Standard Working Hours

[computerfaq]

OK, so I've been thinking and not getting very far with it...

In an office the standard working hours are 9am until 5pm...but what about the IT sector, does this still apply, because most people I talk to it doesn't seem to!

Dunno, what does everyone think?:|

 

[asonda]

You have been thinking and asking a lot of questions today!

Hope your brain doesn't hurt too much

I think standard hours are still needed to be honest. Otherwise there is no structure!

 

[dbd1302]

OK, so I've been thinking and not getting very far with it...

In an office the standard working hours are 9am until 5pm...but what about the IT sector, does this still apply, because most people I talk to it doesn't seem to!

Dunno, what does everyone think?:|

spose it depends on the sector within the sector!

I am in IT, but being a trainer I work weird hours when on site. A 6 hour day but with how ever much travel involved

Most people at my office are 9-5 though, and me too when I am working home. Then there are the few that do 8-4 and 10-6...to accomodate clients who also work these times I suppose.

I got a call at 5.25 at home today...I thought how very dare they!!!

 

[asonda]

Even though I said standard hours are good..

I've had calls at stupid times...think about when you need to do server maintenance for a business whilst everybody else is at home sleeping!

Just be flexible and you'll be fine! You're working for yourself, you need to put in as many hours as possible, and have a do anything, get anything attitude...

 

[dbd1302]

Even though I said standard hours are good..

I've had calls at stupid times...think about when you need to do server maintenance for a business whilst everybody else is at home sleeping!

Just be flexible and you'll be fine! You're working for yourself, you need to put in as many hours as possible, and have a do anything, get anything attitude...

Yes this happens alot at our data centre...I'm glad I am not an engineer...people tend to only need software support in 'normal' hours. I always joke when I hand over my card that its not 24/7...just in case.

If you are working for yourself...from home?...then I think so long as you are available between 8-6 (even if you are still in bed at 8!) that would be ok, but as asonda says, flexibility is good!

 

[computerfaq]

I've just started sharing an office with someone, and I'm working normal-ish office hours, but the other guy seems to work a damn sight more than me, and doesn't seem to acheive much more. (I'm sure he does though!)

I'm working from home today though, which is one of the joys of being me

 

[Astaroth]

Must say I have never known anyone who has worked the hours of 9-5 in any of the jobs I have had (none were IT). In some cases people were contracted for these hours but always either started early or finished late (or most often, both)

My experience of IT people is that those doing application development in corporations are contracted to work 9-5 (or 8-4 etc) but may need to put in the extra time to get things complete. Those that work on production defects tend to be more shift/ rota based so that it isnt always the same people getting the calls at midnight etc.

 

[.Spiralling.]

My husband is an IT engineer and normally works 8.30-4.30, but this week he's on 8-4 and some weeks it's 10-6. However, when he's on call, he works when the calls come in - and there have been very many occasions when that has been2, 3 or 4 in the morning - usually 5 minutes after we've got back to sleep after getting our son back to sleep!

I'm not sure "standard" hours really exist these days unless you're in shop work or something like that - in most other sectors, I gwt the impression that customers see working hours as a guideline

 

[gamequeen]

ok, i think i am not the standard working hours,
you know why?
because my standard working hours is from 9 --5:30

but i don't know what about hte IT.... i think should be be same time... ...

 

My standard working hours are Mon-Fri 9am - 9pm, with an extra hour or two threw in for good measure. Saturday 9am-1pm and Sunday whenever I roll out of bed and get to the office.

Because I am trying to build a business based upon a full IT support service, I need to be about for people. I fix lots of machines during the day, but most evenings they are either being collected or dropped back out repaired. People work 9-5 and want my services outside this.

I get calls at 11pm and I get calls at 7am - I answer them all. It seems kind of harsh, but there are periods during the day when I can nip off to a cafe or suchlike, so I am not exactly butchered the whole time. I am certain that this Xmas though - I am turning my phone off on Xmas eve, not to be turned on again until after Boxing day.

 

[directmarketingadvice]

In an office the standard working hours are 9am until 5pm...but what about the IT sector, does this still apply, because most people I talk to it doesn't seem to!

Back in medieval times (well, 1994), I was a computer programmer and my team offered user support from 8am-5pm.

Interestingly, one of the teams we supported often worked until 6pm and that work was essential. I've no idea what would have happened if they were working late and the systems crashed.

It was a large company and there was a central IT team that worked overnight to keep an eye on all the overnight jobs that ran.

And, in a team that was related to mine, there was always someone with a pager. And, if needed, that person could be called in at any time after 4am (I think)

Hope this helps,

Steve

 

[Cornish Steve]

9-5 seems a very short period. Even allowing for lunch, 8:30 - 5:30 would be a minimum period. If you're providing support to customers by phone, 7am - 10pm is quite common.

Incidentally, the UN published a report this week about average work hours per country. I don't remember all the details, but the fact that more than half of Peruvians work over 48 hours a week sticks in my mind.

 

[Joanne_UK]

I am a software developer in my day job (banking sector) and the normal hours are 8:30-17:00. However we have a "Flexible" environment (providing it doesn't affect the business needs)so I work from 10:00 to 18:30(to avoid the congestion) , one of my colleague does longer hours but he has Mondays off.
We have release weekends where we are required to work all weekend (can be a lot of hours depending if there is any problems with the implementation of the code, testers, analysts and project managers are also required to be available on those weekends), we also have to work overtime if required.
I don't see any changes on my wage though when doing all the extra hours (not paid by hours). We are not allowed to take any holiday (and be on call) one week before and one week after the release weekends.

We also have some consultants (from Scotland, Wales and near London) , they stay here during the week but go back home for weekends so they usually leave early on Friday (but work longer during the week).

There is also that guy (analyst) who is workaholic, he is at work early in the morning and usually leaves at the same time or after me !!