RE: Over 40/Over 50 (WAS: Work-Life Balance (WAS Re: Offered a jo b - need opinions)

[Lyn Worthen <Lyn -dot- Worthen -at- caselle -dot- com>]

Steve -

I didn't say it was a -preferred- schedule, did I?  Just that when that's
what the job demands, it can be done with a minimum of impact on the rest of
your life.

I hated having regular long hours when I was an exempt employee (usu.
upwards of 60/wk), other than for the occasional "get the product out" push.
However, I was fortunate to have plenty of flexibility built into the rest
of it.  Sure, it would have been great if the job could have been broken
into multiple positions, but that didn't happen while I was there.

Right now my FT job is on an hourly basis, so yeah, I do get OT for the
extra hours, and, like you, love that part of it.  Still doesn't mean I like
working the extra hours, but at least now I get compensated for it.  As far
as contract pay, I structure my bids to fairly compensate for the time I put
into them, and schedule them to allow time to have a life.

But I -never- said (or meant to suggest) that I -want- to work more or
regret not putting in more time at the office, in spite of the fact that I
generally enjoy my work.

L

-----Original Message-----
From: Gillespie, Stephen (Contractor)
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 12:05 PM

Lyn Worthen writes, "... - working 50 hours a week really isn't that
difficult."
She continues, "I've pulled a 50-55 hour schedule for years - you'd be
surprised how easy it really is - even with a family."

sorry, Lyn, but the LAST thing I want on my tombstone is "I wish I'd worked
more."
I'm settling in to late middle-age now (over 50), and I sure don't care
anything about working over 40 hours/week.

There's nothing wrong with 'long' hours but (IMO) only under these these 3
conditions: if an exempt (salaried) person, to meet a deadline (but only
'occasionally'); if a non-exempt ('timecard') laborer, for the overtime $$;
finally, if you are self-employed (to survive!). I assume that you're in the
third category.

After 5 years, I left a 'Job for Life' with my last employer (a Fortune 500
company), where many departments routinely require 50+ hours weekly for
salaried employees. That's exploitation. If the job routinely requires that
many hours, they need more bodies - simple as that.

I now work as a salaried employee, but we are contracted out, so our time is
strictly accountable, meaning anything over 40 must be management-approved
(before it's billable to the client). I love it!

Time to retire, some may say? - not quite, but I'm sure not ready for an
early grave!

Steve Gillespie

Sr Technical Writer
Science & Engineering Associates, Inc
Naval Personnel Command
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-3100

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