Are 8+ hour workdays unreasonable?

[Lanoraie II]

Kind of a simple opening post but it can spark a lot of discussion. If you're "supposed" to get 8 hours of sleep and work 8 hours a day, that only leaves 8 hours to do everything else. Does this seem reasonable and fair to spend only 1/3 of your life doing things you want to do? (Or, most likely, 1/4 or 1/5, since you'll probably spend 1-2 hours or even more doing chores, paying bills, eating, and washing dishes in your supposed free time) Why is it considered honorable to work long hours and barely make a livable wage? Why do people take pride in selling their lives away to companies that don't give a damn about them?

For me personally, I refuse to work more than 6 hours a day, and that includes with a lunch break. It's to the company's benefit anyway, because I spend those hours working extremely hard. If I recall correctly, the average work day in The Netherlands is about 6.2 hours, the average person works 4 days a week, for about 30 hours a week. And yet, they aren't any less productive than Americans, Canadians, or anyone else expected to work more for less pay.

6 hours is already my personal limit, as I on average require 10 hours of sleep, which again, leaves only 8 hours to do anything, and that is definitely not enough time. Because of this I can only do part time jobs, which don't pay anywhere close to a livable wage, with the exception of my current job, which I took solely because I can make a livable wage off of it while working as little or as much as I want.

So my main questions are, what is a reasonable amount of working hours? How much are you willing to wagecuck each day, and for how much money do you think your work is worth? (Be honest. If you're lazy as hell, don't act like you deserve as much as someone who works half the hours but thrice as hard.) Also, do you think having to work for nearly your entire life (at least, the generally considered healthy part of it, aka when you're not old and dying) is okay? Are you fine with having to save up for 10 years on average to afford a house if you live in America or Canada?

[Ifreann]

Ditching work is praxis.

[Nakena]

No. 8 hours is, theoretically speaking, totally reasonable. If you split a day into three you get 3 x 8. Eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of sleep. Makes perfect sense in a 24 hour system.

Of course they dont necessarily have to be in a single bloc and can be split etc.

Now practically it really depends on the kind of work etc etc.

[Lanoraie II]

Ditching work is praxis.

You mind saying more about that?

[Lanoraie II]

No. 8 hours is, theoretically speaking, totally reasonable. If you split a day into three you get 3 x 8. Eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of sleep. Makes perfect sense in a 24 hour system.

Now practically it really depends on the kind of work etc etc.

I disagree. Read my post for reasons why. I also question why you think it's reasonable to only have 8 hours or less time in your entire life dedicated to you and what you want out of life.

[Agarntrop]

I'm still at school, so I only "work" 32.5 hours a week (although that figure should be at least 35 hours a week including homework). This day allready seems long to me and being in a 40-45 hour country (the UK) it annoys me that I will work even longer when I am an adult. But hey, spare a thought for those in East Asia where they have a 60 hour working week

[The Blaatschapen]

No. 8 hours is, theoretically speaking, totally reasonable. If you split a day into three you get 3 x 8. Eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of sleep. Makes perfect sense in a 24 hour system.

Of course they dont necessarily have to be in a single bloc and can be split etc.

Now practically it really depends on the kind of work etc etc.

Eight hours of rest AND eight hours of sleep?

That doesn't particularly work.

Commuting time is part of the resting time. So is hygiene time (well, not the toilet break on the job, but the tooth brushing in the morning/evening definitely is). As well as cooking, eating, grocery time. Then there is cleaning of your place and your clothes.

What leaves that for rest?

[Nakena]

No. 8 hours is, theoretically speaking, totally reasonable. If you split a day into three you get 3 x 8. Eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of sleep. Makes perfect sense in a 24 hour system.

Now practically it really depends on the kind of work etc etc.

I disagree. Read my post for reasons why. I also question why you think it's reasonable to only have 8 hours or less time in your entire life dedicated to you and what you want out of life.

Thus i was speaking theoretically. Work can be anything within my calculation. However if you require 10 hours of sleep, and get the same productivity with six hours then it is entirely reasonable for you to do instead to go by the 3 x 8 system.

Being in wage slavery is always bad regardless.

[Chan Island]

In the long term, reducing work hours is the way to go. Not only because of the reasons you listed, but also due to the medical implications and the fact that with increasing automation, we're both on the road to reducing the need for more workers yet each one is more and more productive.

Not comfortable talking in depth about my job, but suffice to say yeah, 8 hours is a long work day.

[The Chuck]

Kind of a simple opening post but it can spark a lot of discussion. If you're "supposed" to get 8 hours of sleep and work 8 hours a day, that only leaves 8 hours to do everything else. Does this seem reasonable and fair to spend only 1/3 of your life doing things you want to do? (Or, most likely, 1/4 or 1/5, since you'll probably spend 1-2 hours or even more doing chores, paying bills, eating, and washing dishes in your supposed free time) Why is it considered honorable to work long hours and barely make a livable wage? Why do people take pride in selling their lives away to companies that don't give a damn about them?

For me personally, I refuse to work more than 6 hours a day, and that includes with a lunch break. It's to the company's benefit anyway, because I spend those hours working extremely hard. If I recall correctly, the average work day in The Netherlands is about 6.2 hours, the average person works 4 days a week, for about 30 hours a week. And yet, they aren't any less productive than Americans, Canadians, or anyone else expected to work more for less pay.

6 hours is already my personal limit, as I on average require 10 hours of sleep, which again, leaves only 8 hours to do anything, and that is definitely not enough time. Because of this I can only do part time jobs, which don't pay anywhere close to a livable wage, with the exception of my current job, which I took solely because I can make a livable wage off of it while working as little or as much as I want.

So my main questions are, what is a reasonable amount of working hours? How much are you willing to wagecuck each day, and for how much money do you think your work is worth? (Be honest. If you're lazy as hell, don't act like you deserve as much as someone who works half the hours but thrice as hard.) Also, do you think having to work for nearly your entire life (at least, the generally considered healthy part of it, aka when you're not old and dying) is okay? Are you fine with having to save up for 10 years on average to afford a house if you live in America or Canada?

Different people have different work philosophies and abilities. I totally understand that needing 10 hours of sleep. However I personally can and have worked 12.5 hour days at my job from 9:30 AM to 10 PM over the summer. It all really depends on the person and the occupation if I'm honest. As someone who hopes to eventually run a business, I would be more then game to go along with what hours workers can work so long as they're productive while they work and can hit the necessary quotas needed.

[Lanoraie II]

I'm still at school, so I only "work" 32.5 hours a week (although that figure should be at least 35 hours a week including homework). This day allready seems long to me and being in a 40-45 hour country (the UK) it annoys me that I will work even longer when I am an adult. But hey, spare a thought for those in East Asia where they have a 60 hour working week

Yeah, you couldn't pay me enough to cough over more than 6 hours of my life a day to--....

Okay.

You could pay me enough. If you pay me so much that I can work for one year and then retire, I will happily work 60+ hour workweeks for a year. But that probably won't happen so...

[Saiwania]

It is long overdue that we be willing to move away from expecting 40 hours each week.

[Agarntrop]

I'm still at school, so I only "work" 32.5 hours a week (although that figure should be at least 35 hours a week including homework). This day allready seems long to me and being in a 40-45 hour country (the UK) it annoys me that I will work even longer when I am an adult. But hey, spare a thought for those in East Asia where they have a 60 hour working week

Yeah, you couldn't pay me enough to cough over more than 6 hours of my life a day to--....

Okay.

You could pay me enough. If you pay me so much that I can work for one year and then retire, I will happily work 60+ hour workweeks for a year. But that probably won't happen so...

Most people in my country work at least 40 hours if they are full time.

[Nakena]

I'm still at school, so I only "work" 32.5 hours a week (although that figure should be at least 35 hours a week including homework). This day allready seems long to me and being in a 40-45 hour country (the UK) it annoys me that I will work even longer when I am an adult. But hey, spare a thought for those in East Asia where they have a 60 hour working week

Yeah, you couldn't pay me enough to cough over more than 6 hours of my life a day to--....

Okay.

You could pay me enough. If you pay me so much that I can work for one year and then retire, I will happily work 60+ hour workweeks for a year. But that probably won't happen so...

Theres some people who work a lot for two weeks and then take two weeks off etc.

[The Chuck]

Yeah, you couldn't pay me enough to cough over more than 6 hours of my life a day to--....

Okay.

You could pay me enough. If you pay me so much that I can work for one year and then retire, I will happily work 60+ hour workweeks for a year. But that probably won't happen so...

Most people in my country work at least 40 hours if they are full time.

If a job gives you benefits like health care/retirement plans/etc. I can totally see working 40 hours a week for that especially if you get a couple weeks paid vacation each year that can accumulate. My father worked 35 years as a letter carrier and retired some time ago. Leading up to his retirement he "retired" early in the sense that he had well over 3 months of accumulated paid leave time that he used at the very end.

[The Grims]

It helps if you enjoy your job. Then the 8 workhours get added to the 8 funhours.

[Thermodolia]

Who the fuck requires 10 hours of sleep?! Anyway I don’t mind working 8 hour days, technically I work 9 hour days but get an hour lunch, I find that I have plenty of time get things done in the evening

[Loben The 2nd]

No, it’s completely reasonable.

[Lanoraie II]

Kind of a simple opening post but it can spark a lot of discussion. If you're "supposed" to get 8 hours of sleep and work 8 hours a day, that only leaves 8 hours to do everything else. Does this seem reasonable and fair to spend only 1/3 of your life doing things you want to do? (Or, most likely, 1/4 or 1/5, since you'll probably spend 1-2 hours or even more doing chores, paying bills, eating, and washing dishes in your supposed free time) Why is it considered honorable to work long hours and barely make a livable wage? Why do people take pride in selling their lives away to companies that don't give a damn about them?

For me personally, I refuse to work more than 6 hours a day, and that includes with a lunch break. It's to the company's benefit anyway, because I spend those hours working extremely hard. If I recall correctly, the average work day in The Netherlands is about 6.2 hours, the average person works 4 days a week, for about 30 hours a week. And yet, they aren't any less productive than Americans, Canadians, or anyone else expected to work more for less pay.

6 hours is already my personal limit, as I on average require 10 hours of sleep, which again, leaves only 8 hours to do anything, and that is definitely not enough time. Because of this I can only do part time jobs, which don't pay anywhere close to a livable wage, with the exception of my current job, which I took solely because I can make a livable wage off of it while working as little or as much as I want.

So my main questions are, what is a reasonable amount of working hours? How much are you willing to wagecuck each day, and for how much money do you think your work is worth? (Be honest. If you're lazy as hell, don't act like you deserve as much as someone who works half the hours but thrice as hard.) Also, do you think having to work for nearly your entire life (at least, the generally considered healthy part of it, aka when you're not old and dying) is okay? Are you fine with having to save up for 10 years on average to afford a house if you live in America or Canada?

Different people have different work philosophies and abilities. I totally understand that needing 10 hours of sleep. However I personally can and have worked 12.5 hour days at my job from 9:30 AM to 10 PM over the summer. It all really depends on the person and the occupation if I'm honest. As someone who hopes to eventually run a business, I would be more then game to go along with what hours workers can work so long as they're productive while they work and can hit the necessary quotas needed.

My boyfriend is majoring in business administration and wants to start or run a business with the focus being giving workers as much time to live, paying them well, and keeping it sustainable. I think it's definitely possible and easier than some greedy businessmen may claim, because I know 2 people who run businesses with similar models and they turn a profit just fine.

For me, I really value having free time. Really, really value it. To do whatever, even if that includes doing "work" (i.e. creating art to sell or something like that). I wish more companies had super flexible schedules or more time slots because I find I'm the absolute most productive from about 7pm to 3am. I'm a huge night owl and love night shifts, but can't work them because of what my job requires.

[Thermodolia]

It helps if you enjoy your job. Then the 8 workhours get added to the 8 funhours.

Having a set schedule helps as well.

[Agarntrop]

We actually have a 48 hour limit on working hours in the UK, one of the highest in Europe. No wonder it will go higher after Brexit.

[Agarntrop]

Who the fuck requires 10 hours of sleep?! Anyway I don’t mind working 8 hour days, technically I work 9 hour days but get an hour lunch, I find that I have plenty of time get things done in the evening

I'm 14 and I sleep for like 7 hours on a good day

[The Chuck]

Different people have different work philosophies and abilities. I totally understand that needing 10 hours of sleep. However I personally can and have worked 12.5 hour days at my job from 9:30 AM to 10 PM over the summer. It all really depends on the person and the occupation if I'm honest. As someone who hopes to eventually run a business, I would be more then game to go along with what hours workers can work so long as they're productive while they work and can hit the necessary quotas needed.

My boyfriend is majoring in business administration and wants to start or run a business with the focus being giving workers as much time to live, paying them well, and keeping it sustainable. I think it's definitely possible and easier than some greedy businessmen may claim, because I know 2 people who run businesses with similar models and they turn a profit just fine.

For me, I really value having free time. Really, really value it. To do whatever, even if that includes doing "work" (i.e. creating art to sell or something like that). I wish more companies had super flexible schedules or more time slots because I find I'm the absolute most productive from about 7pm to 3am. I'm a huge night owl and love night shifts, but can't work them because of what my job requires.

Hey, he sounds exactly like me. I'm a Business student too! I also aspire to run a company that is able to pull a suitable profit while giving employees a great benefit package and time off to enjoy themselves. Work shouldn't be the sole focus in life, self improvement should be.

[Lanoraie II]

It helps if you enjoy your job. Then the 8 workhours get added to the 8 funhours.

I'd normally agree but I spent 2 months last year playing the sims for on average about 9 hours a day and I got horribly sick of it after those 2 months.

Who the fuck requires 10 hours of sleep?! Anyway I don’t mind working 8 hour days, technically I work 9 hour days but get an hour lunch, I find that I have plenty of time get things done in the evening

It's actually more like 12. I question if people and scientists are lying to people about needing only 8 hours. I've tried 6-8 hours and feel extremely drunk by day 3. Energy in, energy out, you know? If I spend 12 hours awake, I need 12 hours to recharge...but I can do 10 easily. 9...is what I do for college, but it kinda sucks. I don't like alarms.

Yeah, you couldn't pay me enough to cough over more than 6 hours of my life a day to--....

Okay.

You could pay me enough. If you pay me so much that I can work for one year and then retire, I will happily work 60+ hour workweeks for a year. But that probably won't happen so...

Theres some people who work a lot for two weeks and then take two weeks off etc.

A few of my sort-of coworkers do that. One guy works 12 hour days for 3 months and then spends the rest of the year off. He makes about 30-35k from those 3 months.

[The Blaatschapen]

We actually have a 48 hour limit on working hours in the UK, one of the highest in Europe. No wonder it will go higher after Brexit.

Why?

There won't be any jobs