Does anyone actually work 80 hours a week?

[Anonymous]

I see posts where people are saying their spouse works 60-80 hours a week. Does anyone actually do that consistently? Example of 80 is 12 hours a day all week days and 5 hours each weekend day. I don’t believe people are doing that day in and day out.

[Anonymous]

I knew a management consultant type who probably came close to 80. But she was frankly not good at her job and eventually got fired.

[Anonymous]

Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

But are these people actually doing work or sitting in front of the computer spinning their wheels? Diminishing returns at some point right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

But are these people actually doing work or sitting in front of the computer spinning their wheels? Diminishing returns at some point right?

Isn’t that what management consultants do? Sit in front of screens spinning wheels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

But are these people actually doing work or sitting in front of the computer spinning their wheels? Diminishing returns at some point right?

Isn’t that what management consultants do? Sit in front of screens spinning wheels?

The amount of work will expand to meet the amount of free time. It never ends. Place is full of single or divorced people who live for the firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

But are these people actually doing work or sitting in front of the computer spinning their wheels? Diminishing returns at some point right?

Isn’t that what management consultants do? Sit in front of screens spinning wheels?

Of course it's diminishing returns. I worked those hours at a law firm for a few years. Everything done after about 8 pm takes longer than it should. You can improve it a little bit by saving your most mindless work for those hours but it's still not as productive as having two people split the task and work normal hours.
Of course, efficiency is not the name of the game, at those jobs.

[Anonymous]

Traveling, thinking about problems and arguments, being available to answer a client's or coworker's call at any time, etc. this is work too. Some jobs never stop. Even in the shower, you can't stop trying to figure out the answers to issues. Some people only stop working when they are asleep.

Its a big part of why kids and spouses complain that "even when you are here, you aren't here."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

My spouse is a partner at Deloitte. There have been rare phases of 80 hour weeks for 2-3 weeks at a time when proposals had super tight turn around, but I can count on one hand the number of times it’s happened in 20 years at the firm. It’s regularly 50 hours, 60 when there is a ton of firm extras to do. 80 is extremely rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traveling, thinking about problems and arguments, being available to answer a client's or coworker's call at any time, etc. this is work too. Some jobs never stop. Even in the shower, you can't stop trying to figure out the answers to issues. Some people only stop working when they are asleep.

Its a big part of why kids and spouses complain that "even when you are here, you aren't here."

Surely people who claim to work 80 hours aren't counting thinking in the shower time?

[Anonymous]

Yes. In biglaw. Although this year things slowed down a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see posts where people are saying their spouse works 60-80 hours a week. Does anyone actually do that consistently? Example of 80 is 12 hours a day all week days and 5 hours each weekend day. I don’t believe people are doing that day in and day out.

I did when I was a classroom teacher, now I’m part time and enjoying a better work/life balance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see posts where people are saying their spouse works 60-80 hours a week. Does anyone actually do that consistently? Example of 80 is 12 hours a day all week days and 5 hours each weekend day. I don’t believe people are doing that day in and day out.

I did when I was a classroom teacher, now I’m part time and enjoying a better work/life balance.

Same. I switched careers and love not having any paperwork to do at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. That’s what you do when you work at Deloitte to keep up with the Jones.

My spouse is a partner at Deloitte. There have been rare phases of 80 hour weeks for 2-3 weeks at a time when proposals had super tight turn around, but I can count on one hand the number of times it’s happened in 20 years at the firm. It’s regularly 50 hours, 60 when there is a ton of firm extras to do. 80 is extremely rare.

That’s because your spouse is a partner and/or maybe also because he’s in consulting (I am guessing based on your mention of proposals). I have non-partner friends who do audit at Big 4 and 80+ hours is pretty much required during the busy season.

[Anonymous]

I did 80 - 100 hours consistently for about 7 months as a mid-30 something. More than I ever consistently pulled in my younger days in an industry that is known for long hours. Will not do again. 50-60 hours, okay. 80-100…I am too old…took me a year to recover.