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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that an 8 hour work day is actually quite short?

206 replies

AllDayBreakfast · 12/09/2018 11:04

I've been listening to various discussions on the radio about how we could be just as productive with a shorter work day.

As a hgv driver I work a minimum of around 10 hours a day and it's not at all unusual for this to sometimes become a 12 hour day if I get stuck somewhere waiting on POA (period of availability - basically being paid for waiiting).

When I was in sales a few years ago I'd also have to regularly spend evenings and sometimes weekends working on drafts of proposals, getting the pricing, formatting, wording sorted, etc (100+ page documents).

Whilst I'd love a 6 hour day, i can't help but feel that we're becoming a bit soft as a society. I don't really like the idea of the 60 hour week that many blue collar guys work, but trying to lessen a 37.5 hour week seems a bit lazy to me!

OP posts:
RomanyRoots · 12/09/2018 21:38

Gottaget

I'm one of the ones that don't get to be picky. I know how ridiculously low min wage is.
That's why I said it.

Some people do get to be picky.

Beargoesgrr · 12/09/2018 21:39

8 hours does seem short? But I’m actually of the belief that it’s a great idea.
As long as workers are recognised as doing the same sort of level of work and it’s not used as an opportunity to knock 10 hours of wages off of each worker.

Families need more time together.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 12/09/2018 21:45

The stats don't lie! With a shorter day there is less stress, illness, time off and people are happier and work harder. Just because some people can work more than this doesn't make them more productive.

Schools run 9 - 3. There is no actual reason people work 9 - 5 just tradition. I think if you're single and live near work, longer hours are fine. If you have a family it's hard on the parents and the kids if you work those hours

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 12/09/2018 21:57

OP started the thread to tell us they work so much harder than the rest of us.

What I get from their posts is that they shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Whisky2014 · 12/09/2018 22:00

Hgv will soon be driverless. In fact, I expect a sharp rise in autonomous processes and we can all just fart around. There'll be no need for any of us.

Bimgy85 · 12/09/2018 22:06

It's just average.

speakout · 12/09/2018 22:13

I think we should be striving to work fewer hours.

I work 4- 5 hours a day, it's a good balance for me.

straightjeans · 12/09/2018 22:13

Near the end of my shift my motivation has waned and I am clock watching the final hours until I can go home. Shorter shifts are definitely the way to go.

Asdf12345 · 12/09/2018 22:14

I have never had a contract under 48h a week yet, and never had one of those that could genuinely be done in the set hours, plus I have usually been doing extra on top.

I find it much harder now than I used to, and have certainly had the quality of my work suffer due to fatigue.

Gwenhwyfar · 12/09/2018 22:18

Go to hell.

Ignoramusgiganticus · 12/09/2018 22:20

Op, aren't you being a bit lazy by your definition, if several hours of your 12 hour shifts are waiting for loads? Surely that counts as downtime and isn't really comparable to people such as the nurses who are rushed of their feet for 12 hours.

Original poster
AllDayBreakfast · 12/09/2018 22:39

A two hour break doing nothing but waiting would be an absolute luxury in the vast majority of jobs

It doesn't come out of my working time, it gets added to it and often results in hitting the rush hour traffic.

Hgv will soon be driverless.

No chance. Maybe for motorway trunking, but an autonomous lorry isn't going to open gates, ask the customer where they want it, assess the actions of pedestrians in a busy high street, unload a pallet with a pump truck, etc. It's not dynamic enough. We'll have robotic office workers by then.

What's likely (according to experts) is that there will be 'hubs' and a lead driver who either leads a convoy or does the final leg into the city. It is likely to actually mean that drivers are able to work closer to home and will likely grow not shrink the industry - which is growing ever more bereft of drivers with the average being 55yo.

OP posts:
Original poster
AllDayBreakfast · 12/09/2018 22:41

And we are becoming a nation of wimps! Identity politics and safe spaces would've been laughed out of town in our grandparents' era.

OP posts:
Popc0rn · 12/09/2018 22:44

Depends on the job and the working conditions. I've had several jobs and am currently a nurse. My first nursing job was awful; 12.5 hour shifts that often turned into 14 hour shifts, little or no breaks, short staffed, not much support from management, plus switching between day and night shifts most weeks so I felt constantly tired. My current nursing job is lovely; regular day shifts (and the odd 12 hour day, but only 1-2 a month), well staffed, always get my full break etc. It can be a little bit boring sometimes if we're waiting around for some delay, but I appreciate having a bit of downtime now and again tbh.

InezGraves · 12/09/2018 22:52

Oh, yeah, we’re all haunted by creeping nostalgia for our grandparents’ time, when it was legal to rape your wife, who was also getting paid much less than her male co-workers for the same job. The good old days... Hmm

Popc0rn · 12/09/2018 23:06

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” - Dolly Parton GrinGrinGrin

Purpleartichoke · 12/09/2018 23:10

I work shorter days by choice and agreement with my company. I am
Much more efficient on those shorter days. Having worked a full schedule and a part-time schedule, I can confidently say I am at least 2/3 as productive as when I was full time, even though I work 1/2 time.

HollaHolla · 12/09/2018 23:24

I resent the assertion that if ‘you’re single... etc’ then it’s ok to do long hours. I’d like a life. Y’know - maybe not be single any more.... but I’ve never any time to meet anyone. I’ve done the hours I’m paid for since Sunday lunchtime. I don’t get to stay home/in bed/train for the North Face of the Eiger in that time.
I’d love to work compressed hours like so many of my colleagues.

We’re paid for 39 hours... many colleagues do this in 4 or 4.5 days. I don’t have a partner or kids, so I can ‘just cover’ the times which are unpopular. So, I work the long days, late teaching finishes, supervise the students who need placement visits on a Friday night.....

I fully realise that this says WAAAY more about my manager than anything, but actually I’ve made my own situation as they’re used to getting 50-60 hours a week out other, for the pay of 39 hours (salaried) so it’s not attractive to have me reduce my days. That means I don’t have the opportunity of shortening either my work days, or overall (unpaid) hours.....

WhatAPandemonium · 12/09/2018 23:33

I'm a lecturer.

I'd love a shorter working day - I often have to work a few hours in the evening too, so frequently do 12 hour days. It's shit. I'm knackered.

starzig · 12/09/2018 23:41

I don't think we should be doing longer hours necessarily nor shorter hours. I think we all just have to be a little more flexible. You don't want to rush an 8hr task just to get it done in 6 and make mistakes. On the other hand you don't want to be sat clock watching at the end of the day because it is too late to start something else. If you are finished - go home. If not - finish you task. I love my work so mostly stay late but even I occassionally take an early when I have been doing a few lates.

starzig · 12/09/2018 23:44

Holla holla. I would pull them up on it. For all they know, there could be a medical reason you don't have kids so they cannot discriminate.

chrisinthesun · 12/09/2018 23:49

DO bore off OP.

Me and my other half work part time. Mortgage free - and have been for about 7 years, and don't need to work full time. Both only middle aged too.

I work 28 hours a week, OH works 21. Both worked longer hours/overtime etc through our 20's and 30's and early 40's, have been much happier and much less stressed since going part time.

As a few people have said, there seems to be this odd attitude that if you don't work 80 hours a week, you are somehow inferior. These people can fuck right off. We have never been happier since working 3 to 3.5 days a week.

Fatted · 12/09/2018 23:50

Of course society was tougher a generation or two ago when everyone worked every single hour of the day.

That's why life expectancy was lower than it is now. Cos everyone had such a hard life!!

DiegoMad0nna · 12/09/2018 23:51

This is definitely a Daily Mail journalist.

HollaHolla · 12/09/2018 23:58

Tried. Union involved. I actually have a health condition, but that doesn’t trump the flexible working allowance for those with kids. But - as there’s a ‘business need’ which doesn’t allow me to compress hours, I am however allowed to reduce my hours - and associated salary!

Part of the problem is that I’m also at the vagaries of a university timetable, so could have contact hours at 08:15 & 18:15 with nothing between. I live an hour from work (and £12 return on the train), so I tend to stay in the office. Those with kids often can’t work one end of the day, so get rich pickings on the timetabling. I absolutely think colleagues with family commitments should have allowance made - but that there could and should be a recognition that all lives are equally valued... even if it’s our own. :)