What's Wrong With America (The Hours We Work)

So as to not further threadjack Walfredo's farewell thread ...

How many hours per week do y'all work, on average?  Do you get anything for those hours over 40 (e.g. OT, comp time, hummer, poke in the eye with a sharp stick)?

FWIW, there are some careers where the longer hours are a known element.  My employer and I both know that my pay reflects that I'm not going to punch a clock 9-to-5 -- more likely 55 hours or so per week, with spikes when stuff needs to get done.  That's the job, I knew it in advance, and I'm cool with it.

Perhaps a significant consideration is that I really like what I do; if I was just doing this for the paycheck and had this same amount of work/responsibility, I'd have a lot of trouble getting up each morning.

I work 37.5 hours a week on average.     One of the reasons I'm still here. 

Damn the man. 

Typical week is 40-45 hours. Some weeks 50+, the occasional 30-35. On-call pretty much 24/7 in case of disaster/emergency/Gephardt. Exempt, well paid but won't get rich.

Typical week is probably 36-38 for me.  Sure there are occasional 50-60 hour weeks, like this week, but its not the norm.  In general, our firm likes to see people working their 40 hours, but some people have flexibility via their accomplishments - an unwritten and inconsistent 'rule'.  We recently had a run of being #1 on Forbes' list of the 'best places to work'.

More than 40 - I'm supposed to get comp time.  However, since I have used my flexibility in normal work weeks (less than 40) I never really take comp time - unless you include leaving early every week for my golf league taking comp time  .  Anyway, not taking comp time satisfies my conscious when not working 40-hour weeks typically.  I could still take the comp time AND take advantage of my hours, but it just doesn't feel right.  And I probably still come out ahead anyway  

Just this summer we instituted a work from home policy for associates (IT associates anyway).  One day a week, if your schedule allows, you can work from home.  We are not allowed to block out schedules or decline meetings though - you attend via a conference call, or you show up to work anyway.  VPN access is required too, so we must take our laptops home to use (as our security policy does not allow just any device to connect).  The catch - not every associate has a laptop.  If you're too low on the food chain, you do not get use of the policy.  So far my schedule has allowed me to do it about half the time (every other week on Friday).  Tomorrow is a work from home day for me  

The one thing that really sucked about taking this new job - I had to start all over with vacation time.  Its non-negotiable when you start - two weeks no matter who you are (unless its under the table).  So after working up to having 4 weeks of vacation I was back to 2 - ouch.  I'm now up to 3 again, which is ok - but 4 was really nice.  4 more years service (10 years in) before I get 4 weeks vacation.

So - there's nothing wrong with my America.  But, as a nation we do work too many hours.


Now - years ago, I worked 60 hour weeks all the time without any 'pay' benefit from doing so.  It was a different company, we were busy, and a few of us really liked what we were doing.  We busted our asses during our acquisitions - then the worm turned.  Mergers began and changes occurred with little to no regard for the people that helped get you there.  I stayed one merger too many, became disillusioned (jaded perhaps), and quit.  Its business, *feces* happens, it could happen to me again - I hold out hope it doesn't.

I don't work as much as a used to. Now I put in 40-45 hours in the office, and another 3-5 at home during evenings and weekends. Today I'm in at 7:30, but I already played nine holes a dawn so it's all good.

56 hours a week.
2 twelve hour days in a week paid @ 1.5 after 8.
Every other Saturday 8 hours paid @ double time. (Although those hours are being cut back)

I wish I didn't have to work so much.

I plan to be retired early next year.

I'm averaging 55 hours a week.  Only about 5 more than I did with Wonder Bread/IBC.  I make almost the same money.  Go figure.

Raises average 3% per annum, as much as 6%, but that is rare.  I ain't doin' too bad for an old fat bald man.

I'll retire the day I die.  The missus can't/won't work a korprit 'merkan job and make any real money.