Standard 40-hour work week?

Mark White2 said:In any real job, you’re bound to occasionally find yourself pulling crazy overtime and just grinding way too hard. It’s impossible to account for every little variable ahead of time and perfectly balance your workload across months, weeks, days, or even hours... But I guess that also means there are times when things slow down and we work less. Honestly, the people who are always stuck working excessive overtime are usually just making that choice themselves because they don't really know how to set boundaries. I get that the economy is rough right now and switching jobs is a massive headache, but it’s not like it's impossible. Plus, I feel like you've gotta keep investing in yourself constantly just to stay relevant—you know, picking up new skills, technical stuff, better ways to communicate and all that...

On another note, kids today aren't acting like spoiled brats just because their parents are busy working, but more because whenever they actually have free time, they aren't really spending it *with* them in a meaningful way. They just take them to the local mall, let them rot in front of a PC or a PlayStation all day, or keep them glued to the TV, basically treating wants like needs without ever setting any ground rules. There’s just no real communication, no talking through problems, and definitely no discipline or actual parenting happening. Kids have never raised themselves, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

So why are kids constantly glued to their screens or the TV?
1. Because parents are basically working themselves to death just to pay the bills.
2. Because it’s the cheapest way to keep them busy—like, joining a Little League team or paying for gymnastics is ten times more expensive than back in the day.
3. Because we live in a consumerist hellscape.

Every kid is their own person, really, and they mostly just raise themselves anyway.
If I had actually listened to everything my parents told me, or if I had just copied everything they did—good or bad—I probably wouldn't be sitting here rambling on some internet forum right now.

And that whole idea about an eight-hour workday? It’s basically a myth at this point.
The global pace of work is just insane; everything is treated like it's life-or-death and needs to happen right this second.

Does anyone else feel like they've hit a wall, physically and mentally, regardless of how many hours they actually clock? Like you've crushed a mountain of tasks—important or totally useless—and you're convinced today was the absolute peak of exhaustion.
And then tomorrow, it’s just more of the same grind, more urgency, more chaos, and you're stuck in that exact same loop again.

🙂

I'm totally on board with points 2. and 3., though I don't really buy the whole excuse that people just don't have any free time, because I mean, you see folks finding plenty of hours to hang out at the mall, catch a game, obsess over celebrity gossip, scroll through Facebook, text constantly, hit the betting shops, or just spend way too much time polishing their cars. I guess if they actually spent that time meaningfully with their kids, maybe there wouldn't be so many issues in the first place.

It’s not like people are working harder today just to make ends meet; I mean, history has always been pretty much like this. Coal miners weren't exactly heading home whistling a tune, fishermen never really had those neat 8-hour shifts, sailors would go months without seeing their families—and they didn't even have cell phones or the internet to stay in touch—and construction workers or dockworkers used to absolutely wreck their backs because we didn't have cranes back then... Honestly, before all this tech was implemented, I think every single job was way tougher and more dangerous than what we deal with now.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd be happiest if everyone just had more downtime. I don't work Saturdays or Sundays myself, and I guess I'd love it if everyone else could do the same. Sure, emergency services have to stay on call, but I really don't think coffee shops, retail stores, and stuff like that are strictly necessary.

Dennis Myers6 said:So why are kids constantly glued to their screens or the TV?
1. Because parents are basically working themselves to death just to pay the bills.
2. Because it’s the cheapest way to keep them busy—like, joining a Little League team or paying for gymnastics is ten times more expensive than back in the day.
3. Because we live in a consumerist hellscape.

Every kid is their own person, really, and they mostly just raise themselves anyway.
If I had actually listened to everything my parents told me, or if I had just copied everything they did—good or bad—I probably wouldn't be sitting here rambling on some internet forum right now.

And that whole idea about an eight-hour workday? It’s basically a myth at this point.
The global pace of work is just insane; everything is treated like it's life-or-death and needs to happen right this second.

Does anyone else feel like they've hit a wall, physically and mentally, regardless of how many hours they actually clock? Like you've crushed a mountain of tasks—important or totally useless—and you're convinced today was the absolute peak of exhaustion.
And then tomorrow, it’s just more of the same grind, more urgency, more chaos, and you're stuck in that exact same loop again.

🙂

In my view, the issue isn't lack of time or money, but rather a lack of willpower and energy from the adults.
It’s simply easier to dump a kid in front of a screen and let them entertain themselves instead of actually engaging with them.

Another factor: you can't just run out and play in the neighborhood like you could twenty or thirty years ago. Back then, our parents mostly left us to our own devices; we spent way more time outdoors than inside.

And interestingly, nobody complained about kids being loud back then. Reading through various housing forums lately, people act like it's a total nightmare when children play near their windows—when apparently we were a "nightmare" to the entire neighborhood. 🤣

Richard Lewis16 said:Taylor Sanchez10, look, if you’re so unhappy with how things are run here, you’re more than welcome to pack your bags and head over there...

But honestly, if they ever brought that kind of absolute nonsense over here—you know, those ridiculous bans on working extra hours or forcing everyone into this rigid, one-size-fits-all labor structure—then yeah, I’d probably be right there with you, moving out...
It’s just plain idiotic to tell someone who actually wants to put in the hours and earn a living that they aren't allowed to...

Hey, Senator Schumer, was that your bright idea?
I mean, that absurd notion that a doctor shouldn't be allowed to run a private practice on the side?
As if they actually want to spend their entire life stuck in a hospital ward, and instead of heading home to see their family, they’re choosing to go straight to a private clinic to pick up more shifts...😳

Thanks for the advice, but since street fighting isn't exactly trending globally right now, I doubt he's heading our way.
Sooner or later, we'll end up adopting those same standards.

Now you're bringing up side issues that aren't even part of the main topic, which is a whole other story, but it doesn't matter because the point remains the same.
It all boils down to this: either the productivity quotas are set too low, or the job was done poorly enough that someone needs overtime just to make a decent living.

Since you brought doctors into this, there really shouldn't be any distinction between public and private sectors; everyone should be free to decide where they want to work.
Clearly, if someone can go straight from a hospital shift to a second shift at a private clinic, then either the public sector workload requirements are insufficient or the quality of work is lacking.
A person should be allowed to own a private clinic and work there, provided it doesn't conflict with their primary role.
Not everyone has the same opportunities to earn money, so we really shouldn't treat everyone as if they're in the exact same boat.

Mark White2 said:In any real job, you’re bound to occasionally find yourself pulling crazy overtime and just grinding way too hard. It’s impossible to account for every little variable ahead of time and perfectly balance your workload across months, weeks, days, or even hours... But I guess that also means there are times when things slow down and we work less. Honestly, the people who are always stuck working excessive overtime are usually just making that choice themselves because they don't really know how to set boundaries. I get that the economy is rough right now and switching jobs is a massive headache, but it’s not like it's impossible. Plus, I feel like you've gotta keep investing in yourself constantly just to stay relevant—you know, picking up new skills, technical stuff, better ways to communicate and all that...

On another note, kids today aren't acting like spoiled brats just because their parents are busy working, but more because whenever they actually have free time, they aren't really spending it *with* them in a meaningful way. They just take them to the local mall, let them rot in front of a PC or a PlayStation all day, or keep them glued to the TV, basically treating wants like needs without ever setting any ground rules. There’s just no real communication, no talking through problems, and definitely no discipline or actual parenting happening. Kids have never raised themselves, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

it's not a case of "sometimes" happening or working overtime by accident.
many people actually want the overtime because more hours mean more money.
the only question is whether it’s worth grinding for a few extra bucks.
most people don't have the luxury of choice; they have to work just to survive.
if you don't want the shifts, someone else will.

kids will be kids, and if the parents aren't great, how can the kids be better?
the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
parenting and school matter, but society has a massive influence on children.
they are essentially just a reflection of the environment they are in.
they see so much on TV and the internet now, bombarded with information, and nobody is immune to that.

Rachel Reed2 said:In my view, the issue isn't lack of time or money, but rather a lack of willpower and energy from the adults.
It’s simply easier to dump a kid in front of a screen and let them entertain themselves instead of actually engaging with them.

Another factor: you can't just run out and play in the neighborhood like you could twenty or thirty years ago. Back then, our parents mostly left us to our own devices; we spent way more time outdoors than inside.

And interestingly, nobody complained about kids being loud back then. Reading through various housing forums lately, people act like it's a total nightmare when children play near their windows—when apparently we were a "nightmare" to the entire neighborhood. 🤣

That's true, times have changed, and the environment isn't what it was two decades ago when you could just hang out in a field, in front of an apartment building, or even in a hallway.
Kids have basically vanished from the streets; they don't really socialize unless they're forced to at daycare or school.

People definitely complained about kids playing, sure, but at worst, they'd just spray us with a garden hose.
The adults back then were a lot more tolerant because their own kids were likely making noise or causing a mess somewhere too, so there wasn't as much sensitivity.
Plus, people didn't stay cooped up inside as much, there weren't nearly as many retirees, and there were plenty of kids.
Nowadays, it feels like there are more dogs out than actual children.

driftingcanyon16 said:I'm definitely on board too, though the culture has shifted so much lately. It's become this weird "norm" where if you aren't pulling ten-hour days or more, people label you as lazy or unmotivated. 🤷 It's honestly awful, and you can really see how it's tearing families apart.
I know so many people in their 30s who don't even have kids because they either don't have the time or simply can't afford them. Just the other day, a friend of mine—she's a researcher over at a place like NASA—was telling me about her mentor's attitude toward her. There's this unspoken expectation that she needs to stay well beyond her shift, and her supervisor actually makes her feel guilty for leaving right at the end of her eight hours... even though most days she stays an extra thirty minutes or an hour anyway.

Why isn't there more flexibility in modern scheduling? Why can't we just come in when we can and leave when our work is done? 🙄From what I observe at my own office, half the staff barely accomplishes anything, yet they still collect a full paycheck.

Look, honey, maybe try landing a job first 😁 and then you can start worrying about your work schedule 😁

After more than 20 years on the clock, I’ve seen just about every shift pattern imaginable. If you ask me, the best setup for both employees and employers is working long stretches followed by longer breaks. You pull one full day and then get two days off. That gives you 16 hours of work over a three-day span—basically hitting that 40-hour weekly mark—but without wasting all your time commuting. You can actually focus on complex tasks without interruption, and you finally have actual free time for your own life. To me, it’s the most efficient way to live.
The real issue is how much focus and fatigue different jobs can actually handle.

What even is this?

Where are those Austrians when you actually need them to come in and tear this whole communist group apart just because they can only manage eight hours of work at a time. Honestly, what they actually managed to accomplish during those eight hours isn't even worth mentioning.

Respect to you all, really, but I’m pulling way more hours than anyone here for basically peanuts. I’m clocking anywhere from 180 to 230 hours a week—sometimes even more. Nobody asks if I actually want to do it; they just assume I can. You guys are out here talking about 40-hour weeks like it’s the norm, but that’s mostly what you see at government agencies or places like the USPS. In the private sector? Forget about it. Everyone around me is grinding extra hours, and half the time, some people get paid for it while others get nothing. Personally, I have zero problem with getting rid of strict hour caps if we move to an hourly pay model with progressive rates. If someone puts in extra time beyond a set baseline, the employer should be legally required to pay a premium. We need actual oversight too, because right now, I "officially" work standard hours, but my paycheck is padded with various "bonuses" and "stipends" just to cover the difference. If things were transparent, how much overtime, night shift differential, or commuting compensation would actually be owed? Right now, those are just swallowed up into regular pay or tiny 5% bumps.

I’m putting in 40 hours. Making way more than the average salary, too. But if I worked any extra? It’d be exactly the same. So...

I feel like a broken record saying this 🤷

Anyway, if there’s any flexibility in how we handle things, I’d much rather just agree on a set price for the actual work and the quality delivered... rather than strictly watching the clock by the hour

It really all boils down to the industry you're looking at... in something like hospitality, it’s practically impossible to avoid... anyone opting for that career path ought to go in with their eyes wide open...

For me, my hours always seem to creep up toward 60... which isn't exactly ideal either... ideally, we'd be looking at 45—maybe 50 at most.

I work an office job, and my hours are pretty flexible—though it’s all just a verbal agreement with my boss. Sometimes I clock out a little early, sometimes I stay late, but generally, he’s not a fan of anyone putting in more than eight hours. He joked that we aren't any more useful to him after that, but honestly? I knew exactly what he meant. Once you cross that eight-hour mark, mistakes start creeping in and staying focused becomes a total uphill battle.

And honestly, just saying "eight hours" feels way too broad... I’ve done field work and I've spent plenty of time behind a desk. There is a massive difference between spending eight hours framing walls on a construction site and sitting in an office chair.

Overtime isn't just about hours; it's about mental capacity. Once someone hits their wall after five, six, or eight hours of intense focus, they’ve reached a saturation point. If you force them to stay longer, they aren't actually working. They're just zombies staring at a screen.

I’m pulling at least 12 hours a day, every single day. That puts me at 84 hours a week, minimum.

The job is high-stakes; there’s zero margin for error.

At my last firm, I was clocking 12 to 18 hours daily—usually hovering around 14.

Then you see people complaining about working 10-hour shifts with weekends and holidays off... it’s almost funny.

Look, I don't mind the grind if the paycheck actually reflects the effort. At least for me.
My oldest is nine, an honor student, hits sports four times a week, takes extra English lessons, and does drama club after school. His schedule is already packed solid.

The younger one is still in preschool, but he’s already motivated, and I expect the same thing for him down the road.

I'm raising both of them to understand one basic truth: nothing comes without hard work.

Mark White2 said:I'm totally on board with points 2. and 3., though I don't really buy the whole excuse that people just don't have any free time, because I mean, you see folks finding plenty of hours to hang out at the mall, catch a game, obsess over celebrity gossip, scroll through Facebook, text constantly, hit the betting shops, or just spend way too much time polishing their cars. I guess if they actually spent that time meaningfully with their kids, maybe there wouldn't be so many issues in the first place.

It’s not like people are working harder today just to make ends meet; I mean, history has always been pretty much like this. Coal miners weren't exactly heading home whistling a tune, fishermen never really had those neat 8-hour shifts, sailors would go months without seeing their families—and they didn't even have cell phones or the internet to stay in touch—and construction workers or dockworkers used to absolutely wreck their backs because we didn't have cranes back then... Honestly, before all this tech was implemented, I think every single job was way tougher and more dangerous than what we deal with now.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd be happiest if everyone just had more downtime. I don't work Saturdays or Sundays myself, and I guess I'd love it if everyone else could do the same. Sure, emergency services have to stay on call, but I really don't think coffee shops, retail stores, and stuff like that are strictly necessary.

Look, I live in California. If the shops and cafes shut down on Saturdays and Sundays, most off-season tourists will just head somewhere else. Even for me—I can't always get my shopping done during the week. If our local stores are closed on Saturday, I'm just going to drive over to Nevada or Arizona to get what I need. That’s money leaving our local economy right there. Plus, cafes make their best money on the weekends. So, who does closing on weekends actually help?

mellowraven8 said:I’m pulling at least 12 hours a day, every single day. That puts me at 84 hours a week, minimum.

The job is high-stakes; there’s zero margin for error.

At my last firm, I was clocking 12 to 18 hours daily—usually hovering around 14.

Then you see people complaining about working 10-hour shifts with weekends and holidays off... it’s almost funny.

Look, I don't mind the grind if the paycheck actually reflects the effort. At least for me.
My oldest is nine, an honor student, hits sports four times a week, takes extra English lessons, and does drama club after school. His schedule is already packed solid.

The younger one is still in preschool, but he’s already motivated, and I expect the same thing for him down the road.

I'm raising both of them to understand one basic truth: nothing comes without hard work.

So, you see your kids only when they email photos to your office? And you're perfectly fine with that?
You've packed a nine-year-old's life with endless commitments, but do you ever stop to ask when he actually gets to just be a kid—to play without a schedule? Or have you already conditioned him to reject play entirely? If that's the case, you're raising a little monster who will grow up to sit in some corporate corner office, terrorizing decent people who actually value family life over bleeding themselves dry for a company.
You are, quite frankly, a byproduct of this capitalist machine... though I suspect you haven't even realized it...

Ryan Gomez4 said:Look, I live in California. If the shops and cafes shut down on Saturdays and Sundays, most off-season tourists will just head somewhere else. Even for me—I can't always get my shopping done during the week. If our local stores are closed on Saturday, I'm just going to drive over to Nevada or Arizona to get what I need. That’s money leaving our local economy right there. Plus, cafes make their best money on the weekends. So, who does closing on weekends actually help?

Everywhere I've traveled across Europe, shops would wrap things up by 6:00 PM, maybe 7:00 PM at the latest... they might stay open for a few hours on Saturday, but on Sunday? Absolutely nothing is open.