Is 7am to 5pm too long a day?

[Crazyindiechick]

I've been wfh as a freelancer during lockdown - I also did a masters degree during lockdown. Applied for staff jobs last autumn and have been offered one with working hours of 7am to 4pm but have been told most staff stay till 5pm.
I've never worked a day as long as this. Not even in the early years of my career - and I did find working 8 hours a day with a lunch hour. To get into work (office) for 7am I have get up between 4.30 and 5am.

What are your circumstances? Family, children? Your age? How beneficial for your long term prospects is this role? Is the pay good?

For my personal circumstances, there's not enough money in the world to make me work those hours, with that commute on top.

Not for an adult no. If you have to put a young child into childcare to work these hours then yes I would feel it was too long a day for them.

Pretty standard tbh. I do 7am - 5pm. On feet all day.

I do a 8 hour day with two breaks of 30
Mins. On feet. Longer would be too long.

Depends on the job. DS's (specialist) carers work 8am-8pm and 8pm-8am. They often drive an hour or two to get to us I think it's ridiculous.

I would only work these hours if I absolutely had to because of circumstances. I work a flexible 37 hours a week, start and end when I want but some weeks, I have been known to work in excess of 10 hours a day to get a project out. the biggest issue here is you're paid 7-4 but are generally expected to stay until 5. That's the employer stealing money from you. It wouldn't sit right with me.

I do a few of those each week where I can in order to finish as early as possible on a Friday. We have core hours and as long as we do 40 across the week we're good

The employer may give the hour back as time off in Lieu or they may pay it. We are supposed to finish at 4 but if we stay later we can ask for it off or to be paid.

I wouldn't do it unless it was a dream job for a short time (say a year or two).

I value my quality of life too much and getting up early every day does not appeal. i'm guessing if you're having to get up between 4.30 and 5, you also have an hour or so's commute?

I do 5-5 2 days a week and 5-3 one day, and I don't tend to take any proper breaks! You'll get into a routine, it's not too long for most healthy adults

10 hours with an hours break is a Standard shift for me in an emergency service

I do supply work at nurseries and often do 8AM-6PM with 1 hours break. It's horrific. Always come out with a headache and feel unwell the next day.
You are not being unreasonable.

Not if it's 5 days a week , no. If it was 4 days with 3 days off, fine

I do 13 hour shifts, 7.30- 2030 or 1900-0800 I'm full time so do 3 shifts a week I guess it would depend on the job and how.many days etc...

How many days is it over?? If it's over 4 days then yes.
I work x3 13 hour shifts per week (with an hour break)

I routinely work from 8.00 am till 6 pm. They are not stipulated hours as such as I'm a teacher so technically my hours are 8.30 to 3.45, including an hour's lunch break. But I have to attend meetings after 3.45 twice a week - one till 5pm and one till 6pm. I often choose to stay beyond 5pm even on the days without meetings as I don't like having to work at home.

TBH I don't think they are necessarily TOO long. I don't need to provide childcare anymore. When my kids were younger they either went to after school club until 6pm or I worked shorter days.

But fine if they don't suit you. I agree 7 am is rather early to start, depending on whether you have a journey / long journey beforehand. (Though I answer emails from 6.30 am).

But I do also get 13 weeks holiday, of course!

Depends what kind of work. How long is your commute - why would you have to get up so early?

I work 0730 till 1730 5 days a week. At first it was a bit of a slog but I’m used to it now. I was working till 1800 but have cut back half an hour which has helped a little.

I’ve done longer shifts in the past but that was usually only 3 or 4 days a week so was more compacted

Well I used to do 12 hour shifts but only 3 a week, wouldn't want to do 10 hours 5 days a week

I wouldn't do this. Red flag that they are telling you at this stage that you'll probably be expected to work an extra hour every day, without being paid for it.

I wouldn't even do a job that's 7-4 (I do a job where I look at a screen all day with a few teams meetings). Working longer hours doesn't mean you're more efficient. You can't sustain concentration that long. When I worked a more physically active job it would have been fine to do those hours but I was young and fit.

“have been told most staff stay till 5pm” would be my worry rather than the long day itself. Do you get paid the extra hours?
if it’s 4 long days with 3 off I’d do it. I’m considering doing this to keep full time hours but save a day child care. But from home which is much easier

I wouldn’t unless I was desperate for whatever reason - especially not 5 days, not even sure I would consider it for 4! Life balance is important if you can afford it!

Is this 5 days a week?

What are your circumstances and what is the money like?

I often do 8-8pm for meetings, staff training and parents evenings etc but they are exhausting and I wouldn’t like to do them on a daily basis.

Do you do 5 shifts a week?

I do this over 4 days which is compressed f/t hours for me (2 days wfh and one day I finish at 4pm) it’s tough to be honest but worth it for the day off with DD, only you know if it will work for you.