I've noticed my friends have shifts that vary across the boards.

 

My friends in the medical field work afternoons to midnight, while my friends who are in construction work 7-4.  Engineers seem to prefer early shifts too.

 

My sister is a publicist and event manager in the film industry and works 10-7 shifts usually.

 

Alot of architects I know are late risers as well and like 9-6 shifts.

 

 

My company has flex time so shifts vary quite greatly.  I like the traditional 8-5 but most of my coworkers come in much later.  I still wake up at 7:30 though since I live right by my job.  I buy cereal, milk and orange juice and keep it at work and eat breakfast while I check my emails.

I'm an engineer and work 7:30 to 5.  I also own a parking lot striping business, and I do that in the evenings from about 8 to midnight, and on weekends.  So sometime, especially in the summer, I feel like I am always working. 

I work at a coffee shop 5am-2pm.  My boyfriend works at a hotel downtown from 3pm-midnight.  I now sleep in the afternoon so that we can have dinner together at 1am. 

I worked as a deckhand on a boat 6 hours on, 6 off for a month, for 8 months.  Obviously sleep depravation was a problem, since you usually only got about 4:45 of sleep during that 6 hours off 

 

But that was not my worst sleeping arrangement.  I worked two full-time jobs (in an office and delivering pizzas at night) for about two months until I was laid off from one of them.  I worked 7am-2:25am back-to-back-to-back several times, which obviously was crazy.  With just 9 or so hours of sleep over the course of 3 days, you start to go nuts. 

 

 

I work FT in an office from 7:30-4:30. Traditional hours there are 8-5, which is what most people work.

As a lawyer, 8:45-5:30 on weekdays, nights and weekends if necessary

 

As a small business owner, 7-11 a few weekend nights, all day Saturday; all evening Sunday, with considerable flexibility

I also work at an architect's office.  Unfortunately, the higher-ups are "old-school" and feel that everyone should work 8-5.  I'm lucky we don't have to wear a tie anymore.

I have fairly regular activity from 8AM-3PM. I can chill for a few hours then, 2-3 evenings a week I'm working from just a couple hours up to an all-nighter.  Every day from 10PM-5AM I get forwarded "Customer Assistance" calls after they've bounced off my boss and another person above me.  I also get forwarded outside of those hours and moved up the list for special circumstances, holidays, boss/coworker time off etc.  Usually a call will just take 5-10m of office tasks and anything else gets put at the top of the "to do" list for the next day.  However, about once a month it requires me to take immediate action pull an all-nighter.  All of these times are very fluid to accommodate the potential for odd hours.

I'm lucky we don't have to wear a tie anymore.

 

We have a pretty relaxed dress code.  But there was a group of employees who decided to do "suit Tuesdays" for fun.  Stop that b.s.  I walk, bike, or skateboard into work and would prefer the administration not get any ideas.  After they realized how it can get and expensive to dry clean they stopped

I'm lucky we don't have to wear a tie anymore.

 

We have a pretty relaxed dress code.  But there was a group of employees who decided to do "suit Tuesdays" for fun.  Stop that b.s.  I walk, bike, or skateboard into work and would prefer the administration not get any ideas.  After they realized how it can get and expensive to dry clean they stopped

 

Really?  I love wearing a tie.  Dress shirts aren't even required at my job but I choose to wear a tie every day because I love the look, and being able to choose a color to match my mood. 

Alot of architects I know are late risers as well and like 9-6 shifts.

 

I did 9-6 as an urban designer. People came in any time from 7 to 10, and left from 4 to 9.

 

I did not appreciate the "I got up before you so I'm a better worker" attitude that is pervasive in America. The people that rolled in at 7:30 were no better or worse than those who came in at 10, and were usually gone by 4:30. I often did my best work in the evening when nobody else was around.

 

I hate ties and I hate banker's hours. I'm actually really looking forward to various shifts in health care, although I will ultimately work pretty standard daytime hours.

Working in a restaurant, I generally go in either at 10 am for a lunch shift or 4 pm for a dinner shift. Work ends when the people leave.

I'm a real estate agent so I don't work  :cry:

I'm lucky we don't have to wear a tie anymore.

 

We have a pretty relaxed dress code.  But there was a group of employees who decided to do "suit Tuesdays" for fun.  Stop that b.s.  I walk, bike, or skateboard into work and would prefer the administration not get any ideas.  After they realized how it can get and expensive to dry clean they stopped

 

Really?  I love wearing a tie.  Dress shirts aren't even required at my job but I choose to wear a tie every day because I love the look, and being able to choose a color to match my mood. 

 

That's cool if you want to show off your style.  I just hate when a group of people decides to dedicate a day of the week to something stupid and then go "Derrrr you're lame for not participating..."  I like dressing up when I'm meeting a client or networking or to go out to a nice restaurant afterwords.  But other than that, it's jeans and a polo or casual button up for me.  Occasionally a T-shirt if I'm doing site visits.

 

I just feel nicer clothing can get too restrictive.  I'm worried about dripping coffee and it's a lot easier to walk or bike to work in jeans.

I'm lucky I don't have to suit up unless I'm in court; hell, I can see clients in t-shirts and jeans.

As a retiree, I'm not idle but I can choose the day's projects, hours, etc. I'm always busy working on something, whether it's remodeling, yard work, window-washing, etc.

 

In my working-for-pay life after I left the family farm (typically 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week), I worked a variety of shifts from regular daytime office hours to second- and third-shift factory and machine-shop hours. Genetically I think I'm hard-wired to be a night owl, late night to early morning. Daytime jobs were difficult because I always felt, and still feel, a strong need to sleep mid-afternoon. I never could get an employer to respect my nap time from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Second shift was difficult because I had to go to work just as my energy level was hitting bottom, and when I got off work at midnight on one small-town job, there wasn't any place open to find anything to eat or anything to do other than a couple of nasty redneck bars, one of them sometimes really dangerous. Third shift was just about perfect; I went to bed mid-afternoon just when the drowsies hit, got up and went to work just as I was getting up to speed, worked the whole shift at a high energy level, and had a few hours in the morning to take care of personal business and shopping when stores and government offices were open.

 

My last job started out suit-and-tie, but by the time I retired, things had become a little more relaxed. I don't thing the official rules had changed, but they weren't being observed or enforced rigorously. Nobody wore jeans, sneakers or t-shirts, but business casual wasn't challenged. I usually wore nice slacks, leather lace-up shoes, and a buttoned, collared shirt. I got a lot of my office clothes from LL Bean, and always paid attention to having everything neat and pressed. I kept a couple of ties in my desk drawer just in case I had to work on something in one of the executive offices. Now, I make it a point to wear at least a dress shirt and tie when attending any sort of public meeting where I expect to try to interact with city officials. I think it gets people to pay more attention and take me seriously, whereas if I show up in jeans and a polo my dissenting opinion is more likely to get dismissed as that of an old crank.

 

I'm lucky I don't have to suit up unless I'm in court; hell, I can see clients in t-shirts and jeans.

 

Considering the cost of legal services, I expect a high level of professionalism. T-shirt and jeans would cast that into doubt. If I showed up for an appointment with an attorney and found him in a t-shirt and jeans, I'd probably thank him for his time, apologize for bothering him, and leave.

^^^ There was an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm about that.

I now work around 9-5 in the office.  Work from home as needed.  Used to work 70-80 hour weeks, often 8am-10pm in the office, or at least 8-7 then remotely until 10 or 11.  Those hours take a toll after awhile.

I can't imagine having to work 70-80 hour weeks.  I have had to do it maybe a few times when work was really hectic, but it's awful.  I always wonder how it's possible to have a life outside of work since the long work week not only takes up a lot of your time, but you're completely drained even when you do find some free time.

 

Anyway, I work very flexible hours.  I would say the norm is about 9 to 6 with an hour lunch when we're not as busy, and slightly longer plus some remote work in the evenings and weekends when we are busy.  On the whole, I probably average 45-50 hours a week.

 

I dress casually all the time, which is great.  Usually jeans and a polo or casual button up or shorts and a polo, but sometimes a t-shirt.  Sandals in the summer.  I don't hate dressing up, but I wouldn't like having to do it every day.  We have no contact with clients (other than occasionally on a conference call, although we're technically not supposed to) so there's not really a reason to have to dress up.

 

I also do independent contracting on the side on my own schedule, but only about 5 hours a week on average, and usually late at night or midday on weekends.

>I did not appreciate the "I got up before you so I'm a better worker" attitude that is pervasive in America

 

The problem is that you do in many cases have to give your life to these companies to get ahead.  You can't show any signs of weakness, and putting in ridiculous hours is one way to show how intense you are.  Guys in senior management do tend to come in early, but the guys who come in earliest are often the ones in middle management who don't realize the way you get into senior management is showing how clever and ruthless you can be and being able to keep your mouth shut. 

 

 

I’ve worked in various architecture offices in NYC and Cincinnati.  I think the difference in working hours is interesting.  Most people are at work by 8:00 in Cincinnati, and leave around 5:00-6:00, myself included (unless there’s a deadline or I’m busy and stay later).  In New York, the hours were closer to 9:00 or 10:00 until 7:00 or so. 

I can't imagine having to work 70-80 hour weeks.  I have had to do it maybe a few times when work was really hectic, but it's awful.  I always wonder how it's possible to have a life outside of work since the long work week not only takes up a lot of your time, but you're completely drained even when you do find some free time.

 

The short answer is it's not possible to have a life outside of work when you work that much.  Your life is work.  It was brutal and I hope I don't ever have to be in a job that requires that much time again.  It paid off, but I'm definitely I'm glad it's behind me.

It varies.  Some months, this is an appropriate question.  Others, the better way to ask it seems to be "when don't I work".  Office hours are loosely 9-5 but I am in and out all day.  Fairly flexible.  Lots of work from home where the phone isn't ringing every 5 mins.  I'm more than a bit of a night owl.  Some of my most productive hours come after the wife and kid are asleep, between 10pm and 2am.  I am also on call pretty much 24/7 and, of course, a lot of those come in after midnight.  I also have meetings to attend after business hours on a regular basis.

 

Then..... I have a second job as a landscaper/carpenter/painter/plumber/electrician/gopher/massuese

Then..... I have a second job as a landscaper/carpenter/painter/plumber/electrician/gopher/massuese

 

 

 

Considering the cost of legal services, I expect a high level of professionalism. T-shirt and jeans would cast that into doubt. If I showed up for an appointment with an attorney and found him in a t-shirt and jeans, I'd probably thank him for his time, apologize for bothering him, and leave.

 

Well, luckily for me and the other members of the firm, our growing number of clients seem to feel comfortable with a slightly informal setting. Wearing a cheap suit doesn't mean jack to a client who is about to be deported; rather, the firm's reputation and overall talent of staff seem to do the trick.

 

You can't show any signs of weakness, and putting in ridiculous hours is one way to show how intense you are.  Guys in senior management do tend to come in early, but the guys who come in earliest are often the ones in middle management who don't realize the way you get into senior management is showing how clever and ruthless you can be and being able to keep your mouth shut. 

 

 

 

This depends, but in general no.  To be honest this is really awful advice.  I know people who have tried this and have actually gotten in trouble (not at my company).  They were doing work for free or else adding personal time to improve a project beyond what is expected.  Yes, OT is sometimes required for an important deadline, but if people are doing it just to prove themselves, it's considered a LIABILITY.  Companies will quickly squash that behavior if they find out.  Furthermore, it may be a red flag that your productivity is on the decline.  You become more tired during normal working hours, and the projects that deserve your attention may not receive the same benefits of other assignments you worked OT on. 

 

Maybe in some professions this logic applies, but in most others, it's considered anti-social and unhealthy. 

 

The people that prove themselves in the workplace are those that can:

 

Lead

Build excellent client relationships and network

Properly manage their employees

Can prove work can be completed efficiently...as in a 40 hour work week/ no OT

 

 

Depends.

 

For my day job, as a photographer and designer, it is typically 9-4:30. We do 7.5 hour days at the university. But anymore, with that position, I am at work at 7 AM on certain days to get the studio prepped, or sometimes staying to 10 PM to wait for a game to finish so I can edit it. It's almost all casual at the office, although I do wear khakis on occasion. It's not as if I do less work because I enjoy my blue jeans and polos, it's just less work for me to do in the morning, more comfortable and practical. No one wants to walk around outside going from building to building in anything more.

 

When I'm shooting pro sports teams, the schedule is dependent on when I am scheduled to shoot, and whether they are traveling or not. Or when they need someone to fill in.

"The short answer is it's not possible to have a life outside of work when you work that much.  Your life is work."

 

The funny thing is, I know quite a few people who are doing the same thing (working 60/70+ hours a week) hoping they'll eventually have a level of financial comfort - at least, I think that's the goal. Anyway, they're the same people who perpetually b!tch about "there's no one in this city to go out with". To which I respond "you work too much - when the h#ll would you have time to go on a date to even give someone a chance?".*I* am fine with the fact that they value their career more than their lovelife - I don't judge them for that, but I wish THEY would accept it, and the consequences.

I'm an office manager at an assisted living facility (they look at me as a receptionist and pay me as such :( ). Anyway, i work 8:00am - 4:30pm, with a half hour break and half hour unpaid lunch, i take both together so i can have an hour lunch. Because i don't get paid jack i also help out w/my boyfriend's family business, a golf course, where i drive the beverage cart or work behind the counter on saturdays and sundays for around 5 hours a day. If we have a golf outing my hours are much longer. Two weekends ago i worked 12 hours on Saturday and 6 on Sunday. I actually don't mind working at the course because i enjoy people and talking to the regulars. Plus it's just fun to be there most of the time. I wish the job paid better than minimum wage because i would give up my FT job to work there all the time for less.

 

When i worked in manufacturing i worked afternoons (3pm-1130pm), midnights 6pm-6am (3 days on 3 off), then 7am-330pm when i worked in engineering. When i was in my early 20s i loved afternoons because i could stay up late and sleep in, but i never got anything done. In my late 20s i liked getting to work early and leaving before Oprah came on. The only downside to getting up so early (5am) was that i fell asleep at 9 or 10 everynight watching tv. :(

Our office is pretty flexible; as long as we do our 8 hours everyday at some point between 6am and 6pm no one can say anything to you, but most managers have an unwritten rule that if you expect to get decent reviews and ever have a chance at advancing you get to work by 8. A few of my coworkers show up right at 6 every single morning thinking the early bird gets the worm, which I find to be stupid because my supervisor doesn't come in till 8. I'd rather work hard when she's here to notice than before she turns up. (Plus who wants to eat worms?) So I generally work 7:30 to 4.

... A few of my coworkers show up right at 6 every single morning thinking the early bird gets the worm, which I find to be stupid because my supervisor doesn't come in till 8. I'd rather work hard when she's here to notice than before she turns up. (Plus who wants to eat worms?) ...

 

The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese. :wink:

Though, one thing that's nice about coming in very early is there's no one there to distract you.  You do complete a lot work, but if I ever came in at 6, I'd be out the door at 3 lol.

I work in a remote office, so my hours can be pretty much whatever I decide. I have to be reachable during regular business hours, but with a laptop / blackberry, that doesn't mean in the office anymore. I'm usually in around 7 / 7:30 because I like the peace of being the only person in the office, and also because I usually leave around 5 / 5:30 so I can get home and get some time with the kids before I have to go to bed. I may work a little after they're in bed, but never more than an hour or so. Weekends are typically my own.

 

Also, I'm inclined to agree with NorthAndre, in that 'ruthlessness' might have gotten you ahead in the 80's, but today's managment is looking for effectiveness. Promotion in my profession is done based on production, and management's assessment of your  understanding of the industry, and even more importantly, your network / contacts.

My scheduled work hours are 9-5.  However I never work them.  I have early morning or late evening meetings. On top that there are many days in which I have to travel which interferes with my personal life.  Monday I had to go to LA for meetings at the last minute.

 

Alot of architects I know are late risers as well and like 9-6 shifts.

 

 

I hate ties and I hate banker's hours. I'm actually really looking forward to various shifts in health care, although I will ultimately work pretty standard daytime hours.

I love ties and dressing up for work.

 

 

Considering the cost of legal services, I expect a high level of professionalism. T-shirt and jeans would cast that into doubt. If I showed up for an appointment with an attorney and found him in a t-shirt and jeans, I'd probably thank him for his time, apologize for bothering him, and leave.

AGREED!

 

I can't imagine having to work 70-80 hour weeks.  I have had to do it maybe a few times when work was really hectic, but it's awful.  I always wonder how it's possible to have a life outside of work since the long work week not only takes up a lot of your time, but you're completely drained even when you do find some free time.

 

Anyway, I work very flexible hours.  I would say the norm is about 9 to 6 with an hour lunch when we're not as busy, and slightly longer plus some remote work in the evenings and weekends when we are busy.  On the whole, I probably average 45-50 hours a week.

 

I dress casually all the time, which is great.  Usually jeans and a polo or casual button up or shorts and a polo, but sometimes a t-shirt.  Sandals in the summer.  I don't hate dressing up, but I wouldn't like having to do it every day.  We have no contact with clients (other than occasionally on a conference call, although we're technically not supposed to) so there's not really a reason to have to dress up.

 

I also do independent contracting on the side on my own schedule, but only about 5 hours a week on average, and usually late at night or midday on weekends.

Honey I've had those weeks before.  When we have big multi platform multi nation projects like HP.  I think I'm losing my mind.  But I step up and led the troops!  Sandals?  [side eye]

 

>I did not appreciate the "I got up before you so I'm a better worker" attitude that is pervasive in America

 

The problem is that you do in many cases have to give your life to these companies to get ahead.  You can't show any signs of weakness, and putting in ridiculous hours is one way to show how intense you are.  Guys in senior management do tend to come in early, but the guys who come in earliest are often the ones in middle management who don't realize the way you get into senior management is showing how clever and ruthless you can be and being able to keep your mouth shut.

I cannot completely agree with that.  I think that it depends on the Senior Management and corporate culture.  If you treat your staff like shit, that what they will put out.

 

I'm not going to say I've never played "corporate hard ball" with other Sr. Staff members but, I have to look out for my team.  There was a person here that was angry, upset and down right against my appointment to my position.  Made it very clear that I got the job only because I'm black, and the then CEO was my mentor.  Since I was close with CEO I would be his "boy" and do whatever.  The way our department was structured at the time  he would do things to underminding my authority and I would say nothing, but I keep everything that people do.  This ass even had an employee try to "frame" others for doing things.  Luckily I've built great relationships with the talent,  Sr. Management and my staff.  When I laid out  a 7 month trap for this person, they were forced to resign and I ended up re-engineering the positions of all the people he hired.

 

The person that hired me retired and asked me to go to their new company but I love my staff and I love entertainment.  My current boss and I do not see eye-to-eye, but he knows I execute!  Although he did something i didnt like with my performance review and I retaliated with some mind fuck games.  Thats corporate America for you!

 

 

This depends, but in general no.  To be honest this is really awful advice.  I know people who have tried this and have actually gotten in trouble (not at my company).  They were doing work for free or else adding personal time to improve a project beyond what is expected.  Yes, OT is sometimes required for an important deadline, but if people are doing it just to prove themselves, it's considered a LIABILITY.  Companies will quickly squash that behavior if they find out.  Furthermore, it may be a red flag that your productivity is on the decline.  You become more tired during normal working hours, and the projects that deserve your attention may not receive the same benefits of other assignments you worked OT on. 

 

Maybe in some professions this logic applies, but in most others, it's considered anti-social and unhealthy. 

 

The people that prove themselves in the workplace are those that can:

 

Lead

Build excellent client relationships and network

Properly manage their employees

Can prove work can be completed efficiently...as in a 40 hour work week/ no OT

 

 

 

Again that depends on industry.  This is why I never have projects centralized to one office, for the most part.  I make sure that there is at least one person for each office working on a project, so that no project is ever at a standstill and that everyone up and down the line is aware of each projects status.  Granted we have issues that are regional specific, but all members of the team are versed on each project.

 

"The short answer is it's not possible to have a life outside of work when you work that much.  Your life is work."

 

The funny thing is, I know quite a few people who are doing the same thing (working 60/70+ hours a week) hoping they'll eventually have a level of financial comfort - at least, I think that's the goal. Anyway, they're the same people who perpetually b!tch about "there's no one in this city to go out with". To which I respond "you work too much - when the h#ll would you have time to go on a date to even give someone a chance?".*I* am fine with the fact that they value their career more than their lovelife - I don't judge them for that, but I wish THEY would accept it, and the consequences.

 

You and I had this conversation a few years ago.  It's at time possible to wrap yourself up in work you forget to live a social life. I was using work because i didn't want to or know how to deal with dating in this decade.

I can say here in law, the nose to the grindstone, more hours=better worker perception is still very, very alive.

I can say here in law, the nose to the grindstone, more BILLABLE hours=better worker perception is still very, very alive.

 

I corrected that for you.  LOL

>When I laid out  a 7 month trap for this person, they were forced to resign

 

Awesome.  I walked into a trap in college because I didn't believe a professor would break the rules so profoundly (specifically, he was head of my dept and my academic advisor, and he rigged it so that I would have to take one more class to graduate -- after my scholarship and eligibility for loans had expired).  I have been paranoid ever since.   

 

I work the graveyard shift, scheduled 10:30pm-7am though I'm always in at 9:30.

>When I laid out  a 7 month trap for this person, they were forced to resign

 

Awesome.  I walked into a trap in college because I didn't believe a professor would break the rules so profoundly (specifically, he was head of my dept and my academic advisor, and he rigged it so that I would have to take one more class to graduate -- after my scholarship and eligibility for loans had expired).  I have been paranoid ever since.   

 

 

Hey you gotta do what you gotta do!  As I've told others, do not shit on people on the way up the ladder because you'll have no safety net when you're ass falls off or you're pushed off the ladder!

Retail is fun (LOL).  I usually do a 9a-5:30p or a 1:30p-10p and it changes everyday.  I can't wait to get back to a (semi-) set schedule.  I loved my 7a-4:30p daily work shifts at my old job, just didn't care for the job LOL.

Software Development.

 

Generally can make my own hours (outside of meetings or client calls)

 

I prefer 6:30-3:30

 

avoid most of the traffic, figure it saves me 20 minutes a day, 10 one each end of the commute from Detroit Shoreway to Beachwood.

 

Anybody looking for .NET work or Project management (or if you know somebody)  PM me the info....we are hiring.

 

 

Local government work as a planner, 8-5 and a couple of night meetings a month.

 

ditto

When do I work? Whenever I'm near a computer, phone or smartphone, work will find me.

When do I work? Whenever I'm near a computer, phone or smartphone, work will find me.

 

This is why I refuse to use a company smartphone other than to test out our products.

Work schedule:

 

It all depends on how you define "work"

 

7:20 till 8:45  get kids up, dressed, fed, in the car, drop offs at daycare and school

9-5 I get to have fun being at a place where they pay me to do urban planning-esque duties

5-6:30 pick up kids, make dinner, calm kids down, work tirelessly to get them to eat

6:30-8  play games with kids, take them to the park, engage their minds, teach them to love

8-9:30 while wife gets kids to bed and reads them books, I empty dishwasher, do dishes, clean up table and rest of kitchen, prepare 3 lunches for the next day, get out all dishes and cereal boxes, vitamins, etc; do laundry.

9:30-10 bills, and other misc paperwork items

 

As you can tell, I consider work to be "my time" during the day.

Work schedule:

 

It all depends on how you define "work"

 

7:20 till 8:45  get kids up, dressed, fed, in the car, drop offs at daycare and school

9-5 I get to have fun being at a place where they pay me to do urban planning-esque duties

5-6:30 pick up kids, make dinner, calm kids down, work tirelessly to get them to eat

6:30-8  play games with kids, take them to the park, engage their minds, teach them to love

8-9:30 while wife gets kids to bed and reads them books, I empty dishwasher, do dishes, clean up table and rest of kitchen, prepare 3 lunches for the next day, get out all dishes and cereal boxes, vitamins, etc; do laundry.

9:30-10 bills, and other misc paperwork items

 

As you can tell, I consider work to be "my time" during the day.

 

The joys of parenthood!  LOL

When do I work? Whenever I'm near a computer, phone or smartphone, work will find me.

 

This is why I refuse to use a company smartphone other than to test out our products.

 

Mine is a personal phone, but I get reimbursed for using it for work. Even when I go overseas on vacation, work follows me.

^Too bad you didn't cover Euclid. I would call you all the time... collect.