MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Hi all
I have been offered a job on a reasonably higher salary than my current role. However, it does entail an extra 7.5 hours a week of work (8-5:30 as opposed to 9-5). I was assured this is a 'normal' working week (45 hours as opposed to 37.5). I'm not so sure.
Can others offer how many hours (contracted hours, not time to boast about how much work you do in the evenings) you do a week?
In terms of hourly cost it's about 30p difference. But because of the extra hours, it's paid a fair wad more.
Contracted is 37 for me. Obviously I do a lot mor... oh sorry.
How long do you get for lunch?
9-5 is only 8 hours if you include lunch as working hours, not many companies do that.
edit: hmmm reading fail on my part.
37.5 over here 🙂
37.5 Hours Standard for me, any overtime paid at single rate
.30 x 37.5 = 11 quid extra a week on what you currently earn. Not a massive amount...
My working week has been 37.5 hours for the last 20 odd years (in different companies). Only the first one had time sheets, after that no one had really taken any interest in the actual hours people worked, although pretty much everyone does more than the standard (some by a small amount, some by lots).
39hrs std for me. But do get Friday afternoons off.
'Normal' in what context - 'normal' for other employees of that company, 'normal' for an Far-East sweatshop? If you think the remuneration is OK, surely you just have to decide if this particular 'normal' is acceptable to you, no? (39hrs here...)
37.5 contracted, but ill work straight through lunch so 40 hours flat.
On average this year to date I've done an extra 25% as unpaid OT, so close to 50 hours a week. I try and make sure it doesn't take the piss so if I do 12 hrs or more one day ill finish early the day after.
I would suggest that 'normal' contracted hours is normally between 37 and 40.
In the past I have done 35, and up to 40. 40 hours felt much longer than 37.5
45 is pushing the limit of what they can legally do. Are they paying you the extra days work per week, or are they just getting more hours on the cheap?
37.5 here, in fact I can't remember having a full time job where that wasn't the case.
36 hours for me which I do as a 4 day compressed working agreement (8-5.30 with 30 mins for lunch). Thursday is "my" day.....
36.25 8.45-5 mon-fri with an hour for lunch
37 and everything over is either 1.5x or 2x 🙂
Edit: but I work three weekends in five...
41.5 here. 8-5 Mon to Thurs and then 8-4 on a Friday. With half an hour lunch everyday. Best hours I worked was 8-4.45 Mon-Thurs and then 8-12.30 on a Fri. Brilliant Job and brilliant hours.
EDIT - No chance of overtime ever on the current job, so try to keep extra working to a minimum.
My official hours start at 7.39am, not 7.40am, dead on 7.39am 😉
Yes another 37.5 here, no overtime, hours include working weekends and BH
37 here, with a half 11 finish on Friday. Paid OT (for the moment) whenever I want too
It's not an outrageous working week, but it's not normal either. Right now I do bang on 9-5, I've done 50 hour weeks in the past but because it suited me and there was recompense but I wouldn't have liked to be told it's "normal"- it was me being ace.
Suppose it's about context...
If they're trying to convince you there's nothing unusual about it and that everyone does it, that's probably bad- frankly to me it might be a "walk away" sign because if your relationship starts on that basis, it's not likely to go anywhere good.
If they just mean it's normal for the company, or something of that ilk, that's perfectly innocent and fine.
And equally, it might be that they genuinely think everyone does it- it seems to be almost universal that whenever people work ungodly hours or unpaid overtime or any other undesirable working condition, they convince themselves that "everyone does it". The woman in my office who did loads of unpaid extra time insisted "everyone does it" even though everyone else in the office worked at most 30 minutes a day and claimed every last button back.
Laughably 37.5.
the place i'm contracting at the moment has 40 hours per week (8.30-17:30), but the permies do far far more than that.
THE FOOLS!!! 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
😀
edit: stupid emoticons
Contracted for 39 hours a week here (8 hours a day, 7 on Friday) - but those are hours of [i]actual work[/i] that I can put on a timesheet and bill to a customer, so lunch hours and tea breaks etc are extra on top of that.
So realistically if I start at 9am, do 8 hours work and take an hour for lunch then I shouldn't leave till 6.
Do you need this extra money vs an hour and a half of your life EVERY DAY. It's the equivalent of a 30 mile commute and time you'll never get back. If it's not a good career move or you're not sick of your current job, I wouldn't bother.
But then I've always thought that after I reached a certain level of pay I'd rather work less hours than get a rise though I'm not sure I'm there yet. 🙄
36 hours over 4.5 days for me. Very rarely do any extra.
It varies according to sector doesn't it - every factory job I've ever had has been 40 hours, but office jobs it seems 37.5 is the norm, currently on a French style 34 hours but that's just taking the piss.
30 hours a week. mon-thurs. 8.30-5 with an hour for lunch.
rare i do more.
about 20hrs recently, it's a bit tough but I mange.....
though threw in a 55 a few weeks back with traveling
37.5 for office based people here, 45 hours for engineers out in the field. Thats an extra 7.5hrs for them to spend in canteens 🙂
Don't even know what my hours should be. Somewhere between 40 & 80+.
40 is standard
60 is high
80 is excessive/unsustainable
and travelling doesnt count.
Everywhere I've been employed has been 37.5 per week. I would have said that 45 is not a standard working week.
What are "contracted hours"?
I work a 12 hr shift pattern that should be 4 on 4 off but for the last 6 months loads of overtime meaning I am often doing 72 hrs (6 on 2 off)...crap for ride time but great for new shiney bits 😕
9-5 officially, which is the shortest I've ever had in a proper job (previously 9-5.30 or 9-6), but I pretty much always work through lunch and often leave anywhere between 5.15 and 7pm
30 hours over 4 days since 2007
Highly recommended
37.5 contracted here, although I do more.
Working Time Regulations 1998 state that your average working hours must not exceed 48 hours per week (measured over a period of 17 weeks).
However they can put it in your contract that you agree the limit doesn't apply to you.
However they can put it in your contract that you agree the limit doesn't apply to you
I have this 😥
Ar$e
However they can put it in your contract that you agree the limit doesn't apply to you.
But you can refuse it.
Workers 18 or over who want to work more than 48 hours a week, can choose to opt out of the 48-hour limit.This could be for a certain period or indefinitely. It must be voluntary and in writing.
It can’t be contained in an agreement with the whole workforce. However, employers are allowed to ask individual workers if they’d be willing to opt out.
An employer shouldn’t sack or unfairly treat a worker (eg refused promotion) for refusing to sign an opt-out.
-- Source: https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours/weekly-maximum-working-hours-and-opting-out
37.5 but I don't get overtime/TOIL until 43.5 and its budgeted on me doing 110% of my hours.
47.5 plus overtime for me, and hate every second of it.
37.5 hours a week. 0700 - 1500 early and 1330 to 2130 late shifts. Used to work 48 hours a week on nights last year.
Work as an Engineer for a big Civils/Construction company.
Our standard is 45 hours/week.
When I got my contract they sent me through the opt out for EU working time directive. I signed it as I wanted the job. I'm young so progressing and more money are more important then only working 9-5!
39 hours for me: 0830-1700 Mon-Thurs, 0830-1600 Fri. Half hour lunch.
what bothers me is, for those of you getting paid for 37 hours but doing 50 without getting paid for the extra in Overtime or TOIL, why?
Are you that inefficient?
Are you creeping to the boss for a reason?
Do they give you more work than you can reasonably do in the allotted time?
I used to spend up to 2 hours each way commuting, but now I'm working from home 4 days out of 5, I wouldn't even consider a job that had a "half hour each way by bike" commute any more
Really appreciate the responses all.
this sums it up for me, given I already do a 20 mile each way commute, and the alternative job is the same:
Do you need this extra money vs an hour and a half of your life EVERY DAY. It's the equivalent of a 30 mile commute and time you'll never get back. If it's not a good career move or you're not sick of your current job, I wouldn't bother.But then I've always thought that after I reached a certain level of pay I'd rather work less hours than get a rise though I'm not sure I'm there yet.
Leave house at 8:30, home by 5:30/6. Or leave house at 7:30, home by 6/6:30. For an extra 3.5k a year, I don't think it's worth it. Short term, summer is coming up too - I loathe nothing more than coming back tired and not up for riding. No point in making all that extra money to spend on bikes when you can't even ride them.
Decision made. Appreciate the help.
Forgetting holidays, you are basically working for £2 per hour for those extra hours.
40 hours
never signed a contract that hasn't had the opting out of the regs clause, but i'm pretty strict about not working mad hours, many colleagues present and past probably pulling 60 hours a week, I don't unless I really have to.
However they can put it in your contract that you agree the limit doesn't apply to you
You have to agree to opt out of working time regs to work extra hours, including overtime, they can't force you to do either and can't make you sign.
FTE equivalent here is 35hrs, lunch not included. All done within a brilliant flexi system that results in me finishing at 1pm on Fridays.
Not always been this rosy though, I spent a shameful year as a recruitment consultant where working week was 46hrs and it was frowned upon to take any sort of break.
Mrs S is a GP and when she was a junior Dr in hospital she was regularly rota'd to work 90hr + weeks, 4 weeks solid without breaks. She was expected to lie on her working hours audit forms. Not safe enough to drive a bus on those hours but allowed to make medical decisions 🙄
45 here, but generally 50, no paid overtime either.
She was expected to lie on her working hours audit forms. Not safe enough to drive a bus on those hours but allowed to make medical decisions
Yep, same for my Mrs S. Always shocked me. I believe the NHS are still one of the few companies that are completely exempt from the working time directive.
I believe the NHS are still one of the few companies that are completely exempt from the working time directive.
No they're not very few jobs are.
45 hours a week. Basic 8-5 hours but as a very small company we don't really take a lunch break so it adds to 45 hours. Shame really as there's a great skate park 5 mins away and could spend an hour there most days but that's life
36 hour week, 07:30-17:10 including an unpaid lunch.
4 day week with a rolling day off each week.
Most people on this pattern do an occasional Saturday (so they'll get two weekdays plus Sunday off that week) If anyone is an employer on here, it really does make sense. You get your staff in for longer each day, they spend less time/money commuting, you can use it as an incentive to get people to work weekends, and the biggy, they don't feel the need to skive off for appointments/car servicing/etc. And during busy periods, these people can come back in on overtime on their day off 🙂 (except I've had no overtime for ages 🙁 )
I'd do a 3 day week, 7:00 to 7:40 pm if they'd let me! 12hr day plus lunch, I'd love it 🙂
Why work longer hours? Because there is no way I could remotely cover everything in a 40 hour week, plus I would find myself unemployed in about a week if I started leaving at 5. Not hard.
I'm not entirely sure what my standard hours are, moved from a 37.5 basic plus O/T in a flexitime environment. I'll normally do 7.30 or 8 till 5 or 6. No O/T for that, though I do work and get paid for Saturdays if I want to.
what bothers me is, for those of you getting paid for 37 hours but doing 50 without getting paid for the extra in Overtime or TOIL, why?
Are you that inefficient?
Are you creeping to the boss for a reason?
Do they give you more work than you can reasonably do in the allotted time?
1) No.
2) I've spent the last year working hard. I was rewarded by the creation of a new position which is really enjoyable for me. I expect more of the same...
3) As it's a new position, I set my own workload to a large extent. I could do 9-5 and be satisfied, but the efforts I put in make me happy.
I do 8-3.30, but I don't take a break as such, otherwise I'd finish at 4.00. If I do work on, then I get paid for it, as happened yesterday, but that was only half an hour to finish off a folding job. Previous job had lots of overtime, at least an hour every day, plus Saturday mornings, but now I'd rather do the hours above; it's nice finishing work with still some daylight during the winter, and I'm just out of the habit, plus sitting in front of a Mac was a lot less onerous than running a bloody folding machine.
You lot have it easy.
39 hrs, 13 different shifts, & bank holidays (inc Xmas, New Year, Easter etc) all included in the price with absolutely no guarantee whatsoever of getting leave when you want/really need it.
Loads of overtime though as we're so short of staff.
If your'e thinking of joining the prison service.....
When I got my contract they sent me through the opt out for EU working time directive. I signed it as I wanted the job. I'm young so progressing and more money are more important then only working 9-5!
erm why did you sign it? you can still work as much as [b][u]you[/u] [/b]want without signing it - all it does is sign your rights to refuse away...
btw 35 hours week here, but i'm in one of the professions with the highest incidence of stress related sickness so very aware of the slippery slope to burnout
I look at you guys with jealousy, I had Monday off sick and I've still worked 35hrs and have one day to go. If I don't do it I earn Shit all!
I just really wish they'd make tachos legal in sub 3.5T vehicles, our company would have to double the amount of staff out on the road if they did!
I don't have working hours. I have a job. How I manage that is up to me. My staff start at 6:00am and don't finish until 3:00am some days (two shifts worth) so i can't be there for all of it, just make the hours count and get in with what can be done in the evenings post putting microbits to bed.
I understand that lots of people don't want to work extra hours, but the ones who achieve and therefore get the promotions / raises / bonuses often do.
Self employed so works lots 50 hours plus is the norm in term time. This thread is a bit of an eye opener tbh!
Judging by the posts coming in now, I reckon the long hours workers are coming in from work! 😉
Officially contracted to 42.5 hours per week.
08:00 to 17:30 Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 15:00 Friday with 1/2 hour lunch.
But, I am paid to do a job not put hours in. Some days I work longer, some days I finish earlier and take the rough with the smooth.
erm why did you sign it? you can still work as much as you want without signing it - all it does is sign your rights to refuse away...
I would like to opt back into the EU directive, but if I did then its in my contract that they would reduce the amount of wages I could earn! I'm pretty sure this is illegal but hey!
I just really wish they'd make tachos legal in sub 3.5T vehicles, our company would have to double the amount of staff out on the road if they did!
I must be wrong but I thought all commercial vehicles carrying goods had to have tachos fitted? I recall a traffic cops with a land rover towing a trailer, the driver was under business insurance, and the scottish policeman (PC Nairn, IIRC), asked him where the tacho was. The guys face was a picture.
36hr week over 4 days
No weekends - OT - Wed off
We don't get OT just time in return
Not worth it for me
Plus I love the 4 day week
Mid week skiing & biking or sort car / lawn etc
Ah, ambition. I used to have some of that.
Now I've got a much better work/life balance
And yet you still appear to be quite miserable 🙂
Contract says 44, but expected to have an Admin day' of 4 hours on top of that.
Reality? The norm tends to be about 55, just had my first Saturday off, and week off, since July
You have to have a tachograph on a vehicle if you're towing a trailer for business.
Other than that a commercial vehicle under 3.5T is exempt.
Junior doc here. Fully signed up to EWTD so my contract says I work 48hrs per week. My rota has me working 76 hours this week (5x12 + 2x8 hr shifts) and I'll have actually worked >80 by the time Sunday finishes. No overtime payments.
37.5 hours
personally I'd do the calculation on a per hour basis. I like the fact I have evenings relatively free. On a good day I can be home at 5pm which in summer gives me 4hours to ride in daylight. Wouldn't want to finish at 6 regularly even if they paid me for the hours worked. Suppose that depends on how much you need the money vs. want the time.
Leglam, the EWTD has covered junior doctors since 2004/2005, how are they still getting away with giving those sort of hours?
I work 12 hr shifts 7-7, days or nights on a zero hours contract, so I might do 2, 3 or more shifts a week.
Only get 45mins for lunch though. The hardest part is being sat down in front of a screen for all that time!
Self employed - roughly 30hrs per week excluding unpaid travel over 4 days.
I'm daughter duty 1 day while wifey works.
Feeling fortunate
BenHouldsworth - Member
Leglam, the EWTD has covered junior doctors since 2004/2005, how are they still getting away with giving those sort of hours?
POSTED 55 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
It's averaged over 17 weeks, so somehow it averages out at 48hrs/wk. Not quite sure how!
160 hours a month minimum so 40 hours a week over odd shifts! Normally end up being rota'd to do more, 180ish a month.
The joy of self-employment means that:
(A) the Working Time Directive does not apply to me; and
(B) for the past thirteen years I have not worked fewer than 60hrs per week and regularly put in 90-100hr weeks.
Yes, that often means starting at around 7am and finishing around 1am.
I haven't included lunch (which I often don't get anyway, because I have to work through it) or travel time in that, btw.
Hadn't actually thought that hard about it until I read this thread.
FML.
stimpy - Member
The joy of self-employment means that:(A) the Working Time Directive does not apply to me; and
(B) for the past thirteen years I have not worked fewer than 60hrs per week and regularly put in 90-100hr weeks.
Yes, that often means starting at around 7am and finishing around 1am.
I haven't included lunch (which I often don't get anyway, because I have to work through it) or travel time in that, btw.
Hadn't actually thought that hard about it until I read this thread.
FML.
Fair play, that's mad. How do you manage to do that?
I struggle to do my 40 hours.
This thread reminds me; I need to get some ovies in, I'm obviously slacking...
It may have been mentioned already; the UK's biggest employer considers 37.5hrs excluding breaks to be the norm, and pay x1.5 for anything over that. I'm not arguing.
RichPenny
How do you get that? I like my job, I'm just not prepared to work more hours than I'm paid for. I'm also a lot happier now I WFH 4 days out of 5