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AIBU?

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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:
Sparklesocks · 13/09/2018 00:04

You know what they say, nobody ever lies on their death bed and regretted they didn’t work more.
I work to live, and I’m a big believer in the work life balance. I think as long as you’ve done the work you need to each day and have paid the bills then you shouldn’t need to stay longer. Work is only one aspect of your life.

Aldilogue · 13/09/2018 00:05

As other posters have said, surely it depends on what your job actually is. I have a choice to work 8 hour shifts or 6 and I always choose 6 because it is easier on my body. As an aged care nurse, it takes a toll on your body. I don't have to kill myself to prove that I'm a good diligent worker especially when you've got a family at home who need you too.
In saying that though, I'm very aware that not everybody has the same choices and need to work more so they can survive.
I would have thought that it's pretty obvious that everyone's different.

Melanippe · 13/09/2018 15:52

You know, I think we've all been a bit mean to the OP. It's so kind of him to take time out of his terribly busy schedule to spend all the hours he does telling women on the internet that they're wrong. From his view that because a porn provider has told him that women watch violent porn, so it's just fine for men to watch what they like, through to the classic 'men are overwhelmingly more violent to other men, so the collateral damage of men's violence to women and children doesn't count', the OP has taken so very many hours out of his life to put the silly women right. He should be commended. I agree with the PP who suggested a small medal and a quiet ceremony somewhere.

speakout · 13/09/2018 15:58

but trying to lessen a 37.5 hour week seems a bit lazy to me!

That's just silly.

I work 15-20 hours a week, my youngest is 18 years old.

I pay tax, I am financially independent ( although live with OH),
I pay my way, earn more than I need and have a nice life.

Why should I work 40 or 50 hours a week just for the sake of it?

Who wants to be a martyr?

butterflysugarbaby · 13/09/2018 16:38

Agree @speakout Lazy we are! I would rather be LAZY than a martyr to work. I don't NEED to work more than 3 to 3.5 days a week, and neither does DH (not anymore.) So we don't.

I don't understand why people work a ludicrous amount of hours if they don't need the money. What are they trying to prove? I also think people who think they're 'better people' because they work 45-50 hours plus a week are twats.

speakout · 13/09/2018 16:47

I also think people who think they're 'better people' because they work 45-50 hours plus a week are twats.

Well said.

Working a 16 hour week gives me time to go to the gym, frequently, indulge my hobbies such as gardening, photography I love to walk in the woods, meet friends and generally potter.

I love my relaxed life.

NervousPotato · 13/09/2018 17:05

Work to live don’t live to work.

Something I live by, my job is just a means to earn money so I can go home and enjoy my life with family and friends. I’m not fussed about ‘climbing the ladder’ and earning more money and having nicer things, I’m happy with what I have so if the opportunity was there to take a shorter day then 100% I would take it, as that means more time with family and friends.

NervousPotato · 13/09/2018 17:08

@Melanippe

hahahaha love it, maybe its our small female brains stopping us from understanding where he is coming from.

BloodyDisgrace · 13/09/2018 17:11

Hugely unreasonable. 8 hours is long and boring to me and I was struggling with it (office job). People need to work less.

Want2bSupermum · 13/09/2018 17:15

Well DH and I both work a lot. It's our choice. We are financially rewarded for it so it's worth our while. We will continue working like this for as long as we are rewarded for it.

For the vast majority of people it doesn't make sense to work more than 40 hours a week. That's ok. What's great is that people have a choice. The consequences of working less hours are also a choice. Reduced pensions, less options when the economy tanks and in general are the consequences I see. It all depends what you are comfortable with.

AllTakenSoRubbishUsername · 13/09/2018 17:32

I'm impressed, 12 hours!! No way would I do that, but I really admire anyone that does. 8 hours seems quite a long enough day imo

Lostinlondon999 · 13/09/2018 17:40

I agree! But I do think we should be working 4 day weeks.

CiderBrains · 13/09/2018 17:42

It's not about the number of hours you work, it's the work you put into the hours.

I did a 6 hour day yesterday, yes very lazy of me... except in those 6 hours I did 14,000 steps running around all day with no break and constant working at a fast pace. I had one coffee which was sipped as I went.

speakout · 13/09/2018 17:45

CiderBrains

Is it about effort or steps though?

If you can work out a way of paying your way comfortably in fewer hours does it matter if you are run ragged or working at a relaxed pace?

If your bills are getting paid I don't see it matters.

Teacher22 · 13/09/2018 17:50

"An 8 hour work day is actually quite short?"

Not if you are teaching classes of thirty!

(And then there is all the marking and prep.)

CiderBrains · 13/09/2018 17:53

In my job steps make the difference because if you're standing in one place you're not doing your share. You could also sit at a computer and get shit loads done in 6 hours. It's all about what you do in those hours, not what hours you do.

I don't think the op sitting waiting for a spot and in their own words "being paid for waiting " is a very good example of more hours = more work.

flowerycurtain · 13/09/2018 17:53

Jeez. I'm a farmer. 37.5 hours a week for me is part time! Double it and you'd be closer to my average working week.

Not complaining though - no commute, flexible for children and the best workplace you can imagine.

prettygreywalls · 13/09/2018 18:01

I thought driving HGV vehicles was strictly regulated so how come you are doing so many ?

EU rules
Driving hours
The main EU rules on driving hours are that you must not drive more than:
• 9 hours in a day - this can be extended to 10 hours twice a week
• 56 hours in a week
• 90 hours in any 2 consecutive weeks
All driving you do under EU rules must be recorded on a tachograph.
Breaks and rest
The main points of EU rules on breaks and rest are that you must take:
• at least 11 hours rest every day - you can reduce this to 9 hours rest 3 times between any 2 weekly rest periods
• an unbroken rest period of 45 hours every week - you can reduce this to 24 hours every other week
• a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes after no more than 4 hours 30 minutes driving
• your weekly rest after 6 consecutive 24-hour periods of working, starting from the end of the last weekly rest period taken
Coach drivers on an international trip can take their weekly rest after 12 consecutive 24-hour periods, starting from the end of the last weekly rest period taken.

frumpety · 13/09/2018 18:04

OP just out of interest , how old are you ? Can you imagine doing what you are doing until you are 67 ? How about everyone else on the thread ?

Iseveryusernametaken · 13/09/2018 18:05

I have one of those cushy 9-5 jobs ... On paper. The reality is that most professionals have an 'and any additional hours as reasonably expected' clause. You don't get paid any more, it's what's necessary. So I'm currently sat in my London office because my train doesn't leave until 7.30 and if I'm lucky I'll be home by 10pm. I still had to leave the house by 7.30am to drop DD in before school care and be up by 6am to complete my morning chores.

HollyWollyDooDah · 13/09/2018 18:06

Depends, I work 8 hour days (well physically at work)
My evenings and days off often get taken up by catching up with paperwork etc as generally I have 16 hours worth of work to fit into 8 hours (7.5 hours if I count the lunch break I don’t get)

liverbird79 · 13/09/2018 18:07

Work to live not live to work

zsazsajuju · 13/09/2018 18:09

In my line of work, 12 hour days are normal. 8 hours seems like part time. I would love to work less though

Vitalogy · 13/09/2018 18:12

We need to be able to work less hours not more! With the technology today it's perfectly possible.

blurredspeech · 13/09/2018 18:17

I remember watching Tomorrow's World in the 80s and them saying we would all have loads of free time and work 3 days a week. Instead everyone has to work 10 hour days with both parents working so that people can afford to live. That's progress apparently. Don't be fooled into the idea that more work will make you happier. The only people who want that are the elite who make lots of money out of all of us worker bees and the rat race.