How much do you work?

[Devin Johnston]

It seems that some firms and clients expect you to do the imposable, giving you the information at the last minute and expecting a polished piece of artistic genius the next day. I'm just curious what other people's work environments are like, does your employer respect you and give you the time you need or are you always given everything at the last minute. On average how many hours a week do you work?

[Craig Ramsay]

A lot! Now that I'm self employed I work silly hours because there's always stuff needing done. If there's a break in project work then there's accounting to be done, archiving, marketing, it never ends. I still love it though

[Jeff Mottle]

When I was working for Smoothe, I pulled a few 24-30 hours straight. When I worked for SMED (now Haworth), we would occasionally do a bit of OT or work through a lunch, but we were pretty careful not to set any crazy precedents. Of course we were serving internal clients there. Now with VisMasters and CGA I probably work more than when I was in production. Usually 15 hours a day.

 

I think it runs the gamut though. I know large studios who rarely do or even allow their staff to work OT, while others work through the night on a regular basis. All depend on the precedent that companies have set with their clients.

[Koper]

yup, no OT here, if it is needed, which never is, then only double the time in hours are given back, no extra pay

 

but it all makes sense, if you do crazy OT then the client will only expect it next time and you fall in a loop.

[BrianKitts]

I'm normally right on at 40 hours a week, unless there is a really large project that we are going after and creating alot of marketing material. Two weeks ago I put in 14 hour days for a week straight. That happens maybe once a year.

 

Other than that I stick it right at fourty hours. Our firm works nine hour days and take every other friday off completely. So if I have to work on one of my off Fridays, I'll normally shave those hours off the next week by taking a random day off or only working 8 hour days that week.

 

I really don't mind those crunch times when they do come up because we are pretty good about not overworking on a day to day basis.... so when overtime (I'm on salary so it's not paid overtime) is needed you just accept it as part of life and stick it out.

 

All depend on the precedent that companies have set with their clients.

Absolutely! Two employers ago I had boss that couldn't say no to a client because of how small of a firm we were and he held on to every job that he could. (Ironic cause he ended up burning every bridge he crossed) But if he got any request from a client he would say YES, even if it meant calling us at 4:30 on friday afternoon and telling us we will need to knock something out by monday requiring us to work all of friday night and saturday:( Man I don't miss that job at ALL!

[Sawyer]

Its all client based. Some of them will understand that I need time and respect it others will be changing their minds the day the images are due and want me to re-render everything that day. I have 1 client that I usually need to rush around and get a render farm ready the day the images are due because they have changed their mind or want a new camera or something.

[Hidden_Pixel]

I used to work crazy hours with all nighters but when it started to effect my health I cut back. Life is much more important than any job. I probably on average work around 50-60 hours a week, which is still too much. I find if you work too many hours it can negatively affect your creativity, drive and numerous other facets of your job..

[ikinman]

Now that I'm in my forties, I'm actively trying to cut back on work hours, mainly by picking and choosing which projects my studio takes on. I'm probably around 50-60 on average, which is down from the close to 80 I used to do several years ago. Having a wife who doesn't much care for a missing husband helps motivate me as well.

 

-Ian

[gfa2]

Having a wife who doesn't much care for a missing husband helps motivate me as well.

 

Amen to that.

 

I'm currently on one of those projects with an unrealistic client and fellow employees that can't say no to them. I've worked two 36 hour straight periods in the last week and a half...and weekends on top of that. Ridiculous! It has really affected the quality of my work...I cut corners and have a general lack of enthusiasm for this project. When it gets right down to it, the problem boils down to the client and is complicated by interior designers that can't make up their mind.

 

Normally I work about 50 hours a week...I'm also salary, no OT.

[mbowers]

Like most, it depends on the clients and the projects. Proposals and interviews really throw a wrench in the system. I had 49 hours by today. I'm going home early tomorrow. Nuff said.

[Justin Hunt]

Part of the problem is managment or those taking to the clients dont know or care to know how long things take. As a result rediculose promises are made, we then bust our buts so that they dont look bad. If these people actually took an interest in the process then more reasitic deadlines could be set, culminating in a better product, happier staff and unlimately happeir clients.

 

I currently do the 8 hour office job, get home to put in a further 4 to 6 hours freelance work. For the past year or so I have been working till 10- 11 o'clock 6 days a week. If I had to pull all those hours in the office my wife would have left me ages ago.

 

I have a friend who works in a studio where the boss expects you to work till 8/9 every night, and if you dont he lays a huge guilt trip. To me thats rediculouse and not on. OT every now again is fine but if its the norm then there is something seroiusly wrong. Either in yuour own time managment or mangments

 

JHV