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Which profession gives the most "free time" while at work?
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Anonymous
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Inspired by the other thread discussing how long we really work I'm daring to ask: What kind of job you do that gives you so much free time?
I would love to hear about people's routine. I'm considering changing careers and I thought it would be a good factor to consider. TIA |
Anonymous
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Is this a joke? I'll bet the govies will all answer at once - LOL! Glad my tax money's being put to good use - NOT. |
Anonymous
I'm sorry if it seems like a joke but it is not. Why do you think I'm joking? |
Anonymous
| I didn't post on that thread, but in my job, sometimes I can spend DAYS on personal stuff, surfing the 'net, chatting with co-workers, and reading trade journals. Of course, I also spend three days in a row in the same clothes working off of 30 minutes' sleep, no time for a shower and take a cab home for fresh undies because I'm scared I'll have an accident if I drive my car. I can also get called out of town, or even the country, at a moment's notice and have to make frantic phone calls to the Grandparents to fly in to watch the kids (and quickly book and pay for their same-day tickets). Does it still sound so dreamy that some days I mess around most of the day? Or that I pre-plan my kids' birthday parties at work four months in advance (just in case the party is during a crazy period that would not allow me to plan it then)? Be careful what you wish for. Everything comes at a price. |
Anonymous
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Gosh, 18:30, you need to get out more.
I work as a consultant to the fed govt, and am bowled over by how hard-working my clients and contacts are. They are scientists, for the most part, who could be making 10 times more money in the private sector, yet they choose to work for the government. These are people who have discovered genes, who present groundbreaking research at medical conferences, and whose names are known throughout the world as experts in their fields. And what do YOU do all day, 18:30? |
Anonymous
I'll guess she spends most of the day feeling sorry for herself -- this sounds like the poster who sees freeloaders and high taxes in just about every topic on DCUM. Sounds like it's painful to be her. |
Anonymous
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18:30 here - I'm a govie - LOL!
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Anonymous
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I don't think there is an industry or profession that is amenable to free time, I think it is the particular organization, team, etc.
I'm like some other posters where sometimes I work hard and am swamped all day and other weeks I have downtime when I'm surfing the net more, taking a longer lunch, etc. I took a pay cut to work 30 hours and yet I still get just as much done as when I worked 40. Also, I'm at a point in my profession where sometimes I'm paid for my ideas and I can accomplish a ton with a phone call, a lunch meeting, etc. It's not like I'm doing data entry or I'm working in a factory and producing a product - it is not that cut and dried. I don't work every week day, but the days I'm at work, I am expected to be there from about 9-5:30. So if I hit a wall at 5:05, accomplish something, and don't feel like starting another project, I have no problem checking personal e-mail, looking at DCUM or another web site, or chatting with a colleague about non work related issues. I have also come up with ideas in the middle of the night and ran down to the computer to get them down, or thought about work on the weekends or day off, and I always check in on my days off even when I'm not getting paid. So I feel like it all evens out. I don't know why some posters on this thread and the other related thread get so bent out of shape and take it so personally. Please. I am not a millionaire CEO. I do good work for a nonprofit and I'm proud of what I do. And as for government workers, I'm sorry but if they are a mom like me I have no problem with them making their child's pediatrician appointment during work or taking 5 minutes for themselves. There have been studies done that show people are more productive and creative when they take breaks to do non work related tasks. The bitterness and judgement on this board has gotten so out of hand lately. |
Anonymous
Then you should be ashamed to be abusing the public trust. I am not in government myself, but I hear endless complaints from husband and friends about how much of a pain it is to circumvent the "no loads"-- people who don't pull their weight but can't be dismissed. |
Anonymous
5 minutes for themselves or a few phone calls-- yes. Hours to surf the web, no. |
Anonymous
| i work in the budget department of a nonprofit and we have busy cycles and very un-busy times. I'm either extremely busy (and working late) during the quarterly or yearly reporting deadlines, or I have *nothing* to do. There's no in-between. I end up playing on the internet a lot during the dead times, and sneaking off for longer runs at lunch. I feel guilty about it, but I do my job well and took a substantial paycut to come here from the private sector, so I just roll with it. |
Anonymous
It would seem to me, then, that the nonprofit would be best managing its obligation to the public to use resources wisely by employing you as a consultant during busy cycles. Or you could find something to do during non-busy times that somehow contributes to the mission. |
Anonymous
| Not lawyer, that's for sure. |
Anonymous
Eh, I know a lawyer who works for the govt out of her house and she has PLENTY of time to surf the net, run errands, etc. She is not a slacker and does what is required of her, but she certainly seems to have a lot of free time. That said I know another friend who also is an attorney for the govt and she is so busy all the time. So it just depends. |
Anonymous
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Which profession gives the most "free time" while at work?
I'm going to go with......HUSBAND. I know of at least two. Mine and that XBOX playing Dad. 
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