Anyone Work Only During Business Hours?

[Anonymous]

I am an attorney for the government. I work 8:30 to 4:30. My boss let's me work during lunch, so I can leave early. I also telework 2 or 3x per week. I have to leave from work at a certain time to pick up DD. Wouldn't trade this arrangement for all the money in the world...

[Anonymous]

I'm another government attorney. I work 8-4:30. I always leave on time, never work nights, and have probably only worked once on a weekend.

[Anonymous]

I work for a Health Insurance Company from 7-4 with a one hour lunch. I like getting in early and getting the hell home early!!

[Anonymous]

I'm an 8 to 4:30. Government lawyer here. Work from home one day a week, only take work home maybe once a month. Usually check e-mail once before going to bed to see any e-mails that came in after 4:30. But very reasonable, and well-paid, in my opinion, for the flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Another gov worker here I work 8-4:30 M-Thurs...GOV is the way to go!

[Anonymous]

I am lawyer. I worked for a small firm for way too long and worked way too many hours, way too many weekends, and was expected to take on call hours, be available to talk to my boss well into the evening hours, etc. Frankly, I now know that I waited WAY too long to leave. I work for myself now. My start time is whenever I need to show up for my first case in court. Usually 9am or later -- no earlier than 8:30am and I live no more than 20 mins from the courthouses in which I appear. My end time is whenever I decide that I am done for the day. Today, 4pm. Tomorrow earlier than that b/c I am taking my daughter to a friend's b'day party. I do work weekends when I have a trial coming up or I get behind. I work some evenings when I need to get something done for the next day, but it is rare. My only regret is that I tried to work things out with my former firm and wound up staying as long as I did. I wish I had struck out on my own sooner. I am making less money right now, but within 6 months of leaving I will be making more.

[Anonymous]

When I first became a mom, I worked for a small law firm. Made great money, but the schedule was intolerable. A few months after going back to work, I went to a government job. During a two week period, I now work 75 hours during nine working days. I can't say I never work over, but it's so rare that I can't even quantify it. And, it never interferes with my family life because on the unusual occasiont that it happens, I can do it after my kids go to sleep. While it was a huge pay cut, I still make in the low 6 figures and that is more than enough to make ends meet. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

[Anonymous]

I am a government attorney -- for the most part its 9-5:30 but periodically I work nights and weekends as well as travel.

[Anonymous]

I work for the gov't and always leave on time, have flexibility, accrue decent leave (sick and vacation) and can earn credit hours if I have to work late. However, I took a significant pay cut to take this job, but it is closer to my home and my kids have on-site daycare.

[Anonymous]

I work for a professional Association and generally work 7 to 3. Since I leave before most I always try to check emails in the afternoon just so that I don't hold anyone else up trying to get things done. I do often work weekends and will catch up with stuff in the evenings if possible. My co-workers know that there is little time with very yound children that I can be home while they are awake and can play / interact - so that time is off limits but I am happy to play catch up when they are asleep.

[Anonymous]

I work for a major corporation in their government relations office and have a pretty high level job. I work 8-5 and usually work through lunch (I do things like business related reading during lunch). I just started in January but so far I am not called at home or on the weekends. I have not had to stay late.

I cannot telecommunte or work from home if DS is sick, but I also get comp time that I can use.

I think your immediate supervisor makes all of the difference. It does not matter if it is male or female, it just matters what their parenting style and work style is. My last supervisor was a woman with a small child and she claimed to be flexible, but if you had an emergency she let you leave....but you certainly heard about it later. My current supervisor is a woman with grown children and she seems to be more understanding about things, like she reminds me that I need to leave at 5pm.

[Anonymous]

Another government lawyer -- 8am-5pm three days/week, but fairly regularly have to do work on days off, and always tied to blackberry. But it's still worth it for the extra days with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Another govt lawyer -- also with a very predictable schedule and a family friendly office - it's fabulous

That's not to say that something doesn't once in a while come up that might mean an hour on the computer in the evening, but it is rare.

That said -- since you've been hearing from so many of us, I think the key -- at least in my office -- is that most of us came to our office from big firms and took significant pay cuts, like 40-150%. That's not to say the pay is bad, I actually think it is pretty good and fair for the hours and responsibilities, but I think it keeps the hours in check for most of us because if we were willing to/expected to work crazy hours, well, we could go elsewhere pretty easily and make a lot more money doing it.

I think what I'm saying without knowing your field is that getting a situation like this I think depends on being fairly in demand in your field and maybe doing something that's a little bit off the fast track where you'd have to have this kind of trade off or it wouldn't be worth it to do.

[Anonymous]

I am a physician. I left my full-time job and found one where I can work 8:30-5. I leave by 5:15 no matter what. When my 4:45 patient shows up late I have the nurses tell them they can choose to reschedule or see me in whatever limited time is remaining, but I won't stay late. I take no call and have no beeper. But I did negotiate this up front and was very blunt about it before even agreeing to interview for the position. The fact is, my nanny has to leave by 6 so she can pick up her kids, and it takes me that long to get home. So I never stay late and though I'm sure the other docs don't love that, they don't complain because they knew that when they hired me.

[Anonymous]

Ok- off topic and I'll post there too- but with all the govn't answers.. Does anyone know HOW to get a job with the government? I would love to work for the govn't (have strong qualifications- advanced degree etc.). My resume just goes to a black hole.