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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why some people boast about the long hours they work

39 replies

chaletdays · 25/04/2015 15:11

I was out with friends last night and a few of them seemed to be almost competing regarding how early they start work, how late they get home, how some 'chancers' in the office leave at 5 every day etc. It was really boring and tiresome.
To me, if you're working ridiculously long hours for someone else, you're either in the unfortunate position of being exploited because you need the money (every sympathy for that), struggling with the demands of the job (again sympathy), or need to sort your priorities and get a better work life balance.

But AIBU to think that boasting about it and looking down on people who work regular hours and then like to get out and home is daft?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 25/04/2015 15:15

I work long hours because I have two areas of employment. I'm neither being exploited nor struggling with the demands of the jobs.

Since I live on my own I can make work a priority.

I'd like to think I don't look down on others who live their lives differently though.

maroonedwithfour · 25/04/2015 15:17

Dh high earner = expectations about hours he puts in

Binkybix · 25/04/2015 15:18

I know. More fool them if they're not happy with it!

Pastelsunset · 25/04/2015 15:19

YANBU! I work long hours because I'm saving to travel but that's 100% my choice!

IceBeing · 25/04/2015 15:20

a lot of people seem to forget that money isn't as important as people.

we get a lot of bragging about hours where I work and it is very toxic. We are trying to change the ethos but it is a slow process.

Squeegle · 25/04/2015 15:24

My theory is that people who boast about long hours and how busy they are, are somehow trying to share that they are very needed.

Original poster
chaletdays · 25/04/2015 15:30

Sorry Ilovesooty I understand that sometimes people will be working two jobs for various reasons.

I'm really talking about the type of people who seem to judge your worth by the length of time you spend in the office, and speak derogatively of people who just work an eight hour day and then go home to friends, family, hobbies and interests, voluntary work or whatever. It just seems to be a very skewed way of looking at life.

OP posts:
googoodolly · 25/04/2015 15:37

YANBU! I'm very glad I don't do a job that involves working late/early every day!

42andGaffaTape · 25/04/2015 15:42

Because we have nothing else in our lives! Arf! BlushGrin

I work up to 16 hours a day, live in a house share and have no social life. Long hours are my only achievement.

But...as I have no social life and my housemates do the same sorts of hours there is no boasting or one - up - man - ship...

ilovesooty · 25/04/2015 15:43

I understand where you're coming from with the OP. I do voluntary work as well but I need the money from the work (debt from divorce and training) and if I had family to consider my priorities would be different.

morethanpotatoprints · 25/04/2015 15:46

What a boring thing to talk about on a friday night.
I'd have told them what suckers they were for working in the first place Grin
I know people have to work but it would serve them right for being so boring.
Change your friends to some who can let their hair down on a friday night Grin

lotsofcheese · 25/04/2015 15:47

I think it's a self-importance thing....

timelyreminder · 25/04/2015 15:49

YANBU

BabyGanoush · 25/04/2015 15:50

it is a self importance thing!

Sazzle41 · 25/04/2015 15:51

Oh please. I sussed that way back when i went in hideously early a few days as i needed medical appt in the pm but didnt want to get behind. The 'i do 13 hour day's were there, but they werent working. They had coffee/bagels and were sat gassing and you tubing.

Same when i stayed late as i wanted to just get something i found hideous put to bed for good. Once the boss had gone , it was you tube, personal shopping and feet up . Or, as the training guy said to me "that one with the dead eyes who never smiles is here every Friday til 9pm because work is all she has".

finnbarrcar · 25/04/2015 15:54

I've worked with several people like that and they were the least productive by far. Some toxic office environments breed this type of arsehole

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 25/04/2015 16:00

Yanbu, in my office if you leave before 6pm you are deemed a part timer, it's always the lazy fuckwits who work late, drag their arises all day long and get rewarded for their late night presenteeism, sod em I say

PuppyMonkey · 25/04/2015 16:11

They probably work long hours because they are inefficient.

catgirl1976 · 25/04/2015 16:13

Generally if you are a high earner, there is an expectation that you will work long hours and some industries seem to expect 60 hour weeks. I used to do it pre-DS. I've put my foot down now and work 'normal' (ish) hours. Though it has harmed my career to do so and I'm earning less (but happier). I do get a few snide "part timer" comments because I leave at 5:30 now to pick DS up from nursery. Hmm

I agree it is super dull as a topic of conversation. I don't think I ever banged on about it (excpet probably to DH to illustrate how knackered I was). Maybe they are spending so much time at work they've got nothing left to talk about!

zeezeek · 25/04/2015 16:20

I work long hours. I like my job. I like working. My home life is perfectly fine, thank you and the kids are certainly never neglected.

PisforPeter · 25/04/2015 16:25

Some people like to feel needed. They are inefficient fuckwits who talk too much and work slowly. I can get same work done 8.30-4.30.

ememem84 · 25/04/2015 16:45

I used to work long hours -regularly pulled 14hour days. But I got overtime.

In my new job salary is higher. No overtime is paid throughout the company.

It's expected that we leave by 530 at the latest. But we work efficiently throughout the day. In old job it wasn't.

TwoOddSocks · 25/04/2015 16:45

I think if you love your job and have no other commitments then there's nothing wrong with working long hours. What I dislike is the attitude that working your scheduled hours is somehow lazy. Obviously I'm not completely inflexible and I'll help out if there's an unexpected rush but I don't intend to put in a whole load of unpaid hours to line someone else's pockets and I shouldn't have to apologise for that.

Original poster
chaletdays · 25/04/2015 16:59

Why so defensive Zeezeek. No one's slagging off anyone who works long hours. We're giving out about the type of person who makes a big virtue out of it and tries to make those who prefer to stick to regular hours feel inferior.

I also hate the type of people who tell you it's 'career suicide' to go home on Friday after work instead of spending the evening in the pub talking shop.

OP posts:
TheWordFactory · 25/04/2015 17:09

I think it depends.

In some jobs, how much work you have on is a direct reflection of how good you are, and has a direct impact on your pay packet.

So saying I'm very busy at work is the same as saying, I'm very successful IYSWIM.

However, if people are busy doing nothing and it doesn't help their pay, then more fool them.

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