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.

7am-4pm would still be a 40hour week if you had an hour for lunch so that would be a standard work day. But I am in a country where a full time job is always 40hrs if not more.

7am start doesnt suit me but have colleagues who start even earlier because they like it.

Will you get paid for that extra hour?

In my industry, full time is 35 hours a week standard, and we’re not allowed to work over unless we have prior permission, then it’s taken back in lieu.

It sounds like you have a long commute too, so I think it would be a no from me.

That would be rough. I don’t think I could do it. Maybe if you have no children and exceptional stamina. Think how long dc would have to be in care. That’s an awfully long day.

@AffIt

Nope, I freelance for companies, regular work. If I have to go to the market it will be a 4.30am start, so up at 3.30. And then a full day on top, so 15-16 hours.

Unsociable, long hours are standard in the industry, especially on the London event circuit.

This week, for example, because it's Valentines and we take a very long run up, and we are understaffed, I'll have done 98 hours in a 7 day stretch.

Florists are some of the physically most resilient people I know

I work 6.30-4 so not too different. Never really thought of it as a particularly long day, you just get used to it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm shocked people think the hours are too long?

Are you very sheltered/naive?

Maybe they should work 24 hours instead?Im shocked that you’re shocked that you think the hours are OK.

Its slave labour.

I tend to work 8-6 over 4 days.

I can only do this as my kids are grown, one at uni and one lives away from home.

Wouldn’t even consider it if my kids were younger, I had a commute or other commitments.

I agree to be honest. I didn’t think a genuine 9-5 actually existed anymore if you want to earn above about £40,000. Also not sure why you’re being called sheltered and naive, surely the sheltered and naive ones are the people who think you can earn a decent living on part-time hours.

I work 8-6 but with no commute and 1 hour lunch

@Dijoduo depends what you want from life though, doesn't it? For instance, I don't want a FT job until both my kids are at least 18 (I'll be 44 by then). My husbands not a massively high earner, but we both appreciate being around for the kids and not being stressed at work.

I'm shocked people think 10 hour days + a commute, 5 days from every 7, are in any way compatible with a balanced life.

The old adage applies; who lies on their deathbed wishing they'd worked more?

I’ve always worked 9-5. Obviously with the occasional early/late for specific work, but core hours have always been 9-5. Maybe it varies by industry. I wouldn’t even look at something 8-6 8:30-5:30 or similar. Not unless it was VERY well paid, like £80k+ salary.

I do think that sometimes people get so used to shitty working practices they think it’s normal and don’t realise that better is available. Obviously some sectors likes nursing etc are massively over worked and will probably always be long hours. However there is no need for that in many other types of industry.

Oh and I do everything the night before, showering, lunches etc, bring breakfast to work and get up at 6 (normal for me with toddler anyway) and leave at 6.30. I could not get up every day at 4.30.

That doesn’t change whether it’s doable or reasonable or acceptable or normal. Just because you don’t want to do something doesn’t mean it’s not a viable option. I don’t want to play tennis, it doesn’t mean that playing tennis is impossible or insane or awful or “slave labour” as one person described it. Each to their own but plenty of people work those hours - they aren’t as absurd or horrifying as many are making out. That doesn’t mean you have to want to do them.

A 10 hour day? That's really not standard for the UK, where are you based?

And it's surely not Monday-Friday 7-5...

With 'getting ready time' and a commute, I'd be on my knees crying with those hours

I do 10 hours with 30 minutes off and honestly couldn't do more. I would not consider getting up at 4:30 and working until 5.i used to start work at 2 in the morning and finish at 12 and it was horrendous. Constantly exhausted and body never adjusted to it.
Such long hours and a very early starts I hope the benefits are fantastic.

My husband works 7am-7pm 10 days on, 3 days off.

Does it for the money only. We've had to.

I do double shifts 3 out of 5 of my working days. I think 10 hours with a break isn't that long at all although I appreciate a lot of jobs are set shifts, like 9-5 etc.

I would only get up at 4.30am if I had a holiday flight to catch

I regularly do 10 hour days DVD get up about 4.30. It is and feels like an unreasonable time to get up.

• DVD? Should say and

I'm a teacher I do 7am to 5pm every day, sometimes 6 or 7pm instead

I wouldnt touch a job that is telling you upfront they expect an hour of free overtime each day.