The ideal work week
-
My current work schedule is ideal for me. I work eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day which gives me every other Friday off.
Gary Kirkham Forever Forgiven and Alive in the Spirit He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
I just left a job with that same schedule. While the 3 day weekends were nice, I realized that the only thing about the job that I enjoyed was the time off. I'm working a regulare 8 hour day every day now (with 1/2 hour for lunch) and you wouldn't believe how short the days are! :cool:
Sunrise Wallpaper Project | The StartPage Randomizer | A Random Web Page
-
I just left a job with that same schedule. While the 3 day weekends were nice, I realized that the only thing about the job that I enjoyed was the time off. I'm working a regulare 8 hour day every day now (with 1/2 hour for lunch) and you wouldn't believe how short the days are! :cool:
Sunrise Wallpaper Project | The StartPage Randomizer | A Random Web Page
The only time it is a pain is when someone schedules a meeting on my off Friday. It doesn't happen that often, so it's OK...that's what comp time is for.
Gary Kirkham Forever Forgiven and Alive in the Spirit He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
-
My current employer is very flexible--as long as you work a 1/2 day you do not need to take vacation time. So I can take the afternoon off (I'll be leaving today at 3pm) to go to the doctor and it's no big deal. My boss leaves early to go golfing. As long as the work gets done no one really cares. That is a HUGE difference from my last job because even though I was salaried people had a fit if you weren't in your chair at 8am to 5pm. So if I want a 'long weekend' I can leave early on Friday. We don't really take vacations so having big chunks of time off is not a big deal to us. I am saving my vacation time to go back to Australia next April.
_________________________________________ You can't fix stupid, but you can medicate crazy.
I'm somewhere in between. I have to put 40hrs in per week, but my employer is relatively flexible about when. Core hours are 9-4, so morning people can do 7 to 4 if they want, and parents with young kids can come in at 9 after they've caught the bus in the morning. The core hours aren't entirely rigid either, you can take off an occasional half day and if you make up the hours before the week's out you don't need to use any vacation. Taking time off is officially subject to manager approval but I've never been told no. My boss's even offered to move the target ship date forward the one time I expressed a desire to take the drop dead ship date off if we can get everything done before then. edit: the 40hrs mandatory is govt accounting rules and effectively dictated from above as a result.
-- CleaKO The sad part about this instance is that none of the users ever said anything [about the problem]. Pete O`Hanlon Doesn't that just tell you everything you need to know about users?
-
I also have issues with the 24 hours a day. Ideally for me: Sleep for 8-10 hours. 2-3 hours for my time getting ready. 10-15 hours of steady work with a 2 hour lunch in the middle. 5-7 hours of my time. Which becomes a 27-37 hour day. Then I'd like to do that for 4 days, with 3 days off (also with the 27-37 hour days). The day is just too short. When I've got the juices flowing I want to stay coding. That takes me up to around 2 - 3 am alot of times, but then I'm rushed to get into the office the next morning, which kills the day due to being too tired. The day is just not long enough. Now to fit it into 24 hours. Its more like: Sleep 5-7 hours, 1 hour shower, fly into work driving through for coffee. Work 6-15 hours depending on load and the juices flowing. Eat wind down, and sleep. 5 days of that, and 2 days of recovery, I end up feeling like I don't have a weekend. So, ideally I'd work 4 grueling days, one and a half to recover, and one and a half to feel like I have a life. The 9-5 is just too artificial. Sometimes my best work is done at 2 am. Too bad we made life about productivity instead of productivity about life.
This statement was never false.
Chris-Kaiser wrote:
Ideally for me: Sleep for 8-10 hours. 2-3 hours for my time getting ready. 10-15 hours of steady work with a 2 hour lunch in the middle. 5-7 hours of my time. Which becomes a 27-37 hour day. Then I'd like to do that for 4 days, with 3 days off (also with the 27-37 hour days).
I really like this idea... I've just put in a request for 32 hour days. It's also a power of two, so makes computer representation easier too. I've also put in for 32day months and I can't decide if I want to live with 384 days in a year or up it to 512 days with 16 months total.... I am not sure I could handle 4 months of summer... though 4 months of winter would be nice, though Leckey would likely shoot me. But then, it isn't likely to go through the request system here anyhow.... The Vendor who would have to handle the request is not registered in the official vendor database....
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Rather than a fixed schedule, I prefer an environment that is flexible to real world needs, like visiting the bank, watching the school play, dealing with a sick pet, etc. Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith -
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
2 days free??? What? Where? How do I sign up for this? Are you just making this up to mess with my head?
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
-
Chris-Kaiser wrote:
Ideally for me: Sleep for 8-10 hours. 2-3 hours for my time getting ready. 10-15 hours of steady work with a 2 hour lunch in the middle. 5-7 hours of my time. Which becomes a 27-37 hour day. Then I'd like to do that for 4 days, with 3 days off (also with the 27-37 hour days).
I really like this idea... I've just put in a request for 32 hour days. It's also a power of two, so makes computer representation easier too. I've also put in for 32day months and I can't decide if I want to live with 384 days in a year or up it to 512 days with 16 months total.... I am not sure I could handle 4 months of summer... though 4 months of winter would be nice, though Leckey would likely shoot me. But then, it isn't likely to go through the request system here anyhow.... The Vendor who would have to handle the request is not registered in the official vendor database....
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
:laugh: hahaha :laugh: Oh if we could request such things, and have them be personal implementations. Systems like the Matrix might not be a bad idea if it was configurable.
This statement was never false.
-
:laugh: hahaha :laugh: Oh if we could request such things, and have them be personal implementations. Systems like the Matrix might not be a bad idea if it was configurable.
This statement was never false.
Chris-Kaiser wrote:
Oh if we could request such things
From Wizardry Compiled[^] (one of two fantasy novels about what happens when you put programmers in a world of magic)
"How fast do you need it?" "We need it today," Bal-Simba said. "But the need will be critical in a moon or less." "We'll try," he said finally. "We'll try like hell, but there's no way we can have a working project in that amount of time." "I understand," Bal-Simba said heavily. "Be assured that if it comes to open war we will return you and the others to your World before matters come to a head." "Thanks," Jerry said uncomfortably. "Lord, you do understand that we're working as fast as we can? There's just not much more we can do." "I do understand that and I thank you for your efforts. Meanwhile, is there anything we can do to make your job easier?" Jerry made a wry face. "I don't suppose you could come up with a forty-eight-hour day, could you?" "Would that help?" Bal-Simba asked. Jerry froze. "You mean you can come up with a forty-eight-hour day?" "No," the huge wizard said sadly. "Only a spell makes a night stretch to twice its normal length. The great wizard Oblius created it for his wedding night. It did not help him for he discovered that his reach exceeded his grasp—so to speak." He shrugged. "I do not think it would aid us for you to sleep twice as long. "Or would it?" he asked as he caught the look on Jerry's face. "Do you mean," Jerry said carefully, "that you have a spell that makes time pass half as fast?" "We do," Bal-Simba said, "but it does not mean that time actually slows down. The people inside think so, but to outsiders they seem to speed up. Besides, it only works from sunset to sunrise." Jerry whooped and pounded Bal-Simba on the back. "Fire up that spell! We just may be able to beat this sucker yet." **"People do not work at night," Bal-Simba protested. "You're not dealing with people," Jerry told him. "These are programmers, boy. Programmers!"**_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
My current employer is very flexible--as long as you work a 1/2 day you do not need to take vacation time. So I can take the afternoon off (I'll be leaving today at 3pm) to go to the doctor and it's no big deal. My boss leaves early to go golfing. As long as the work gets done no one really cares. That is a HUGE difference from my last job because even though I was salaried people had a fit if you weren't in your chair at 8am to 5pm. So if I want a 'long weekend' I can leave early on Friday. We don't really take vacations so having big chunks of time off is not a big deal to us. I am saving my vacation time to go back to Australia next April.
_________________________________________ You can't fix stupid, but you can medicate crazy.
leckey wrote:
I am saving my vacation time to go back to Australia next April.
Make sure to look me up when you get to Sydney.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
-
leckey wrote:
I am saving my vacation time to go back to Australia next April.
Make sure to look me up when you get to Sydney.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
I haven't seen much of Sydney but I thought about doing a day there. I'm also thinking about trying to meet as many CPians as possible. I figure seeing you, Josh, Christian and whoever else while I'm there. Might be a few years till I get there next.
_________________________________________ You can't fix stupid, but you can medicate crazy.
-
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
I've been working from home for many years now and I don't have any structure imposed unless it's by my own self. I don't think in terms of days or weeks any more, just seasons. We've tailored our release schedules so that Fall and Winter are the busiest tapering off in spring to just the normal day to day support and maint stuff over the summer. In the winter I probably work 7 days a week average 12 hours a day. In the summer maybe one day a week or even less if the weather is particularly nice. When I used to swing an axe and run a chainsaw all day cutting cedar shake blocks we'd work in remote places and have 10 days on 4 days off. That was quite nice but led to binge spending during those 4 days of civilization before you headed back to the trailers out in the middle of no where or worse yet tents on memorable time.
-
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
When doing civil serevice, I had the pleasure to experiment - because I had to work every other weekend*. Most people there preferred 10-4 - 10 days work, then taking thursday and friday off. I found 7-2-3-2, taking off two days after the weekend the best, because the three-day-week flies by like a whiff! *) what a weird wording. If it were "every other" weekend, I'd never have to work this weekend, right?
Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Velopers, Develprs, Developers!
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
Linkify!|Fold With Us! -
Rather than a fixed schedule, I prefer an environment that is flexible to real world needs, like visiting the bank, watching the school play, dealing with a sick pet, etc. Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh SmithWithout a doubt. There's nothing worse than being constrained by unnecessarily corporate inflexibility.
Anna :rose: Linting the day away :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"
-
I haven't seen much of Sydney but I thought about doing a day there. I'm also thinking about trying to meet as many CPians as possible. I figure seeing you, Josh, Christian and whoever else while I'm there. Might be a few years till I get there next.
_________________________________________ You can't fix stupid, but you can medicate crazy.
leckey wrote:
I haven't seen much of Sydney but I thought about doing a day there.
One day won't allow you to see much. I'm not actually right in Sydney, few people are, it's the CBD, I'm about 40km away in the suburbs while Josh is probably half way between me and the city. You could probably organise to see both of us at the same time. Graus is in Tassie, take you a good whoile to get down and see him.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
-
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
-
Rather than a fixed schedule, I prefer an environment that is flexible to real world needs, like visiting the bank, watching the school play, dealing with a sick pet, etc. Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh SmithFinally, someone that thinks like me!!! :jig: If an assignment ends in June or July, I'll forgo finding a new job until mid-August. My kids (in grammar school) love having me home for the summer. I believe that family is way more important than work....that's why I'll never be financially successful, but I hope that I will be a successful father.
-
Without a doubt. There's nothing worse than being constrained by unnecessarily corporate inflexibility.
Anna :rose: Linting the day away :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"
-
Finally, someone that thinks like me!!! :jig: If an assignment ends in June or July, I'll forgo finding a new job until mid-August. My kids (in grammar school) love having me home for the summer. I believe that family is way more important than work....that's why I'll never be financially successful, but I hope that I will be a successful father.
ednrgc wrote:
that's why I'll never be financially successful, but I hope that I will be a successful father.
Thank you for saying that. At this point in my life, I needed to hear that. :) Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith -
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Once had a factory job where it was: 7 on - 2 off, 7 on - 2 off, 7 on - 4 off. And if the person on the next shift didn't show up, you worked 4 hours of their shift. It nearly killed me - and I was only 20. Even worse, each 7-day stint we changed shifts (8-4, 12-8, 4-12). Now, I would prefer 4 10-hour days and then 3 off, even if it's just for Spring and Summer. Schlempff
-
Do you like the "standard" work week of 5 days work, 2 days free? I would prefer 7 days work, 4 days free. Obviously it would be ideal to have 0 days work, and every day free...but that's not going to happen until I win the lotto. What would you prefer?
:josh: My WPF Blog[^] Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
I'd still go for the four day work week. I'm not quite sure how we'd work that out though. Normally it goes from 8 hours/day to 10 hours/day. But in my environment we only work 37.5 hours a week. That doesn't divide by 4 very nicely. The main problem I face is that I have end users that work even into the weekends (educational organization) and I have an email system that I'm responsible for. So even when I'm not working I'm still on the job since I'm the only one handling the system. Lilith