We had a pretty rough end of the week (me and my main client). His sites were attacked (we think one of them is a little ‘dangerous’ for some religious organizations so he fears it wasn’t quite random) and we spent quite some time on Friday and Saturday to get them back online.
I was happy to be able to restore his projects and it didn’t matter that half of my Saturday almost was spent trying to make sure they all work properly.
In few occasions my husband was very annoyed that I’m taking client calls during the weekend or that I actually work these days too, if I have an ’emergency’ or just want to use some of my spare time for getting things done. He’s been employed for more time than me (almost 20 years, compared to my sole decade) and was fuming on few occasions that I don’t take time off to relax.
My take on it is simple: if my client needs me, I work on Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Sure, I don’t mess up my family’s holiday and don’t ruin any plans, but, if needed, I will take 1-2 hours to make sure it’s all working properly. If I don’t have anything special scheduled on that weekend/holiday, I will do some work. It’s not only because I’m a bit of an workaholic, but because I like to not waste time if I don’t have to.
Instead of watching some bad movies or play something online, I’d rather clock in few hours of work and make my next week a bit more easier.
When he was working, my husband hated going to work on weekends. Being a civil engineer, you can imagine work wasn’t always fun (especially with the huge responsibility of building blocks and running an entire team of workers), not to mention the weather can also be stress inducer. In my case the ‘extra-work’ means starting my browser and, instead of reading some silly news or watching some TV online, check on some websites, do some design etc.
On the other hand, aside for me loving my work, I’m also aware that I do take time off when I don’t want to work or we schedule something together. It’s not uncommon for me to take a ‘sabbatical’ on Wednesday for instance or a long vacation, just because we feel like it. So, if we’re to balance work and fun, if it’s OK for me to not work when everyone is doing their jobs, it’s as normal to do some work, when others are resting, if it doesn’t come against any family plans and I have nothing better to do.
What’s your case? Are you very serious with the ‘9 to 5’ plan and don’t do any extra work when it’s not a regular ‘office’ hour? Do you work a little even when you’re not ‘supposed’ to, just because there’s nothing better to do and it would give you an advantage in your business?
As long as I get paid overtime. Some clients can definitely go too far, but things like birthdays, anniversaries and major holidays (Christmas) are off limits.
I don’t do any extra work if not paid, that’s clear 🙂
Am more relaxed with the holidays, if we don’t have anything special scheduled, it’s OK for me to do some work.
I worked in corporate America for more than 30 years. I put in 110%, which meant that I would work overtime, nights, weekends…whatever it took to get the job done. For the most part I didn’t mind because I liked my work and the people I worked with/for.
I’ve been working mostly from home for the last year and I love it. I still work whenever I feel like it…I’m up early and shut down the computer before bed. But, I can fit in my personal stuff in between writing, social media time, etc. I like it that way…it’s how I’m wired.
My partner is more of a work-hard-from-8-5-on-weekdays type and then play on the weekends. So we occasionally have the same issues you face. But in general, it works out!
Well, as long as YOU are pleased with how it all works out, that’s important. When husband would comment on the fact it’s not OK for me to work on a certain day, I’d just reply that we do like to earn the money. And since I’m running a web design business, you never know when a good month is followed by a very bad one. Since we’re not royalty rich, I do take on the jobs and try to earn some good money 😀
Unfortunately I work on weekends too whenever it’s needed. Yesterday (which was Sunday and I wasn’t expecting to work) there was something I really had to write about. The article already brought me 2,000 visitors and hopefully it will be an evergreen one, but having to work during weekends too is a bit stressful. However, I can’t complain too much because it’s a choice I make 🙂
As long as it’s something you like, being flexible can really help a lot. I’d rather not waste time doing ‘nothing’, when I don’t have anything better to do and take care of something that needs work on my business or the clients’ sites.
I am willing to do paid overtime at home on the weekends. My stipulation is that it is not at the expense of spending time with my kid. Same with evenings; I am willing to work in the evenings, but not between 4:30 and 7:30PM (when I leave the office to when baby goes down to bed). I won’t work holidays though.
My husband who does not get paid overtime refuses to work on the weekends.
He’s a smart man. If you’re not being paid for overtime, you shouldn’t. Your time is not for free and family does always come first.
I’ll absolutely do work on the weekends if need be. I won’t cancel any plans but if I have some down time on the weekends, why not? I’m like you. I’d rather make my next week a little easier by doing work when I’m in the mood instead of watching some bad movies.
Taking advantage of any spare minute … If I don’t have anything special planned, doing a bit of work will free up some time when I’d really want to relax.