AIBU to think this actually exists?

[Tomorrowsanotherday1]

Hi

I'm working in a middle management, marketing role in financial services. Since the pandemic (and before if I'm brutally honest but it's certainly worse since working from home full time) I find myself working crazy hours.

Work 8.30-5.30pm - mainly in meetings so little time to focus and get work done, put the kids to bed, then carry on working. Go to bed then rinse and repeat. It's exhausting. It's not just me either - my husband is in exactly the same position.

Is there a job out there where you actually work your hours, get paid well (in my eyes around £60k out of london) and have a nice work life balance? Evenings to relax.

It might just be my employer but really feel that we cram so much more into our days now we all work from home. And it's now just become the norm. And I hate it!

So...
IABU - no it doesn't exist, stop moaning and get on with it
YANBU - it does exist. If so what job do you do and what's your salary?

YANBU. I work in middle management within the NHS and get paid £55k FTE. I'm part time now but when I was full time I still had a good work life balance. Would arrive somewhere between 8 and 9 and leave somewhere between 4.30 and 5.30. if I had to pop out in the day for appointments or just to run an errand then I could (as long as I wasn't taking the piss), same with coming in late or leaving early. Never do anything work related in the evenings or weekends.

It is not my job (I also tend to do crazy hours), but some even quite junior people in one of areas I work in quite often do 9 to 5 + often will have a paid day of study leave per week too if they choose to pursue one of recognised qualifications. Quantitative finance / actuarial / data science.

My usual job (I’m temporarily covering a different one) is like that but I get £55k.

I’m in the civil service

Following with interest! DP and I are in the same relentless cycle; I don’t even get paid that much! I was in a perfect “clock off and forget” role but it was a FTC. My current place calls itself family friendly because I get to stop and do bedtime before coming back to my laptop

£60k is a very high salary. I’m a teacher with 33 years’ experience. I’ve never earned more than just over £40k, even when I was a head of a core subject (English). I worked a lot of hours then too. I have a good life, can go out when I feel like it, nice holidays etc.

£60k outside of London hahah.
I live in the Midlands and worked about 50 hours a week for £30k.
I actually only know one person on £60k and they work all hours of the day Monday- Friday and often weekends for that.

I used to do a very similar job to you.., it was always remote, but the expectation was always that they owned as long as it took to get the job done.

Certain industries seem to expect it but they have no right to. Tell your employer your workload is not doable.

Just realised you’re in marketing – same. Think it does come with the burden of “this is important 24/7!” – even though it’s the least important thing in the history of things.

Sounds hellish op

Similar salary but work 3 days.

And never ever ever work in the evenings.

It’s your job

Or rather company

Can you reduce the number of meetings? Do they actually achieve anything?

I'm always confused by the people who say they spend all day in meetings. What could possibly take so long that it needs all day every day and stops you doing any actual work?

@cardibach

£60k is a very high salary. I’m a teacher with 33 years’ experience. I’ve never earned more than just over £40k, even when I was a head of a core subject (English). I worked a lot of hours then too. I have a good life, can go out when I feel like it, nice holidays etc.

In the city in the financial services it is not even remotely regarded as a high salary

Sorry when I say city - I mean London.

Financial district that is

I’m in insurance

YNBU. When I last worked FT I was earning £50k in a media job - 8am-6pm at my desk, hour commute each way, often calls to pick up in the evening and extra planning work to do at night. After mat leave I returned three days a week on a job share, hours 7-4 at my desk, plus the commute, always ended up working on 4-5 days a week and obvs only on 30knby then. I quit and am self employed- my earnings are similar to the "three days" role but my life is far less stressful

@Marni83 what on Earth do you do?!

I'm guessing law?

Oh just seen - finance. Fair enough. Hardly any other industry commands that salary though.

Can you take control of your diary so that your days are a mix of meetings and actual work.

£60k outside of London hahah.
I live in the Midlands and worked about 50 hours a week for £30k.
I actually only know one person on £60k and they work all hours of the day Monday- Friday and often weekends for that.

I also live in the Midlands and most people I know earn more than £60k. Hell, I earn more than than and I’m the poorest of my friends by quite some margin.

What are these jobs outside London warning £60k?

I think you are actually being a bit unreasonable, although wanting a work life balance is completely understandable. A 60k salary (out of london) tends to be a bit more than middle management… If you were on 30k, then yanbu but wanting a salary of 60k, yeah you’re paid highly because it’s expected that you go the extra mile.

I also think to state in a roundabout way that anything under £60k a year isn’t paid well, is problematic as well as deeply privileged.

There's lot of corporate head offices outside of London. There are plenty of lawyers, doctors, pilots, architects and accountants.

What are these jobs outside London warning £60k?

In my circle of friends alone:- Engineers, senior teachers, IT/telecoms engineers, doctors, accountants, surveyors, owners of multiple companies. Some of these people are earning many multiples of £60k/year.