To think if you earn a huge salary then long hours are expected?

[dignifiedlazyness]

I have a cousin who work 60-70 hours minimum a week. Yes this is a heck of a lot, and I’d hate that. But, he is on £400k a year. All he does is complain how many hours he’s putting in, but seems to forget that with fewer hours there would be no business class 5* weekend breaks to New York etc.
I feel like telling him to shut up, or make do with less!

@BendydickCuminsnatch I can see the specific salary op mentioned but she doesn't say what she considers a huge salary. 100k plus? 300k plus? Etc

Of course YANBU. That's par for the course. I have friends on similar salaries who work far longer - work weekends, over Christmas etc. I could do that kind of job as my qualifications are sought after in finance but I would never choose it. If he does choose to then he can't complain.

The very few people I know who earn that sort of amount have to put the hours in.

However if you're happy with a good but not huge salary, there are roles (usually very technical) where you can earn plenty, but work flexibly with not too much overtime. DH is a software engineer - he works part time, and earns more than enough for us to live on. It is, however, an awful lot less that £400k!

400k not that much 😂

Most people I have known who earn squillions kid themselves that they will retire at 40 but never do because they have got used to the money and can’t imaginr ‘scraping by’ on £100k a year.

I can’t scrape up huge amounts of pity (I can sympathise with them) because there are many other jobs that expect stupid amounts of hours with a hell of a lot less pay.

I’d be gobsmacked if he’s really earning £400k a year as a senior associate in a law firm. Even if it’s an American law firm where they pay mega salaries. That’s partner pat. If you could earn that as a senior associate (working only 60-70 hour weeks which isn’t that bad for City law, really) no one would ever become a partner!

*partner pay

YANBU! You make the money, you have to earn it.My BILs both earn around £200k. They atent around for their kids. We earn under £50k between us. DH is always here for bedtime.

I think it's quite clear kaytee that the 400k quoted is the huge salary OP is referring to.
And yes at this salary level Id expect long hours. My dB earns similar, works stupid hours, travels constantly and is always on call. I'm sure your cousin knows what the rewards are, still think he's entitled to a bit of a moan though. Don't think there's many of us that don't moan about work every now and then.

I doubt the trips to New York are a barrel of laughs. Yanbu but that's a stupid comment. I don't know anyone who does regular business trips who actually enjoys them.

I can only assume it was misread as £40k?

Agree with comments about productivity and so forth.
I've never put in long hours. I earn quite well (nowhere near 400k lol and it's all relative but still). My workplaces have always had lots of people in early home late. I've always ignored it. But I get the work done and it's good.

We need to turn our backs on presentee culture :D this will help everyone

He's winding you up - senior associates at law firms don't make £400k p.a.

GO on then I'll bite......

So @dignifiedlazyness what does your 'cousin' do that pays £400K a year?

Probably seeing as the odd American Law firm in the City pays its newly qualified over £100k. Bonkers.
And is he working 60-70 hours a week or billing 60-70 hours as that’s a huge difference?

@winter rtft

RiverTam I thought rhe New York trips were holidays (weekend trips) and OP was saying he wouldn’t be able to afford them anymore if he didn’t earn so much

By the hours I listed, that is an absolute minimum. Ee on a good week

I’m not revealing exactly what he does. He told me that with bonus and his salary, last year he earnt £400k. Yes, he works for a booming US firm, and he has a niche area of law.

I would moan for those hours. It's often a source of pride amongst people about how much hours they do. Like a humble brag as specific about wages is uncouth. I would happily half his time at work for a quarter of the pay...

Teachers and nurses work those hours for one tenth of that salary!

My DH (now retired) was a very high earner and worked very long hours. He used to say if he could do half the work for half the money he would, but unfortunately in his profession the option wasn't there - it was all or nothing. So you take the decision to stay in or get out

WTF? 60-70 hours is standard for law. £400k is a fucking huge salary. I know partners of London law firms on less. Associate?

My DH earned six figures. He worked a lot but not as much as that. I worked very part time and picked up most of the slack at home so when he wasn’t working he was basically relaxing or having fun.

We never got into escalating our outgoings though, saved up all the extra money and retired early. On 400k it shouldn’t take you more than10 years to set yourself up for life and retire.

Lmfaooo what rubbish

I bet he doesn't lift a finger at home. He's working less hours than any mother with young children who is basically on call 24/7 for a lot less money, recognition or reward.