Are you busy? - There's a recession, you know.

[ali]

Are you busy doing well or busy surviving?

Hi Purple,

It's very hit and miss. Averaging out at good but really for a ferocious amount of work. I have a big mortgage for a v nice house in SCD and sometimes I wonder whether it's worth it. A lot of time, stress and worry to stay above water . Should I keep working so hard at the expense of living or take it easier for more of what I want to do - leisure etc. It would be a big wrench to change tack and give up the things we've been working so hard for.

Not on my own in this scenario, I'd guess.

A.

 

[ali]

Busy Busy

Back on this thread and work has slightly eased. Down to 55 hour weeks.... However, I've recruited 4 people in the last month and a half to full and part time positions only for them to move onto better offers (I acknowledge they're better). Positions with me on 10 /11 /12 euro per hour very average rate but it seems that choice is returning to the job market for job seekers.

I'm not cross about people moving on and trying to better themselves though it's a pain training and retraining people but more making an observation on how busy things are and how difficult it is to get/keep staff.

A.

 

[Purple]

Hi Purple,

It's very hit and miss. Averaging out at good but really for a ferocious amount of work. I have a big mortgage for a v nice house in SCD and sometimes I wonder whether it's worth it. A lot of time, stress and worry to stay above water . Should I keep working so hard at the expense of living or take it easier for more of what I want to do - leisure etc. It would be a big wrench to change tack and give up the things we've been working so hard for.

Not on my own in this scenario, I'd guess.

A.

I don’t think it’s about money or status or material goods, it’s not for me anyway. Most of us want to succeed at what we do and that’s the driver, not the money. If I was to start again I’d make sure I’d more leasure time and fewer debts (I’d make sure my ex didn’t talk me into buying a house I didn’t want with the accompanying massive mortgage).

Back on this thread and work has slightly eased. Down to 55 hour weeks.... However, I've recruited 4 people in the last month and a half to full and part time positions only for them to move onto better offers (I acknowledge they're better). Positions with me on 10 /11 /12 euro per hour very average rate but it seems that choice is returning to the job market for job seekers.

I'm not cross about people moving on and trying to better themselves though it's a pain training and retraining people but more making an observation on how busy things are and how difficult it is to get/keep staff.

A.

We’ve the same problem; lack of skilled labour but people around here are probably sick of hearing me say that.

 

[Boyd]

Back on this thread and work has slightly eased. Down to 55 hour weeks.... However, I've recruited 4 people in the last month and a half to full and part time positions only for them to move onto better offers (I acknowledge they're better). Positions with me on 10 /11 /12 euro per hour very average rate but it seems that choice is returning to the job market for job seekers.

I'm not cross about people moving on and trying to better themselves though it's a pain training and retraining people but more making an observation on how busy things are and how difficult it is to get/keep staff.

A.

Jaysus! Thats definitely not sustainable, even if it is down from 72 or 73 (which is just insane BTW). You eventually reach the point of diminishing returns whereby you're no longer productive and are just better off going home due to tiredness etc. Doing anything like 55 IMO will very quickly hit that point.

If you are working more than 5 days a week for those hours then your enthusiasm on a Monday must surely be way down as youve had no time to relax over weekend.

 

[Purple]

Jaysus! Thats definitely not sustainable, even if it is down from 72 or 73 (which is just insane BTW). You eventually reach the point of diminishing returns whereby you're no longer productive and are just better off going home due to tiredness etc. Doing anything like 55 IMO will very quickly hit that point.

If you are working more than 5 days a week for those hours then your enthusiasm on a Monday must surely be way down as youve had no time to relax over weekend.

10 hours a day, 4 days a week plus one short day and Saturday morning and you're up to over 50 hours a week. I don't think that's in any way excessive.

 

[Boyd]

You don't think 10 hours a day is excessive, without getting shift allowance (im assuming Ali doesn't here)?

If you come in at 9AM, take 1 hour lunch, and a 15min break at say 3PM, that means you'd be at work from 9AM until 8.15PM

I certainly think thats excessive, even one day a week of that would be too much IMO

 

[Purple]

You don't think 10 hours a day is excessive, without getting shift allowance (im assuming Ali doesn't here)?

If you come in at 9AM, take 1 hour lunch, and a 15min break at say 3PM, that means you'd be at work from 9AM until 8.15PM

I certainly think thats excessive, even one day a week of that would be too much IMO

I start at 7.30 and finish at 6.30. It's no hardship.

 

[Boyd]

Fair enough, each to their own, depends on industry and "the norm" in company I guess

 

[TarfHead]

I start at 7.30 and finish at 6.30. It's no hardship.

5 days a week, every week ?

IMHO, those working hours are not sustainable.

 

[Purple]

5 days a week, every week ?

IMHO, those working hours are not sustainable.

I've sustained it for the last 15 years. So have most of the rest of the people here and so have lots of other people I know in other businesses.

4 days a week. I finish at 3.30 on Friday. I might be a bit later than 6.30 one or two evenings a week or earlier the odd day but it averages out at 6.30.

Years back I worked all day Saturday and a half day Sunday, and later during the week. That was a bit mad alright. I did it for years though.

 

[Boyd]

Are you self-employed? Doing those hours for someone else's net gains crazy to me.

Our office is 9 to 5.30 Monday to Friday, ghost town at 5.45PM, and the exit locks at 6PM, after which you have to leave via the car park. I think in five years here i've been in two Saturdays.

Its amazing the difference in hours and in people's mentality about what is acceptable and "normal"

 

[Deiseblue]

I start at 7.30 and finish at 6.30. It's no hardship.

Jeez Purple they're vicous hours - reminds me of the old adage obout the phrase that never appears on a gravestone " I should have spent more time at the office "

 

[Purple]

Are you self-employed? Doing those hours for someone else's net gains crazy to me.

Our office is 9 to 5.30 Monday to Friday, ghost town at 5.45PM, and the exit locks at 6PM, after which you have to leave via the car park. I think in five years here i've been in two Saturdays.

Its amazing the difference in hours and in people's mentality about what is acceptable and "normal"

I hope you don't complain about people who earn high wages by working longer and possibly harder than others.
When I come in over the weekend, which is not often anymore, it's the merc's and Jag's and BMW's that are parked outside the other buildings. It is generally the case that people who earn more work longer and harder than people who earn less.
BTW, I get paid extra if I work longer, just like everyone else here.

 

[Purple]

Jeez Purple they're vicous hours - reminds me of the old adage obout the phrase that never appears on a gravestone " I should have spent more time at the office "

Tis the nature of the job. If I could find more people with the right skills then there'd be less pressure and probably fewer hours.
I do find it laughable that people who spend 36 hours or less a week in an office complain about their hours and/or being worn out. I can understand why someone like a teacher would be drained but not someone in an office job.

 

[Deiseblue]

Definitely Purple , one of the great perks of working in a Bank were the great hours - I started at 8.30 & finished at 4.30 with an hour for lunch & two 15 minute breaks a day , a 32.5 hour week ! - much appreciated as my previous jobs in a brewery , furniture factory , fruit growers & flour milling were physically demanding .

I was steeped though , I was on an IBOA negotiated contract & thus avoided the stress levels associated with pay for performance contracts - the level of stress & burn out not to mention appalling risk taking that ran hand in hand with such contacts was mind boggling.

 

[Marion]

Last academic year (it's over) I can honestly say that I worked a minimum 60 hour week. I found myself working into the early hours of the morning to try and research work to teach that day. Two of my new subjects had no course books available. I had to produce the material from my own research. I worked through my lunch practically every single day.

I was handed 3 new courses to teach at Level 5 about which I knew absolutely nothing, (on top of my existing 4 updated courses) two days before term began.

I found it totally stressful. I couldn't afford to take time out because I would have had to make up for the time lost and it would have meant working even longer hours.

My students did well.

It will never be repeated. I objected strongly during the year and for the first time ever in my long career as a teacher I have been given the subjects that I will be teaching in September. I have one new subject that will need to be researched but, at least, it is in my area of expertise.


Marion

 

[BillK]

I worked very long hours prior to retiring as I was based in Trinidad. In order to get reasonably good direct contact with HQ in England I would often be in the office at 06.00 local time. This did not mean that I could slide off early to compensate as there was the normal day's work to get through as well.

The upside was the climate for half the year (the rainy season was quite something) and the ability to spend time on the beach at the weekends.
I do like to tell people about the time we went to Barbados for the weekend, without telling them where we were based of course.

The major advantage of course is that I was able to retire at 55 rather than slogging on to 65!

 

[DrMoriarty]

Last academic year (it's over) I can honestly say that I worked a minimum 60 hour week.

Here's a lecturer just about to down tools and go home at 9pm. Like last night, and the night before, and the night before that.
I've spent >130 hours in the last fortnight,

• organising a major conference for next October
• editing a 350-page volume of essays for a publisher deadline of 15 July (and it ain't half done yet)
• answering endless student queries about results, work placements, repeat exams, etc.
• writing references for graduating students
• proofing postgrad research proposals
• reading/helping revise draft chapters from a PhD student supposed to hand in their thesis by mid-July
• preparing a research funding application for the College

I don't get one red cent for this. No overtime, no shift allowance (HA!), no time off in lieu. I do it because I love my work and/or because I take pride in the service I provide to my students.

But the next nine-to-five neighbour who says to me "sure aren't you lot all on holidays now?" is liable to get a punch in the face.
I'm sure Marion knows the feeling.

Thank God Brendan pays us such handsome commissions and bonuses...

 

[Marion]

But the next nine-to-five neighbour who says to me "sure aren't you lot all on holidays now?" is liable to get a punch in the face.

I'm sure Marion knows the feeling.

Thank God Brendan pays us such handsome commissions and bonuses...

Yes. I know that feeling. I reply that it's a first-world problem.


And don't forget the weekends Brendan provides for the Mods in New York. #megga.

Marion

 

[TarfHead]

But the next nine-to-five neighbour who says to me "sure aren't you lot all on holidays now?" is liable to get a punch in the face.

I have had two recent incidents of this. Not the punch, but I'm sure I was at risk both times.

First was with a neighbour who is in UCD. Even though the students are gone, he is still setting off for work before 7:30 and home after 6:30.

The second was with a secondary school principal who has just had his teacher allocation for September confirmed. Suffice is to say it is materially different to what he had already planned for, and now he has to start again, 2 days before the world assumes he's off for the Summer.