Plan B Forum

The OECD did a study on the length of the work day around the world, and the results will likely be a surprise to many:

1. Mexico: 9 hours, 54 minutes

Total minutes worked per day: 594

Total unpaid minutes worked per day: 253

Total paid minutes worked per day: 342

Mexicans work more than any other people worldwide. "Mexico's undeserved stereotype for indolence is finally being chipped away," says the Monitor's bureau chief in Mexico City, Sara Miller Llana. "Don’t buy it? Then I can offer an arsenal of anecdotal evidence, starting with myself. Years ago when I was living in Boston, a phone call after 11 p.m. was likely a friend just back from a first date. Now, as a reporter based in Mexico City, when my phone rings at that hour I assume it is Los Pinos, the White House of Mexico."

Every day, Mexicans work nearly 3 hours longer every day than Belgians and more than 1-1/2 hours longer a day than Americans, according to the OECD study.

So much for the misperceptions of Mexicans as lazy.

Jspan, Portugal, Canada and Estonia rounded out the top five.

Yeah, the stereotypes are just that. But let us not generalize here. [I hate broad brush generalization!]

I do more work by accident by noon in a day than most folks do all day. Currently running around between 60 to 70 hours per week.

And I am pretty sure that I am not alone in that. Just saying.

...and that's just in Mexico! I assume this survey considers a week- five days of work? I try to work six days a week, and know more than a few vatos who are wiling to work seven.

I'd have to conclude that you are not the norm for the States Tim.

In paid employment I work 45 hours for a five day week. In a volunteer capacity I do 32 hours a month.

In unpaid work (eg housework) I would pull around 15 hours a week I guess, but possible more. It is a bit intangible to try and add all those bits up.

I work 36 hours a week, on a seven day shift roster.

I legally CANNOT work more than 60 hours/week. I hit that limit at times in the summer.

The owners of my shop had to post this in writing on the message board;

'No working more than 12 hours a day'

and;

'No more coming in on Sunday!'

...to stop the Mexicans from doing it.

It's not like he cares about our health and well- being; it's just that after that much time on the clock you gotta pay out mucho grandes overtme.
See, Latinos are more greedy than lazy.

I do 50 a week on average. They are all paid hours.

Luckily for me, I only have to work for 8 hours a day for the next couple of weeks. I have reduced hours until I am able to sit for longer than an hour.

Well I am employed from the time my feet hit the floor until they rest again in bed. That's retirement for you. When I was working I averaged 60 to 70 hours per week, everything over 8 hours per day was overtime.

There is another explanation:

Working too many hours is a life out of balance. On a national scale it is a measure of ineffective and/or low-paid labor.

yrs,
rubato

rubato wrote:Working too many hours is a life out of balance. On a national scale it is a measure of ineffective and/or low-paid labor.

yrs,
rubato

Balance Shmalance. It's called survival. And if you want to send some of that Undo surplus my way; I will gladly cut back on my hours.

Or you could just Shut the hell up, and take a long walk off of a short pier.

'Cha, I prefer to feel productive, than idle. Better busy, than bored say I

As of today, I have clocked 33.25 hours this week. Well, looks like I'm not working Staurday after all.

I have taken a long look at the hours I put in here on the farm. I try to do a little of everything not doing to much so my days are a smooth and constant row of jobs. Most of the time I start at 6.30 having a break at 8.30 to drive young bloke to school.
Coffee and back to it by 10 (harf hour to and from town) smoko mid day you get the idea

But I watched my dad now 87 work full time till he was 80 and was often pulling up to 80 hours a week.
Now he is losing his facilties memery is shot and he get the shakes now and then.
I don't mind working but I never want to be that dependant on my work for satisfaction or fulfilment of life that it takes over.

I think if you put in a fair days work, not so much the hours but the quolity of the job you should be happy.

The government industrial and farm workers committee inspector came to van der Merwe's farm. "how many people do you employ here?" he asked. Two, was the reply. "Tell me about them" said the inspector.

"OK well the first one has worked for me for 30 years. He is in good health and I pay for his insurance. I pay him 4 rands above the legal minimum; provide two meals per day. He has a small house rent-free with electricity paid; he starts at 9 and ends at 3pm and he does about 30% of the work on this farm. He has 22 days off each year according to the government manual".

The inspector made notes and asked about the second employee

"Ag, that one!" says van der Merwe. "The slow one. He's been here longer. Began working for my parents when they lived. He is not so healthy and he is for sure soft in the head. He works from 4 a.m. until 10 at night so he does maybe 70% of the work. He has to pay for his own insurance, electricity and food but he doesn't earn enough to do that most times. He gets no holidays except perhaps 2 or 3 in the year"

"Aha!" said the inspector, "never mind the first man, I want to speak to the second one"

"You already are" said van der Merwe

if you changed that to a wood working shop it would be my old man.
and if I hadn't got away I would of been the second worker without any of the beniffits