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40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

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Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#11

Post by cryptoz »

wccrawford wrote: post #3

"People who hate their jobs often work 40 hours weeks, why be one of them?" Working 40 hours doesn't make you one of them. It's not even a symptom of the real problem. I work 40 hours weeks, and love my job. And I loved my last job. And I liked all the jobs before that. That's because I have pride in doing my job well, I've worked for people who appreciate it (even if that sometimes means the customer, and not my bos…

> I work 40 hours weeks, and love my job.

Do you work exactly 40 hours? As in, start and 9am, leave at 5pm and never arrive early or leave late? Never a week of 41 hours? Because if I worked at a job I absolutely loved - as you describe - I would probably choose to work 50 or 60 hours. I think that the assumption here is that if you work 40 hours, you're probably doing it because that's what is expected of you and you're not willing to put in more.

It seems unlikely that most people who like their jobs so much would actually stop at 40 hours.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#12

Post by hugh3 »

I work 40 hour weeks. Nine to five. I got into the habit when I started my PhD, because I knew that if I didn't force myself to work to a certain schedule, I'd probably slack off.

If I only worked when I felt like it, on what I felt like working on, I would never have finished my thesis because, heck, who wants to do proofreading when you could be at the beach? And if I ate whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like eating it, I'd weigh three hundred pounds.

Anyway, the point of the story: if someone forced me to work nine to five, I'd probably hate it. But since I get to pick my own hours, I've picked nine to five.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#13

Post by infinite8s »

amjith wrote: post #7
kemiller wrote: post #2

This seems like the perspective of someone without spouse and kids. Which is fine, and I don't even disagree. But there are people for whom (and phases of life in which) a steady pace is not a bad thing at all, and not necessarily indicative of hating your job.

He is a professor at the University of Utah, married with two kids. I think his post represents a set of people who work hard and play hard. When you are passionate about your work, it's very hard to keep it within 40hrs/week. So your weeks look like periodic bursts of intense work interleaved with excursions and vacations. You don't have to be single without kids to have that lifestyle.

You do have to have a spouse willing to pick up the slack for you (kids don't function in burst mode - especially in the early years they need the familiarity of a regular routine). Although it is possible if you work a regular 9-5 and then continue working for a few more hours after the kids are sleeping.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#14

Post by cateye »

40 hour work week was a reaction on the employers with too much power. They pushed their employers to work beyond their physical health limits. As a rule, a more balanced work structure was introduced that protected both partys on the long run.

There have been a lot of research about most productive work rythm. But it differs a lot depending on the kind of work. But 40 hours is a general avarage for most people.

The end conclusion is, depending on the work and your personal context, you have to find a balanced life where.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#15

Post by acheron »

cryptoz wrote: post #11
wccrawford wrote: post #3

"People who hate their jobs often work 40 hours weeks, why be one of them?" Working 40 hours doesn't make you one of them. It's not even a symptom of the real problem. I work 40 hours weeks, and love my job. And I loved my last job. And I liked all the jobs before that. That's because I have pride in doing my job well, I've worked for people who appreciate it (even if that sometimes means the customer, and not my bos…

> I work 40 hours weeks, and love my job. Do you work exactly 40 hours? As in, start and 9am, leave at 5pm and never arrive early or leave late? Never a week of 41 hours? Because if I worked at a job I absolutely loved - as you describe - I would probably choose to work 50 or 60 hours. I think that the assumption here is that if you work 40 hours, you're probably doing it because that's what is expected of you and yo…

If you're talking about working for yourself (that is, working for customers), then sure, that makes sense.

If you're working for someone else who is paying you specifically to work 40 hours, then there's no reason to work more than that unless you consider your time worthless.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#16

Post by kemiller »

amjith wrote: post #7
kemiller wrote: post #2

This seems like the perspective of someone without spouse and kids. Which is fine, and I don't even disagree. But there are people for whom (and phases of life in which) a steady pace is not a bad thing at all, and not necessarily indicative of hating your job.

He is a professor at the University of Utah, married with two kids. I think his post represents a set of people who work hard and play hard. When you are passionate about your work, it's very hard to keep it within 40hrs/week. So your weeks look like periodic bursts of intense work interleaved with excursions and vacations. You don't have to be single without kids to have that lifestyle.

I completely agree, but passion isn't the only way to experience joy in your work, and obsession isn't the only way to express passion.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#17

Post by WeWin »

A rather confusing post: does the author want to work only 20 hours? Or work 40 hours but be rewarded the same as someone who works 60 hours? Or work 60 hours doing something they love all the time? All of these seem quite unrealistic but for different reasons.

The 40 hour week was brought to America in 1938, brought about primarily by unions - the word 'weekend' didn't even exist until the 1870s. Enjoy the freedom that so many worked so hard to provide you.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#18

Post by jamesbritt »

acheron wrote: post #15
cryptoz wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I work 40 hours weeks, and love my job. Do you work exactly 40 hours? As in, start and 9am, leave at 5pm and never arrive early or leave late? Never a week of 41 hours? Because if I worked at a job I absolutely loved - as you describe - I would probably choose to work 50 or 60 hours. I think that the assumption here is that if you work 40 hours, you're probably doing it because that's what is expected of you and yo…

If you're talking about working for yourself (that is, working for customers), then sure, that makes sense. If you're working for someone else who is paying you specifically to work 40 hours, then there's no reason to work more than that unless you consider your time worthless.

That's the difference between really liking your job and really liking the money your job provides.

Re: 40 Hour Work Weeks Suck

#20

Post by 16BitTons »

acheron wrote: post #15
cryptoz wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I work 40 hours weeks, and love my job. Do you work exactly 40 hours? As in, start and 9am, leave at 5pm and never arrive early or leave late? Never a week of 41 hours? Because if I worked at a job I absolutely loved - as you describe - I would probably choose to work 50 or 60 hours. I think that the assumption here is that if you work 40 hours, you're probably doing it because that's what is expected of you and yo…

If you're talking about working for yourself (that is, working for customers), then sure, that makes sense. If you're working for someone else who is paying you specifically to work 40 hours, then there's no reason to work more than that unless you consider your time worthless.

I frequently put in extra time on projects without compensation. I care more about doing the job right than I do about squaring up a timesheet. It's not about my time being worthless, it's about my life being worthwhile.
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