Nine-to-Five Jobs
I saw a post on Twitter today asking if people had nine-to-five jobs or write full-time. Honestly, in the Midwest, I don't think I've ever had a nine-to-five job, and I'm interested in your take on this as well.
My first job out of college was as a high school teacher. I had to be at the school at seven to give myself time to prep for class and to give the kids time to ask questions if they had any. I didn't leave until four on a good day, five on a bad day, and four-thirty when coaching after school. No wonder I burned out in two years.
My next job was working for a paint manufacturer after we moved to the "big city" as an office clerk, starting at 7 or 8 a.m. This was for hourly wages, so I worked 7-3:30 or 8-4:30 to account for my mandatory 1/2 hour lunch break.
After that, I worked as a customer service representative for a countrywide bank. I started with the western region, so I worked 9-6 with an hour lunch. Where the hell do people work that they don't have to make up their lunchtime?
My next job was a starting position with my current company, again working customer service. I worked overnight, from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. 45 minute lunch, hourly wage. I used to work out over my lunch to stay awake.
When promoted to a daytime position, I got to pick my hours. To match my husband's factory job, I chose 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. As my job has switched from hourly to salaried over the years and through shifting departments/promotions, I am now working 6 to 3, with some days working until 5 or 6 p.m., depending on deadlines, and some days leaving at 2:30, which would be accurate for 40 hours a week. I'm seeing less 5-6 p.m. these days, but it's rare to leave at 2:30.
Who are these folks with nine-to-five jobs? What do they do? Do they take a lunch? Does it matter what time zone you're in, whether you're hourly or salaried, etc.? Has this become a thing of the past we still use to reference "The Day Job"? Inquiring Edie wants to know.
If you have ideas on this, leave a comment or email me. If you want me to dispense more useless knowledge on other topics, share those, too. I created a graphic - might as well get more use from it!