To not be certain what people mean when they say they work for 12 hours a day.

[topcat2014]

Now, I get that we are busy - but here is my question.

If people say they work 60 hours a week (say), then do they really mean:

At my desk from 07:00 to 19:30 with a half hour for lunch, every day - or

Leave the house at 07:00 and arrive home at 19:00.

I have never worked anywhere where staff are sat at their desks from 7am to 7pm, so not quite sure.

I used to work in corporate law. I would regularly do 0900 until 11pm.

It was utterly dire. This is why I no longer work in corporate law!

As a lawyer, I have done a 20 hour shift at my desk (apart from loo breaks) - food delivered to desk. It is punishing! On a “normal” day it is very comment to work 8 to 8 with only a very short lunch break and loo stops. I would so love a 9 to 5 job!

My ex starts work at 6am, he gets there at 5.30 to set up his machine then finishes at 6pm

That's 12 hours and he does that 5 days a week

I do 8 til 8, plus an hour drive each way with a 20 minute break. I guess it’s not really 12 hours if you include the break..

My dh runs his own business and is often gone from 7.30am until 8pm and will come home having not had the chance to stop for food! He has days he's not working anywhere near that much though. He's not at a desk, he's an interior designer!

So many people working long hours. You must be loaded! Why else work such long hours?

Ha ha ha ha ha that's the funniest thing I've read in a while!

When I was nursing a night shift was 7-7
Teaching. Was 7.30/8- until whenever I had finished which could be 7:30pm or a few times it was midnight

@topcat2014 I'm a primary teacher, and on an average week, I spend between 9-10 hours in school Mon-Fri, so 45-50 hours in total. I then work around 5 hours in total at the weekend. I do the occasional 11-12 hour day during the week if there's a parents evening, school show, evening exhibition etc.

Oh btw for the night shift at nursing I was paid less than if I'd worked in macdonalds and teaching made me an infertile nervous wreck so the 41k I was paid was not worth it

Exactly - it’s the actual hours you work. In the city I got to my desk at 6.30am but was out of there by 5 so a result compared to the above

When I was in SLT as a teacher (and had keys to the school) I worked in school from 7am-8.30 every week day. I would then work at home on Sundays. So certainly happens.

NHS acute specialty doctor - short day is 10 hours (in practice normally start an hour early most days). Night shift is 12 hours. Long day is 13 hours. There isn't always time for a break (often there is, but, not always...it's fine...if there's no time for a drink you won't need a wee break later!). It isn't always possible to leave on time (usually is but if it's not safe we can't just walk out). Longest shift I've done - 24.5hrs (all on-site). Commuting is not working!

I used to work in careers and the one thing I used to highlight to young people were the hours required, working patterns, pay etc.

The sad thing is working ridiculous long hours seems the norm everywhere now!

I work as a lawyer in the city and 12 hours a day are a gift. Usually work way past 10pm and start around 9.30

@hafenmelLondon1980, did you know law had such long hours when you did your degree etc?

My 'office hours' are 8am to 6pm.
I am usually at my desk from about 7.30am to 7-8pm, depending.
I am a GP.
Allegedly, as I do 'only' 4 days/wk, mine is a part-time job

At least, I have next to no commute and I walk/cycle to work, otherwise I'd just collapse, I think.
And I don't make a fraction of what the DailyFail would have you believe - I am not complaining about my income, but compared to my divorce lawyer who charges £190/hr (or £19 every 6 minutes! ), it's peanuts.

As a junior doctor - daft hours, long shifts, rarely saw family.

As a consultant - I work 4 days 8-6 (working hours, I leave home at 7.45 and get back home at 6.30) in the public system. One day is desk based (letters, reading journals, writing policies, audit) which I can do from home. My clinical days I don’t often get lunch or coffee breaks but then I couldn’t leave theatre for the loo either so I don’t drink much those days (coffee in the morning when I leave, tea when I get back home in the evening).

I also work up to 10h in the private system once a week. Proper tea and lunch breaks, the lists have healthier, fitter patients and days with a late start or no list, I do the school run.

Once a week I work a 24h shift which is the 8-6 working day then on call 6-8. In practice we are in and working 8am-4am but we get the next day off to recover (we used to be working 8-6 the following day which was ridiculous).

It’s a great work life balance. 50h week at most with at least one day desk based. I see my family every day, we do exercise classes together and DH is the sahp who picks up all the home stuff.

@topcat2014 yes I was well aware that law had very long hours, particularly American Firms before I started. It's all one hears about when in law school. Having said that, high street firms and some national and regional firms have friendlier hours but it's never 9-5 as far as I know.

Nurse. Start at 0700-finish 1930, if lucky and usually only one half hour break.

I’ve worked 12 & 15 hour shifts in retail before.

As a makeup artist I could work 18hrs, depending on what I’m doing

I've worked 14.5 hour shifts - with 30 minutes break, then take into consideration 2 hours travelling time.

My son can do a 12 hr shift will get 2 15 min breaks

I'm a freelancer. I like what I do but I prefer doing other things. I make pretty good money though and am comfortable, so I only work 5-6 hours a day. I guess I could be richer if I did more, but I'd rather have the free time.

My husband works
6.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Thursday
6am - 3.30pm Friday
4am - 10am Saturday

Mon - Thurs he has 2x15 min and 1x30 minute breaks unpaid
Friday - 2x15 minute breaks unpaid
Saturday - no breaks

55 hours ‘working’ but 59 hours at work and it’s hard, manual labour. He struggles physically but needs must for the time being.

Many nanny jobs are 12 to even 24 hours a day. Start at 7 finish at 7. Depending on family requirements you don't really get a break. Most 24 hour jobs are either 6 days on 1 off or for example 3 weeks on 3 weeks off.