The pressures of work - Question 2 - working longer

[beenieman]

A series (just 5) of poll questions on the above.

I'm interested in our work habits etc

[Sambient]

Not at the same job as I was three years ago. Working less hours, though that's not what I had believed I was hired to do.

[Quaco]

I'm freelance, and three years ago, I wasn't working much at all. I'm in the middle of a long-term stint, so now I'm back to 40 hours a week. So, working more than three years ago.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

I did the same work for a different employer three years ago. I probably work about the same...perhaps a little more now due to the specific demands of my position.

[beenieman]

It's more. I think it goes up each year. no reason why it should but the constant drive to switch costs away from salaries to reduce costs or increase returns has gotten out of hand these days.

[trans-chigley express]

The same. I long for the day when the construction industry switches to five day working weeks instead of six but it doesn't seem likely to happen any time soon.

[...]

See reply in hours section. Recession has caused freelance work to fall off a lot this year. Was a bit worried about this to begin, but while income has fallen a lot am now really enjoying the shorter hours and weekends off.

[sloopjohnc]

After jobs being sporadic for a year and a half, I'm back to working about the same hours as I did at other jobs.

[Seymore Porn]

When we opened the shop last year, I was making myself ill by working incessantly. Now that the shop is established, I'm in for 21 hours one week and 15 the other. I still do a bit of work online at home and my son does one day a week for me. If he was unable to do that, I'd have to work another 7 1/2 hours/week.
To be honest, I'm pretty burned out. I don't know if it was the hours when I was on the dumpers, living with Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, the drugs to treat it (ha fucking ha), depression (gone now I hope) or a combination of two or more.
I now have a three piece band on the go and I find practicing/rehearsing/gigging pretty exhausting but I'm determined to keep doing it - when it's good it's better than sex.

[Ray K.]

Three years ago I was working for a small law office. The year before, when I started, I stepped into a well oiled machine. For whatever reason (I suspect some outside mismanagement) my employer cut most of the staff. That meant my work load increased, my hours increased, my pay remained the same. Was not a great year as far as I'm concerned. Now I work less (though I wouldn't mind if that increased a bit).

[Jumper k]

A little more but with more responsibility and a much higher salary comes the expectation.

[Livet]

Same hours with a bit more work (which is good).

[Corporate whore]

About the same.

[souphound]

I've had this job for 21 years now. Pretty much the same hours.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

I answered less, but then realized I've had this job for more than three years. Before that, I definitely worked more as I was actively practicing.

[Polishgirl]

Same. It's the same job as 3 yrs ago.

[beenieman]

Yes I am working more hours 9 voters 31%
My hours are about the same as three years ago 11 voters 38%
No I am working fewer hours 7 voters 24%
I wasn't working three years ago 1 voter 3%
Unsure 1 voter 3%

That's 29 voters which is 10 less than responded to Question 1.

A recent NZ poll (in the NZ Listener) had the following results:

Yes I am working more hours 31%
My hours are about the same as three years ago 44%
No I am working fewer hours 20%
I wasn't working three years ago 4%
Unsure 1%

What could it mean?

[John_K]

Certainly working longer hours at the moment. Three years ago I was in a salaried position with a city centre practice, which was struggling to hold onto us during the construction downturn.

I could leave the house at 8.30, and arrive at my desk around 9, then leave around 5.30 to be home just after 6.

Now I leave the house at 6.30, barely reaching the site in time to get my site gear on in time to meet contractors for daily updates at 8.15. I leave at 6 and arrive home at 7.30.

[copehead]

I have worked 12 hours ( or more ) a day for around 200 days a year for 17 years now

[Matty Red Sox]

My hours increased by about 30% over the past three years... shitty.