# Poll: Working 9 to 5. Or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2004, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956 "2004-11-04T11:30:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/21 "2004-11-04T16:38:40Z")
I work 8:30-5:30 with an hour for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/22 "2004-11-04T16:47:02Z")
I’m 9 to 5:30, except I rarely leave on the dot. I also usually take work home about twice a week. I limit myself to 45 hours/week, though, since that’s all they deserve for what they pay me. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/23 "2004-11-04T17:56:23Z")
6-2:30. Well, kind of. I pretty much can get in when I want and kind of leave when I want because I also work from home besides the office and am doing school. It’s a very flexible deal and I’m very lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/24 "2004-11-04T18:15:00Z")
I’m a 9-5-er, usually, though I have a fairly lexible day, so I can work 8:30-4:30, or 10-6 or whatever when I feel like it. I am a salaried employee and we only have a 35-hour work week. So that’s a 7-hour work day, with 1 hour for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![swannguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@swannguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swannguy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/25 "2004-11-04T18:20:12Z")
In between 7:00 and 8:30am, out between 5 and 7pm…although I have had night way later than 7. Occassionally I leave at 3pm but come back at 3am due to conference calls with our european regional offices ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/26 "2004-11-04T18:22:01Z")
I’m a graduate teaching assistant, so I’m really only formally “working” (teaching) 4 hours plus 2 office hours weekly. However, I have 80 students (started with 96!!) in my 2 sections and they turn in Office projects bi-weekly, so I have to grade those and that’s probably a good 6 hours there, plus prepping and answering e-mails and things like that definitely take me up to the good 20 hrs/week I’m supposed to put in. (My boss is a TA since there’s not currently a coordinator, and he works well over 30!!!) ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/27 "2004-11-04T18:22:43Z")
I work in retail, so you’d expect I’d have strange hours, but there are two full-timer shifts in my department - 9-5:30 and 12:30-9 (half hour unpaid lunch breaks, but we have the option to take full hours if we want, and sometimes do if we’re planning on going out). I work the second shift three days a week and the morning shift two days; if I get the promotion I’m working for, I’ll probably be switched to mornings all week. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/28 "2004-11-04T18:47:14Z")
I work 7am to 5pm with an hour off (unpaid) for lunch. That’s a 9-80 schedule. I work 9 hours a day, except on alternate Fridays I work 8. The other Friday I have off (supposedly.) But I get paid hourly, so if I have to come in on my Friday off, I get time-and-a-half. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/29 "2004-11-04T19:20:38Z")
Currently I work a 4/10 swing shift, 2 p.m. - midnight ( I get paid lunches, as I am technically always on call ), Wed/Thu/Fri off. The 4/10 schedule was a one time, one year bribe from management to get me to work swing with no part of the weekend when they were desperate after fucking up royally on the scheduling ( I started this year working days, Mon-Fri, 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. ). Next year ( starting mid-January ) I am currently scheduled to work 2 p.m. - 10 p.m. with Sun/Mon off. I could probably wangle a trade with my compadre that I share swing with and trade my Sun for his Fri and talk the boss into letting me get Thu/Fri off. Haven’t decided on that yet. I will try to argue for at least a 9/80 schedule, but I doubt I will get it due to the new ( totally fucked ) relief system they have put in place. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/30 "2004-11-04T19:31:09Z")
When I go back to my real full-time job I hope to get back on the 3:30pm to 2:15am shift. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/31 "2004-11-04T20:18:04Z")
Out the door at 10, hour drive, at my desk at 11:05, leave at 7, back home 8ish. ---
**Author:** ![Miabella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Miabella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miabella)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/32 "2004-11-04T20:26:27Z")
I usually get in a bit before 8 am, and I leave around 5 pm. I hardly ever take a lunch break, I just eat something at my desk. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/33 "2004-11-04T20:37:20Z")
My day can begin anywhere between 5:30 and 10:30. Lately, I’ve been coming in around 9 and staying until 5:30 plus an hour of overtime, minus an hour for lunch and one 15-minute break. We’re supposed to get two breaks but I’m not taking both. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/34 "2004-11-04T21:34:29Z")
Oh man, **Dolores** , I had a 9/80 schedule for three years, and I absolutely loved it. It was great having every other Friday off. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/35 "2004-11-04T21:40:00Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > So, are those of you who are true 9-5ers not really working a full 40 hour work week? Or are you getting paid lunches? Paid lunch? what? And an hour?! Wow, that’s even more surprising than people working 9 to 5. I work 7.75 hours (plus **have** to take a 1/2 hour unpaid lunch, which can’t be extended or skipped - bringing my time _there_ up to 8.25+ hours.) and get 2 paid 15 minute breaks. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/36 "2004-11-05T02:00:54Z")
I work from about 8 am to 4:30 pm, with occasional night work (about an hour once every week). It’s a little odd; since I don’t really get breaks and lunch is always a working lunch. Plus there’s prep time. On the other hand, I get lots of vacation time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/37 "2004-11-05T02:24:16Z")
Most days I work from about 8:15 until about 6:00 ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/38 "2004-11-05T02:42:40Z")
8-5, somewhat flexible (e.g. 9-6). Thank God I’m not on salary anymore. My days never ended then. Used to go in weekends and nights just so I could work without interruption. Good-bye to all that – and good riddance! ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/39 "2004-11-05T04:42:18Z")
My hours change semester to semester because I teach college classes. I also do intermittent reading for placement tests when needed. Right now, I leave after 7am just to have some time to chat before I teach my 8am class, which ends around 9:15. That’s on MW only. On Wed. I also teach a 1-4pm, and on Fridays I teach from 2-5. Placement test readings are usually three hours a pop, but the days keep changing. Next semester will be similar except that I will have two Friday classes instead of one. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956/40 "2004-11-05T04:53:03Z")
10:45 a.m. to 5-6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. I need one of those 9-5, Monday-Friday, jobs so I can sleep like a normal person and get normal weekends. _fondly recalls high school when “normal” was the last thing she wanted to be_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-working-9-to-5-or-not/272956.md?page=3)