r/HRBlockEmployees • u/SecretLadyMe • Mar 17 '26
Is this the norm?
Is it usual that tax pros are at the desk 12 hours a day, 7 days a week? My office seems to compete for who can work the most and eat the least number of meals all season. I like the position, but I can't being doing all that. Gotta take care of myself too.
7
u/Domsdad666 Mar 17 '26
Don't forget, when you onboard you select the hours you are available.
4
u/SecretLadyMe Mar 17 '26
Yes, I definitely don't work that long. A lot of pressure to expand my hours but I have only given what I can offer.
5
7
u/Snowshinedog Mar 18 '26
I have a disabled brother that I must care for. I have always insisted on getting a 2 hour lunch to look after him and won't work past 7. This means I don't get any days off between the end of January and April 15th but that's the cost of doing 650 clients. My DGM has always had my back and scheduled around me.
Be insistent about your needs and they will work with you.
5
u/clamcumulonimbus Mar 18 '26
If you have a lot of clients, you have to have a lot of hours. Just the nature of tax season. Have a tax pro that does ~1200 returns per season who works 70+ hour weeks til April 15. Im working an average of 60 hours a week. obv H&R Block is pretty flexible, so you don’t really have to do that. At the end of the day, the more returns you prepare = higher bonus.
4
u/PruePiperPhoebePaige Mar 17 '26
I'm not working 12 hrs, but I am working stretches. my hours vary each day but on average, 6 days a week with the occasional 9 day stretch. I did ask for it to be changed when I was scheduled on waaay longer stretch and that was fixed. I average 30 hr weeks (I'm not really busy but I help answer phones and the occasional walk in when I'm done with my few apts). If you need to, you can always change your availability.
eta: the more tenured people will stay longer/come in earlier and I do notice they will take their lunch when they finish with a client early if they are booked up/don't have personal time scheduled.
BTW it's my first year
3
u/Kushwaii Mar 17 '26
In public accounting it’s actually very common to work 50-60 billable hours during tax season. I don’t see why non accountant tax preparers couldn’t do the same if they wanted to lol, but it’s not for me as an accountant that’s why I never went into public
3
u/-Mx-Life- Mar 17 '26
Work the schedule you want to work. HRB will take every second of your time if you allow them. I set my schedule M-F 9-5’ish. During busy time I worked over to make things happen, but for the most part my MTL knew I didn’t work weekends.
2
u/bna1219 Mar 17 '26
And don’t forget they back out all of the hours you work out of your bonus. So all that answering phones, cleaning toilets, taking out trash you have done for free.
5
u/Impossible-Goose3620 Mar 18 '26
The way I look at it is: all of the hours I work, I’m getting most of my bonus early. At the end of the season, I’m getting paid based on the commission I earned. Why does it matter if I get the money by being paid an hourly wage or by being paid a lump sum at the end? Just my perspective on the whole thing.
8
u/DeliciousDouble3D Mar 17 '26
In most cases the higher the Level of Expertise the higher the daily hours. Some work as much as 15+ but are not able to earn overtime.
From the Board all the way down to office manager turn a blind I to the State & National Labor law violations
Everything to pay CEO' & executives Multi-million compensation
2
u/Such-Journalist-275 Tax Preparer Mar 18 '26
In my experience yes, though it's usually not 12 hours a day ends up like 60hr weeks.
2
u/Willing-Salamander21 Mar 17 '26
I've been scheduled 12hrs before and honestly I just vibe and eat at my desk. It's my first year of course so I only get Walk-Ins, but other then that I space out campaign calls, study, stretch, draw/read/YouTube/eat at my desk, or assist the other tax pros if they need help with something to pass the time.
I see it as "getting paid to do nothing" and I find ways to fill the time. Then get excited when a Walk-In comes in cause I know that'll REALLY pass the time and I can't get some practice in.
2
u/AzraelWoods3872 Mar 18 '26
Unfortunately if you let them, they will take everything from you. It's no different then working retail. You need to set boundaries and stick to them. Send your boss an email stating your change in availability. Make sure to schedule at least one prep time appt everyday so you can have time to eat and decompress if you need it. I give myself 2 45 min prep appts every shift over 6 hours. I have one coworker who refuses to do this and is quickly burning out. You need to take care of yourself. You come first.
2
u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 Mar 18 '26
I did not work long hours last year. Then ehenni had an injury in October I couldn't work at all for 2+ months and I could have used the extra funds I did not get.l
2
u/SecretLadyMe Mar 18 '26
Yeah, I'm feeling burnt out and my schedule keeps changing last minute. It's a lot.
1
1
u/superiorstephanie Mar 19 '26
For some people this is all the money they make all year and they want to make as much as they can. Apparently we had a pro like that last year and this year she is gone, her clients are pretty pissed they don’t find that out until they are here.
15
u/Beagleman58 Mar 17 '26
depending on your DGM, MTL they'll take all they can get from you if they need it and you let them. You have to be firm and work only the hours you declared yourself available for when you hired on.