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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How many hours do you work per week if you are full time?

221 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 12/02/2021 17:11

I'm curious about how much extra work people do in their roles. I'm job hunting, and depending on the company culture, sometimes long hours are to be expected.

How many hours do you end up working on an average week?

OP posts:
DisneyMillie · 12/02/2021 19:09

But work are INCREDIBLY flexible (I could work any hours / days I want pretty much and it would be ok) so no worries for going to school stuff / sudden days off etc

Insomniacexpress · 12/02/2021 19:09

Contracted 40 but expected to respond evenings and weekends when required and in reality the average week is around 50-60.

missbunnyrabbit · 12/02/2021 19:10

Depends on the week but generally 60. On a bad week, I've counted about 80! I work 8-5ish per day and an extra 2 hours in the evening, plus about 5 hours on a Sunday. I don't take a lunch break or any break! If i get a chance to use the toilet, it's a good day.

I'm a primary school teacher.

mynameiscalypso · 12/02/2021 19:14

I'll be interested in the extent to which an hours based culture does or doesn't go away in the next few years. Many people have described mine - 28 hours a week (part time) but this weeks I'll have worked more like 60 or 70 (I never keep count). But there's a certain amount of flexibility though so I tend to stop work early to pick up DS from nursery early and play with him for a bit. The trade off is I work when he's gone to bed but that seems worth it to me. My work is based on what I deliver not necessarily the hours it takes.

alfagirl73 · 12/02/2021 19:19

"Officially" 38 hrs - in reality - more like 60-70...

gavisconismyfriend · 12/02/2021 19:24

Officially 35 with extra “as needed” In reality 60-70

lockdownalli · 12/02/2021 19:27

@missbunnyrabbit

Depends on the week but generally 60. On a bad week, I've counted about 80! I work 8-5ish per day and an extra 2 hours in the evening, plus about 5 hours on a Sunday. I don't take a lunch break or any break! If i get a chance to use the toilet, it's a good day.

I'm a primary school teacher.

Yep, that was my experience when teaching.

Now earn twice as much and work 35 hours max.

TheRaccoon · 12/02/2021 19:28

When I worked full time I was contracted to 35 hours, but we finished an hour early on Fridays so it was 34.

I’d never work for 37.5/40 hours again. Also can’t believe how many people here are expected to do so much overtime for free! Companies really take the piss these days 😳

disconnecteddrifter · 12/02/2021 19:30

Teacher here too. 60 hr week standard. Sometimes more in mock exam times etc. Half terms about 15hr weeks so that's a balance. Contract says work as long as it takes to get the job done. Usually go kn for 7. Teach until 3.30. Meetings til 5. Phoning parents god who knows. Home cook kids dinner and then planning until 9. Weekends 8-4 marking for one day. Other day off

mynameiscalypso · 12/02/2021 19:32

@TheRaccoon

When I worked full time I was contracted to 35 hours, but we finished an hour early on Fridays so it was 34.

I’d never work for 37.5/40 hours again. Also can’t believe how many people here are expected to do so much overtime for free! Companies really take the piss these days 😳

I do overtime as required but I don't consider it being for free - I'm not paid an hourly rate; I'm paid (well) to deliver pieces of work. They take the time they take and an expected amount of overtime is already built into my salary/benefits.
doctorhamster · 12/02/2021 19:36

I'm contracted for 36.5 and probably go a couple of hours over most weeks.

AnneElliott · 12/02/2021 19:39

Contracted for 37 but do 40 every week and busy times it can be 60-70. I get flexi time (civil service) but it's difficult to take it all. I'm senior so expected to do what's needed to get the job done. My team do t so those sort of hours unless it's an emergency.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 12/02/2021 19:44

32.5 hours directed time, usually 55+ a week though. Teacher so no overtime or TOIL.

ohhhhitsme · 12/02/2021 19:45

5x 8 hour days with an hours lunch

OhWhyNot · 12/02/2021 19:45

37.5 officially

Probably around 45 most weeks 50 for many weeks last year

Sparklesocks · 12/02/2021 19:46

Contracted for 35 but it’s normally about 37-8.

FightingFiles · 12/02/2021 19:49

Nurse manager, but also working clinical sometimes.

Contracted 37.5hrs pw, but sometimes up to 60 at the moment. Strange times and all though.

If my staff worked that much I'd be concerned, I'd stop it. It's not healthy and not sustainable. If I'm still doing this in July I'll be re-evaluating my life and my plans.

Is excellent for paying off the credit card though.

ragged · 12/02/2021 19:51

All over the shop. This week I'm contracted to do 90% FTE & actually did about 25 hours/week. Last spring I was contracted to do 20%FTE for 1 month and actually did ~ 28 hrs/week.

Rainbowandscarlett · 12/02/2021 19:51

Contracted for 16 hours-in non Covid times I do about 27 on average
Now I’m lucky if I do 5-7 hours a week
It seems to be one shift a fortnight and 50% of the time they’ll send me home halfway through the shift as it’s dead

Theonewiththecandles · 12/02/2021 19:54

Contracted to 37.5 and work just that. If we decide to work longer ie I just want to finish this off so I don't have to work about it tomorrow, then that's fine and we can take it as flex. Also no expectations to use leave for appointments etc, use flex time and hours are flexible with childcare etc right now. But bottom rung low paid under 20k a year so I'd never work more at this money

Trevsadick · 12/02/2021 19:55

My contract says 49. Some weeks its nearer 50. But then it could 25-30 the next week.

I am paid way above the average for the job I do. So I am happy to do the extra hours, especially when I can take the hours back.

On top of this, no one actually tracks my hours. My boss knows, over the year, I get my work done and am there when they need me. I worked loads during the first lockdown, when my team was furloughed. But as I said I can work less hours when I need to, so when the team came back he was happy with me working less hours.

Next week is half term, so I will only work a few hours a day and spend the rest with the kids. Without having to take a week's annual leave.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 12/02/2021 19:56

Contracted to 37.5 hours. In non Covid times I would have weeks that I'd 70+ hours, but only about 10 weeks a year. The rest of the time I have massive flexibility and might only work 10 hours, for instance.

shivawn · 12/02/2021 19:57

39 hours on average. That's 3 weeks of 36 hours (3 x 12 hour days) and then every 4 weeks I have to do 48 hours (4 x 12 hour days).

Mary46 · 12/02/2021 20:00

37.5 hrs. Temping. Hate the role. I never stay late find day long enough! Taking time out as we just chase our tails at minute. Think I justbeen unlucky with the roles they got me

MadeOfStarStuff · 12/02/2021 20:02

Contracted to 35 and that’s what I work. I do compressed hours so I have a day off in the week as well which I love

In previous role it was 35 but generally ended up being 37.5, but I did at least get paid overtime for the extra half hour I day I got stuck there for (just walking out wasn’t an option)