# You must change your work hours. Earlier or later by one hour. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 31, 2007, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228 "2007-01-31T04:04:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/21 "2007-01-31T12:57:46Z")
I am not a morning person. At all. I wander aorund in a daze until my second cup of coffee. However, I’d still take the hour earlier. It would make my leisurely evenings feel so much longer! ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/22 "2007-01-31T13:44:47Z")
I’m so much more a morning person. I would LOVE to work 7:30 to 3:30 - 7:00 - 3:00 would be even better! This would all hinge on my husband’s hours remaining the same so he could get the kid off to school. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/23 "2007-01-31T14:01:34Z")
Pre-kid, I’d have said an hour later. But since he tends to get up around 6:30 anyway, I’d rather go in and work 7:30 - 4, and have an extra hour with him at night. I’ve become a very unreluctant morning person. E. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/24 "2007-01-31T15:28:56Z")
Neither one would upset me any. We just changed our school schedule from a 7:30am start to an 8am start, but I still get up at 5:30 and am at work by 6:30. An even later start would just mean that debate practice gets over at 4:30 rather than 4. Not much of a change for me either way. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/25 "2007-01-31T15:38:20Z")
I work 8-5. My favorite hours EVAR were when I worked 7-3:30. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/26 "2007-01-31T16:37:19Z")
Earlier, I suppose. My son is out the door to middle school just after 6:30 so there’s no reason I couldn’t get dressed and go straight to work after that. Though I am so NOT a morning person. If it weren’t for that enforced early-get-up, I’d probably vote for later. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/27 "2007-01-31T17:25:40Z")
I made the earlier-hour switch about a year ago. I typically work 6:30 to 3:30 though I have some flexibility; as long as I’m here by 7-ish, and get everything done, I’m not pinned to the clock. I _love_ having the late afternoon available. I can cook more elaborately for dinner and have it on the table by 6pm instead of 9pm; I can see an early movie; I beat the worst of the freeway traffic, coming and going. And I’m not a morning person, either. Left to my own devices, with absolutely no obligations, my natural tendency is to go to bed at 4am and wake up at noon. :eek: But it took about a week to adjust to this enforced schedule, and I’m having no problems. Cup of hot tea at my desk when I arrive, and I’m fine. I’d never go back to a later shift. (I used to do 10am to 6:30.) I’d feel like I was losing several hours out of the day. ---
**Author:** ![TwoOnSunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@TwoOnSunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoOnSunday)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/28 "2007-01-31T17:30:20Z")
I had to ask permission to change my schedule recently to allow me to take three classes this semester instead of two. I was hoping to tack the extra hours on to the end of my day, but the boss said to do them in the morning. The good news is that I get that extra half hour to wake up before anyone starts harassing me. It’s been an easier adjustment than I thought it would be and I am not a morning person at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/29 "2007-01-31T17:39:03Z")
Hour earlier, if for no other reason the traffic would be a magnitude better between 6 and 8. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/30 "2007-01-31T17:49:38Z")
I got a chance to do this. I decided I did much better if I worked 10-6 instead of 9-5. Works so well I don’t even need an alarm clock! ---
**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:** [January 31, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/31 "2007-01-31T17:51:53Z")
Definitely earlier – I currently work the 11-7 shift, so I don’t need _more_ time in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/32 "2007-01-31T17:59:33Z")
I’m already in the ‘later’ category. I start my workday around 10 and finish up around 9 pm. I fit a lot of other things in there too, such as errands and meals. Since I’m self employed I have a tremendous amount of flexibility. This _is_ my dream job. OTOH, back in the day when my kids were small, I think the ‘earlier’ would have been better, because I could have spent more time with them in the evenings. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/33 "2007-01-31T18:02:27Z")
Earlier, probably. While I’m not a morning person, the difference between getting to work at 9 and getting there at 8 is negligible. Both make me suffer, and I don’t wake up fully until early afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/34 "2007-01-31T18:42:13Z")
I’d work from 11 to 10, no question. I’d have more time for errands in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/35 "2007-01-31T18:58:04Z")
Later. Also not a morning person. Though the best job I’ve ever had (from a satisfaction standpoint, not on a $$$ standpoint) was scheduled 7:30-4 so that I could avoid most of the traffic along 128 (drove down to Waltham from Southern NH {ugh}) ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/36 "2007-01-31T19:06:11Z")
I arrive at my desk a little before 6:00am PST, I have on occasion come in an hour later, there’s no way I’ll do that commute every day! Put me down for earlier. Also, I support our US service team so an hour earlier means the east coast can call me at 9:00am, an hour earlier would make them very happy ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/37 "2007-01-31T19:27:07Z")
I would _love_ to come to work earlier and leave earlier, but a law firm’s rush hour is typically at about 4:30 to 5:30 in the evening, so it’s just not possible. Besides, people tend to give much more credit to you if you work later rather than come in earlier. It’s stupid, I know, but that’s just the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/38 "2007-01-31T19:31:27Z")
Earlier!! I am done for the day in about 1/2 and hour as a matter of fact. I start when my building opens. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/39 "2007-01-31T19:55:23Z")
I say later, but it’s because I **am** a morning person. I would much rather go running in the morning than have to push it to after work. When we ‘Spring forward’, my life is better, because I have more time in the mornings to run safely. I have to finish my runs by 6:30am in order for my husband and I to both shower and get the kids ready, and that’s not really possible right now. Sunrise is just too darn late. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228/40 "2007-01-31T23:13:45Z")
I already come in one hour earlier than I’m obliged too, so formalizing it would not be a big deal at all (and the opportunity of getting out one hour earlier as well is great, since it doesn’t happen now). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-change-your-work-hours-earlier-or-later-by-one-hour/390228.md?page=3)