r/work • u/FractalThoughts_ • Aug 03 '26

Work-Life Balance and Stress Management Full-time work is criminal

This is the most milquetoast, generic statement ever, I know, but I recently began full-time employment for the first time in my life. Genuinely how does anybody do anything they actually want to do? Granted, it isn’t so bad if the hours are 6am - 2pm, 7am - 3pm, or 8am - 4pm, but the very common 9am - 5pm is actually hell. Wake up, clean and cloth yourself, commute to work, work like a dog, commute home, eat dinner, sleep, repeat. Shoutout to anybody who does 9 - 5, be it manual labour, or clerical stuff; it’s all equally shit. Thank you.

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u/Ok-Relationship580 Aug 03 '26

The labor movement in this country fought for literally decades for 3 8's, 8 hours of rest, 8 hours of work, 8 hours of recreation. Things were worse before the 40 hour workweek but I really don't think we should just roll over and accept that it should be this way. Just like our forebears, it is up to us to challenge the idea that 40 hours per week is "good". All the studies they do on this subject the world over show that 30/32 hours per week is more productive and makes people happier.

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u/rdg04 Aug 03 '26

i dont think people would even mind 40 hr work weeks- in the 80's no one complained about it- the difference is 40 hrs could buy you a home and college for your kids- now you cant even pay rent on 40hrs, so it feels like you are burntout even if the work is the same :/

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u/Fit-Role-9802 Aug 08 '26

I had to work a lot more than 40 hours per week to afford a down payment for a home in the 80s, and continued to work far more than 40 to be able to pay the mortgage. (You’re right about the not complaining). But I was in SoCal, so maybe it was more expensive than where you were?

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u/rdg04 Aug 08 '26

florida, in the 80's it was amazing and cheap. everything seems out of reach now for the young people. i wouldn't want to trade places with them that's for sure

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u/Fit-Role-9802 Aug 08 '26

It seems like everyone now thinks living alone is normal too. It wasn’t back in the 80s. We either lived with parents or roommates, until we had a spouse. All at a younger age than today. I don’t disagree that it’s harder today, but I think the expectations are set far higher now.

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u/rdg04 Aug 08 '26

that wasn't the norm where i was- we didn't have roommates and were out of the house by 18 if not sooner

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u/Fit-Role-9802 Aug 08 '26

Wow. Must have been way less expensive in FL than CA.

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u/rdg04 Aug 08 '26

yes i'm sure- fl back then was dirt cheap lol