To ask if your DH/DP works a 70 80 90 hour week - what exactly does he do?

[Hetty241]

I often read posts on MN where women mention their husbands/partners working very long hours and wonder what jobs they do that entail such long hours.

So I thought I'd ask.

I work long hours too (I'm a woman). As a student nurse I'm required to average 40hours per week on the ward. On top of this I have assignments, an achievement log to complete and studying for exams. To pay the bills I also have a paid job. I regularly hit 80hrs per week. As I'm low paid though it means I'm lazy, stupid and apparently don't work very hard. Nice to know I can add greed to my list of crimes against humanity.

Oh I have dc too, so a house to run as well. I have 3 days off this week first run of days off in 3months. I know this is probably selfish but since I rarely get time to sleep or enjoy myself I'm trying to spend time with DC and get some me time while they're sleeping.

Runs his own printing company, also only managed 4 days off in the last year. It's shit when the guys he employs earn more than him for 9-5. But I must look at the bigger picture, he ploughs every penny profit back in to grow the company and it will pay off in a few years, I'm told.

My dp works in retail (low level/big chain) and is working 70 + hour weeks at the moment. Might die down post jan 2nd though.

I don't have a husband but I work those kinds of hours.

I'm a performing arts (and a couple of other subjects) teacher in a boarding school.

why?

1. I love it
2. It provides my children with a decent lifestyle, free house and almost free private education.

Oh, and 3) The holidays!

Private banker

I have no idea what that involves so don't ask

Dp works in media (mainly TV) some, weeks he can be at work almost constantly for days on end. Normal weeks are about 50 hours.

This thread has been great for me to read as amongst our friendship group I am the only one who's H works these kind of hours. Senior PM in a blue chip company, gets lonely sometimes, however he is an amazing father and all downtime is spent playing with his Son and it means we will be mortgage free soon which will then enable him to drop back in the company to get a bit more time off.

Blueberry, your post stands out. I think you need to brace yourself for the fact that in all likelihood, your DH will not stand down in a few years time. Those that get in to very senior positions do not do it completely for the money, it is more than that.

Dh is an electrician. We run our own business employing a few others. He does all paperwork most evenings and any call outs.

However he loves it and talks and probably dreams electrics 24/7

Barrister. I used to work those kinds of hours too but when we had children we decided it was only reasonable for one of us to do it for their sake and I had a more limited career flogging Eurobonds and was coming to the end of it so I gave it up. I would say I have worked as hard as DH over the years because I have completely taken over all domestic responsibilities and management. I do work now and have for ten years but I do so locally as a manager in education and I have limited my climb further up the greasy pole because I work 40 hours at work and do a little at home only in extremis. I now earn less than one tenth of my DH's earnings but I still like it, still think it's worthwhile and honestly believe work gives one a purpose. If I reflect on what I have done over the years I do believe though that people in the public sector work as hard and under as much pressure as those in the City, etc, but the difference lies in the job security and the support for people when things go wrong, ie, it's about getting them back to work rather than out of work.

I think there are two different types of roles which require long hours: operational roles, which mean you have to eg there in person to get the job done and you can't just leave (DH has one of these); and professional desk based roles which have certain expectations on what you will deliver but might have some flexibility about whether all of that is in the office or some at home when the kids are in bed (I have one of these).

My contract contains a specific exemption from the working times directive to make it legal. DH's bonus structure is heavily skewed towards those who put in the hours.

DH and I both work long hours. We're scientists.

I'm not sure blueberry's dh is all that different. My dh is looking at another 5 years of gut busting work before he takes a more relaxed line and I know he'll do it because he won't be fit enough to work the same hours the youngsters work - I'm not holding out for it but he's got other things in life he'd like to pursue.