6 day MANDATORY work week...

**Lady_V** · 11-28-2011, 07:02 PM

I know with the economy the way it is, I should be happy that OldMan has more hours.

More hours = more money = less time with family.

He is our hero... busting his butt 4 days a week and still putting in WELL over 50 hours... to a mandatory 5th day (which was suppose to be temporary).

The temporary 5th day didn't last long... it's now SIX DAYS.

If he takes Thursday off, he can spend time with us, as a family... but it's his ONLY day off. If he takes Friday or Saturday, I can only guarantee that he and Diva can see each other ONE day a month. ONE... his hours are all over the place.

He leaves by 6am, before she gets up, she is in bed before he comes home on most days. On the rare occasion he actually makes it before she falls asleep he barely has the energy to do more than eat his dinner and more than once I had to take the plate because he fell asleep eating it.

I guess I may sound petty to some... complaining about him being gainfully employed at a time when people are out of work... I just wish they would hire MORE people and let him go back to his normal schedule and let us BE A FAMILY.

The other family-man techs are saying the same thing.

The icing of the cake? He has vacation time he has to take... use it or lose it... by 12/31... you think they will let him take his 55 hours??? NOPE (nor can he get the cash for them).

**lishoprah** · 11-28-2011, 07:13 PM

I really feel for you! I thought my DH's schedule was bad. But more than 12 hour days at one job is insane. My DH works 8 hour days at his first job (that cut his salary 40% back in 2008 so he had to get a second job), and two nights a week delivering pizzas -- 5 pm to 2 am. Which are not fun hours, but at least he gets to see our 4 kids 5 days a week (well every day really, but only for 10 minutes in the morning for two of those days.)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that you don't sound petty at all.

**Paws** · 11-28-2011, 07:50 PM

Your thoughts on this situation didn't sound "petty" to me...sounds as if you're missing your man, but in the same thought, you're grateful he as a job. I hope you guys find a happy medium sometime soon...

**McD** · 11-28-2011, 08:40 PM

I am sorry. Z's schedule is crazy too. We rarely get to see him. They do a rotation of five days on, three off. Today is day one of his three days off and he spent half the day in trial court and has to go back again tomorrow. He also has various schools and trainings. He very rarely gets to come home on his breaks. We are lucky to see him 30 minutes a day.

Am I glad he has gainful employment that he loves? Oh heck yes! But I'm also frustrated, stressed, and sad. Frustrated/stressed by all the burdens that fall to me. Sad for the time he is missing with his kids, the time his kids are missing hi and our complete lack of time together.

I guess what I am saying is that you are not alone. I am here with you. And though we're far apart......oh wait. That's what MJ says. I'm saying that it is okay and healthy to vent.

**brennasmom** · 11-28-2011, 08:41 PM

That stinks.

My hubby worked Thanksgiving.. and this Christmas will be the first one he has off in about 8 years.

I know it's tough...

**dancemommy** · 11-28-2011, 09:08 PM

I do feel for you...we have our own business so my husband works about 15 hour days 7 days a week. He does take off an hour here and there to go to soccer games, school concerts, etc and then back to work. Seriously, on the days kids have a game, he gets up at about 8 (late, but just wait...), goes to the office until the game at 6, watches game from 6-8, goes back to work from 8-2 am and starts all over again the next day. He only sleeps 2-5 hours a day. Something has to give at some point, but now is not the time- too much to do. Hate to complain- like you, thankful for a job

But I do feel for you and am thankful that at least we have a little bit of flexibility.

**Momto5RN** · 11-28-2011, 09:58 PM

so sorry .
i had a mini vacation planned for us this summer dh and I and the younger 3 for 3 nights 4 days in ocean city .
week before that his bosses start to complain to everyone about profit goals not being met ( well if you didnt raise them in a bad economy where not alot of building / bonding is happening maybe they could meet them )

dh was so worried about it all he cancelled his vacation - i mean they get all up in everyones faces the week before his vacation what did they expect him to do ?? he would have been on the phone or laptop working if he did go and worried the whole time

i took the kids alone - we did a 2 day 1 night the next weekend to make up for it but had to find the exra $ in the budget to do it.

he is still trying to get the rest of his vacation time - he has his laptop set up in the dining room and is on and off the cell even on his day off . so he is not taking real time off maybe a few hours each day ( during which his phone could ring at any time ) and the rest of the time he is really just working from home .

i wish he could just cash in his time we could use the $ and then he would be getting properly compensated instead of having fake days off

so i know where you are coming from - my kids were so disappointed

**frugalfranny** · 11-28-2011, 10:49 PM

That sucks............since they won't let him take the vaca. they
should at least let him carry them over............if they are too
cheap to pay him for them...........that is the pits!!

**Missourimom** · 11-28-2011, 11:04 PM

All of this just sucks. It's so sad that employers could care less their employees have families.

**Contrary Housewife** · 11-28-2011, 11:56 PM

Sorry to hear that. We have been in similar situations in the past. There are some companies that really squeeze their tech people. A couple years ago DH was with one company that had mandatory (unpaid) overtime, 6 day work week, NO holidays off, and a manager that required him to check his work email every 2 hours between 8am and 9pm. DH was stressed beyond belief.

After 3-4 months of that, within a span of two weeks, the entire team quit and found new jobs.

**steelergal** · 11-29-2011, 08:34 AM

That does stink! My brother has been working mandatory 6 days for about 4 months now. The overtime is nice but the work is killing him. Hopefully the closer it gets to the Holidays they will ease up so your DH can get some relaxation and spend quality time with you guys!

My DH still has a weeks vacation, that he can't really take now that it's Christmas time. We are very fortunate that his boss will cut him a check for his vacation time the first of the year (except for his sick days- which is fine by me!), I guess that is one of the perks from small business.

**madhen** · 11-29-2011, 08:49 AM

Back when I worked in fire service, we worked seven days a week during fire season. The office had to be staffed 24/7, so there we were. The pay was fantastic, especially since I was a low-paid employee at the time and needed the money, but after a few weeks of never having a day off, I was more than willing to lose a little money to have one day to myself!

Ironically, in the job I now have, we are technically on-call 24/7, so I still don't really have a day to myself, since I have to keep my "electronic leash" handy, even on weekends!

**nodmicks** · 11-29-2011, 08:54 AM

I'm sorry Lady V! Is that even legal to allow him not to take vacation or cash out?

**Lady_V** · 11-29-2011, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by nodmicks

Is that even legal to allow him not to take vacation or cash out?

In Massachusetts, yes. It's in the handbook, so the use it or lose it is clearly stated. The only way they have to pay him his accrued time is if they fired him.... which in that case... I'd rather him keep the job.

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories.