STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Christine · Coach

Poll: Work/life balance

Kitty · Hermes

Marketing Communications Specialist for a top university. I have a pretty awesome work-life balance. I get here around 8:15 and I leave at 4:30. No one really stays later than 6:00, and most people leave at 5:00.

member · Hermes

I'm an executive assistant at a very well-known bank. I have a great work-life balance. I get in at 8:30am and I'm not usually here past 5pm. Every now and then I work late if there's a deadline, but otherwise I don't. I think that's mostly because a) my boss who I support travels a ton and b) being an assistant doesn't usually demand me being here more than 8.5 hours a day.

halleybird · Hermes

my "required" hours are technically 7:30-2:30. But I usually leave closer to 3:30, and often get in at 7-7:15. I don't have a lunch break, or any breaks, actually. Many days, I leave closer to 5-6, and some days I have been there until 10. To be honest, I would trade longer hours for the ability to leave for lunch or even the ability to go to the restroom during the day.

But I also get paid for a lot of holidays, so there's the trade-off. To be honest, I would be happiest working about 25-30 hours a week, so I could also take classes and keep my house clean, but that ain't gonna happen.

kenzie · Chanel

My life is heavily skewed to work. I work in marketing. I work a good amount of overtime (50+ hours a week). I'm also have a laptop, so I get to take work home with me as well (lucky me).

My company is growing at warp speed and I'm implementing so many new programs that overtime is simply just going to happen. Even with the overtime that I work, I still have so much to do that it's impossible for one human being to finish it all even if they never slept. Which, incidentally, I have trouble doing b/c I'm so stressed out (good and bad) about my job.

But I'm so career driven that it's okay. I'd like an assistant (and an intern) so that I don't get bogged down with day to day crap and can focus on the big picture and the programs that need to be implemented. This is a big part of why I have to work so much. I'm thinking of shifting my hours to 10-7 (I have flexible hours as long as I clock in at least 40), so that I have some time in the office when clients won't call and I can actually get some other work done.

-- Edited by kenzie at 18:17, 2006-09-11

NCshopper · Hermes

I'm a Director at a non-profit and this has actually been a big bone of contention between me and the rest of the staff vs. our boss. He thinks we all need to "put in extra effort" but he doesn't think we should be rewarded for it. (Not just an hour or two here and there--he thinks we should be coming in on the weekends, taking work home with us every night, and being available for calls while on vacation. ) I'd be much more willing to put in extra hours if it meant that I was getting compensated for it a bit more.

I work more than 40 hours most weeks, but try to leave the office by 5:30-6 most days. We have busy times of the year when I've been there til midnight and worked 14-16 hour days for a few weeks at a time, but that's not generally how it goes.

I think a work/life balance is important. It's important for me to go home at the end of the day, relax, hang out with my husband, and have a life. I know I'm young and have to pay my dues to an extent, but IMO there's a difference between paying your dues and getting taken advantage of.

twinkle · Coach

my balance is seriously off. i usually work from 830 - 830, no break, no lunch usually - and take lots of work home w/me at night & on weekends. fun, huh? but i love what i do. i work in the film industry.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

I am a logistics engineer for a transportation company. We are required to work 45 hours a week (7:30-5:30 with an hour for lunch). However, you can do it however you prefer (no lunch, come in early, leave later, etc) as long as you put in 45 hours. Overtime definitely happens. I work close to 55 hrs a week though. If I had kids, or even a bf that lived close, I doubt I would consistently work 55 hrs a week. Part of me working that much is my fault. Like Christine I am trying to prove myself in my field and industry which is difficult at 23.

kittenheels · Coach

I have a balance that is almost entirely work. I'm an associate at a large LA law firm. I am generally in the office from 8 to about 6:30. Unfortunately, not all of that is billable, so I frequently work weekends. I average approximately 50 hours a week in the office and maybe 37 hours billable. It's a tough job, but I'm able to fully fund my retirement and pay the mortgage on a pretty nice condo. I am very well compensated. I wish I could work less, but I appreciate the financial freedom that comes with the job. I am trying to make it another year ;)

Lilykind · Hermes

It's tough being 21 and in the workforce and trying to explain to people that YES I DO have a college degree and YES I graduated last year and YES I am actually knowledgeable and smart and good grief just because I sound like I'm 14 and have chubby cheeks can you please take me seriously?

There are two versions of my work/life balance

When I work on the set (maybe 6-8 mos. of year)

Work is from 9:00 AM until anywhere between 6:45 and 10:00 PM. It's a total crapshoot. Plus there's food and you're sitting on your ass all day...you can imagine the horror! Thank goodness for Rachel Pally dresses because I gained nearly 20 lbs from not working out/eating unhealthy food/long work hours/etc. etc. etc on my last show (but I loved it anyway...sick bitch I am). Balance is non-existent.

When I'm in between shows at the accounting office (rest of year)

Work is from 9:00 - 6:00 or 6:30 with maybe a 45 minute lunch. I generally bust my ass at work, but once I get home I can pretty much call my life my own.

The cool thing is that I work with my BF and our bosses give us their blessing. In my position (accounting), it's actually encouraged. In the big studio features and most notable TV shows, the accounting teams (usually groups of anywhere between 2-15) are comprised at least partially of couples.

It's show business and I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I had to work in anything else.

lynnie · Chanel

I work 10-6 almost every day except for a week or two before fashion shows. Today I'm working 10-10 because we have model castings 6-10, but I don't really mind. Though I still feel 10-6 is too much (even though in my field, its not). Like Halleybird, i think my ideal is 25-30 hours, which i hope to be working in a few years, maybe a couple years after i start my own business or move to a more flexible job. I don't mind working at all, i just want to have the freedom to not go in on a random friday if i don't feel like it. I don't HAVE to be there 40 hours a week to get my job done, sure theres always little things to work on, but its not really necessary.

atlgirl · Gucci

I own my own business, and it's a daily struggle to manage both, since I am usually at home, unless out doing shows (cyclical), traveling (seldom), or visiting stores (also somewhat cyclical).

My business supports itself, but not much more than that just yet. DH's salary supports us. Working from home means that the work - and the house stuff - are always right here in front of me. In the last year or so, it's become a real guilt trip no matter what I do. If I do house-related stuff, I feel that I should be spending that time on business. If I do business stuff, I agonize about not keeping up with household chores, paperwork, errands, etc. I'm a great one for putting pressure on myself. DH works a lot of hours with his job, so many things fall to me just because I'm "home" and have more access to doing them, though not necessarily more time!

I'd love to have 8 hour days (10-6 would be fabulous!) but I don't see that happening anytime soon. If I can grow this a bit more and have a steadier income from it, I could possibly hire someone to help with the business...or maybe just a housekeeper. But I'm not there yet.

travelgirl · Kate Spade

After several years of extensive travel, I finally do have my "dream job" which does provide a good work/life balance.

I now work a very cool schedule which consists of working four days a week from the second week in August until Thanksgiving, five days a week Thanksgiving to the first week of February, four days a week February through April 15, then three days a week from April 15th through the second week in August. It is considered a "flextime" job and although I get paid on a 31.5 hour schedule (with pay consistent throughout the year-I get the same paycheck every week) and I do get full-time benefits.

I work for an awesome company, I work from home, and it is still a professional management position. The best part is I choose my daily hours-as long as the job gets done it doesn't matter when I do it and this allows me a ton of flexibilty. I am very happy with my career and it is perfect for a mom like me but I have paid my dues in high travel, high stress jobs throughout the years.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

hahahahahahahaha. NO.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Since I own my own business my life seems ruled by work, even when I am not at work.

My typical week is 8am -7:30 pm Mon- Sat. Then I bring home paperwork and work at night :( Sundays are my "Free Day" and I usually spend sunday nights cleaning my house from the week.

In between all that work I still have to find time to travel for work and attend at least one wholesale market every month. I love going to those, but I hate the paperwork that goes with it.

As for home life my Hubby Works almost as much as I do, so we seem to be used to this schedule. The only nice thing for me is my commute is only 15 min, so I always feel close to home :) My poor DH drives an hour and 20 min each way every day, so I feel for him because that is so stressful.

On a plus side - I love what I do. I would much rather work this much doing what I love (and working for myself) then slaving away for some corporation who wouldnt appericiate me or remember me when I leave. (been there, done that!)

Bastet · Kate Spade

I have a good work/life balance. I'm an attorney for the government. Sometimes I wish I had the compensation of an associate at a big law firm, but I really like my schedule right now. I work 8-5:30 every day, but I get every other Friday off, which is really nice. Sometimes, I need to stay a bit later, but it's pretty rare. I also love my boss. He's really laid back and tries to promote a stress-free work environment.

nunzi182 · Kate Spade

shopchicago33 wrote:

I'm an executive assistant at a very well-known bank. I have a great work-life balance. I get in at 8:30am and I'm not usually here past 5pm. Every now and then I work late if there's a deadline, but otherwise I don't. I think that's mostly because a) my boss who I support travels a ton and b) being an assistant doesn't usually demand me being here more than 8.5 hours a day.

This is exactly my schedule