how do u feel about putting in OT at work?

[Goldy1]

I know this does not apply to many people. For instance, my jobs have been mainly part time in medical offices or schools. I have worked my 28 or 32 hours.
My husband has always worked full time and brought home the benefits. (not to mention an hourly wage of almost double mine) while I did all the housework, cooking, and shopping etc. to make up for division of labor.
He got laid off recently. He worked in computer aided design. He typically worked about 45 hours per week. His shop typically had the option of working more hours. By more hours I means over 50. He got his work done fast and jokingly complained how he didn't want to work more to his boss. His boss let me get away with 45ish b/c he got work done fast.
However, other guys would put in over 50 and even do work slow to get the fatter paycheck.
I don't think it was wrong of my dh to value family time and a personal life over a fat paycheck so I never said anything.
I sometimes wonder if my frugality made him feel too comfortable passing the hours. I really don't care about the extra money b/c I know that's a lot of hours to put in.

Now his ex shop is putting in almost 60 hours a week mandatory and there is a possibility they might call him back to work(alto I do not know anything for sure) and we have even questioned the fact of him not liking the hours preventing a call back.

[snafu]

Would DH be willing to go see his boss to see if there is any misconception in employer's mind about his committment to the company, the work and his willingness to work the hours required?

Many lay-offs relate back to the cost of benefits over and above the hourly rate. It can be more cost efficient to have current staff work over-time than bring back laid-off workers. It's also away for management to rid themselves of what they perceive to be 'dead-wood.'

[blankcheck]

Would DH be willing to go see his boss to see if there is any misconception in employer's mind about his committment to the company, the work and his willingness to work the hours required?

Many lay-offs relate back to the cost of benefits over and above the hourly rate. It can be more cost efficient to have current staff work over-time than bring back laid-off workers. It's also away for management to rid themselves of what they perceive to be 'dead-wood.'

I think this is accurate; your husband should try to find out what his ex-boss thought of his attitude. If everyone else is putting in a certain amount of "optional" hours, and he is not willing to do so, then he's at a disadvantage. It's an unfortunate reality.

[cschin4]

Not everyone has to play the little "games" of one's coworkers. If the boss hires you for a certain time/shift and you complete your work then you should be able to go home. If others want to pad their hours and work extra, then fine for them. That doesn't mean he has to do the same. Some people want to make extra money when they can and others prefer more time to themselves versus money. That was and is almost always my choice. I would rather just make a little less and have more free time, but that is just me. So, I just don't get involved in the political BS in the work place. I work to the boss's specifications and that's it.

[fruitbowlk]

OT is great especally if you are trying to get out debt or save for a house or car etc. But I do understand your husband wanting to spend more time with his family. I just it all depends on where you are in your life and what's most important to you and your family. My ex-dh works ot and still doesn't pay off his debt so to me he's wasting time away from our dd. but you can't tell grown folk nothing.

[red92s]

I'm an engineer at a large manufacturing facility.

Up until last fall nearly every single hourly floor worker was working 50-60 hours per week . . . because they could, and nobody ever questioned it. If you were working night shifts, whit a couple weekend night shifts thrown in there at 60 hours per week, unskilled labor was earning in the $70-80k neighborhood. For many of those jobs, the skill requirement is so low that literacy is optional. When demand went up, they simply added overtime instead of training new workers.

Now, any overtime must be approved by our operations director. There is no more weekend shifts There is MUCH frustration on the floor from people who have structured their lives and lifestyles around the assumption that they would always be able to earn $75k a year for doing basic assembly or packing, because that is the way it has always been.

I can see both sides here, as I'm sure it represents a laaarrgee drop in pay for many people with our new shifts and overtime limits. But, it was not a sustainable or profitable way to operate.

On the other hand, as our organization has "leaned out" I've had to take on more and more projects and work longer and longer hours . . . and being salaried, no overtime of course. A short week for me is 50 hours now. A typical week is now 60 (11'd during the week, plus 5 hours on sunday).

[wincrasher]

Guess we are learning what the old saying "make hay while the sun is shining" really means.

Now that's it's cloudy skys, it's nice to have that nest egg to carry you thru.

Didn't save it? You got a problem now.

Wanted to sit home and watch TV instead of working alittle over? Well boo hoo for you too.

[Goldy1]

I think 45 is great. some ot but not insane. yea the 60 hrs a week thing is something many depended on and it's over and a shame. I would love to do it for a short time. we don't need the ot but need is a relative word. We don' t need it to live well, but well is also relative isn't it?

[boosami]

As least you're getting compensated for mandatory overtime.

I previously worked at a R&D company that was exempt from paying overtime. It's not uncommon for salaried people in R&D to work additional hours for no additional pay. This company had salaried employees work 60-80 hour weeks, effectively mandatory. We were all tricked into a feeling of being well compensated for our time through the pay and benefits. As you can imagine, the 80-hour-a-week employee getting paid for 40 hours gets screwed in that situation!

Needless to say, I left that company and am now paid salary plus carte blanche overtime. I put in overtime every week and am grateful for the opportunity (and compensation!).

[Phenomenal Woman]

Depends on where I am at in life. I enjoyed working OT when I was single. Not so much now that I am married.

[irmanator]

depends on plans and or check acct bal.

[arthurb999]

I am salaried exempt from ot and have small children so i put in as little as possible