How long do you work for?

Question: How long do you work for?

Asked by crowntown100 to Andrew, Emma, Marianne on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: Scientist. This question was also asked by nathanlee, anon-5559.
- Andrew Maynard answered on 14 Jun 2010:
  
  Hi crowntown100,
  
  Too long! I have a really bad habit of being attached to my email from when I wake up (around 6 in the morning) to when I go to bed (around 10:00 PM). But my wife is trying to train me out of this!
  
  When I was a more sensible scientist, I used to work for around 40 hours a week – which is a pretty reasonable number.
- Marianne Baker answered on 14 Jun 2010:
  
  Hi crowntown100.
  
  Interesting question!
  
  We tend to work as much as we need to.
  A nice thing about science is that you’re kind of your own boss (to an extent) – you plan your experiments and you put in the hours to get them done.
  
  So sometimes we might need to come in at 7:30am and leave after 7pm, other times it’s more 9am-6pm standard sort of hours.
  It really varies a lot on the kind of work you do and your workload at any time.
  
  Some people are suited to this kind of timing, whereas others prefer a stricter routine; if you’re efficient enough to come in at 9 and be done by 4 (perhaps with a couple of hours’ reading/paperwork on the train there and back) then that’s fine too! The lab heads don’t mind as long as the work is being done.
  
  As students we’re expected to do at least 30 hours a week, I think, but realistically we’re here a lot more than that, sometimes weekends too; fortunately my colleagues are also my friends!
- anon answered on 14 Jun 2010:
  
  As a doctor i was working really harsh shifts. You have to say you’ve worked a certain number of hours otherwise the hospital gets penalised for not keeping to the European Working Time Directive ( rules about how long you can work in a day, a week, a month etc) abut in reality you have to work more because it’s not a job you can just down tools and leave.
  
  As a scientist I have worked some really long shifts for big, important experiments but that was because I chose to do so and I was excited about the potential results. Otherwise I would say it is easier to be more like 9am to 5pm (pretty standard) though if you’re dedicated and interested you find yourself doing extra work in the evening and some weekends because your work means a lot to you.
- anon answered on 14 Jun 2010:
  
  Hi crowntown100…I usually work for 7 to 8 hours a day but it varys with what work I have on and the urgency of it, so it can increase:).

Question: How long do you work for?

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