Would you accept a job that requires 12 hours of work 6 days a week?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24650)
Singapore
August 13, 2011 3:08am CST
When I open the newspaper to check the trend on job vacancies, I am rather shocked to see that many advertisements require people to work 12 hours a day, and 6 days a week.
I know there will be many takers, in view of the economic situation.
Those are mainly low level jobs, such as dishwasher, cleaner, security guards and so on.
While there will be overtime payable, and at times, meals provided, I do think the working hours is excessive.
What do you think?
Would you accept a job that requires you to work twelve hours a day, and six days a week even if you are paid overtime?
3 people like this
21 responses
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
They should look towards automation to make these jobs easier. Just this morning at a food court, I saw an man bending up and down just to wipe the walls when there are gadgets available so the poor man need not be bending up and down (like the song in planting rice is never fun). I wonder how he can last 1 hour, let along 12 hours and 6 days.
No job is low level, it's how people made the job to be.
Looking at the job market again, eh?
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Tiffnkeat, actually those jobs are low level jobs, but the people are not low level.
I think some jobs cannot be automated.
Look at those security guards sitting at the guard house, how to automate those jobs?
It is already very relaxed in a sense, since they are away from the sun, and they get to sit instead of stand.
I think many people cannot tolerate those shopping center security jobs, where they have to stand for very long hours.
I think you have witnessed one bad example of employers not willing to take care of workers.
If employers are good, they would think of all ways to make life easier for the workers.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
13 Aug 11
Here in UK there is a permitted maximum overtime and the job conditions to which you refer would be illegal
all the best urban
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Urbandekay, out of curiosity, how many hours of work is the legal normal working hours, and what is the maximum overtime permissible under the law?
I think Asian countries have longer working hours than many western countries.
Even though many Asian countries enjoy full employment, the workers work until they have practically no time for much relaxation.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Urbandekay, if a company is willing to pay overtime, most countries can accept the conditions of work.
I think if you take a look at some of the jobs in your area, you can see that the working hours is pretty long too.
Most companies manage to get away with it, because they give an hour meal break, and a few 10 minutes tea break.
As a result, the actual working hours is not that long.
On top of that, they pay overtime for exceeding the legal contractual hours.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
14 Aug 11
Well, not only would I accept it, I do it. The 6 days are often not in row. I work from 7AM-7PM. For example, in a few weeks, I would do Thurs, friday, saturday, sunday, have Mon, Tues, Wed off, come back Thurs, friday, sat, sun, mon, tues wed, have thurs, fri, sat, sun off, back Monday...and so on. It depends how much you want to work. There aren't a ton of jobs available, so I don't know about you, but, I can't afford to be that picky. Good luck with your job search.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
15 Aug 11
I guess it would depend on how bad I needed a job and a paycheck. Working that much and not getting overtime isn't something I would want to do but even if I was getting paid overtime, I think I would get tired of working that many hours every week. It might not be bad at first but after a few months, I would get burnt out. I'm surprised they don't just hire more employees and work them less hours. They wouldn't have to pay the overtime that way either.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
21 Nov 11
Hi Millertime, I think after this economic downturn in US and Europe, people will be more willing to work long hours with or without overtime payment.
Over here, some production operators are complaining about lack of overtime, even when they are working more than 70 hours of overtime per month.
They want to work every day, so that they have more mnney, and less time to spend money.
@webb_jiang (158)
• China
14 Aug 11
The job that requires 12 hours of work 6 days a week is very common in state-owned and private companies in China.and you nearly get no pay for your overtime work.In China,if you say,I am sorry,I have my life,I have to go back home,then tomorrow,you are fired,even if you don't have so much work to do in the company,you still have to pretend you are working hard.just to give the leaders good impression.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
14 Aug 11
It would depend on the job, the pay and how long I planned to stay at the job. For a few years, given enough money, I think I would go for it if the work was interesting and could lead me to bigger and better things.
It also depends on my age at the time and my family responsibitlities. The pay would have to be really good because with those hours I would have to spend money to hire others to do some of the routine work I do such as food preperation, housework, cleaning, yard work etc...
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi Stary, over here, most of us live in public apartment, so there is less housework at home.
We do not need to do yard work, since there is no yard!
Those jobs that require long hours usually are in the service industry, such as security guards, and cleaners at eateries.
The basic salary is not great. However, with overtime payment at one and a half times hourly rate, and with practically guaranteed overtime, the salary is quite substantial.
While there is practically no career path, the work itself is not mentally exhausting.
It is not continuous too.
After all, most of the times, the cleaners have to wait for customers to finish eating, before clearing the plates.
The security guards have long hours of sitting there, and looking at the sky.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
21 Nov 11
Hi Stary1, yes, it is very boring to just sit in the guard house at night.
Over here, many night shift security guards are practically doing nothing for whole night.
There is no incoming vehicle or visitor.
It is hard to keep awake in this case.
However, there are many jobs that are mentally exhausting, yet require long hours of work.
i heard that many people working in the banks need to put in more than 14 hours of work.
Some of them reached home by 2 am, and needed to go to work by 9 am.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
14 Aug 11
Thank you. So you are referring to the long hours that are often boring hours with not so much work? Sometimes it's harder and more exhausting to wait for work than to keep busy. I guess I would do what I had to do under those conditions. If I needed the money and there was no other way I would accept the long hours and days. Thanks for sharing the conditions 
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
13 Aug 11
If I was a young person I would accept the job, just because jobs are so scarce here. But I'm not young enough to be able to work such hours and jobs involving physical labor are not something I can do any longer because of my physical limitations.
Those jobs are there because some employers know that they have the upper hand now, they have something people need desperately and they can make the terms. There will be people who take the jobs. I would, if I was able to.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi Dragon54u, ironically young people will not take up these types of jobs.
Only older persons are keen to take up long hours jobs.
Most jobs are not that physically demanding, and the workflow is not continuously.
Automation has helped to take out the strain from the manual tasks.
For example, the trolley that cleaners use to clean tables in the eating places help to relieve the stress of carrying plates and other utensils.
I think many people worry about the rising costs, and they are willing to work even though they are above 60 years of age.
@payout (3794)
• United States
13 Aug 11
Hey scheng,
My mother and my sister got a job working something similar it's 7 days a week and 10 hours a day and sometimes maybe even 12 or they might cut some hours down either way you are going to be working overtime once you hit that 40 hour mark haha.. Well yeah I think atsa hard job and me I work @Bank and have bank hours which I enjoy and love my job. I never had to do so much thinking hahaha.. Iike in school you think and think and remember and remember well yeah that's how a bank is and the job is hard but harder when you have to get referrals
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi Payout, you are fortunate to get such an easy job.
Over here, the banking jobs are not easy.
I have heard someone working till 3 am, and then have to go back to work by 9 am.
I think work culture is a problem in many banks.
The workload is so much that employees just cannot go home.
While the salary and bonus are good, I think that is not enough compensation for the health.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
13 Aug 11
I would never accept this amount of work, as I wouldn't have enough time to myself at all. The job that I have at the moment is 8 hours 5 days per week, and even now I am finding that it is rather difficult to be able to fit everything in that I need to in my life right now. I don't have enough time to spend with my partner as both of our jobs have different hours. So no, I would never take a job with longer hours than the one that I'm in at this moment in time. You need at least 7 hours sleep a night, enough time to eat, and then time to relax and spend time with your family as well.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi GemmaR, actually the work culture is to blame in our country.
Even though most of us are in a job that requires just eight hours, most people do not go home on time.
They will stay back for another two hours or so.
I think the problem with working 12 hours job is that you are obligated to complete the 12 hours.
At least in our office work of 8 hours, we can choose to stay back late or just go home, and let the work sits in our in tray.
Those who take up the 12 hours and 6 days work are rather happy with the salary and the guaranteed overtime.
Without the overtime, they might not earn enough to cover the basic necessities.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi 52ff9999, overtime is kind of guaranteed, and payable.
That is why people are willing to take up such jobs.
If they are guaranteed overtime after the normal working hours, they would have the certainty of bringing back the same amount of money every month.
For certain people, they need the overtime payment to support family.
If the company cuts overtime hours, then they will look for other jobs.
I think if you earn enough money, you can take your vacation leaves, and go for a holiday without quitting the job.
@AgentGulaman (3546)
• Philippines
13 Aug 11
That work schedule is tiresome!
I am currently working 6 days a week and I ended up resigning to move to a 5 day work week schedule in another company. Working 6 days a week is terrible, how much more 12 hours and 6 days a week! I value my leisure time and resting time so for me I won't take that. What for is the money from overtime work if you will just use it to help maintain your body from the stresses of working long hours and days.
I am currently working 6 days a week and I ended up resigning to move to a 5 day work week schedule in another company. Working 6 days a week is terrible, how much more 12 hours and 6 days a week! I value my leisure time and resting time so for me I won't take that. What for is the money from overtime work if you will just use it to help maintain your body from the stresses of working long hours and days.@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi AgentGulaman, most of those jobs that require long hours are not mentally exhausting, even though they are really time consuming.
An example is that of the security guards for the factory premises.
There is not much work even during the working hours.
Hardly anything at all after the official working hours. Sometimes the night guards rotate to go round the factory.
I think this type of jobs will suit people who like an easy life, and does not have much needs for so-called relaxation or hobbies.
@goggles213 (735)
• Philippines
14 Aug 11
As long as it's paid and I don't have a job or any other choice. I'll take it. It's not going to be a permanent one anyway, I'd be looking for other options while I'm on that Job. It would be better to have that job than be a jobless bum. Making money and providing for the family is top priority nowadays, you'll never know how the economy will turn out.
@Mayuko (1268)
• United States
13 Aug 11
No way. That's working almost twice as much as the regular amount of hours people work in a week. It would have to be a job that I really enjoy for me to able to work 72 hours a week. That, or I'd also have to be really desperate for money. But I don't think I could keep up those hours for more than a year. I need my "me-time" :P
I know there are some people who work as nurses and they work 12 hour shifts, but for only 3 days a week.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
Hi Mayuko, I doubt anyone would enjoy working as a cleaner or security guard.
Those people have no choice but to accept a job like that.
They may even think that they are lucky to get a job that has so many hours of overtime per day.
I think some people are just born with a simple need.
As long as they get the salary with overtime, they are not looking for job satisfaction or enjoyment.
I think if such jobs appear in the US, many people will take such jobs at minimum wage too.
Having a job is still better than not having a job.
@preethaanju (3000)
• India
13 Aug 11
I would prefer to work for 12 hours a day or more if that is my own business or office. No way i am going to toil for others without adequate pay. Its difficult to get motivated to work like a donkey without proper incentives
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Preethaanju, I think with adequate pay, not many people can work at such hours for a long time.
Even if the work seems easy, such as the security guard sitting at the guard post, the long working hours is simply too draining.
The problem is that jobs at such levels do not pay well.
The workers need to work such long hours to get a decent salary, and they have just one off day per week to rest.
@apoljuice1 (730)
• Philippines
13 Aug 11
Well, if I were desperate, didn't have a family, and probably didn't have a life, I would take a 12 a day/6 a week work.
It can be taxing, and they're not breaking any laws especially if they do pay for the overtime. Bun unless I was as stated above, there is no way I'm going to get a job that actually requires me to fill the 12 hours position. Apparently, if they're looking for these kinds of workers, it must only mean that not a lot of people are applying for the job. And even if there are, their employees aren't staying long because they need to require their applicants to fulfill the 12 hours and 6 days a week. What happens if I don't show up for my overtime? I mean I'll be complying with the regular 8 hours right? and what if I only show up for 5 days? I'd be saving the company money if you ask me! They wouldn't have to pay me the overtime premium!
But that's just me!
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Apoljuice, actually for those workers, if you do not allow them to work long hours, and pay them overtime, then they will leave.
Their salary is very low, without overtime, they do not have enough to pay for mortgage, and food.
I think many people in the world are still very poor, and they do not need to have much time for relaxation.
They may not even know how to relax if they do not have money.
Not every country works on a 5 days work week or 8 hours per day.
I have check the employment law of Middle East countries, and they allow 48 hours work week.
I think only those in developed countries are working strictly on 40 hours work week or less.
Probably that is why the factories move out from the developed countries, since they can get workers to work in excess of 100 hours in many poor countries.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi QeeGood, the working hours seem long, but when you deduct the meal hours, and the short breaks of 15 minutes in the morning, and afternoon, the actual working hours is not that much.
The official working hours here is 44 hours.
But companies can request workers to work overtime, up to a max of 72 hours per month.
Some companies even appeal to have an exemption so that they can ask their workers to work long hours.
As long as the company pays overtime, and the workers do not get so tired as to suffer from work accidents, the government just allows them.
@nurseclare (2209)
• Philippines
13 Aug 11
Oh I can't accept that kind of work, 12 hours a day and 6 times a week.That's draining! that's overwork..
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Nurseclare, yes, it is definitely draining, but not overworked in a legal sense.
The employers always have some ways to justify.
For example, out of the twelve hours, you have an hour for lunch, and two fifteen minutes tea break.
The total working hours come up to 10.5 hours.
That means the weekly work hour is 63 hours.
Our employment law allows up to 44 hours of normal working hours, and overtime hours of 72 per month.
If an employee takes sick leave now and then, or vacation leave now and then, there is no way to exceed the 72 hours overtime per month.
Some employers even seek overtime work exemption, so that the workers can work in access of 100 overtime hours.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Jdex, physically tiring is very different from mentally tiring.
If I were to choose between the two, I prefer to be physically tiring, since I can sleep better at night.
I think compared to those accounting clerks who need to close accounts at the end of the month, those workers are better off.
If salary is the same, it is better to take up security jobs.
If you see how relax those airport scanners are, you will not think of working 12 hours as very tiring.
The working hours is just too long for some people.
@eynjel_1988 (330)
• Philippines
13 Aug 11
Well, if the compensation is good, why not? Nowadays, it is not easy to find a job with a good compensation. If I will be to ask, I will accept that job since 5-6 hours of sleep is enough for me.
I am working in a private office from 8am to 5pm then after that have an extra work doing tutorials. I spend 3 hours or sometimes 4 hours for that tutorial. It is not easy to earn money nowadays especially for my part that I am still studying taking my masters degree.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Aug 11
Hi Eynjel, yes, the salary is very important factor.
Most jobs at that level pays just S$1100 to S$1300.
With overtime, the salary can reach to S$2000 and above.
Most employers also give uniforms, and provide meals for the workers.
In a sense, people who work so long and so hard are saving a lot of money if they do not have other vices.
I think many security guards are physically tired working such long hours, but they are not mentally tired.
There is a difference between mentally burnt out and just physically tired.
