with as standard.

I had been working 5-6 days per week, 8 hours per day, for years and when I finally went to 4-10 hour days I was much happier in general. Now there is talk of us going back and I'm absolutely dreading it. I can do it, but I feel like it will suck the soul out of me to go back to that many days per week of work.

And we all know it's not actually just an 8 hour day. It's usually 8.5 hours per day, not including travel time and time getting ready. I would bet that most Americans actually have a 10 or so hour work day when all is said and done.

I don't really know what I'm starting a thread for. I guess just to see if others agree or what kind of hours you all work and if you get any enjoyment out of what you do.

I want change I guess. I want people to fight to be able to live their damn lives for themselves instead of working themselves to death. I want people to fight for a 4 day work week maximum. Not 5 days and certainly never 6 or 7 unless you really just love what you do (which is just fine).
 
Hoho for breakfast

Hoho for breakfast

Member
Virt McPolygon said:
10 hour days are fucking awful. My brain is fried by hour 6 and I stop responding to work chats lol
Click to expand...
Yeah you're not wrong. I know some places do 3 breaks with 10 hour days but we only do 2 and it really does suck. I'd still rather suffer through that than do the extra day every week though.
 
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Mossybrew

Mossybrew

Banned
Yeah my work week is, wake up 6:45. Get home 4:40. You know what fuck it, it's fine. I spend 50% of my work day fucking around on the internet. I get my job done so no one fucks with me. I'm union so I get shit like healthcare. I ask for paid time off no one gives a fuck. It works for me son pays the bills pays for vidjagames and booze so I'm all set thanks.
 
Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
On paper i should do 38,5h a week but it is mostly between 40 and 45. If i put all my energy into it i could change my contract to 30h a week but that would mean less payment. I had jobs where i had to work much more and had 2 hours travel time a day so this is ok. I manage to do enough hours over the course of the week so that i can leave at 12:00 on friday. Every Time!

With covid we worked shift and just 6 hours a day for some months with the same payment. To be honest this felt very good for my work life balance. If i would do it now they would pay me less. Difficult decisions!
 
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p_xavier

p_xavier

Authorized Fister
I'm the opposite, I requested to work 6-7 days a week because I have too much time on my hands and we're short on staff. I work 10h a day. I never understood people running out of time.
 
6502

6502

Member
I went from 5 7 hour days to 4 9 hour days, then 4 9hours plus 2 7 hours (6 day week) for overtime (made a fortune extra £10k a year) about 6 years ago. It was hell but I loved the cheques.

Spent most of it down the pub.

Thank god I didn't waste it.
 
K

Kimahri

Banned
I was on sick leave some time back where I only worked 4 days per week. It was amazing. I was so much more rested, happy with work life balance, and was far more productive while at work. So I worked 20% less hours, but accomplished more.

Maybe not for all professions, but this idea that the amount of hours spent on work is equal to tje amount of work done, is complete nonsense.
 
Lanrutcon

Lanrutcon

Member
Yeah. You really, really want to work towards a job that isn't 9/5 5 days a week, especially when you hit your 30s. Something that's results driven is ideal. It's been my experience that a lot of managers that aren't assholes just want to see timely results. They don't care if you spent 8 or 16 or 24 hours on it: if you hit the deadline, and you produced quality, then they leave you alone to sort out your own time management.

But I get that for every job like that there are 20 that treat you like a machine.
 
GeorgPrime

GeorgPrime

Banned
Hoho for breakfast said:
I don't know or care how it happened but I do know that it's not healthy and it does not give people time to do what they want and live their lives. I've always hated work and always will, but I can find some acceptance if there is a 3 or 4 day work week as opposed to the current 5 (or more!) days that many people deal with as standard.

I had been working 5-6 days per week, 8 hours per day, for years and when I finally went to 4-10 hour days I was much happier in general. Now there is talk of us going back and I'm absolutely dreading it. I can do it, but I feel like it will suck the soul out of me to go back to that many days per week of work.

And we all know it's not actually just an 8 hour day. It's usually 8.5 hours per day, not including travel time and time getting ready. I would bet that most Americans actually have a 10 or so hour work day when all is said and done.

I don't really know what I'm starting a thread for. I guess just to see if others agree or what kind of hours you all work and if you get any enjoyment out of what you do.

I want change I guess. I want people to fight to be able to live their damn lives for themselves instead of working themselves to death. I want people to fight for a 4 day work week maximum. Not 5 days and certainly never 6 or 7 unless you really just love what you do (which is just fine).
Click to expand...

Go to Irland. They officially have a 35 Hours week now with full salary.
 
GamingKaiju

GamingKaiju

Member
Yeh I had a job where we did 4*10 shifts at first the long days were brutal but once you are used to it, they fly by and you have 3 days off. My previous job was rota based so when we had 3 off and the other 3 off from the next week clumped together you had a week off every 6 weeks it was bliss.
 
Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
p_xavier said:
I'm the opposite, I requested to work 6-7 days a week because I have too much time on my hands and we're short on staff. I work 10h a day. I never understood people running out of time.
Click to expand...
If you factor in real life obligations like cooking, cleaning your flat, or doing the laundry how much spare time do you really have for your own? Put a wife or kids on top if you want.
 
p_xavier

p_xavier

Authorized Fister
Con-Z-epT said:
If you factor in real life obligations like cooking, cleaning your flat, or doing the laundry how much spare time do you really have for your own? Put a wife or kids on top if you want.
Click to expand...
I have 5-10pm for all that. So about 4 hours each day of free time. I do my own cooking, cleaning, lawn mowing on different days.
 
Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
p_xavier said:
I have 5-10pm for all that. So about 4 hours each day of free time. I do my own cooking, cleaning, lawn mowing on different days.
Click to expand...
Sure but how much of this is left for your hobbies and the things you really care? I work less than you and i'd say i don't have enough spare time for the important things.
 
p_xavier

p_xavier

Authorized Fister
Con-Z-epT said:
Sure but how much of this is left for your hobbies and the things you really care? I work less than you and i'd say i don't have enough spare time for the important things.
Click to expand...
4h a day is not enough?! I renovated my whole house last year with that time. I don't have hobbies besides DIY, I like things to be productive. I was looking for a second job as was drinking to pass time. https://www.neogaf.com/threads/i-need-some-hobby-ideas.1619573/
 
Artistic

Artistic

Member
I wouldn't oppose a 4 day work week, but definitely feel there's plenty of time available on hours after a standard work day and the current two off days.

Hell for me at least, I'd work all 7 days if I could just for the extra money.
 
Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
Mr Hyde

Mr Hyde

Member
I work 4 days a week, Monday to Thursday. 9.5 hour evening shift. I've been doing it for about 10 years and I'm very happy and grateful for it. Long weekends are so good and I don't have to worry about sleeping in or going to work early in the morning. I can't see myself ever working 5 days again. Or go up from bed early 😉
 
Liljagare

Liljagare

Member
Add a rotating schedule and weekends/evenings, it's just a mess.

Literarly torture to never have a set schedule, I really think that working in retail for so long, where this is common, is what contributed alot to meeting the wall. Sleep schedule never gets set or left alone. Horrible working conditions really.
 
kittoo

kittoo

Cretinously credulous
My wife switched last week to a company which has 6 days weeks, because it paid well. I used to work in the same company a couple of years back and told her it was not worth it. But the money was too good.
I personally agree that peace of mind and free time has its own value which can't be measured. You realize that only when you go through a real grinder.
 
K

K' Dash

Member
kittoo said:
My wife switched last week to a company which has 6 days weeks, because it paid well. I used to work in the same company a couple of years back and told her it was not worth it. But the money was too good.
I personally agree that peace of mind and free time has its own value which can't be measured. You realize that only when you go through a real grinder.
Click to expand...

She will learn a valuable lesson then.
 
Papacheeks

Papacheeks

Banned
Hoho for breakfast said:
I don't know or care how it happened but I do know that it's not healthy and it does not give people time to do what they want and live their lives. I've always hated work and always will, but I can find some acceptance if there is a 3 or 4 day work week as opposed to the current 5 (or more!) days that many people deal with as standard.

I had been working 5-6 days per week, 8 hours per day, for years and when I finally went to 4-10 hour days I was much happier in general. Now there is talk of us going back and I'm absolutely dreading it. I can do it, but I feel like it will suck the soul out of me to go back to that many days per week of work.

And we all know it's not actually just an 8 hour day. It's usually 8.5 hours per day, not including travel time and time getting ready. I would bet that most Americans actually have a 10 or so hour work day when all is said and done.

I don't really know what I'm starting a thread for. I guess just to see if others agree or what kind of hours you all work and if you get any enjoyment out of what you do.

I want change I guess. I want people to fight to be able to live their damn lives for themselves instead of working themselves to death. I want people to fight for a 4 day work week maximum. Not 5 days and certainly never 6 or 7 unless you really just love what you do (which is just fine).
Click to expand...
What industry do you work in just curious?

I work in broadcast which means I’m on call a lot. But I work 6:30am-3pm and before that it was 8:00-4:30/5 days a week. I work a lot and go in once in a blue moon on weekends when a problem arises I can’t do remotely.

To me if you are that unhappy to work in general change jobs/profession.

But that’s the world we live in, and I know pe in other countries would love a 5/ 6 days a week at only mostly 8hr days.
Sounds like your a real whiner.

Change your environment if you don’t like the outcome.

No sympathy unless you are literally stuck in a country where that’s all there is. I know people who work 4 days a week but work 12hr shifts. And others that do longer days but then are off rest of the week. They work for Hilite which has you travel the country to paint markings and lines for airports.
It’s up to you, but welcome to being a grown up. Get that hot pocket out of your mouth and off the keyboard and change it if you are miserable.
 
wipeout364

wipeout364

Member
I think it depends on your goals. If you are willing to take a 20% pay cut or work 25% longer on days you do work then go find a job that allows that. I think arbitrarily saying no job should have a 5 day work week is presuming what you think applies to everyone.

Personally I think your bigger problem is that you hate work. You need to think about what you are doing with your life if you are in a situation that makes you that unhappy. Maybe take a pay cut and find another job that makes you happier.
 
Hoho for breakfast

Hoho for breakfast

Member
highrider said:
Can’t really relate, I love what I do for a living. As a man you should probably get used to the idea of being productive. If you think society values the work to live guy I have bad news.
Click to expand...
You seem to get at least some of your sense of self worth from what you do which is great depending on what that is. I would find that sad in my line of work (production for a large corporation).

Papacheeks said:
What industry do you work in just curious?

I work in broadcast which means I’m on call a lot. But I work 6:30am-3pm and before that it was 8:00-4:30/5 days a week. I work a lot and go in once in a blue moon on weekends when a problem arises I can’t do remotely.

To me if you are that unhappy to work in general change jobs/profession.

But that’s the world we live in, and I know pe in other countries would love a 5/ 6 days a week at only mostly 8hr days.
Sounds like your a real whiner.

Change your environment if you don’t like the outcome.

No sympathy unless you are literally stuck in a country where that’s all there is. I know people who work 4 days a week but work 12hr shifts. And others that do longer days but then are off rest of the week. They work for Hilite which has you travel the country to paint markings and lines for airports.
It’s up to you, but welcome to being a grown up. Get that hot pocket out of your mouth and off the keyboard and change it if you are miserable.
Click to expand...
The whole "welcome to being a grown up" thing is so backwards to me. You also seem to get your worth from your job/career. I don't understand that at all. To me it's just a modern day slavery and we should demand better. Again though I'm in production for a large company. Obviously if you have a career/job that you enjoy that's great and may be why we have vastly differing opinions on work and what it means for ourselves. I won't be changing careers as what I'm doing now pays quite well for what it is, but if it didn't I absolutely would.

I do very basically feel that my work is almost completely meaningless, which is probably a big part of the problem for me specifically. I still overall dont think that the work/life balance is ok at 5+ days every week for most people. I get my sense of self worth from everything outside of my job, which is mostly my family. I value my time away from work infinitely more than my time doing the work I do.
 
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jufonuk

jufonuk

not tag worthy
Why I don’t mind doing four on four off work patterns or seven day fortnights

(over two weeks you work seven days)
1st week Monday -Tues , Friday -Sunday
Second Weds-Thurs.

Yeah usually it’s either 10 or 12 hours

seven on seven off if it was that way

Monday to Friday just I dunno. Just having only the evening off and two days. I don’t know. Maybe it could make it easier as it should be blocked out. But who knows. It’s personal choice
Usually twelve hour shifts start later finish later so you have the morning or if they start earlier you have an earlier evening. You miss out rush hours so it’s good.
I like having a week off with only using two days holiday. It’s nice.
 
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Papacheeks

Papacheeks

Banned
Hoho for breakfast said:
You seem to get at least some of your sense of self worth from what you do which is great depending on what that is. I would find that sad in my line of work (production for a large corporation).


The whole "welcome to being a grown up" thing is so backwards to me. You also seem to get your worth from your job/career. I don't understand that at all. To me it's just a modern day slavery and we should demand better. Again though I'm in production for a large company. Obviously if you have a career/job that you enjoy that's great and may be why we have vastly differing opinions on work and what it means for ourselves. I won't be changing careers as what I'm doing now pays quite well for what it is, but if it didn't I absolutely would.

I do very basically feel that my work is almost completely meaningless, which is probably a big part of the problem for me specifically. I still overall dont think that the work/life balance is ok at 5+ days every week for most people. I get my sense of self worth from everything outside of my job, which is mostly my family. I value my time away from work infinitely more than my time doing the work I do.
Click to expand...

If you are unwilling to change your work environment, I have no sympathy what so ever. I could have gone into other avenues for IT Administration, but even though the pay is great, I value personal time, and my work environment more than the amount I make. Too many people put too much on money. I know people I grew up around who did blue collar jobs all their life and are very happy content. ANd they work long hours but mainly its a M-F type of deal.

So my question to you is what makes you happy? And also there is nothing wrong with working hard, as long as you give yourself either time off or paid time off, vacation time so you dont get burned out. But if you dislike what your doing doesnt matter how good the money is, your mental happiness is what matters the most.

I had a long hard time coming to terms with that when I was in my early 20's. Now getting close to 40 I see what I value differes than what I valued when I was younger. For me I just want to make enough to pay my bills and not have to worry. Thats why I live with a roomate, as I slowly look for houses. I have no debt outside of paying for a car that is almost paid off because I didn't go crazy like most young people do.

Your status in life is meaningless, and unfullfilling. Having a sense of Accomplish is more rewarding than making more money for you to buy shit that you think will ultimatley change your demeaner. Either that be a boat, motorcycle, car, lake cabin ect. You need to find what makes you happy that doesnt require you to buy something to get that happiness.
For some people its spending time with family on vacations, or going out to see your favorite teams with your closest friends, or maybe its working on projects that interest you?
Thats what you need to find and soul search for. A lot of pressure is put on people needing a career job to be happy. You rarely see that be the case for long periods of time.

Look at the gaming industry? Look at Jaffe, he loves video games, but I can tell by his demeaner now being father who wants to be more active in their lives, being in games is hard to have both. And outside of things like working on your own game, working for large companies isn;t always whats its cracked up to be. Unless your goal is to be a lifer and move up the latter to get to a position that has better work life balance.

So many people I know who I went to school with unless they are a concept artists, usually transition out of games and into something that has better life work balance. Sometimes even taking a huge paycut. Because the stress and being miserable is not worth it.

My advice, stop measuring success by what your position is in your career or how much you make. ANd the only way you will come to that conclusion is finding out what you like/want in life. And having more money rarely makes people happier. The people I know who are well off that have a good life balance are doctors, teachers, nurses. Ther rest sacrifice family time for a career that is fullfilling in what your doing but to me thats shows you would rather pick a career over family.

And again that goes under Priorities and you as person.
 
K

Kimahri

Banned
Con-Z-epT said:
I have a broad interest in things and quite a lot of hobbies so no, 4 hours a day is not enough.
Click to expand...
Yeah, same here. I have a lot of vacation timeeach year, and without that I'd be miserable. My hobbies and artsy fartsy hobbies are what gives my life mraning, and if I had to spend more time working, I'd not be happy.

I'd struggle on 4 hours. Work is a necessary evil, but I work as little as I can while still being able to provide for me and mine to pursue my passions.
 
Artistic

Artistic

Member
Liljagare said:
Add a rotating schedule and weekends/evenings, it's just a mess.

Literarly torture to never have a set schedule, I really think that working in retail for so long, where this is common, is what contributed alot to meeting the wall. Sleep schedule never gets set or left alone. Horrible working conditions really.
Click to expand...
I don't mind it as I don't have any obligations or much of anything going on outside of work. There are days where I wish I could be off, but that's just depending on outside factors beyond my control. It could either be a weekday or a weekend.

Also at my new position at work, you either work no later than 4/5:30 PM. Days will change based on week to week scheduling and need though.
 
BigBooper

BigBooper

Member
I worked 4x10s for a while and loved it. Doesn't really work out for any kind of public office or retail job, but I think most jobs could be 4X10 pretty easily.

At a certain point though, you have to accept that work usually isn't a fun time. Either look for a better job or shut your mind off to the grind and suck it up. Everyone wishes they could win the lottery and live a life of leisure, but it rarely happens.
 
D

Deleted member 1159

Unconfirmed Member


The only work I did yesterday was login to my computer and occasionally check my emails and move the cursor around so it wouldn’t show me as away. Then I replaced the carburetor on my snow blower and played some Metroid…the work week is bullshit and my wife is moving to 3 days a week, which is part of why I went in to ask for a raise for this week. So now I’m getting paid more to “work from home,” which on most Fridays means do whatever I want because people who schedule meetings on Fridays know they’re assholes
 
Faust

Faust

Perpetually Tired
highrider said:
Can’t really relate, I love what I do for a living. As a man you should probably get used to the idea of being productive. If you think society values the work to live guy I have bad news.
Click to expand...

This is where I am at as well.
Love my job. Work 5 days a week, often I will go in on the weekends just to get more work done and further my research. It’s stimulating, ever changing, and something I genuinely love to do.

Sadly most jobs are not like mine and I do feel for them. All I can say is, if possible, pursue and work towards a dream job/career. Will make your days even better.
 
Warnen

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
in August had some rough weeks at work, most of the dept was out (few on vacation, most Covid contact tracing). Left most day with 3 people on all day, usually had at least 8. Long days and no days off no breaks to since no one there to cover. Didn’t mind to much cause I like my job and fuck that over time pay was sweeeeeet.
 
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P

Platinumstorm

Member
Hoho for breakfast said:
I don't know or care how it happened but I do know that it's not healthy and it does not give people time to do what they want and live their lives. I've always hated work and always will, but I can find some acceptance if there is a 3 or 4 day work week as opposed to the current 5 (or more!) days that many people deal with as standard.

I had been working 5-6 days per week, 8 hours per day, for years and when I finally went to 4-10 hour days I was much happier in general. Now there is talk of us going back and I'm absolutely dreading it. I can do it, but I feel like it will suck the soul out of me to go back to that many days per week of work.

And we all know it's not actually just an 8 hour day. It's usually 8.5 hours per day, not including travel time and time getting ready. I would bet that most Americans actually have a 10 or so hour work day when all is said and done.

I don't really know what I'm starting a thread for. I guess just to see if others agree or what kind of hours you all work and if you get any enjoyment out of what you do.

I want change I guess. I want people to fight to be able to live their damn lives for themselves instead of working themselves to death. I want people to fight for a 4 day work week maximum. Not 5 days and certainly never 6 or 7 unless you really just love what you do (which is just fine).
Click to expand...

Even 8 hour days aren't very compatible for many in today's world due to commuting time. If we want to reduce health issues in the country, we should probably be pushing 6 hours a day, 4 days a week. Many people don't know how to handle time off or how to develop hobbies or be productive.

I work 4 "8s" which are typically more like 4 9.5s.
 
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Fbh

Fbh

Member
I work 5.5 days (basically half day on Saturdays).
To me the biggest issue isn't really working that much but rather having to spend a considerable amount of the free time I have on things like cleaning and various house chores. So I hope to grow my business and income to the point I can pay people to take care of that
 
Hari Seldon

Hari Seldon

Member
The job market in the US is super frothy right now. A good time to switch jobs to something that better fits your situation. My current company is still insisting that everyone is coming back into the office 4 days a week after the new year. I have an offer about to be signed for a full time wfh situation, and they were so desperate that I don't have to start until after my Q1 bonus. A great time to change it up.
 
Excess

Excess

Member
highrider said:
As a man you should probably get used to the idea of being productive.
Click to expand...
Can't stress this one enough. I'm of the opinion that human beings are inherently drawn to being productive, whether that's for themselves or to society.

On the other hand, our standards of living have increased exponentially, and we need to start determining what our limits are in regards to the options provided. Many corporate jobs, which are salaried, already measure performance on work that is completed, rather than time spent completing it. Whereas, retail and manufacturing jobs still rely on time to complete an effort. I think much of this is the reason why so many in the latter industries have "checked out" on jobs that are expendable during the current pandemic. To the contrary, salaried jobs have weathered it quite well, being able to work from home while maintaining the same levels of output. And as people's expectations change, businesses will need to adapt, especially with a labor shortage.

With all that said, I fear that if I did do a 4 day work week, I would then be complaining about the need for a 3 day work week.
 
hemo memo

hemo memo

You can't die before your death
highrider said:
Can’t really relate, I love what I do for a living. As a man you should probably get used to the idea of being productive. If you think society values the work to live guy I have bad news.
Click to expand...
It is not really that but the problem is not much the work itself but the people and the office culture and your superior mental state as he/she will ignore all the great work you do and focus on a simple mistake.
 
D

Deleted member 1159

Unconfirmed Member
Excess said:
Can't stress this one enough. I'm of the opinion that human beings are inherently drawn to being productive, whether that's for themselves or to society.

On the other hand, our standards of living have increased exponentially, and we need to start determining what our limits are in regards to the options provided. Many corporate jobs, which are salaried, already measure performance on work that is completed, rather than time spent completing it. Whereas, retail and manufacturing jobs still rely on time to complete an effort. I think much of this is the reason why so many in the latter industries have "checked out" on jobs that are expendable during the current pandemic. To the contrary, salaried jobs have weathered it quite well, being able to work from home while maintaining the same levels of output. And as people's expectations change, businesses will need to adapt, especially with a labor shortage.

With all that said, I fear that if I did do a 4 day work week, I would then be complaining about the need for a 3 day work week.
Click to expand...
There’s a lot of shit around the house or car maintenance (or snowblower maintenance) and whatever I’d rather spend my time on than working for the man. Or now that my commute has been eliminated, I’m committing myself to using that new free time to exercise every day.

One thing people don’t mention is how much time you spend in the office doing fuck all, which is just a waste. At least when I’m at home I can do stuff I would like to do rather than trying to cram it in during the weekend. The only drawback is I’ll miss people dropping into my office to ask questions in person or just shoot the shit.
 
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