8 ms·

Given a choice, I think 8x4 would be more sensible in terms of benefits. The best use of free time is enjoyable experiences outside work, which is more doable

Given a choice, I think 8x4 would be more sensible in terms of benefits. The best use of free time is enjoyable experiences outside work, which is more doable when you have it without interruptions of a work schedule. Five hours a day is awesome if you have a hobby or a side project; not so much if you want to travel. The second reason is the time it takes to level up and actually start working. Honestly, this could be lessened if I didn't check reddit & HN first thing after I start working but I have grown a bit habitual to it. At any given day, five hours of focused work is much better than eight hours filled with distractions, but I haven't found the magical solution to make that (super-focused work) happen. Personally, I don't have much of an issue with working hours. The main issue is I can't enjoy long stretches of vacation. Yes, it's possible to sacrifice some of your salary to go wild, but you can't do it without getting a frown from your superiors.

wiz21c 9y ago
Right now I work 4 days out of 5. I'm paid 4 and my retirement plan will be 4/5th too. But at the same time, I work on personal projects. I also choose my day off on tuesday. Because tuesday is not an extended weekend, so it's "my own projects day" and it's the first day like that in the week so I'm not tired like I'd be on, say thursday. I have to work until 67 in my country. So when I'll be off, I'll be way to tired to start new stuff. Moreover, after 50 years old, I'll get a good chance of getting cancer or some other life-changing disease. So I think it's better if I take my time right now... Final note : this holds because my job is not a dream job, so my return-on-time-investment is weak (I don't consider the ability to buy a big car or around-the-world vacations, or top-notch-phone to be a good return on the time I spend at work)
- ianai 9y ago
  What's the job? I would like that flexibility.
  - wiz21c 9y ago
    Your regular IT manager. I work in a private company and my skills are rented to governments. I like it because it's private but the benefit of my work helps others. I worked in other industries and the balance was not like that; it was more my boss makes a ton of money on me, selling stuff that I don't consider much...
- deathhand 9y ago
  Out of curiosity how do you value yourself? If you are able to have the pinnacle of technology in your hand connected to the global information storage while traveling easily. What more do you think this world has to offer you? Do you want servants?
  - teddythetwig 9y ago
    I can't speak for the parent, but some people value experiences over things
    - hueving 9y ago
      Given that I'm actually in the former camp due to my love of travel, the way you phrased this is pretty condescending to people who hate spending money on concerts, hotels, airlines, etc. Additionally, many people who like to buy 'things' are getting them for the experiences they provide. For example, it's hard to argue that someone who buys a VR system or a hot tub isn't getting 'experiences' when they use them with family and friends. Just something to consider if you ever use this to berate people too 'materialistic' for your tastes.
      - cr1895 9y ago
        I'm curious how did you interpret the comment above so negatively? Not clear to me how it was a value judgment or condescending in the slightest.
        notduncansmith 9y ago
        My experience (in the US, for context) over the past few years is that valued judgement and condescension are far more common than they used to be, so GP may be more inclined to interpret things that way.
      - teddythetwig 9y ago
        I'm not passing any judgement or condemnation. Everyone is allowed spend their money as they like, as well as value what they like. I was more aggravated by the tone of your final two questions "What more do you think this world has to offer you? Do you want servants?" As if one's desire to discover the amazing things our world has to offer is a bad thing...
- lostlogin 9y ago
  The great thing about having Tuesdays off in NZ is that stat days are usually Mondays - you catch nearly all the stats as paid days and get an extra long weekend.
- beejiu 9y ago
  > I have to work until 67 in my country. I presume you mean you have to work until 67 if you rely on the state to fund your retirement?
  - switch007 9y ago
    Depends how you interpret it. Could also be due to any of the following: - low wages meaning lower contributions - low investment returns - changes to the tax system - they started contributing signifiant amounts later in life due to other pressures
    - wiz21c 9y ago
      I'm just following the "system" here. Nothing fancy. I'm not in a situation where I can retire earlier. I could do it, but for that I'd have to make a ton of money, which implies competing with people which may be better at selling themselves than me. I'm afraid I wouldn't perform very well in such context.
  - wiz21c 9y ago
    Yep, exactly. Additional pension fund is, well, risky :-)
- kristerv 9y ago
  i like the idea that tuesday is the day off. Makes sense.
- fivestar 9y ago
  I have mentioned to others on HN many times--don't wait until the tail end of your life to do the things you want to do. Practically every low hours boat and low mileage RV has a former owner who "waited too long."
cr1895 9y ago
I recently switched to a 36 hour week from 40 hours, which fortunately is something enshrined by law in the Netherlands. I had the option of working 36 hours each week, but they wouldn't allow more than an 8 hour day. Having one half-day seemed to me like a total waste; not only do I still have to commute every day of the week, I'd only have a short amount of productive time. So now I do 40/32 and have every other Friday off. It's great. While I work 10% less, and nominally get paid 10% less, the way taxes work out I ultimately only make 7.xx% less.
- tjallingt 9y ago
  How funny, I recently started working and also opted for a 36 hour work week and use it to get fridays off every other week :D
markatkinson 9y ago
I had to give up my 4 day week recently for financial reasons. I miss it quite dearly and plan to get back on it ASAP. I am not even convinced I am getting more work done at work. Oh well.
Vinnl 9y ago
> Given a choice, I think 8x4 would be more sensible in terms of benefits. It is, and I'm working 4*9 now which is great for my spare time and great for maintaining proper income/benefits. That said, I very much agree with the sentiment in the article: it feels like cheating the company. The extra hour a day is even less productive. That said, I don't really feel guilty as the option described in the post is not available here. Work is important to me, but my spare time more so. I'm willing to work on a compromise to optimise the two, but then both sides have to bring something to the table (e.g. pay cut from me, more time off from my employer).
- 2muchcoffeeman 9y ago
  > That said, I very much agree with the sentiment in the article: it feels like cheating the company. The extra hour a day is even less productive. I don't know why you feel like you're cheating them. Management are human too. They know you aren't productive for the entire day or choose to believe you are.
  - Vinnl 9y ago
    I know, but it's a bit like I'm spreading the 4 hours I was "supposed" to do on the fifth day over the four other days, even though they'd be far more productive on the fifth.

wiz21c 9y ago

Right now I work 4 days out of 5. I'm paid 4 and my retirement plan will be 4/5th too. But at the same time, I work on personal projects. I also choose my day off on tuesday. Because tuesday is not an extended weekend, so it's "my own projects day" and it's the first day like that in the week so I'm not tired like I'd be on, say thursday. I have to work until 67 in my country. So when I'll be off, I'll be way to tired to start new stuff. Moreover, after 50 years old, I'll get a good chance of getting cancer or some other life-changing disease. So I think it's better if I take my time right now... Final note : this holds because my job is not a dream job, so my return-on-time-investment is weak (I don't consider the ability to buy a big car or around-the-world vacations, or top-notch-phone to be a good return on the time I spend at work)

ianai 9y ago
What's the job? I would like that flexibility.
- wiz21c 9y ago
  Your regular IT manager. I work in a private company and my skills are rented to governments. I like it because it's private but the benefit of my work helps others. I worked in other industries and the balance was not like that; it was more my boss makes a ton of money on me, selling stuff that I don't consider much...
deathhand 9y ago
Out of curiosity how do you value yourself? If you are able to have the pinnacle of technology in your hand connected to the global information storage while traveling easily. What more do you think this world has to offer you? Do you want servants?
- teddythetwig 9y ago
  I can't speak for the parent, but some people value experiences over things
  - hueving 9y ago
    Given that I'm actually in the former camp due to my love of travel, the way you phrased this is pretty condescending to people who hate spending money on concerts, hotels, airlines, etc. Additionally, many people who like to buy 'things' are getting them for the experiences they provide. For example, it's hard to argue that someone who buys a VR system or a hot tub isn't getting 'experiences' when they use them with family and friends. Just something to consider if you ever use this to berate people too 'materialistic' for your tastes.
    - cr1895 9y ago
      I'm curious how did you interpret the comment above so negatively? Not clear to me how it was a value judgment or condescending in the slightest.
      - notduncansmith 9y ago
        My experience (in the US, for context) over the past few years is that valued judgement and condescension are far more common than they used to be, so GP may be more inclined to interpret things that way.
    - teddythetwig 9y ago
      I'm not passing any judgement or condemnation. Everyone is allowed spend their money as they like, as well as value what they like. I was more aggravated by the tone of your final two questions "What more do you think this world has to offer you? Do you want servants?" As if one's desire to discover the amazing things our world has to offer is a bad thing...
lostlogin 9y ago
The great thing about having Tuesdays off in NZ is that stat days are usually Mondays - you catch nearly all the stats as paid days and get an extra long weekend.
beejiu 9y ago
> I have to work until 67 in my country. I presume you mean you have to work until 67 if you rely on the state to fund your retirement?
- switch007 9y ago
  Depends how you interpret it. Could also be due to any of the following: - low wages meaning lower contributions - low investment returns - changes to the tax system - they started contributing signifiant amounts later in life due to other pressures
  - wiz21c 9y ago
    I'm just following the "system" here. Nothing fancy. I'm not in a situation where I can retire earlier. I could do it, but for that I'd have to make a ton of money, which implies competing with people which may be better at selling themselves than me. I'm afraid I wouldn't perform very well in such context.
- wiz21c 9y ago
  Yep, exactly. Additional pension fund is, well, risky :-)
kristerv 9y ago
i like the idea that tuesday is the day off. Makes sense.
fivestar 9y ago
I have mentioned to others on HN many times--don't wait until the tail end of your life to do the things you want to do. Practically every low hours boat and low mileage RV has a former owner who "waited too long."

cr1895 9y ago

I recently switched to a 36 hour week from 40 hours, which fortunately is something enshrined by law in the Netherlands. I had the option of working 36 hours each week, but they wouldn't allow more than an 8 hour day. Having one half-day seemed to me like a total waste; not only do I still have to commute every day of the week, I'd only have a short amount of productive time. So now I do 40/32 and have every other Friday off. It's great. While I work 10% less, and nominally get paid 10% less, the way taxes work out I ultimately only make 7.xx% less.

tjallingt 9y ago
How funny, I recently started working and also opted for a 36 hour work week and use it to get fridays off every other week :D

markatkinson 9y ago

I had to give up my 4 day week recently for financial reasons. I miss it quite dearly and plan to get back on it ASAP. I am not even convinced I am getting more work done at work. Oh well.

Vinnl 9y ago

> Given a choice, I think 8x4 would be more sensible in terms of benefits. It is, and I'm working 4*9 now which is great for my spare time and great for maintaining proper income/benefits. That said, I very much agree with the sentiment in the article: it feels like cheating the company. The extra hour a day is even less productive. That said, I don't really feel guilty as the option described in the post is not available here. Work is important to me, but my spare time more so. I'm willing to work on a compromise to optimise the two, but then both sides have to bring something to the table (e.g. pay cut from me, more time off from my employer).

2muchcoffeeman 9y ago
> That said, I very much agree with the sentiment in the article: it feels like cheating the company. The extra hour a day is even less productive. I don't know why you feel like you're cheating them. Management are human too. They know you aren't productive for the entire day or choose to believe you are.
- Vinnl 9y ago
  I know, but it's a bit like I'm spreading the 4 hours I was "supposed" to do on the fifth day over the four other days, even though they'd be far more productive on the fifth.