Author Topic: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.  (Read 7582 times)

Last Night

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Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« on: January 20, 2017, 05:07:24 PM »
I am a CPA that graduated college in 2007 and have been building my career professionally ever since.

Every September, like fucking clockwork the bullshit starts trickling down.  The days get shorter, the hours in the office get longer.  It’s absolute misery and EVERYONE around me does it.  I’ve worked in a number of companies, public vs. private, small vs large, F500 vs small sized, it’s the same shit everywhere.  September rolls around, budget planning starts, then year end audit and it’s as if those 4-5 months of your life you simply don’t exist.  Working weekends is the norm, staying late is absolutely expected.  So like groundhog day, every day is the same shit.

Today was no different, I am sitting in my office dealing with my direct reports and peers, my peers (director level) humble brag who worked more on the weekend and who is working later tonight.  I am sitting there kinda nodding, but angry at the same time. 

Ten  years of this shit, doing something I don’t like and being surrounded by people who think it’s absolutely ok to spend years of your life sitting chained to a desk trying to quantify and make sense out of some bullshit numbers, which are wrong to begin with, and in the end someone will “plug” so everything you do is fucking irrelevant to begin with.  Sometimes I am not sure if this is real life or what the fuck is it that I am living in.  The worst part is i can't talk to any of them about it because we aren't close and the nature of the company is very competitive to begin with.  I don't know if they are faking it or not, maybe they are thinking the same thing as me?  I have no idea, in reality i don't give a fuck either, but i can't help but wonder once in a while.

Excuse my rant, thank you for reading.

I’d like to hear from the rest of you CPAs/bankers/lawyers/etc how do you deal with the long hours? Do you really love what you do? Are you on drugs? No choice in the matter?  I didn’t mind it in my 20’s, as the saying goes “you are paying your dues”, but it’s wearing thin.  The only thing keeping me sane is that I have an exit plan within 2 years.

Please share.

CheapScholar

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2017, 05:34:56 PM »
Did you remember to turn in your TPS Report today before you left work?

Beardog

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2017, 05:42:32 PM »
It sounds horrendous.  I'm not in your field and I've always managed to avoid that kind of environment and since I'm totally, completely exhausted after a 'normal' workweek and it takes me a full day of rest to recover, I can't imagine how you can deal with it.  But since you have a 2 year exit plan, you can hold on to sanity by keeping that in mind.

CareCPA

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2017, 07:00:59 PM »
I never understood being proud to spend the most time at the office. I work my minimum required hours and that's it, I'm out of there. I make this very clear when I start at a new place, and I don't let the hours start to creep. If anyone says anything I just remind them I've gotten all my stuff done so I don't need to sit at a desk and put in hours.

2Birds1Stone

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2017, 07:19:12 PM »
How are the other 7-8 months?

nemesis

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2017, 07:19:51 PM »
Sorry to hear man.  I put in long hours in the past as well.  Traveled the world, lived out of a suitcase for way too long.

The benefit is I have so much experience and skills now that I do have a very easy life.

I work from home most of the time. Wake up in the morning, meditate, have a good breakfast or work out, then start working on my to-do's.  Take a break in the afternoon, work out, or do something recreational to get my mind reset to not think about work for a while.  Go back to work for a while til dinner, eat dinner, and relax or go workout.

I couldn't work in an office with regular desk job hours any more.  I'd FIRE immediately if that was the only choice.

Hopefully you can put in the time, and get promotions or start your own company and call the shots.

FWIW - I think the younger folks now are more open to working remotely.  The older folks I used to work with couldn't fathom not working in an office and showing up from 7 - 5.  How times have changed, where so many more people work remotely!

human

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2017, 07:30:55 PM »
Probably going to work tomorrow and Sunday, but that is very rare and I switch jobs in a week so I need to clean up at the current one. At least no one will be there to bother me tomorrow.

Just curious how many hours are you doing per day? 12, 14, 16? Years ago my girlfriend used to sleep in her office and bill 3000 hours per year.


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birdiegirl

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2017, 08:38:09 PM »
Been there done that :)  Although I'm a CMA not a CPA so I've found each company I've worked for was a bit different.  My current company was like this when I started...everyone expected to stay till the wee hours to meet deadlines, even the staff accountants.  But then we had a leadership change that made a big difference and the extra hours were restricted primarily to those of us in management. 

About two years ago, I decided I'd had enough.  Couldn't afford to quit but decided it wasn't worth spending all my evenings and weekends working and stressing about reports and numbers that everyone seems to forget about as soon as the fire drill is over. 

Long story short, I started coming in and leaving at a normal time, working 8-9 hours a day and not logging in again at home except in rare circumstances.  At first I was really nervous and worried that everyone would notice and I'd be reprimanded or fired.  Surprisingly none of that happened....not sure what others thought but my boss never said anything about it and I'm still here two years later.  I'm probably not next in line for a promotion but that doesn't matter to me anymore.  I've learned to focus on what I think the higher ups will care about most when I'm at work and let the rest go. 

Not sure if taking that attitude is possible where you are but it has made a world of difference to me.  Still don't love my job but it is tolerable and I can relax in my off time.

« Last Edit: January 20, 2017, 10:40:25 PM by birdiegirl »

nemesis

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2017, 11:20:41 PM »
Been there done that :)  Although I'm a CMA not a CPA so I've found each company I've worked for was a bit different.  My current company was like this when I started...everyone expected to stay till the wee hours to meet deadlines, even the staff accountants.  But then we had a leadership change that made a big difference and the extra hours were restricted primarily to those of us in management. 

About two years ago, I decided I'd had enough.  Couldn't afford to quit but decided it wasn't worth spending all my evenings and weekends working and stressing about reports and numbers that everyone seems to forget about as soon as the fire drill is over. 

Long story short, I started coming in and leaving at a normal time, working 8-9 hours a day and not logging in again at home except in rare circumstances.  At first I was really nervous and worried that everyone would notice and I'd be reprimanded or fired.  Surprisingly none of that happened....not sure what others thought but my boss never said anything about it and I'm still here two years later.  I'm probably not next in line for a promotion but that doesn't matter to me anymore.  I've learned to focus on what I think the higher ups will care about most when I'm at work and let the rest go. 

Not sure if taking that attitude is possible where you are but it has made a world of difference to me.  Still don't love my job but it is tolerable and I can relax in my off time.
That's awesome.  I had a job in the past where I came in later than everyone, and left earlier than everyone.  And I still got more accomplished in that time.  Others were wasting time at the desk while I was super focused and got my stuff done.  When I went to quit that job and move on, they tried the hardest to make me stay even though I was the laziest worker by outward appearances, lol.

marty998

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2017, 12:07:03 AM »
Been there done that :)  Although I'm a CMA not a CPA so I've found each company I've worked for was a bit different.  My current company was like this when I started...everyone expected to stay till the wee hours to meet deadlines, even the staff accountants.  But then we had a leadership change that made a big difference and the extra hours were restricted primarily to those of us in management. 

About two years ago, I decided I'd had enough.  Couldn't afford to quit but decided it wasn't worth spending all my evenings and weekends working and stressing about reports and numbers that everyone seems to forget about as soon as the fire drill is over. 

Long story short, I started coming in and leaving at a normal time, working 8-9 hours a day and not logging in again at home except in rare circumstances.  At first I was really nervous and worried that everyone would notice and I'd be reprimanded or fired.  Surprisingly none of that happened....not sure what others thought but my boss never said anything about it and I'm still here two years later.  I'm probably not next in line for a promotion but that doesn't matter to me anymore.  I've learned to focus on what I think the higher ups will care about most when I'm at work and let the rest go. 

Not sure if taking that attitude is possible where you are but it has made a world of difference to me.  Still don't love my job but it is tolerable and I can relax in my off time.
That's awesome.  I had a job in the past where I came in later than everyone, and left earlier than everyone.  And I still got more accomplished in that time.  Others were wasting time at the desk while I was super focused and got my stuff done.  When I went to quit that job and move on, they tried the hardest to make me stay even though I was the laziest worker by outward appearances, lol.

I don't go for coffee breaks, I don't go for smokos. I find emails after 4:45 offensive so I don't answer them till the next day. It takes me 90 minutes to get home, and if I miss my 5:30 train it takes 2 hours.

So I am always out at 5:15. Always

Dave1442397

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2017, 01:18:23 PM »
Upper management at one of my old jobs decided that everyone needed to work more hours because...well, they couldn't come up with a good reason. My immediate manager came around asking who would be in on Saturday, and I said "Not me". I asked around on Monday, and only one person showed up apart from the manager. He ordered a pile of pizzas for lunch to make it look as if people had come in, and the two of them took it all home for their kids.

Another funny one was a job I had in the early '90s. I had sole responsibility for coding and testing all changes to a particular sub-system, started at 8am and usually got my work done by 2pm. I'd leave at 4pm. After a couple of months of this, one of the managers asked if I had a second job to go to, as everyone else was into hanging around until 6pm or so. Umm, no. I have other things to do than pretend I'm working long hours every day.

accolay

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2017, 07:04:04 PM »
I've never had an office job, so it's interesting to see how other people work.

Efficiency decreases the longer the hours worked right? Life is too short. I'd go with other posters here and increase efficiency and leave close to a normal quitting time. Especially if I was salaried.

MMMdude

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2017, 08:25:43 PM »
Dude you sound like me 20 years ago.  I'm a CPA in Canada.  I remember the day i basically snapped - was working a tonne of OT for non Big 4 and partner came back to the bullpen to give me yet another rush file.  I told him in front of six other students I wasn't working any more OT and I'd get to it when I got to it.  The looks all around were incredulous.  Guess what.....nothing ever happened to me. 

Currently I'm in industry as a controller.   I am out the door except for maybe 5-6 days per year at 4:30 (the official close time).  Everyone else from what I hear from the HR lady doesn't start leaving until 5:30. I have no idea why.  But guess this...my cohort in the accounting department is also a 60+ hour work week guy.  Doesn't make sense as I did his job and had no issues getting it done in 40 hours, I have no idea why some people are so inefficient at work...perhaps they have nothing waiting for them at home they want to get to??  I have heard a few comments about my slack work schedule....none from people that sign my cheque so quite frankly FUCK OFF is what i want to tell them.  My boss was let go 6 months ago due to downturn in the economy...so basically everyone in finance had to do abit more.  Guess what - he was there 60+ hours every week and we have had no issues covering for his absence.  I have no idea how he spent all that time at work besides micro managing us.

From my first few weeks in public practice it boggled my mind that the partners in their 60's were still grinding a desk.  One guy surely was a multi multi millionaire...why in the hell would you choose to grind a desk rather then enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Right then and there I knew I would not be like them.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2017, 08:28:52 PM by MMMdude »

MMMdude

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2017, 08:30:53 PM »
Oh and one more thing...although I'm an accountant didn't take me long to realize I dislike most of them.  Anal Type A personalities wanting to reconcile every spreadsheet to the nth degree....I have exactly zero accounting friends

Dub_the_Builder

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #15 on: January 22, 2017, 12:11:53 PM »
I've been at my F500 company for over 10 years. I spent the first few years in supply which sucked because they are the end of the line and always had to play clean up for lack of work up front. Then I spent a few years in sales where I actually got to work on big picture items and it was a lot of fun actually. Unfortunately, the lack of accountability waned on me and last year I decided to try something new and went to finance in a financial planning function. In the two previous functions, there were times where hours would add up. But by and large people tried to work and get out when they could. In the finance function I continually see individuals putting in more and more hours thinking they are actually producing more. I actually see productivity come to a crawl at the end of the day but the barrage of urgent requests keeps my coworkers chained to the office feeling no power to make choices for themselves. As I have gotten to know my new team, I actually found that they were taught this habit early in their careers working for companies who tried to break employees seeing who would last working 70+ hour weeks. During snow storms, they were told not to leave or fear being canned.

The reason I have jumped functions has really been for my own learning. I went to school focusing on small business and entrepreneurship. I am slowly planning my exit from corporate culture hoping to enjoy putting in long hours when it is actually for myself and I don't have to just "sit on the clock" because that is what is expected. It is good to hear that I'm not alone in this feeling and hope to get inspired by others making a switch.

GetItRight

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2017, 08:53:30 PM »
I hear you. I'm in IT not bean counting, but I feel your pain. Basically on call 24/7 in an understaffed department that I guess I'm running these days. For the past couple months 12+ hour days have been the norm and travel is killing me. I live on the east coast (or do I?) but I've basically stayed on Pacific time the past couple months with all the travel and when it's not travel it's coordinating with people on the west coast. I've been burning the candle at both ends for so long I don't know how much longer I can do it, though at least for me there's an end in sight when the latest projects are over... Only gotta go until March, maybe April and it should settle down. That being said I totally said F it this weekend, took Friday off, didn't work the weekend, didn't even answer any emails. I'll pay for it this week but I'm getting burnt out and needed a break.

Aside from that, I do enjoy what I do for the most part. I work for a great company that does awesome things and affords me some cool experiences. I also take a month off every year, so 11 months of hard work is the price for that. It helps to have an end in sight to the long hours that come from time to time, I couldn't do if there was no end in sight.

Saskatchewstachian

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #17 on: January 23, 2017, 07:25:10 AM »
Yes to every post above! I have been trying to deal with this a lot lately. I am in the engineering field but still see many parallels.

In my last office role I did what was needed and tried my best to do it very well then would leave at a normal time at the end of the day. New role is all about "face time" where you need to be seen in your office otherwise it doesn't seem to count. As well as a mentality of "you won't get very far in life just working the HR hours" as stated by my two up.

Extra hours are not a big deal when needed, i.e. weekends and 14 hour days while one of my projects is executing, but do I want to work unpaid overtime every day just to show some face time at the office, heck no.

The last complication here is that I am living in a work camp at the mine site so don't actually go home every night. Because of this the mentality is that since you're at site you may as well work. Personally I would much finish my work, head back to camp, eat, gym, read, bed and repeat compared to work, eat, sleep, repeat.

NESailor

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #18 on: January 23, 2017, 07:51:01 AM »
Hahaha, this is hilarious.  I'm also a CPA, did a tour in Big 4 (also graduated in 2007).  I'm in industry now - medium size sub of a global multibillion private enterprise.  I work a couple of weekends per year and leave the office before 5:15 on MOST days.  Pay is good, not terrific but good enough for the schedule.  I have 2 little kids and do most of the cooking at home (I like it).  Overall, I still put in 60+ hours of work if you add all the cooking I do, haha!

My former colleagues are mostly higher up on the payscale in our general region than I am but they still do the whole humble brag about working OT on weekends.  Case in point, one of them was working yesterday (Sunday) while his 2 kids were celebrating HIS birthday at home.  Fuck me sideways.  I'd estimate he makes about 50% more money than I do in the same town but I'm not at all sure it's worth it.  My 100K/year goes pretty far already and I see my kids WAY more than he sees his.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'd like to pose a question: would you guys give up family time or a hypothetical 30% to 50% raise - specifically from 100K to 130-150K?  I'd say we currently stash about 70K-80K year as it is (wife works too).

Good luck dude - there are jobs out there that still pay well and don't require the kind of BS you're dealing with!

pbkmaine

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #19 on: January 23, 2017, 07:55:34 AM »
I am a CPA and worked in the Big 4 for years. Where I worked, "face time" was important. You were supposed to get in before the partners and work until they left. What I noticed was how many people left for a few hours in the middle of the day to exercise and run errands. It was very subtle - they just slipped out. I eventually left for a consulting firm with more regular hours and then shifted to work primarily from home.

My first CEO at the consulting firm did have an interesting quirk, though. He hated when people left early on holiday weekends. He would walk the halls counting who was still there and who was not. His point was that we had a very generous vacation package, just take the day off. So I would stay late every holiday Friday, and the CEO would eventually end up in my office and we would talk, then walk to catch the train. I learned a lot about the company and his thought processes. DH, very astute at office politics, encouraged this.

Greystache

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #20 on: January 23, 2017, 08:24:27 AM »
It's a job. hat's why they pay you. If it was fun there would be a cover charge. I went through the same thing. Worked 60 hr. weeks for two years straight. Worked remotely while on vacation. Hated every minute because I knew deep down inside that most of it was bullshit work that did  not really matter.  I stuck with it longer than I should have. I survived three rounds of layoffs. Made an obscene amount of money and quit early.  I tried the usual coping mechanisms. Tried to be grateful that I had a good paying job and a nice office and mostly nice coworkers. That worked for a while. Towards the end, I just stopped working overtime and cut way back on travel. Like others have noted, there really were no consequences.  Still kept my job and still got raises. If I had to do it over again, I don't think I would have worked so hard. I do love early retirement, but I'm not sure the end justified the means.

Sibley

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #21 on: January 23, 2017, 08:26:58 AM »
CPA here, also graduated 2007. I spent 6 years in public accounting (audit), but regional to mid size firms, not Big 4. I was burned out on travel and didn't want to be an audit manager, so I switched to internal audit. So far, I'm happy here. The company I'm at has little to no travel (I've traveled for training twice in 2.5 years). Almost everyone takes transit, so leaving at the same time everyday is the norm. Unless you've got the work to justify it, there's no overtime.

However, I've spoken with people at other companies and other depts where I am, and it really does depend on where you are. The finance/accounting depts have hard deadlines with monthly/quarterly/annual close and reporting, plus the external audit. Depending on staffing and culture, those can have a ton of hours. Same with internal audit.

I've found it's really me getting my work done well, being available when I really need to be, and the rest of the time I leave on time. I typically leave at 4, if I'm really busy, 5. But if I leave later than that, my commute gets really screwed up and my mgmt  knows it.

acroy

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #22 on: January 23, 2017, 08:39:54 AM »
I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'd like to pose a question: would you guys give up family time or a hypothetical 30% to 50% raise - specifically from 100K to 130-150K? 
No - the marginal pay increase is not worth the family time decrease.
I am in a different field but similar situation. Earn around 100, but get significant family time. There are busy times at work, and I have to travel a few times a year. The next step up, forgetaboutit.

Slee_stack

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #23 on: January 23, 2017, 09:46:55 AM »
Hell no to OT, unless you are getting paid for it.

I have trouble enough logging 40 hrs and keeping my sanity.

There are plenty here who seem to love playing the martyr of 50 and 60 hours here though.

Glad I'm not one of them.


Nick_Miller

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #24 on: January 23, 2017, 12:01:55 PM »
I would always break it down on an hourly wage basis. If more work/longer hours are required, higher pay should immediately result. So would I consider working longer hours if it brought guaranteed higher paychecks, effective immediately? Maybe!

Would I work my ass off 60 hours a week hoping to advance long-term, with no immediate financial benefit? At this point in my career, hell no.

Last Night

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #25 on: January 23, 2017, 12:05:37 PM »
it wasn't worth spending all my evenings and weekends working and stressing about reports and numbers that everyone seems to forget about as soon as the fire drill is over. 



This really sums up my frustrations, I went over this thread and responses (thanks to all for sharing, feels better tbh) and this quote really resonated with me.  While the hours can get annoying I am not pulling 80 hour weeks back to back, I think it's mostly the type of work and sense of urgency and stupidity from the day to day (common place everywhere), but it's just a lot more prevalent while working long hours.

Another work weekend nailed down finishing Sunday at 9:30pm only to start at 5:30am today.  If I am going to quit, it will be this week.

Last Night

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #26 on: January 23, 2017, 12:07:42 PM »
Dude you sound like me 20 years ago.  I'm a CPA in Canada.  I remember the day i basically snapped - was working a tonne of OT for non Big 4 and partner came back to the bullpen to give me yet another rush file.  I told him in front of six other students I wasn't working any more OT and I'd get to it when I got to it.  The looks all around were incredulous.  Guess what.....nothing ever happened to me. 

Currently I'm in industry as a controller.   I am out the door except for maybe 5-6 days per year at 4:30 (the official close time).  Everyone else from what I hear from the HR lady doesn't start leaving until 5:30. I have no idea why.  But guess this...my cohort in the accounting department is also a 60+ hour work week guy.  Doesn't make sense as I did his job and had no issues getting it done in 40 hours, I have no idea why some people are so inefficient at work...perhaps they have nothing waiting for them at home they want to get to??  I have heard a few comments about my slack work schedule....none from people that sign my cheque so quite frankly FUCK OFF is what i want to tell them.  My boss was let go 6 months ago due to downturn in the economy...so basically everyone in finance had to do abit more.  Guess what - he was there 60+ hours every week and we have had no issues covering for his absence.  I have no idea how he spent all that time at work besides micro managing us.

From my first few weeks in public practice it boggled my mind that the partners in their 60's were still grinding a desk.  One guy surely was a multi multi millionaire...why in the hell would you choose to grind a desk rather then enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Right then and there I knew I would not be like them.

My last job was a Controller, I did the gig for 3 years and looking back it was probably the best bang for buck position I had.  I rarely worked long hours, I had only a team of 6 to worry about and everything was within my control, my division, my variances, my problems, my explanations.  I knew my numbers, a couple extra hours at month end and I was golden.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2017, 01:05:17 PM by Last Night »

MMMdude

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #27 on: January 23, 2017, 12:14:48 PM »
I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'd like to pose a question: would you guys give up family time or a hypothetical 30% to 50% raise - specifically from 100K to 130-150K? 
No - the marginal pay increase is not worth the family time decrease.
I am in a different field but similar situation. Earn around 100, but get significant family time. There are busy times at work, and I have to travel a few times a year. The next step up, forgetaboutit.

Oh hell no.  Next step would be CFO.  Probably 30-50K uptick in pay but a fair amount of travel and extra BS to deal with

runewell

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #28 on: January 23, 2017, 12:29:35 PM »
I work as an actuary (for an insurance company, not consulting).  I come in at 7:00-7:15 every morning, eat my lunch at my desk, and leave between 3:30-3:45.  On the few occasions I have lunch with a group I will stick around longer, but otherwise no thank you I have worked my 8 hours and I am leaving.  Technically I stay closer to 8 1/2 but I figure I do enough surfing that I owe it to them.

With This Herring

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #29 on: January 23, 2017, 12:32:05 PM »
I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'd like to pose a question: would you guys give up family time or a hypothetical 30% to 50% raise - specifically from 100K to 130-150K? 

Hahaha, nope.  One thing I decided before starting work was that I would never put work ahead of loved ones in a big way.  I have taken days off during busy times because DBF was home very sick and miserable.  I pushed and pushed to be allowed to work my minimum hours M-F during certain weeks of Tax Season so for the weekend I could travel 3.5 hours to the city where my family lives.  I told the partners flat-out when I was hired that I had no ambition to ever become a partner.  They have a crazy divorce rate...

I worked for a medium-size firm, but besides Tax Season there was a huge client audit for a few months every summer.  It was this massive thing that mean another month-plus of Tax Season hours for a few of us key employees.  That and certain habits of one of my bosses were what led me to quit my job to take a break.

When I go back to work, I want to be full-charge bookkeeper/financial controller for a construction company of approximately 100 employees.  Full control, fun job-cost schedules (nerd alert!), great wages, and a reasonable schedule.

Jouer

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #30 on: January 23, 2017, 02:16:25 PM »
I spent 10 years in consulting firms where OT was the norm. Researcher/statistician here.

At one place, logging 10 hours of OT a week was considered slacking. At my first job I worked OT Monday to Thursday and some Sundays. On Fridays my boss would kick me out of the office at 3:30 with instructions to beeline to the nearest pub. He knew he had a good thing going with me and a couple of my colleagues in the same boat. I learned a lot there but couldn't keep that going longer than 14 months before moving on.

After 10 years I decided that was enough of that and moved in-house. It. Has. Been. Glorious. !! Lucked into a firm where I work from home 80% of the time. Lots of work to get done but I get to walk the dog during large conference calls, work from the patio on nice days.

Gal2016

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #31 on: January 23, 2017, 03:03:43 PM »
I work in healthcare management.  There's big pressure to be available 24-7, if not literally there, then via email or phone.  I've been in management for 12 years now and just decided it wasn't worth it.  I don't do emails after I leave for the day or on weekends. And I leave after 8 hours. I'm salaried, so I could leave earlier (because I get paid "for a body of work") but don't because that would ruffle too many feathers.  I leave all that for the younger up-and-comers.  I'm not making as much as a I used to, and maybe that has given me a sense that my job is replaceable.

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Re: Putting in long hours in an office environment? Get in here.
« Reply #32 on: January 24, 2017, 03:38:01 PM »
Another CPA here.  I have only had to work extra a few times during the audit.  My boss doesn't care about putting in any extra time.  No need to work extra as long as I get all my responsibilities done on time.  So I work hard and make sure I don't have to stay late to finish things up.
« Last Edit: August 21, 2017, 12:11:06 PM by Proud Foot »