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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is 7am to 5pm too long a day?

171 replies

Crazyindiechick · 15/02/2023 17:49

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.

OP posts:
Nap1983 · 15/02/2023 21:42

Im a nurse. 12.5 hr shifts 3x a week and every month a 4x 12.5 hr shift week. Certainly couldn’t do it 5days a week.

Noonesperfect · 15/02/2023 21:48

Where is the OP?

QueSyrahSyrah · 15/02/2023 22:09

BakedBear · 15/02/2023 21:30

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

Except for the 1/4 of each year which is school holidays presumably? (I'm not suggesting you don't work during the holidays, but I don't know any teacher that does the same hours or structure as in term-time) You have regular breathers from those intense hours that someone in another job wouldn't get.

PurpleButterflyWings · 15/02/2023 22:20

Not in a million years would I be doing that. WAY too long a day. I have a life. Family and friends, and lots of hobbies and interests. Like fuck would I be doing a ten hour day, 5 days a week. (Possibly an eleven or twelve hour day including travel time.) Hell, no. I would only be doing this if I had fuck-all else in my life.

Dinkeigh · 15/02/2023 22:24

I wouldn't do it. Having to wake up that time daily is criminal.

EmmaEmerald · 15/02/2023 22:31

I did this when I was building a career
wouldn't do it again unless desperate

Also, would you be in the office 5 days a week? That woukd drive me nuts, but I've mostly worked at home since 2016.

Original poster
Crazyindiechick · 16/02/2023 04:57

This would be quite intense work- at a screen all day. Writing to half hourly deadlines and managing other people's output as well as having to report up.
I'm currently doing 7-4 anyway which is killing nd - in a similar job and I've had to take a couple of days off because I'm already exhausted. The salary is £35-40k and around £4k of that on travel.
I've been feeling unwell!

OP posts:
Original poster
Crazyindiechick · 16/02/2023 05:36

I last did these hours in my 20s and I'm 50 with a 12 year old and 8 year old daughters.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 16/02/2023 06:47

Crazyindiechick · 16/02/2023 04:57

This would be quite intense work- at a screen all day. Writing to half hourly deadlines and managing other people's output as well as having to report up.
I'm currently doing 7-4 anyway which is killing nd - in a similar job and I've had to take a couple of days off because I'm already exhausted. The salary is £35-40k and around £4k of that on travel.
I've been feeling unwell!

That salary isn't high enough to make it worthwhile imo.

Original poster
Crazyindiechick · 16/02/2023 06:52

oyster I'm waiting to hear on a similar role but 9-5.30 wfh 5 days a week - £45k.
Found out they want to interview me yesterday evening. Still intense work but also they do slack off Fridays whereas this one doesn't

OP posts:
GoodChat · 16/02/2023 06:52

Absolutely no way - that's way too stressful for the money.

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/02/2023 06:52

It’s not that long, but obviously wouldn’t be healthy 5 days a week long term.

Ask if you can start later or wfh one day a week if you like. Or just tell them upfront you can’t stay beyond 4 because of X commitment so your boundaries are clear before you start.

Bagwyllydiart · 16/02/2023 06:54

For me that is a short day. My working day is 0600-2100, so would love your hours.

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/02/2023 06:55

… having read your updates it sounds like it isn’t going to work for you, so just say no, or take it if you need it, but make sure you get something else in 3 months.

Figmentof · 16/02/2023 06:55

A ten hour day was absolutely normal throughout my career as a professional in the financial services sector.

Oblomov23 · 16/02/2023 06:58

Reading the hours that others work always makes me wince. Too long hours for me, I couldn't cope physically or emotionally. Think carefully OP, it would be too much for me.

NannyR · 16/02/2023 06:59

Normal hours for me - I'm currently doing 7.30 till 6pm four days a week with no official breaks during the day (I work as a nanny)

AuntieMarys · 16/02/2023 07:02

Dh works in a physical job, 6 till 6...he's mid 60s. Gets up at 4.30, home at 6.45.

Bunnycat101 · 16/02/2023 07:34

Bagwyllydiart That’s crazy. What do you do?

Original poster
Crazyindiechick · 16/02/2023 07:51

Bagwyllydiart · 16/02/2023 06:54

For me that is a short day. My working day is 0600-2100, so would love your hours.

Is that five days a week?

OP posts:
Moraxella · 16/02/2023 08:00

I’ve got 5x13hr days next week (NHS). Normal day is 11. Not dissimilar salary.

whereaw · 16/02/2023 08:06

If it's not worth it to you and the quality of life you want in terms of work life balance, don't do it.
It doesn't really matter if other people do it or do more than that.
Obviously if there are no other options, then that's a different question.

It is unquestionably a long day although 'normal' to some.

Why are you giving up freelancing?

Zippidydoda · 16/02/2023 08:09

Moraxella · 16/02/2023 08:00

I’ve got 5x13hr days next week (NHS). Normal day is 11. Not dissimilar salary.

Is that a Normal working week???!!
no wonder people are leaving working for the NHS- that’s silly working hours.

Do you get overtime included in that or longer days off after (just curious).
I genuinely wouldn’t last long working those hours

bumpytrumpy · 16/02/2023 08:33

This clearly depends on what else you have going on in your life.

If you have no dependents and only yourself to look after then maybe 10-12 hours a day is doable. For a short period to earn money. I'd still be worried about balance and burnout though.

If you have kids or elderly parents or a couple of dogs and a household to run them it's clearly not even possible to start, or fair on the kids having no time with you. And those who say they do it probably have someone at home picking up their slack.

bumpytrumpy · 16/02/2023 08:36

Bagwyllydiart · 16/02/2023 06:54

For me that is a short day. My working day is 0600-2100, so would love your hours.

Actual, paid out of the house work? If so that's ridiculous and illegal.

If you're making the point that you're working in the home looking after children etc for those hours then yes, we all are around the any number of paid hours worked.

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