# Does anyone actually work nine to five? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609 "2005-05-12T22:13:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/21 "2005-05-13T00:13:16Z")
_raises hand_ Me. I’m a strict 9 to 5er about 98 % of the time. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/22 "2005-05-13T00:15:24Z")
Back when I started my job I worked eight-hour days. There was no reason to stay longer because I got all of my work done during that time. But my supervisors started criticizing my “bad attitude.” Sure I worked the required number of hours, but the minimum wasn’t good enough! I had to prove that I was a good employee! So I started taking on extra work. I stayed later and later each day. I wrote material for other workers’ publications. I wore the 37 pieces of gorram flair. When I started having to work weekends just to get all of this work done, I confronted my bosses. And I found out that with the bare minimum amount of work, I can expect a 2 or 3 percent raise each year. If I kill myself to do all that extra stuff, I can expect … a 3 or 4 percent raise. So I’m back to working eight hours a day. It’s just not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/23 "2005-05-13T01:24:08Z")
My dad works 8am -5:30ish pm an hour away from my parent’s house. This bothers my mother tremendously for a variety of reasons. But I think her biggest peeve is not knowing when Dad will get home. He’s under orders to call immediately before he leaves work so she knows when to expect him- and she still gets antsy if he’s not there promptly at the hour mark. My brother worked at the plant that Dad works at one summer. Brother’s hours were 7am to 7 pm or 7pm to 7am. (Two days on, two days off, three nights on, three days off,etc.) While my mom was not keen on the twelve hour thing- she loved the fact that Brother always arrived home at 8:05. If Dad worked at night- he’d go in at 7 pm. and leave at noon. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/24 "2005-05-13T02:00:47Z")
I generally don’t put in much more than an 8 hour day, unless there’s an emergency. Why? Because if I can’t get to all my patients during that time, I know where to find them the next day! They’ve generally got noplace else they’ve got to be. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/25 "2005-05-13T04:05:55Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > Nope. When work is slow, I can come and go as a I please, as long as I put in my 84 hours per pay period. Same here, except the length of our pay periods varies: there are two each month, one from the 1st through the 15th and the other from the 16th through the EOM. Heck, even when things are busy I never “have” to put in more than 8 hours. But all of that will change soon, because I’m about to start working on proposals… :eek: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/26 "2005-05-13T04:08:05Z")
I work 8 to 4 in the summers. I very rarely stay later. Gotta love summer jobs. However, during the year… well, being a student is a 24/7 job. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/27 "2005-05-13T04:11:55Z")
Now that I think about it, I am working almost exactly 9 PM to 5 AM most days. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/28 "2005-05-13T04:13:45Z")
I’m a unionized civil servant - damn right I work a forty hour week. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/29 "2005-05-13T04:57:48Z")
For four weeks straight, I get up around 4 AM, and work til around 7PM, seven days a week. Then it’s time for a four week holiday. Ah, the joys of working on an oil rig. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/30 "2005-05-13T05:02:30Z")
While I was working full-time at the bank, I put in anywhere from 7-9 hour days. But I knew whatever time I came in during the morning (which could be anywhere from 7:00-8:30), I was going to be off by 5 pm, and usually by 4. Nearly everyone full time worked about 38 hours a week–management was meticulous about us not qualifying for overtime, which was both good and bad. Assuming I get this part-time job I’m applying for, I’ll start no earlier than 9 and finish no later than 6. But I more than likely won’t work more than one 8-hour day per week, and I will always finish on time, because they have to keep me in part-time hours. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/31 "2005-05-13T05:10:24Z")
8 to 5 virtually every working day. Actually, strictly speaking, about 8:10 to 4:55 if we count the time I sit down at my desk til the time I get up to go home. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/32 "2005-05-13T05:28:15Z")
I do shiftwork, but generally I just do my 8 hours and go home. The exception to this is when I’m on call (usually 1 week a month) when I get called in at least once a night for at least an hour. Some days I’m at the hospital 20 hours out of 24, which sucks total choad. Oh well, it’s only going to get worse if I actually get through school. I need to think of a good scam and deep six this whole ‘working’ thing. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/33 "2005-05-13T05:41:24Z")
I work at home, so I’m either never at work or always at work. I’m not sure which. I log in @ ~6am most days (and weekends) and browse mail and answer queries. On weekdays, my kid wakes ~6:30-7am. We do the usual breakfast/getready, I drop him @ school around 8:30 or 9. I’m back at the workstation @ 9 or so. Meetings via phone several times a week, some lengthy. When not meeting, I’m mostly implementing software features or fixing bugs. Repeat until features done. Lunch happens somewhere in here, usually. The kid & wife come home somewhere between 3 & 6. I’ll knock off and have dinner with them. 2-4 days/week I’ll take SqueegeeJR to Tae Kwan Do at 4 or 5:30, depending. After that, around-Dinner-time tends to be a mix of work/school for SqueegeeJr. We have a reading ritual with SqueegeeJR that SO and I take turns at before bed. There’s also homework assistance that SO and I take turns at. After dinner-time, I’ll either relax. or continue implementing or fixing bugs until I get tired. Work wins 40/60 during this period, 90/10 during crunch time. On the weekends, if company is in crunch-mode, I’ll fix bugs probably 12-20 hours over Sat-Sun. If not, I do the usual weekend thang, 0-6 hours work on each Sat and Sun. Overall, I’d guess my usual workday varies from 6-14 hours every day, my usual work week from 35 to 70 hours, depending. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/34 "2005-05-13T05:46:46Z")
I depend on my wife for a ride home after she’s done working. Some late afternoons, she teaches piano. So I leave work at a different time every weekday, between 6 and 8. I come in accordingly to make a 40-hour week. Overtime is verboten, except for twice a year. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/35 "2005-05-13T06:08:28Z")
I’m lucky enough to have job where I’m only at work for as long as it takes to get the day’s task done. Also there are legal limits on how many hours I can work (if I go over them, the company gets into some serious trouble). My wife is in retail and works a steady 8:30am to 5:10pm each day. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/36 "2005-05-13T07:06:39Z")
I work from 18:00 - 06:00 (6PM to 6AM) and I never work over (84 hours a week is enough!). I work 28 days and go home for 14 days, wash, rinse, repeat. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Fortean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fortean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fortean)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/37 "2005-05-13T10:22:38Z")
Yes, 9-5 each day, only it’s flexi, so more like 9.30-5.30, plus an hour for lunch and up to 30 days hols. I’m in the UK, of course. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/38 "2005-05-13T10:31:34Z")
Flexi-time is a beautiful thing. If I work an extra hour a day (_ie._ 8.5 rather than 7.5 hours) every week, I get to take every Friday afternoon off completely. So not only do I work 9-5, I get a time _account_ which I can save or mortgage within reason. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/39 "2005-05-13T11:13:07Z")
'Nuther flex-timer here. Gotta get 40 per week. Within the limits of necessary personal interaction, company doesn’t mind how I manage it. Normally 6:00am - 2:30/3:30. Officially we work a long week - short week cycle, so everybody gets alteranate Fridays off. To the OP: yep, I’m outta here every day on time (with very rare exceptions). unclviny: Your schedule looks familiar… Oil patch (or related) right? ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609/40 "2005-05-13T11:51:11Z")
I do from 2am to 6am, 7 days a week. The six days a week I also do anywhere from an 8-10am start through to a 2-4pm finish. It sucks, and I am throwing in the night job [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-work-nine-to-five/303609.md?page=3)