1 hour ago, mr_hunt said:

vacation time isn't really vacation time  anyway. it's pretty much impossible for me to take a full week off & not have to check on things. 

I took a week of vacation last June and I ended up VPN'ing in and doing sheet for probably 25-30 hours anyways. Might as well have just went into the office.

I start earlier if working remote only to get connected usually around 7-7:30am.  I'm old and actually work 40 hrs. per week.  Even if I get an off hours emergency call, I only put in maybe 1-2 hours depending what it is.   Work load has slowed though.

2 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Too many early meetings for me to start that late, even if I wanted to. The latest would maybe be 8:30 or so. Back when I was in research, the culture was totally different and the work was more self-moderated so some people would show up as late as 10 and stay until 6. Just seemed weird to me to want to stay that late. 

As for lunch, I do the same, eat at 11 or 11:30 and skip breakfast. I basically have two meals a day, mostly out of convenience when I was still going to the office, but now purely out of habit.

Yeah, I used to start at 10...ish back when I was independent and go until whenever I felt like it, but in the last few years it's all been a lot more buttoned up.  I'm in around 9 and gone at 5:30 on the dot.  And I'm not working from home anymore, that ended 6 weeks ago, so now I'm really done the second the work day's over.  

But when I was working from home, I was on until about  8 or 9 every night.  I tried to tell everybody that it makes no sense for us to be in the office when we get 10 times more work done from home, but no one wants to listen, which is pretty stupid considering I'm always right.

26 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The whole 9-5 concept is weird. Who actually started work that late, even before the pandemic? And are these people not eating lunch? 

yeah, i've been 8-4:30 for most jobs. 

Bottom line the world has changed with covid. Why would we all spend hours a week commuting to and from work? Doing long hours in the office and getting home late. Companies spending large amounts of money on renting office spaces. Overall I think employees are happier and feel they have more flexibility and a better work life balance even though most of us are working longer hours. 

I've never had a job that didn't require being available pretty much 24/7. I don't understand what people who "stop" at 5pm do. Do you just not reply to emails, calls, etc. until the next morning? I'd lose my mind on someone doing that.

Only times I am not working are when I am working out. I silence my phone then.

2 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I've never had a job that didn't require being available pretty much 24/7. I don't understand what people who "stop" at 5pm do. Do you just not reply to emails, calls, etc. until the next morning? I'd lose my mind on someone doing that.

Only times I am not working are when I am working out. I silence my phone then.

Don't you spend time with your lady? This has been one of the bonuses of lockdown if you ask me. There's also the kids thing.

Those of use who have kids, want to spend time with them and parents really need to. In my house we spend every night eating dinner together (no electronic devices allowed), my wife and I get insight into our kids days and what's going on with them. If as a parent you don't do that... they end up like Trump's kids. 

Also there's the money thing. By quick google search the average American salary is 31k a year. People making that shouldn't move after working hours for their boss.

9 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I've never had a job that didn't require being available pretty much 24/7. I don't understand what people who "stop" at 5pm do. Do you just not reply to emails, calls, etc. until the next morning? I'd lose my mind on someone doing that.

Only times I am not working are when I am working out. I silence my phone then.

weirdo

2 hours ago, Imp81318 said:

My 9-5 has turned into 7-6. 🙁

 

36 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The whole 9-5 concept is weird. Who actually started work that late, even before the pandemic? And are these people not eating lunch? 

I normally like to start at 7, but pre-covid it was usually closer to 8 by the time I gave the kids breakfast, dropped them off at school, and got to the office.  

Working from home, I tend to start earlier take a 'breakfast break's around 8 to make the kids breakfast and lunches, work through my lunch and log more hours. As an example, I had to get a report to my boss for review as early as possible this week so we can send it out Friday. I worked long hours the last 2 days and started working at 5:30 this morning to get it in his inbox before he logged on this morning. My plan was to cut out early today since I started early and we have a flex time policy bit I just asked to spend a couple of hours 'this afternoon' checking someone else's work so we can get it sent out today. This request literally came in like 10 minutes ago and I haven't gotten the calculations to check yet... So much for me having a short day today...

1 minute ago, Gannan said:

Don't you spend time with your lady? This has been one of the bonuses of lockdown if you ask me. There's also the kids thing.

Those of use who have kids, want to spend time with them and parents really need to. In my house we spend every night eating dinner together (no electronic devices allowed), my wife and I get insight into our kids days and what's going on with them. If as a parent you don't do that... they end up like Trump's kids. 

Also there's the money thing. By quick google search the average American salary is 31k a year. People making that shouldn't move after working hours for their boss.

Sure I have dinner with the wife, walk the dogs, read books, etc. But if the phone rings during dinner and it's on a deal, I answer. If the senior partner in my firm calls or texts, I respond. There are 2 times I am non-responsive: working out or during an Eagles game. That's it. If anyone who worked for me said "my day stops at 5," I'd respond with "and your paychecks stop today."

3 minutes ago, mr_hunt said:

weirdo

Being poor must suck.

1 minute ago, vikas83 said:

 

Being poor must suck.

  

 

Just now, vikas83 said:

Sure I have dinner with the wife, walk the dogs, read books, etc. But if the phone rings during dinner and it's on a deal, I answer. If the senior partner in my firm calls or texts, I respond. There are 2 times I am non-responsive: working out or during an Eagles game. That's it. If anyone who worked for me said "my day stops at 5," I'd respond with "and your paychecks stop today."

Finance is totally different. If someone wants to pay me 300K plus a year, I'm there man. You have a job where millions or billions depend on you picking up that phone. To us average working stiffs... not so much. Actually the criteria I specifically use for answering an email over the weekend is "If I don't answer this email right away will it cost the company money?". Most of the time the answer is no. Most of the time someone wants the answer to a question I've already answered 5-10 times already and they can't wait until Monday morning for me to answer it again. 

1 minute ago, Gannan said:

 Actually the criteria I specifically use for answering an email over the weekend is "If I don't answer this email right away will it cost the company money?". Most of the time the answer is no. Most of the time someone wants the answer to a question I've already answered 5-10 times already and they can't wait until Monday morning for me to answer it again. 

seriously. i mean...if there's an emergency and things start to go sideways, the worst that can happen is customers might have to wait a little longer at the drive-thru. very few of them will leave and go somewhere else after they've already placed their order. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Gannan said:

Finance is totally different. If someone wants to pay me 300K plus a year, I'm there man. You have a job where millions or billions depend on you picking up that phone. To us average working stiffs... not so much. Actually the criteria I specifically use for answering an email over the weekend is "If I don't answer this email right away will it cost the company money?". Most of the time the answer is no. Most of the time someone wants the answer to a question I've already answered 5-10 times already and they can't wait until Monday morning for me to answer it again. 

Aim higher bud.

And yeah, deals don't stop because it's 5pm. 

Just now, mr_hunt said:

seriously. i mean...if there's an emergency and things start to go sideways, the worst that can happen is customers might have to wait a little longer at the drive-thru. very few of them will leave and go somewhere else after they've already placed their order. 

 

 

 save that material for when Kz shows up. Although the service industry isn't technically 9-5. 

5 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Aim higher bud.

And yeah, deals don't stop because it's 5pm. 

 

balla! 

1 minute ago, vikas83 said:

Aim higher bud.

And yeah, deals don't stop because it's 5pm. 

I figured, but its a ton of money to me. Like many people, I'm a regular guy in the middle. I don't make crazy money like finance guys do, but I'm usually right above the cut off for free government giveaways. In other words, I'm "democrat rich" 

I had a job where I was working on million dollar deals and I worked just about every minute of the day. It almost killed me. I'm good where I am.  You're right to exercise regularly and take care of yourself. Personal health is so important. Especially as one hits middle age. 

I set my own times but I've been available pretty much 16hrs a day for 25 years.  When I'm on vacation I will check out for the middle 10hrs during the day but I'm checking email morning and night.  If I ever want a chunk of time without answering then I just do it.  I'll go eight hours with the family or six hours for a day of golf or a long evening of dinner and drinks, whatever.  The bottom line has always been getting the job done.  My work has been global so timezones blend together.  That's just the way it is.

1 minute ago, DrPhilly said:

 My work has been global so timezones blend together.  That's just the way it is.

I fall into this category as well. So yeah being flexible is important, and hte most important thing is get the job done. My boss isn't big on specific performance goals. My directives are pretty much "take ownership of your area and get the job done".

Just now, Gannan said:

I fall into this category as well. So yeah being flexible is important, and hte most important thing is get the job done. My boss isn't big on specific performance goals. My directives are pretty much "take ownership of your area and get the job done".

That's always worked for me and that's what I've always asked of those that have reported to me.

I'd say its dying and its death has been sped up by the pandemic but definitely not dead. Many will go back to their normal in office 9-5 after this is all over.

I'm working from home permanently now. More like working 830 to 4. But I'm also pretty much on call all the time and have to travel a bit. But I enjoy the work so I don't mind really. It has been slow this winter (aviation) so its been easy but there will be days when I'm working more than 8 hours in my future for sure, and then some days less than 6 hours.

The amount of hours anymore is becoming less important it seems. I'm sure there is someone who could do my job in half the time I do it, and others who would take twice the amount of time. 

So like most things it seems, the upper middle class is moving away from 9-5 and benefitting while the lower middle class and below are stuck with the normal 9-5 and its rigid requirements. 

 

28 minutes ago, Gannan said:

I figured, but its a ton of money to me. Like many people, I'm a regular guy in the middle. I don't make crazy money like finance guys do, but I'm usually right above the cut off for free government giveaways. In other words, I'm "democrat rich" 

I had a job where I was working on million dollar deals and I worked just about every minute of the day. It almost killed me. I'm good where I am.  You're right to exercise regularly and take care of yourself. Personal health is so important. Especially as one hits middle age. 

If I didn't get to work out, I'd lose my mind/temper all the time. It's the best reset you can get. 

1 minute ago, vikas83 said:

If I didn't get to work out, I'd lose my mind/temper all the time. It's the best reset you can get. 

I used to do about an hour at lunch or during the middle of the day when I'd get a window 3-4 days a week.  It was gold and the rest of my day was WAY more productive because of it.

Just now, DrPhilly said:

I used to do about an hour at lunch or during the middle of the day when I'd get a window 3-4 days a week.  It was gold and the rest of my day was WAY more productive because of it.

Saturday and Sunday I can work out in the AM. Monday I go nuts and get on the bike at 5am. Then Tuesday - Thursday I try and get going by 3pm. Friday off. If I have no choice, will move a time in order to accommodate work, but I won't skip a day. 

Frankly, I end up thinking through work issues while riding. 

I go for a slog (slow jog) every day over my lunch break. Usually about 1.5 - 2.5 miles depending on the weather, my schedule, and my knees. Being able to do that every day has been the best part of working from home.