# Workin' 9 to 5...or 8 to 4? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043 "2010-04-22T23:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/81 "2010-04-23T19:56:47Z")
I voted 9-5, but I work 9-5:30. I took on a job responsibility that requires me to be here later because this particular responsibility is normally handled by our east coast office. So I’m here for when that department is already closed for the day. I really, REALLY miss the 8-4 timeslot I used to have. I’m a morning person. I’m typically in the office by 7:30 anyway. And I loved getting out and having my afternoon and evening ahead of me. Of course, when I worked 8-4, I used to get home at 5:30 because of my commute. Now I live a mile from work and get home at 5:45. So it’s not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/82 "2010-04-23T19:58:18Z")
Vaguely morningish to vaguely late afternoonish. And I’m a paragon of predictability compared to some of my co-workers. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/83 "2010-04-23T20:06:11Z")
8:30 - 4:30. We get 4 hrs of time off during the week for lunch/errands, so it works out to about .8 of an hour a day for lunch. We all take an hour and no one counts. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/84 "2010-04-23T20:07:11Z")
I should also specify that when under deadline or when shit hits the fan the schedule goes right out the window and I can work 14-16 hr days. ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/85 "2010-04-23T21:37:07Z")
6pm to 6am fri-sun, and every other thursday, with 1 hour of paid breaks taken whenever you feel like/get a chance. We have 4 shifts to keep the factory up and running 24/7. Love the shift though. Keeps me out of bars, hence out of trouble, no suits around with special projects or special orders, and a sizeable extra chunk of pay for being on the crap shift. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/86 "2010-04-23T22:06:15Z")
We’re a 24-hour office and few people work normal hours. I’m currently 11:30am-noon to some point a minimum of 8 hours later. I _could_ come in earlier, but the nature of my job skews the workload later in the day, and coming in earlier never means leaving earlier, so there’s no point. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/87 "2010-04-23T22:47:17Z")
Another 8 - 5 guy here. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/88 "2010-04-24T02:14:01Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I voted 9-5, but I work 9-5:30. I took on a job responsibility that requires me to be here later because this particular responsibility is normally handled by our east coast office. So I’m here for when that department is already closed for the day. And I think this is a point that needs to be made. For a lot of Dopers in the Midwest, 8-5 is the standard because their workplaces sync up with their companies’ operations in the East. My sister, who lives in California hated her job as a stockbroker because her clients expected her to be available when the NYSE opened; they expected her to be available when their business day started; expected her to be available at Noon (Pacific time); when the NYSE closed in the afternoon; and, of course, at the close of business (again Pacific time.) ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/89 "2010-04-24T03:21:53Z")
My normal hours at work are 7:30 to 3:30. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/90 "2010-04-24T03:28:42Z")
I have 3 part-time jobs, all of which pay me to do nothing at all if there’s nothing to do. At the moment, my schedule: Mon: 1 hour at my convenience Tues: ditto Wed: 1pm-8pm Thurs: 7am-12 at one job, 1pm-6pm at another Fri: 9am-6pm Sat: 4pm-2am Sun: 12-4pm or 9 pm, depending ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/91 "2010-04-24T03:33:02Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > A poll to see which set of hours is more common. If neither, feel free to explain in a post. 8-6. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/92 "2010-04-24T03:40:08Z")
Variable. In my classification, day shift is either 7-3 ( the great majority ) or 6-2 ( my small work unit ). This is 24 hr ops, paid lunch, so straight 8’s. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/93 "2010-04-24T04:54:27Z")
8:00 to 4:30, because I have a mandatory unpaid _one hour_ lunch, but at the same time, my work days are only 7.5 hours long. And it even works out so that I get overtime for anything over 37.5 hours in a week. Edit: Oh, and I also work 5-10PM on Fridays and 4-10 PM on Saturdays for my second job…so yeah, my Fridays are long…☹ ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/94 "2010-04-24T05:35:25Z")
I’m thanking the powers that be that I’m not forced to be in the office at some ridiculously early time like 6am or 7am or 8am. Seriously, if I had to work starting at those hours, I’d be fired. I’m technically 9 to 6, but as often as not it seems to be 10 to 7. I’d go even later, but my boss wouldn’t tolerate it. _Stupid morning person-geared society_ ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/95 "2010-04-24T10:59:59Z")
My dad works from 6 to 4 (with 2 hours total off-the-clock breaks). Mom works from 7:30 to 3:30, and Sis works from 8 to 3. I as I have mentioned before, am housebound. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/96 "2010-04-24T14:34:52Z")
7:00 am - 7:30 pm. But it’s only 3 days a week. Works for me. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/97 "2010-04-24T15:07:51Z")
Neither. Standard “office hours” around here are 8 to 5. We don’t get paid for the lunch hour. I personally work a 9-80 schedule. In two weeks, I work 80 hours. One week is 36 hours (9 hour days M-Thursday, with Friday off - and one week of 44 hours, working 9 hour days M-Thu and 8 hours on Friday.) It’s very nice to have every other Friday off for Dr appts, servicing your car - crap like that. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/98 "2010-04-24T15:16:14Z")
Forgot to say I work flex hours 6:30 to 4:30, with an hour of unpaid lunch. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/99 "2010-04-24T16:16:04Z")
I’m a state employee. We’re required to work 8 to 5 with an hour lunch. We’re on annual contract salaries. I guess lunch isn’t part of the pay. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043/100 "2010-04-25T03:15:22Z")
6:45am-7:15pm. If I’ve had a light day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workin-9-to-5-or-8-to-4/537043.md?page=6)