Expectancy of working past hours

Martini1991 said:
Dowie must have a riveting social life.
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Or maybe he's just more of a "live to work" sort of person.

I don't mind people who enjoy working long hours - if they enjoy it and achieve what they want good for them.

I'm fortunate that I work efficiently and get things done rather than tirelessly never quite finishing my work on time. Even if I was on double my salary I don't think I could justify a sacrifice to my work/life balance - I enjoy my free time more than my work.
 
Had this at my old workplace when I worked in IT for an agency. Whilst the workload usually justified some extra working late to meet demand, it was too far ingrained in the 'culture' of the company. The directors did it, so everyone else was expected to and you would feel bad for leaving on time. It was however stipulated on our contracts that we would have to work extra hours to meet demand without extra compensation, so covered by contract.

I stuck around for a while and tried to tolerate the stress but eventually it started to affect not only my work but personal relationships too. I left on good terms, but vowed to be very wary of any company that requires full-time staff to work extra to meet demand without recompense, always read the contract I guess.

Definitely keep your head down and crack on, work some lates if you have to, but make sure you have a solid exit plan / excuse lined up for when you can't/won't. The company will be expecting you to move heaven and earth in your probationary period to prove yourself, after all, that's the kind of people these businesses are looking to keep on long term.
 
Christ, with some of the comments from people in this thread it's clear some people are self-righteous, and god's gift to the world!
 
I'm expected to work until the work is done. We have very understanding managers and family life is important to the company, but if something needs doing, you had better be available and there.... evenings, weekends, overtime (all without additional pay).

Note: US company.
 
Scougar said:
I'm expected to work until the work is done. We have very understanding managers and family life is important to the company, but if something needs doing, you had better be available and there.... evenings, weekends, overtime (all without additional pay).

Note: US company.
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Similar here (also US company).

On the other hand, if you don't have too much to do or finish what you need to do early etc., feel free to leave as well. As above, i'm expected to work until work is done. If you have to stay late to do it, you do it. If you finish it and can leave early, go for it.

Is also flexible in that I can work from home whenever I feel like it. If I have something to do, can arrive late/leave early, and continue doing it later etc.
 
I work in an investment bank.

My contract says 35hr week.

I'm in before 8am, and I don't leave til after 6:30 and has been MUCH later than that.

Anyone that thought they were genuinely doing 35hr hours is a bonafide retard
 
I know so many friends who tell me they feel obligated to work past their contracted hours. I can't wrap my head around it. My company pays overtime, and also has a flexi-time scheme, so if you work longer than normal hours, you can choose whether to convert it to overtime, or save it up for more time off later when the workload is less intense. It's brilliant, I think all companies should do that, not exploit their employees' paranoia and fear of being laid off to make them work longer hours.
 
Tefal said:
we literally all stand there with our coats and bags staring at the clock on the wall and the manager has to dive out of the way at 6am to avoid getting stampeded.

try telling us to stay after the end of shift and the answer will be "how much you offering for it"?

Cant understand why people let themselves get bent over to work more than their hours, all your doing is lowering your hourly rate.


if theres too much work to be done in the time your boss needs to either hire more people or start paying for overtime.
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I could have written that word for word!
 
I would have to go with the majority view here. Investment banks in London are well known for taking their pound of flesh. Normally comparable salary levels are higher. I work in IT for an American insurer in London. If I went to do the same role in a bank I would expect a big pay rise....and would expect to sell my soul for it.

In my experience that is a London thing though. Having spoken to people who worked at JP Morgan in Bournemouth the culture wasn't as bad there.
 
I started a new job about six weeks ago, I leave on time every day. I often arrive at least 5-10 mins early if traffic is light (I live 30 miles away) so they're already getting a bit of extra time out of me.

When I worked for Sainsbury's a while back as a team leader it was expected that you'd arrive at least 10 minutes early and stay well past your end time without getting any overtime. Utterly shameful practice when you're getting paid by the hour in the first place.
 
I work a standard 9-5 Mon-Fri job where I never have to stay extra or arrive early; however most days they will get 15-30 mins extra out of me. This in part is due to loving my job, but the amount of work I've got is crazy. There is no expectation for me or any of my colleagues to work any extra than stated contracts though. All depends on the job, location and nature of work load I guess.
 
sports_brah said:
I work in an investment bank.

My contract says 35hr week.

I'm in before 8am, and I don't leave til after 6:30 and has been MUCH later than that.

Anyone that thought they were genuinely doing 35hr hours is a bonafide retard
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Omg but you're working for free, your manager must be inept... how come you don't just clock off at 5pm... what is a bonus/what is career progression?
 
dowie said:
Omg but you're working for free, your manager must be inept... how come you don't just clock off at 5pm... what is a bonus/what is career progression?
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A bonus is the thing that happens once a year where everyone gets exactly the same amount of bonus money.

Career progression is that thing tryhards do. :p
 
Leave bang on time unless I want to do extra but would get toil. Only a mug works loads of extra hours for nothing in return.
 
I work a lot of extra hours a week for "free". The benefit being is, I get keep getting showered with salary increases, a company car and now promotion so even more money.

The people that clock watch usually get absolutley nowhere.
 
dowie said:
Omg but you're working for free, your manager must be inept... how come you don't just clock off at 5pm... what is a bonus/what is career progression?
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Haha.

Spook187 said:
You bankers sound you have really boring jobs with no outside life.
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Actually I don't have that much of a life (except that which is provided for me ;) ). But in fairness that is intentional.

In return, I've met some really interesting (and extremely senior) people, I've been learning more than I ever did in my degree/masters, and seem to have a pretty decent career path (if I don't **** up). Oh and I'm looking at moving continents in the next few years

I'm happy to work harder now (where I'm looking to move to will require even longer hours!) as I know its worth it in the long run. Its mentally exhausting and challenging, but I'm not working out in the weather destroying my body (liver doesn't count).

Oh and in return for my relatively staid/placid lifestyle (trips abroad exempt) I've been saving up like mad and will be buying a house soon enough....
 
craptakular said:
I work a lot of extra hours a week for "free". The benefit being is, I get keep getting showered with salary increases, a company car and now promotion so even more money.

The people that clock watch usually get absolutley nowhere.
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Which is fine, if nowhere is where they want to be. Not everyone would rather drive a 3 series back from work at 8pm and never see their kids than leave at 5:30, drive home in their Skoda, and give them a bath and some tea ;).

That said, I recommend insurance companies as places that pay well and play well :D.
 
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