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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that this is too many hours for one person to work!

81 replies

crazydashboard · 09/05/2014 21:03

Teaching...this time of year...nightmare.

My working week:
Monday (Bank Hol): 10-7
Tuesday: 8-8
Wednesday:8-9
Thursday: 8-1(AM!)
Friday: 7-8

And in tomorrow 11-4!

Shattered doesn't cover it!

OP posts:
doglover · 09/05/2014 21:04

Yes, completely unreasonable. It's why I now teach part time!!

HesterShaw · 09/05/2014 21:06

Do you need to? Why on earth are you working til 1am?

I used to teach. The first three years were ridiculous, until I got stern with myself and decided this was no way to live. After all, no one ever had on their headstone: "Here lies Hester - she always did brilliant marking."

Pumpkinpositive · 09/05/2014 21:06

That's 55 hours? maths not my strong suit

I'm sure someone will be along shortly to regale you with tales of a 120 hour week.

Verycold · 09/05/2014 21:08

69 hours

EvilTwins · 09/05/2014 21:09

Are you secondary? I worked til midnight on Wednesday and til 1am yesterday because I had GCSE moderation (practical subject) today and had to mark all the students' final evaluations before the visit as well as sort the paperwork. Now I have to get my GCSE sample sorted (quick job in theory but never ends up like that) as well as my L2 & L3 BTEC samples. I cannot wait til half term!

arethereanyleftatall · 09/05/2014 21:10

From what i've seen at dds school, teachers work really really hard. But, so do lots of other professions. Not that that helps you at all. Keep going, think summer!

AtYourCervix · 09/05/2014 21:13

but you'll get a week off soon and then another 6 or so in the summer.

ducks and runs away fast

I worked from 07.30 -20.45 last Monday and had one wee at around 14.00. beat that.

TheWholeOfTheSpoon · 09/05/2014 21:17

Have you ever considered you're just not that good at your job?! Grin

runs out of thread. My work here is done

Pipbin · 09/05/2014 21:20

Why are you in tomorrow?

beershuffle · 09/05/2014 21:20

Youre not a junior doctor or anything, its not thst many hours.

Theyaremysunshine · 09/05/2014 21:31

I used to be a junior doctor in the bad old days. Weekend shift was sat 8am - mon 5pm (no breaks, eat while walking, drink a lot of caffeine) then back Tuesday 8am to carry on. Average week was 90 hours. Worst on record was 126. Was a tough one that.

But I couldn't do it now. And your week with dc at home would have me shattered and questioning my career.

My family are/were all teachers and I know they worked hard but those hours are ridiculous. Something's not right surely if you can't get done the essentials without working til 1am!

maddening · 09/05/2014 21:37

if it were a regular thing throughout the year most weeks then I would say yanbu but lots of jobs have periods where employees are expected to put in a lot extra than usual - ends of big projects, end of month/quarter/year, Christmas in retail, major catastrophic events for emergency workers, war for military, culmination of a live performance - it isn't that unusual.

BillyBanter · 09/05/2014 21:37

Yes it's too many hours. Just because others do the same or more doesn't change that.

It'd be nice if people tried to support each other in keeping working hours down rather than out-martyring each other.

AtYourCervix · 09/05/2014 21:38

DDs school is also being Ofsteded this week. Poor bastards.

WooWooOwl · 09/05/2014 21:40

Yes it's too many hours, but as it's just because of a busy time of year, then I think you just have to put it down to one of those things.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 09/05/2014 21:40

Not quite that many here, I was on in Monday though and will be in tomorrow.
It's coursework deadline time.

sunshine did you not sleep between 8am Sat and 5pm Mon?

RevoltingPeasant · 09/05/2014 21:40

OP you are entitled to a moan! Yes many of us work in jobs with long hours but it doesn't make it any nicer to do. Hope you will enjoy some time off this weekend.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 09/05/2014 21:40

It is too much but unfortunately it's pretty common.

I often see the teachers at our local school still working at 7pm.

I used to work in banking and 60 hours a week was normal. This is one of the many reasons why I became a SAHM.

DH is in banking and 8am - 6pm are his regular hours ( on top of an hour each way commuting) but he often works until 10pm and occasionally all night If he is completing a deal. It puts a real strain on family life but we are just so grateful that he still has a job!

Original poster
crazydashboard · 09/05/2014 21:49

EvilTwins yes I am secondary and sounds like I am in the same position as you - practical subject and its moderation/exam/paperwork time.
Many of you are right it's not normally quite as bad, just this time of year. I am aware there are lots of people who work the same if not worse hours, just having a moan but thanks for your replies folks :)
Just an odd leap of logic TheWholeOfTheSpoon that the more hours you work the worse you are at your job? Hmm
Nevermind! Have a laaaverly weekend folks!

OP posts:
Theyaremysunshine · 09/05/2014 21:52

No endo. Sleeps for wimps! Only kidding. Was horrific. Felt like the walking dead. Couldn't do it now and fortunately the law has change so it doesn't happen anymore. Never do more than 24 hours without a break now and that's unusual.

It wasn't safe. But I chose it knowing what I was getting into. I can't imagine many teachers start off thinking they'll be in for a 50+ hour week.

There's something wrong with expectations for there to be a need for that. Horrible way to live if it's all the time.

NearTheWindymill · 09/05/2014 22:03

Well I work in education but don't teach. I have worked about 50 hours this week (for about the same salary as a HoD). I do that pretty much every week - more some weeks; less others. What really annoys me is when academic staff say "what are you doing for the summer?". Um, I'm taking three weeks holiday thanks! Hmm. I am extremely privileged because I get 7 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and I am grateful for the balance it gives me.

ShutTheFuckUpBarbara · 09/05/2014 22:06

As pp have said, yes it is long hours but for a lot of us it is a reality, week in, week out.

I think the 35h week is a myth!

But as long as you enjoy what you do then it makes it bearable most of the time. :)

Artandco · 09/05/2014 22:12

I usually do a 60 hour week as does dh and most friends we know. I find that average tbh, have done most working life

70 hr weeks begin to push it too far. However as mentioned you will get the long holidays also and you don't have that every week

FourEyesGood · 09/05/2014 22:13

This is the most stressful, hectic half term (if you've got GCSE classes, anyway). The payoff comes next month with gained time - and throughout August, of course! I'm currently ignoring the big pile of marking in the corner of the room, but will tackle it head-on tomorrow.

Phantomteadrinker · 09/05/2014 22:15

Another thread about teachers working hours! Appreciate that you all work hard and lots of hours but so do many,many of us in other sectors but no one cares about us! Thems the breaks I'm afraid.