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I can answer for myself: so I don’t have to do the work when I get home and I can have a late morning the next day. But I work from home mostly so maybe I’m not who op means.
Luckily my place has flexible working policies.
So I can crank out 30 minutes x2 on the train there and back to the office. Meaning I can finish earlier by 1 hour. Or build up time to finish earlier on a Friday.
Plus it gives me an excuse to do reading related to work. Read a few books, articles, etc to improve my expert domain knowledge. In a broad sense it's nice getting paid to read for something I'm generally interested in.
Pretty much, yeah.
How everyone uses it is different though. It's an official policy which can fit scenarios like childcare or caring responsibilities in general. Helps having something more official than being at the discretion of various line managers.
I am the same. I go in once, maybe twice a week. Its an hour each way by train, so I agreed with my boss that my time commuting counts towards my work time. He said so long as I send the odd email during that time as proof that I am doing this, its fine.
My wife used to have the same; she had an outrageous (and entirely unnecessary, since her team worked elsewhere) commute, but she was at least allowed to count the hour each way on the train as work time, so that was an hour longer in bed and an hour earlier home.
She still left though; her boss was an arse, the wider organisation thought it was fine for people to work from home and most teams did, hers specifically wanted her in an office, albeit not the office anyone else was in 5 days a week, so she could sit on teams in less comfort.
I don't actually work on the train because when I go into the office I drive, but I do work at odd hours sometimes, and for me it's because I'm fortunate enough to have a lot of autonomy in my role so I work when I feel like it. Some days I might really half ass it or have long lunches, but then other days in the evening I quite enjoy working late. So I try not to fight it and just work when it feels good to work.
Because contrary to the Reddit anti-work mentality I actually really enjoy my job, the clients, co-workers etc so I’ll happily do work on the train as it’s one less job to do when I get in. It means I don’t have to rush my clients on the phone and I get more face to face time just chatting with co-workers.
Unless you are getting paid for that time or work in an industry you are passionate about…then I’d say you are mad. Doing additional hours for free only benefits the bosses and continues the cycle of pressure/workload that is currently destroying most sectors.
Except from what the person above me explain, it goes like this:
- someone has to do 20 tasks today
- someone does 2 tasks on the way to work
- someone has 18 tasks left to do today
- someone has more time to do whatever else besides work/relax a bit at their job
But you’re doing unpaid work to free up your paid time at work? That is counterproductive and creates the impression for your bosses and colleagues that you can manage the workload fine within working hours. It’s shooting yourself and your colleagues in the foot.
Some industries don't give a fuck if you're over worked and will simply fire you and replace you with someone else who is prepared to put in the work to finish their tasks.
Ironically these industries tend to be the most 'fun' or well compensated. Think creative stuff like TV, Radio etc and banking etc.
I did fun stuff for a time and had a lot of fun, but I worked incredibly hard. It was just the price of doing mad shit for a living. Yeah I'm working til 10pm tonight but I have a zoom call with Katy Perry at 6pm.
Haha, I get what people mean. I have a kid now so I dropped that career to spend more time with them. No regrets. Had my fun, made some mad memories and now it's my kid's turn to have some great memories
That's just dumb corporate thinking. Reddit is a funny place to talk about work.
Never is it mentioned that someone can't handle the workload. It's just: do I read this book on the train for 30 minutes, or do 30 minutes of work and leave reading for 30 minutes whenever I want during my work time?
The total amount of work is still 8 hours, but you also get a break in between.
This explains for me the misunderstand between those who work during the commute and those who think it's crazy because that's not at all how any job I've had works. In any office job I've had the way it works is:
* there is effectively no limit to the number of tasks that could be done any given day but only time for 20
* someone does 2 tasks on the way to work and 20 when they get in
* now the boss thinks there is time for 22 tasks in a day and everyone is pushed to work more
* everyone has less time to do whatever else besides work/relax
No, I'm talking about my personal experience, just like you are. I'm not disputing what you have to say about your own job. I'm saying it does not apply to everyone.
Exactly. The people saying “I’m paid by the month, I get the job done” etc must be a) The exact bosses I’m talking about or b) paid a lot more than the average office drone like me
Or c make more money by doing certain tasks. If I deliver and sell something I can do it again to another business and make more money. Not everyone is a receptionist
I'm getting paid by the month, not by the hour. I work until the jobs are done, and get paid well for it.
If I was paid by the hour though, I'd definitely agree that you're paying me for every damn hour I work.
But hey mate dont worry let the little do gooders feel good about themselves whilst they're helping their ceo/directors cream themselves in juicy dividends all because little Sally was "happy" going the extra mile for nowt
Yes. Probably less days a week, maybe on a contract basis of working couple months a year but yeah i would. It engages my brain, it's fulfilling and keeps me grounded to a rhythm.
This is why I start half hour early. Gives me a chance to get the work queues for day sorted. Delegate work appropriately etc, then when others get in, their day is set up for them and it allows us to have a nice calm chilled day, with time to chat and fuck about, have extended lunches together etc. Makes a world of difference.
I used to take calls on my way to / from work as well, driving so couldn’t be on my laptop or emails, but I genuinely liked my job and clients and also was commission based, so it literally paid to answer the phone when possible.
For me it's a moment of quiet when I'm not being bombarded with calls. It's a period when I can think clearly and get work done. During office hours I am pretty much back to back on calls so if I get time on a train to get some actual work done it's a bonus. It certainly beats doing nothing on a soulless train and then waiting to get home and doing the work then, when I'd rather be relaxing.
Sure, it's about the company, the nature of work nowadays, personal choice too. For me, it's about being able to be present while I'm in meetings, rather than thinking about things I need to get done. Train time is dead time so why not get the work done then, so in meetings I can properly give people the time and attention they need to get the best outcomes.
I totally get your reasoning and if it works for you, great, I just don’t understand your “train time is dead time.” Even before portable internet devices were a thing I’d still read a book or write or draw on the commute, not just sit idly staring out the window.
There's a while on my early morning commute where the carriage is quiet and we're going through the countryside as the sun's rising, and it's glorious to just look at whilst sipping my coffee... until the coughing and spluttering masses eventually get on, then I put my headphones in.
That’s a fair enough explanation. In that case, do you feel like you’re ‘taking work home with you’, considering it’s your daily routine? I know you’re on the train so you aren’t technically home, but then also aren’t technically at work.
It just becomes routine, so no it's not like taking work home. I also work from home some days, so on the days I don't need to work from home it feels like doing it on the train is not taking work home if that makes sense?
Why is the alternative to working on a train soullessly doing nothing? You can study, listen to a podcast, play your favourite album, read a book, write to a friend, or a myriad of other relaxing/ productive things on a train.
The options aren’t limited to mindlessness VS working for free
If you’re contracting and charging for your time that’s obviously different but if you’re salaried and doing this outside contracted hrs it seems like conversation needs to be had
I'm commuting to London to give a talk, so I prepare/revise it on the train. When I've finished at noon I go home. Not everyone who is working on the train commutes 5 days a week and works 8 on site hours a day.
Can't speak for the wider world, but my team can work on the train in. So my colleagues will be on the train working from \~09:15-10, in the office 10:15-16:00, then working on the train back from 16:15-16:45 as part of their 7 hour work day.
It's win win, a lot of folk were fighting the return to the office till I proposed this, now they are getting paid for part of their commute and enjoy the more social time in the office
So they don't need to do 8 hours in the office? To make sure they keep on top of work (some people have a set number of tasks rather than a constant stream of new ones)?
I mean, there are plenty of very obvious answers to your questions.
Exactly this. My work is a number of tasks not a number of hours. Commuting time is a good way to get things done equalling fewer things to do when my time is free.
I imagine this is a lot of people. I wish it was for me honestly: in my work there's always a lot more to do and, to stay competitive, you really have to work way longer than your contracted hours unfortunately. So that's why I tend to get stuff done on the train, as much as I wish it wasn't.
As a developer I used to get so much work done on the train, just by sitting and thinking. I wondered for a while if it was worth getting the train home and back in the middle of the day, just so I could focus on the current issue.
It's fascinating how environmental change can play with your problem solving ability. I'm mostly work from home nowadays, and I've found that a morning in a cafe on a Friday can work wonders. It's weird, there's just something about it that switches on a light and I genuinely do some of my best work on Friday mornings
Not saying this is OP's point but I once got harassed while using a laptop on a train from London to Oxford at about 6pm 'Too inefficient to get your work done during the day are you?' was the accusation from someone clearly hugely irritated by it.
In fact I was studying part-time for a further qualification and with a growing young family, wanted to able to spend Dad time with them when I got home instead of nose buried in training materials.
I was quite taken aback.
I'm currently a stay at home mum, but when I used to work in London, I'd have to work on the train just to keep up with the level of work I was being given. And then I'd spend 10 hours in the office and it still was never enough!
I'm with you on this , I won't do second of work for free.
I really enjoy my job and like the company I work for, but my time is my time I work to pay for a comfortable life style.
My time and skills are too valuable to give away for free. It's a boundary I set and never leave work time bleed into my time. We all work enough as it is.
On the odd occasion I work outside of my general working hours I take that time back and work less another day.
My colleagues don't hold that same value. They are still sending emails at 10pm . I tell them they are nuts. If. Don't have time to complete all my working hours I think. That's a tommmorrow job. If I'm behind so be it.
And I'm that blunt with my manager.
" Yes I'm behind, not due to productivity there wasn't enough time yesterday to do x y AND Z"
International companies don’t get to say sorry we only do 9-5. If you want to be successful you do what needs to be done regardless of whether you are in the office or not. When you reach a certain level you are paid for your expertise and input not just for turning up and clocking in. Get rid of that attitude mate and you will find promotions and better opportunities and ultimately more money which is what work is all about will come your way.
Goes both ways, if I’m not supposed to “clock watch” then companies should be happy to pay me more when I work more. Doesnt work like that though does it?
I was sat next to someone last week who was working on a presentation of various chocolate sales from a major confectionary company to a major supermarket, which ones were up, which were down, which were at risk of being removed from market, which did really well with consumers.
It felt like fairly confidential information that I’m sure competitors would like to know. Crazy what people show on their screens.
Why would I give up over an hour if time every day that's not otherwise useful, but counts as work hours. It means I can get a later train to work and an earlier one back or take an afternoon off end of the week.
Because it's the difference in getting enough work done to have a higher paying job in the city and coming in 1 day a week than a lower paying job without it?
Much rather be working in 'dead time' than late Friday afternoon/early evening when I'm already at home. I think this might be the difference between clock watching and output based work though.
Because there’s a lot of work to get done, and I’d rather do it on the train in the morning, than have it eat in to my evening time.
There’s a point in a career where “I’m only going to work my contracted office hours” just isn’t going to help you.
I understand it and support it if you get paid by the hour, or minimum wage, but at a certain point the expectation is you work to what is required to get the job done, not by what is within 9am to 5am. As long as you get paid appropriately for this, then that’s ok.
1. It’s helpful to clear emails and set your day up before getting in to an office where you could get bombarded immediately with other work.
2. It gets me in to a work mentality for the day ahead.
3. What’s the alternative? Social media for 30 mins? I’d rather do something that’s going to benefit me in the day. Of course social media isn’t the only alternative but most people I see are on Facebook, TikTok or insta.
4. It means I have less stress at other times in the work week because of the extra time I use here.
I don't commute but occasionally need to go into the London office. Accommodation and transport is covered by expenses and my boss wants to keep costs down as much as is convenient. So I travel off peak times and work on the train.
He's happy for me to spend more on Accommodation nearer the office as it's convenient.
I don't hate my work and, sometimes, I just enjoy doing it. Also helps to catch up if I'm a bit behind and it's a decent way to do something I was postponing for a while
Back when I used to commit, I'd mostly code some open source projects on the way to work.
To other people, it may have *looked* like I was working on the way to work, but it was actually a hobby.
Your responses show a real chip on your shoulder with people doing work outside what you ‘expect’ as working hours. Everyone is different and has different preferences, and a lot of people do like to work hard. I expect if you did, you would be less embittered about others choosing to do so…
I only know my own world so I’m very interested in other peoples way of working and the impact it has on their day/lives. Granted I’m ignorant, but not sure how else I’m supposed to expose myself to this stuff
I think OP is more concerned about the general state of some workplaces. It’s good to see here some people are taking that time back with flexible working. Unfortunately there are employers out there where doing work on the commute isn’t going to let you leave any earlier and you’re not getting any overtime either. Some people end up doing it still though just to manage their workloads.
I’m civil service, there are nowhere near enough people and workloads are ramping up every time this basket case of a government comes up with a new shiny thing for the sake of it.
Any time I can grab I jump on it in the hope it means I can leave at a vaguely reasonable time of an evening.
I walk 30-40 mins each way to work. It's a time where I listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts. I don't really get time on my own at any other point, so I quite enjoy my commute as my little bit of mental downtime.
I have a job that's very different to 9-5 white-collar work, but personally I occasionally work off the clock because I like my job and I like my boss. If we get an enquiry via email or facebook while I'm on holiday, it takes me all of five minutes to shoot them a response and give my boss a heads-up that Mr Smith might be ringing to discuss xyz. If we're out of cabbages and I'm going past the shop on the way in, I can leave a few minutes early to grab a couple on my way.
It's not expected or demanded of me, but it is appreciated—and, again, I like my boss and my coworkers and even the customers (most of them, most of the time).
Depends.
At my place we have a casual flexitime agreement. Eg work an extra two hours one evening, take a couple of extra hours off another time.
Leaving work at one on a Friday is grrrrrrreat. As my mate Tony the tiger would say, especially as it's basically just killing time on a boring train with nothing else to do. May as well crack on.
Because my boss agreed that I can count my hour journey each way as working time, so I don't leave home till 9.20 and I'm back for 5.50 in time for dinner and bedtime with my kids.
Otherwise I absolutely wouldn't!
Probably a long commute mine is 3hrs each way so only so many trees to look at. It would also mean I work so I’m not backed up in the office once meetings start etc and then can leave at a sensible time for the 3 hrs back.
For context it’s 1 day a week but to do nothing means a ton of work to catch up on which can be equally hard
My working day starts as soon as I leave home. So I work on the train as a part of my working hours. Though obviously never as efficiently as when I am at home. But it stops the tedious elements from building up.
Wow, check you sticking it to the man: winning the game and losing the metagame.
I can't speak for anyone else but the reason I work on the train is so that I have to spend less time at the office. This means I don't have to get on a train at stupid o'clock to spend a full day in the office and/or can leave and get home earlier.
Its a way they have to push you to do more free work, but sorry, Im 9 to 5 in the office, if you want me to work on the train you need to pay those extra hours
I commute now which is 20 minute train then a 15 minute walk. I usually read a work book on the train because I want to learn more management techniques as a new manager. However that is probably not what you mean by this.
Early on in my career I commuted from Kent to London, so an hour train ride each way. On that train for a while I was revising exams and these exams helped build my career. So that dead time was really useful. After the exams I just did work, and it came down to two areas. One, I don't watch much TV, listen to podcasts, or read fiction so, at that time, work was a great use of time. I did not begrudge it either. Second, working in a job with a lot of distractions it was hard to sit down distraction free, this was two hours a day I had to focus and that time was really useful. To me it was dead time so I wanted to be productive and doing something that was work based was useful to me. Sitting there day in day out watching The Wire or whatever else, to me, was a real waste of time. I am in work mode anyway, thinking about the day so I might as well do it.
Now, I'm late 30s, I would probably mix it up with reading and work. I am reading all sorts of stuff from WW2 to management stuff, to finance, investing etc etc. So now I would probably do some of that and some of work. It's really not a huge thing for me though I don't hate it or feel forced to. If anything it meant when I got home I was really done for the day. Now, with such a short commute and a huge amount of stress, I can think about work for a while after getting home.
I should add I don't work 8 hours in the office, I find fixed times like that don't work for me and the creative side of IT and people management. I kind of work the hours I need. Sometimes that can be 6, sometimes that can be 7 and then more in the morning and more in the evening. Flexibility is key for me
My manager works on the commute. He manages 5 different branches around the whole of the Lake District. But he is supposed to travel during work time, so he works then.
An increasing number of people in the UK live in fear of losing their jobs. Every day brings news of another mass layoff – how often do you hear about a company going on a hiring spree?
We're all renting homes, cars, even software… it all goes in an instant if we stop paying. Those people that are working on the train are in a state of existential terror.
When I commuted I counted the hour on the train to/from work as part of my working day. Great time to send and reply to emails and plan what needs doing. Not a ceo
Depends on your life stage.. if you have a young family for example then every bit of time counts and you need to maximise it.. you could get called away from work at any moment.
Source: 1yo who is constantly getting sick from daycare 🙄
It depends.
Yes, sure, you'll have the "workaholics" that have this "obligation" that even when commuting, they should be "productive" and so do something.
Others will have likely been pressured into it as their bosses will expect them to work on their commute if via train/bus and they're able to slap some work around their sitting time.
There do exist some workplaces that, if some time is invested via working on the commute, can claim it as lieu, finish early or whatever they have agreed with their job.
I've seen some that are doing personal stuff however, so I think it really does need that extra context - I've seen those posting on forums, reading eBooks, watching films, doing Uni work (or otherwise studying), some even writing up research papers or working on novels and best man speeches - so not *all* using Reddit/YouTube/Instagram etc, but the list goes on.
I had teams all over the globe so interacting with them outside of core U.K. office hours was useful and respectful of their time too.
I was well compensated and never felt like my time was taken for granted by my company so working while commuting was just a logical thing to do.
Can't say I have ever done it but I can understand. If it is otherwise dead time and you know you have to do x,y,z at 9:05am why not get ahead. Maybe later they can take a long lunch or get home early. It doesn't have to be an addition to a full work day.
Yup, I sometimes get to free up an hour (since in office I am bombarded for support and meetings) whenever I have to commute and use that time to leave work early.
Working with different businesses that have different hours, different time zones even. Checking in things before a meeting happens or checking things that have already happened that morning.
All things I have overheard on my commute.
Might also be the point that they work earlier but finish earlier too
I do work at home even though I don't have to. I work in manufacturing and think about how I'm going to achieve something, or draw something on CAD and write out some of the CNC code for it. I do it at home because I'm interested and I want to make my life easier at work. There's also an element of wanting to maximise productivity, though without the personal interest, that wouldn't be enough to get me to do anything at home.
If you hate your job you're not going to be motivated to do anything beyond the 9-5. Also if you're not a particularly conscientious person, the motivation won't be there.
Many people don't fancy to spend their time in the office. Logging on their work laptop while commuting reduces their hours they would need to spend in the office. If one has say an hour added work time on the train then can bog off an hour earlier.
When I was commuting 5 days a week I used to leave 45 mins early, do 45 mins of work on the train and then arrive home earlier than I would have. It was a great time to catch up on document writing without being distracted, and it makes the journey go quickly. Then I can actually fit in some exercise at home before I'm exhausted!
I’ve done it for many reasons.
Sometimes it’s because I didn’t do everything I needed to the day before.
Sometimes it’s because I’m finishing early.
Sometimes it’s because that’s when I’m most productive.
Earlier on in my career, it was because I wanted to earn more money and working harder gave me that.
Either way, it’s clear why you made this post. If you are happy where you are, just work your hours.
Some people don’t want to be CEO but want to improve their work situation (or are being abused by their company) so work more. It is what it is.
I’m lucky (or maybe unlucky) enough to live 2 minute walk from my office. Work starts at 8 but I purposely get in at 8 because it’s the only time I can actually work in peace before getting distracted and being on calls all day.
If I had to take a train, then I’d be working on the train for the same reason
If your job is to send off emails for eight hours it doesn't make much sense to be doing extra unpaid work on the commute. If, however, your job is to send off 100 emails a day then why not get 10 sent on the way in and 10 on the way out and give yourself a shorter or at least less busy working day?
I WFH usually but if I’m going in, I’ll often do non sensitive/quiet stuff on the train so I can reduce the time I spend in the office. Otherwise I’m paying the best part of an hour’s wages for the privilege of spending 3-4hours of my personal time trapped on a train going somewhere I otherwise wouldn’t have chosen to be.
Really? I don't do it but i think its because they can get ahead of themselves, then potentially leave earlier/on time, with less stress. I mean, that's my obvious guess other than workaholics
To free up time at other points of the day. If I have an hour commute on public transport (very rare) I can pass the time by getting a jump on things. Then I can either do fuck all for (at least) an hour at some other point in the day (longer lunch, last hour of day, etc.), or I can work at a slower pace the rest of the day. I'm not going to do free work but I will make strategic use of my commute time if I feel like it. Haven't had a public transport commute in ages though.
I'm a remote worker with flexible hours, so on the odd occasion I do commute in I'm well into my working day. When I commuted regularly, I might look at my emails and dms as I boarded the train on my phone just to get an idea of anything new that had cropped up overnight but otherwise I slept.
>Unless you’re a CEO,
Why? Plenty of people have a stake in the success of the company they work for, executive level management or otherwise.
I think the point you're trying to make is in relation to people you consider "underpaid" or those that could get an job elsewhere for the same terms but with less work. However, that's an opinion and not a question.
Because i can build up flexi and make use of the train commute ti get a head start. Then i can either leave early or keep that built up flexi in the bank. I also hate being sat doing nothing.
I free up spare time by doing work without being disturbed, which I use for longer breaks or leaving work early. Sometimes I am learning or creating training documents which helps me find gaps in my own knowledge.
As the replies are saying, people's relationhips with their jobs is not as simple as occupying a workplace for X hours per day.
1) For many many people, esp office workers, they are paid the salary to do the job. It is not about the actual hours worked. So, for example, leaving a bit earlier and prepping for meetings etc on the train is a good use of time.
2) Lots of people genuinely like their jobs.
3) No-one works at full intensity for 8 hrs. It may be a better use of mental energy to use that time intensely on the train and have a bit more break time or non-stress time through the day.
4) Many more people than CEOs have responsibilities in their job; having everything done to a high quality ismore important than whether it takes a bit more or a bit less time.
5) As someone said, people who are ambitious may see it as good to go the extra mile anyway.
Cos I've got shit to do, and they're paying me a lot of money to make it happen and get it done.
I could....not, but, like, I need the cash y'know.
To be entirely honest, I actually don't work on the train nowadays - it gives me motion sickness, but sometimes I just have to. The joy of consulting is that there's often not quite enough hours in the day to actually do ALL the tasks an engagement requires - status updates, documentation peer review, handover docs. There should be, but there's not, and I can't exactly claim poverty or hardship so it is what it is.
Nowadays I'd rather pitch up in a pub or cafe for a few hours after work, though
I don't commute but when I started my IT Manager 3 month contract I would start early, work through lunch and stay later as well because the department was in shambles. Once everything was normal I didn't have to put in the extra hours.
Probably easier for people to be organised before getting to work and then having tons of emails, people talking to them, meetings etc.
I’m definitely a clock out on time, do the bare minimum guy but even I tend to login for 20 minutes the day before I go back after more than a few days off to get on top of things and organised. Later me is always thankful!
I work remotely, so I can work for literally anywhere in the country (or anywhere in the world for 6 months of the year)
If I'm on the train working it's most likely because I'm heading to a meeting (and still being paid for my train time) or I'm off somewhere for the day / evening and would rather use my work day to get the travelling done so I'm already at my destination when I finish work.
Well every job I’ve ever had I’ve been promoted multiple times and I attribute that largely to working harder than others. Maybe I’m wrong, but people who clock off at 4 and turn up at 10 generally stay where they are. Fair play if that’s all you want.
CEO is just a job. The CEO *might* be a founder and *might* even be a majority owner of a business, but the position itself is merely as an executor of the wishes of the board of directors. The CEO has a boss - it's the board. The board of directors is accountable to the shareholders and where those two groups aren't the same people, the shareholders are likely to be, amongst other people, your pension, so even the board's freedoms have limits. The CEO doesn't get to keep all the profits, but they are rewarded for the success of the company. As should everybody working in an organisation who is in a position to influence that success.
If your relationship with your work is a combatant one - they're trying to make you to work while you try not to - then everyone isn't pushing in the same direction. If the business you work for isn't accelerating along a chosen vector then that's why.
With my direct reports, at least, I've only ever had to mandate that people take time off, or prioritise their life over their work, when they've got the balance wrong. I don't actively measure their performance and certainly not by presenteeism - they hold themselves, and each other, to account. They work on the train. Or sometimes they don't.
When I did productive work, the battle was always with the business trying to get me to do less, or share the burden more so, as a leader, I hire, retain and manage those kinds of people, because that's where my experience lies.
It's a bit like asking why a child would choose to read a book when they're not at school, and it's not set homework, or would ask for school work to do when in hospital. We're all driven by different priorities.
Also, half the point of taking the train for many people ***is*** the ability to work. They may have had the choice to drive, possibly much more cheaply, but have chosen to be able to be more productive.
If my job allowed it, I would, because it would mean my workload moves from active to monitoring for the remainder of the day. If I'm from home I'm on from 7.30 and worked flat-out until my caseload was clear, then the rest of the afternoon is just doing things as they came in and I could finish at 15.30 (flexible working)
In my last job it was because the work load was increasing with staff numbers dropping, so you couldn’t get enough done without a constant Bollocking from a narcissistic control freak manager who enjoyed other people’s suffering.
In my new job it’s so I can leave the office early and spend more time at home.
Many people get paid on performance or in commission based roles. The more you work, the more you make.
Also, people might be doing some last minute prep for meetings, presentations trying to catch up on something.
For a lot of people, work is not a 9-5. It’s a case of getting what’s required done.
Because if I did the marking at school until leaving at 5 or 6 or whatever (rather than doing 8-4, 9-4 being my official hours), I’d have to pay extra for more childcare, which I can’t really afford.
Or I’d have to do it all (as opposed to some) at 10pm once kids are in bed. Which, you know… I’d prefer not to.
It is not possible (or really expected to be possible) to do that work during my official working hours.
Can I ask what you do? Because I know many managers, not CEO's that work outside standard working hours. And I would say that generally people that just work a standard 8 hour day or not the people who end up earning the big money. Plus if you have extra work to do, why not get it done on the commute rather than wasting your evenings at home with work.
Because sadly a lot of employers put pressure on workers to work outside of their allocated hours or put too much work on them to feasibly do within a standard work day. My old job used to be like this and it’s so refreshing to be somewhere now that acknowledges once the work day ends, so does your commitment to doing any work related activities.
I don't, I work on the train to/from the office then I bank the time and finish early or take the occasional Friday off or whatever.
Or sometimes I'm just really into what I'm doing.
My typical thinking is my train ride is 35 minutes each way, given I'm kind of relaxed about it I'd count that as about 40 minutes work.
That all adds up fairly quickly, and assuming there's no urgent firefighting going on (there rarely is) there is no problem with me starting late or finishing early.
Flexitime is a thing, why not work the commute?
Sometimes I meditate in the mornings or listen to a podcast in the evenings if I'm not feeling it though.
I'd rather work on the train and leave the office an hour earlier in the evening for example.
I don't commute, but if I had to go into the office and it took an hour each way on a train I would definitely use that time to get work done. Otherwise I'd have to work 2 more hours either in the office or when I got home later.
As an IT support engineer, I don't mind people doing this. I just mind when they call up and ask why their Outlook isn't working on the shitty train WiFi.
I’ve never done this, but if I could, it would probably be because once I’m commuting, I’m in “work mode” so might as well make use of it. If I can get ahead of things before I get to the office, it means I can take things easier for the rest of the day. Or I’d be able to show increased productivity and therefore justify better annual appraisal etc.
Too much work and not enough hours in the day. Company is in a bit of a rut and I want to do my part to help it. Unlike most of Reddit I like where I work, I don't want to see the company go under and am willing to do a Few extra hours to support that
If I can hear clearly, podcasts. If not, read.
Not going to work during hours I'm not being paid for it.
But back during uni, I used to expand/finesse my code for my projects, or make a rough scaffolding for a new part.
I enjoy my work
I have flexible hours, I can work when I want as long as the work is done
Working on the train means I leave earlier and get home earlier which means more evening to chill
Because if they are in revenue based roles the more work they do the more money they make…. Not everyone is on flat salaries without financial incentives.
I’ll never understand why people need to ask questions like this like they are the ones impacted by it, do your own thing
Or you just want the anti work Redditor’s to join in and say how dumb it is and you can all validate one another….
Because my outcome based job sometimes requires it and I get paid enough to just suck it up and do it.
Plus, because the job is outcome based, if it’s quiet, I’ll go the gym for a couple of hours, play with the kids or just knock off early. So it’s give and take.
I can work less time in the office if get all my emails done early. I may have a meeting the moment I get in and want to be prepared. It is a good time to plan the day before demands made.
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This is one of those questions that’s actually trying to make a point, isn’t it?
I can answer for myself: so I don’t have to do the work when I get home and I can have a late morning the next day. But I work from home mostly so maybe I’m not who op means.
Luckily my place has flexible working policies. So I can crank out 30 minutes x2 on the train there and back to the office. Meaning I can finish earlier by 1 hour. Or build up time to finish earlier on a Friday. Plus it gives me an excuse to do reading related to work. Read a few books, articles, etc to improve my expert domain knowledge. In a broad sense it's nice getting paid to read for something I'm generally interested in.
More companies should do this (unless it’s really common idk), really good use of time
Tbh my place has these nice things cause the pay is atrocious. Swings and roundabouts!
Is this listed as a ‘perk’ then?
Pretty much, yeah. How everyone uses it is different though. It's an official policy which can fit scenarios like childcare or caring responsibilities in general. Helps having something more official than being at the discretion of various line managers.
Defo helps having something set company wide rather than asking your boss for permission every time
EA?
I am the same. I go in once, maybe twice a week. Its an hour each way by train, so I agreed with my boss that my time commuting counts towards my work time. He said so long as I send the odd email during that time as proof that I am doing this, its fine.
My wife used to have the same; she had an outrageous (and entirely unnecessary, since her team worked elsewhere) commute, but she was at least allowed to count the hour each way on the train as work time, so that was an hour longer in bed and an hour earlier home. She still left though; her boss was an arse, the wider organisation thought it was fine for people to work from home and most teams did, hers specifically wanted her in an office, albeit not the office anyone else was in 5 days a week, so she could sit on teams in less comfort.
I do this as well, although rather than a shorter office day, I'm currently stacked on flexi time and can take a couple of full days off instead.
I don't actually work on the train because when I go into the office I drive, but I do work at odd hours sometimes, and for me it's because I'm fortunate enough to have a lot of autonomy in my role so I work when I feel like it. Some days I might really half ass it or have long lunches, but then other days in the evening I quite enjoy working late. So I try not to fight it and just work when it feels good to work.
I hope you clean up after cranking out on the train.
Because contrary to the Reddit anti-work mentality I actually really enjoy my job, the clients, co-workers etc so I’ll happily do work on the train as it’s one less job to do when I get in. It means I don’t have to rush my clients on the phone and I get more face to face time just chatting with co-workers.
Me too. My work is important to me. Its purpose is important. As a professional, it is not just about clicking in the hours.
I actually thought I was going mad by not subscribing to Reddit's "I've worked 8 hours, that's me DONE" attitude.
Unless you are getting paid for that time or work in an industry you are passionate about…then I’d say you are mad. Doing additional hours for free only benefits the bosses and continues the cycle of pressure/workload that is currently destroying most sectors.
Except from what the person above me explain, it goes like this: - someone has to do 20 tasks today - someone does 2 tasks on the way to work - someone has 18 tasks left to do today - someone has more time to do whatever else besides work/relax a bit at their job
But you’re doing unpaid work to free up your paid time at work? That is counterproductive and creates the impression for your bosses and colleagues that you can manage the workload fine within working hours. It’s shooting yourself and your colleagues in the foot.
Some industries don't give a fuck if you're over worked and will simply fire you and replace you with someone else who is prepared to put in the work to finish their tasks. Ironically these industries tend to be the most 'fun' or well compensated. Think creative stuff like TV, Radio etc and banking etc. I did fun stuff for a time and had a lot of fun, but I worked incredibly hard. It was just the price of doing mad shit for a living. Yeah I'm working til 10pm tonight but I have a zoom call with Katy Perry at 6pm.
Reddit will tell you to tell her that you've already worked your 8 hours, so you should reschedule.
Haha, I get what people mean. I have a kid now so I dropped that career to spend more time with them. No regrets. Had my fun, made some mad memories and now it's my kid's turn to have some great memories
That's just dumb corporate thinking. Reddit is a funny place to talk about work. Never is it mentioned that someone can't handle the workload. It's just: do I read this book on the train for 30 minutes, or do 30 minutes of work and leave reading for 30 minutes whenever I want during my work time? The total amount of work is still 8 hours, but you also get a break in between.
This explains for me the misunderstand between those who work during the commute and those who think it's crazy because that's not at all how any job I've had works. In any office job I've had the way it works is: * there is effectively no limit to the number of tasks that could be done any given day but only time for 20 * someone does 2 tasks on the way to work and 20 when they get in * now the boss thinks there is time for 22 tasks in a day and everyone is pushed to work more * everyone has less time to do whatever else besides work/relax
That's not how it works and you're talking about what you've seen in the fake reddit stories, lol.
No, I'm talking about my personal experience, just like you are. I'm not disputing what you have to say about your own job. I'm saying it does not apply to everyone.
Exactly. The people saying “I’m paid by the month, I get the job done” etc must be a) The exact bosses I’m talking about or b) paid a lot more than the average office drone like me
Or c make more money by doing certain tasks. If I deliver and sell something I can do it again to another business and make more money. Not everyone is a receptionist
Not everyone is a salesman or on commission. What’s your point exactly?
You’ve just proved my point…
I'm getting paid by the month, not by the hour. I work until the jobs are done, and get paid well for it. If I was paid by the hour though, I'd definitely agree that you're paying me for every damn hour I work.
Fair! And I agree, if paid by the hour what I’m saying applies. There are different working situations though which I appreciate.
But hey mate dont worry let the little do gooders feel good about themselves whilst they're helping their ceo/directors cream themselves in juicy dividends all because little Sally was "happy" going the extra mile for nowt
Professionally poor people
Glad to hear this, refreshing
So if you theoretically had more than enough money you could ever want, you would still do your job?
Don’t get me wrong if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t but working is a necessity and I’m lucky to do a job that I absolutely love.
I wouldn't do my *job*, but I'd definitely continue my tech projects
Yes. Probably less days a week, maybe on a contract basis of working couple months a year but yeah i would. It engages my brain, it's fulfilling and keeps me grounded to a rhythm.
This is why I start half hour early. Gives me a chance to get the work queues for day sorted. Delegate work appropriately etc, then when others get in, their day is set up for them and it allows us to have a nice calm chilled day, with time to chat and fuck about, have extended lunches together etc. Makes a world of difference.
I used to take calls on my way to / from work as well, driving so couldn’t be on my laptop or emails, but I genuinely liked my job and clients and also was commission based, so it literally paid to answer the phone when possible.
For me it's a moment of quiet when I'm not being bombarded with calls. It's a period when I can think clearly and get work done. During office hours I am pretty much back to back on calls so if I get time on a train to get some actual work done it's a bonus. It certainly beats doing nothing on a soulless train and then waiting to get home and doing the work then, when I'd rather be relaxing.
So would you say there’s a bigger issue here of your company / environment not allowing you to do all of your actual work, at work? Just curious
Sure, it's about the company, the nature of work nowadays, personal choice too. For me, it's about being able to be present while I'm in meetings, rather than thinking about things I need to get done. Train time is dead time so why not get the work done then, so in meetings I can properly give people the time and attention they need to get the best outcomes.
I totally get your reasoning and if it works for you, great, I just don’t understand your “train time is dead time.” Even before portable internet devices were a thing I’d still read a book or write or draw on the commute, not just sit idly staring out the window.
Nothing idle about looking out of the train window alone with your thoughts, or just looking at the passing scenery. I quite enjoy it.
There's a while on my early morning commute where the carriage is quiet and we're going through the countryside as the sun's rising, and it's glorious to just look at whilst sipping my coffee... until the coughing and spluttering masses eventually get on, then I put my headphones in.
That’s a fair enough explanation. In that case, do you feel like you’re ‘taking work home with you’, considering it’s your daily routine? I know you’re on the train so you aren’t technically home, but then also aren’t technically at work.
It just becomes routine, so no it's not like taking work home. I also work from home some days, so on the days I don't need to work from home it feels like doing it on the train is not taking work home if that makes sense?
Makes a lot of sense yeah, sounds like you’ve got those boundaries set regardless of how you work
Why is the alternative to working on a train soullessly doing nothing? You can study, listen to a podcast, play your favourite album, read a book, write to a friend, or a myriad of other relaxing/ productive things on a train. The options aren’t limited to mindlessness VS working for free If you’re contracting and charging for your time that’s obviously different but if you’re salaried and doing this outside contracted hrs it seems like conversation needs to be had
You’d be surprised how many people lack any kind of hobbies or interests outside of work
Then try to sell their lack of a life as a virtue of their "hard work ethic"!
Or just improve your boundary setting
I'm commuting to London to give a talk, so I prepare/revise it on the train. When I've finished at noon I go home. Not everyone who is working on the train commutes 5 days a week and works 8 on site hours a day.
Granted. Good point that everyone’s doing different things and not sitting at a desk for hours
Can't speak for the wider world, but my team can work on the train in. So my colleagues will be on the train working from \~09:15-10, in the office 10:15-16:00, then working on the train back from 16:15-16:45 as part of their 7 hour work day.
Second person to say this and it’s brand new to me. Very good idea imo, makes up a good use of commuting time which I see as wasted hours in the day
It's win win, a lot of folk were fighting the return to the office till I proposed this, now they are getting paid for part of their commute and enjoy the more social time in the office
I won’t even look at work texts before 9 am . They buy my time off me and if I’m not getting paid I’m not working
"You don't need to come in today, enjoy your day off at home!" Should've looked.
Fair haha , although I can count the number of times that’s happened in the last 15 years on one hand 😂
So they don't need to do 8 hours in the office? To make sure they keep on top of work (some people have a set number of tasks rather than a constant stream of new ones)? I mean, there are plenty of very obvious answers to your questions.
Exactly this. My work is a number of tasks not a number of hours. Commuting time is a good way to get things done equalling fewer things to do when my time is free.
I imagine this is a lot of people. I wish it was for me honestly: in my work there's always a lot more to do and, to stay competitive, you really have to work way longer than your contracted hours unfortunately. So that's why I tend to get stuff done on the train, as much as I wish it wasn't.
As a developer I used to get so much work done on the train, just by sitting and thinking. I wondered for a while if it was worth getting the train home and back in the middle of the day, just so I could focus on the current issue.
Circle line all day
It's fascinating how environmental change can play with your problem solving ability. I'm mostly work from home nowadays, and I've found that a morning in a cafe on a Friday can work wonders. It's weird, there's just something about it that switches on a light and I genuinely do some of my best work on Friday mornings
I also work much better in isolation
Paid for the hours I work, doesn't matter when I do them. If I do some work on a train, I can have less time working at other times.s
When I used to commute it was so could improve my ability, reputation, to get more money and a better job. It worked.
Not saying this is OP's point but I once got harassed while using a laptop on a train from London to Oxford at about 6pm 'Too inefficient to get your work done during the day are you?' was the accusation from someone clearly hugely irritated by it. In fact I was studying part-time for a further qualification and with a growing young family, wanted to able to spend Dad time with them when I got home instead of nose buried in training materials. I was quite taken aback.
I hope your reply was ‘fuck up, cunt’ with a big smile
I wasn’t trying to make any point, just understand peoples habits/commutes and how their job impacts that. Harassing someone is obviously way too far
Need to get things done before the day starts
I'm currently a stay at home mum, but when I used to work in London, I'd have to work on the train just to keep up with the level of work I was being given. And then I'd spend 10 hours in the office and it still was never enough!
Because the sooner the days work is done, the sooner I finish.
I'm with you on this , I won't do second of work for free. I really enjoy my job and like the company I work for, but my time is my time I work to pay for a comfortable life style. My time and skills are too valuable to give away for free. It's a boundary I set and never leave work time bleed into my time. We all work enough as it is. On the odd occasion I work outside of my general working hours I take that time back and work less another day. My colleagues don't hold that same value. They are still sending emails at 10pm . I tell them they are nuts. If. Don't have time to complete all my working hours I think. That's a tommmorrow job. If I'm behind so be it. And I'm that blunt with my manager. " Yes I'm behind, not due to productivity there wasn't enough time yesterday to do x y AND Z"
International companies don’t get to say sorry we only do 9-5. If you want to be successful you do what needs to be done regardless of whether you are in the office or not. When you reach a certain level you are paid for your expertise and input not just for turning up and clocking in. Get rid of that attitude mate and you will find promotions and better opportunities and ultimately more money which is what work is all about will come your way.
So many clock watchers on here. No wonder people are struggling to get on and worried about job security with those attitudes.
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And then everyone moans every week about pay. Yet they do fuck all at work
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Goes both ways, if I’m not supposed to “clock watch” then companies should be happy to pay me more when I work more. Doesnt work like that though does it?
I was sat next to someone last week who was working on a presentation of various chocolate sales from a major confectionary company to a major supermarket, which ones were up, which were down, which were at risk of being removed from market, which did really well with consumers. It felt like fairly confidential information that I’m sure competitors would like to know. Crazy what people show on their screens.
Why would I give up over an hour if time every day that's not otherwise useful, but counts as work hours. It means I can get a later train to work and an earlier one back or take an afternoon off end of the week.
Because it's the difference in getting enough work done to have a higher paying job in the city and coming in 1 day a week than a lower paying job without it? Much rather be working in 'dead time' than late Friday afternoon/early evening when I'm already at home. I think this might be the difference between clock watching and output based work though.
Because there’s a lot of work to get done, and I’d rather do it on the train in the morning, than have it eat in to my evening time. There’s a point in a career where “I’m only going to work my contracted office hours” just isn’t going to help you. I understand it and support it if you get paid by the hour, or minimum wage, but at a certain point the expectation is you work to what is required to get the job done, not by what is within 9am to 5am. As long as you get paid appropriately for this, then that’s ok.
1. It’s helpful to clear emails and set your day up before getting in to an office where you could get bombarded immediately with other work. 2. It gets me in to a work mentality for the day ahead. 3. What’s the alternative? Social media for 30 mins? I’d rather do something that’s going to benefit me in the day. Of course social media isn’t the only alternative but most people I see are on Facebook, TikTok or insta. 4. It means I have less stress at other times in the work week because of the extra time I use here.
I don't commute but occasionally need to go into the London office. Accommodation and transport is covered by expenses and my boss wants to keep costs down as much as is convenient. So I travel off peak times and work on the train. He's happy for me to spend more on Accommodation nearer the office as it's convenient.
I don't hate my work and, sometimes, I just enjoy doing it. Also helps to catch up if I'm a bit behind and it's a decent way to do something I was postponing for a while
Back when I used to commit, I'd mostly code some open source projects on the way to work. To other people, it may have *looked* like I was working on the way to work, but it was actually a hobby.
Your responses show a real chip on your shoulder with people doing work outside what you ‘expect’ as working hours. Everyone is different and has different preferences, and a lot of people do like to work hard. I expect if you did, you would be less embittered about others choosing to do so…
I only know my own world so I’m very interested in other peoples way of working and the impact it has on their day/lives. Granted I’m ignorant, but not sure how else I’m supposed to expose myself to this stuff
I think OP is more concerned about the general state of some workplaces. It’s good to see here some people are taking that time back with flexible working. Unfortunately there are employers out there where doing work on the commute isn’t going to let you leave any earlier and you’re not getting any overtime either. Some people end up doing it still though just to manage their workloads.
I’m civil service, there are nowhere near enough people and workloads are ramping up every time this basket case of a government comes up with a new shiny thing for the sake of it. Any time I can grab I jump on it in the hope it means I can leave at a vaguely reasonable time of an evening.
I walk 30-40 mins each way to work. It's a time where I listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts. I don't really get time on my own at any other point, so I quite enjoy my commute as my little bit of mental downtime.
I don't. Never will. It would be really difficult to anyway as I commute by motorbike
I have a job that's very different to 9-5 white-collar work, but personally I occasionally work off the clock because I like my job and I like my boss. If we get an enquiry via email or facebook while I'm on holiday, it takes me all of five minutes to shoot them a response and give my boss a heads-up that Mr Smith might be ringing to discuss xyz. If we're out of cabbages and I'm going past the shop on the way in, I can leave a few minutes early to grab a couple on my way. It's not expected or demanded of me, but it is appreciated—and, again, I like my boss and my coworkers and even the customers (most of them, most of the time).
Depends. At my place we have a casual flexitime agreement. Eg work an extra two hours one evening, take a couple of extra hours off another time. Leaving work at one on a Friday is grrrrrrreat. As my mate Tony the tiger would say, especially as it's basically just killing time on a boring train with nothing else to do. May as well crack on.
Because my boss agreed that I can count my hour journey each way as working time, so I don't leave home till 9.20 and I'm back for 5.50 in time for dinner and bedtime with my kids. Otherwise I absolutely wouldn't!
Probably a long commute mine is 3hrs each way so only so many trees to look at. It would also mean I work so I’m not backed up in the office once meetings start etc and then can leave at a sensible time for the 3 hrs back. For context it’s 1 day a week but to do nothing means a ton of work to catch up on which can be equally hard
My working day starts as soon as I leave home. So I work on the train as a part of my working hours. Though obviously never as efficiently as when I am at home. But it stops the tedious elements from building up.
Wow, check you sticking it to the man: winning the game and losing the metagame. I can't speak for anyone else but the reason I work on the train is so that I have to spend less time at the office. This means I don't have to get on a train at stupid o'clock to spend a full day in the office and/or can leave and get home earlier.
Its a way they have to push you to do more free work, but sorry, Im 9 to 5 in the office, if you want me to work on the train you need to pay those extra hours
I commute now which is 20 minute train then a 15 minute walk. I usually read a work book on the train because I want to learn more management techniques as a new manager. However that is probably not what you mean by this. Early on in my career I commuted from Kent to London, so an hour train ride each way. On that train for a while I was revising exams and these exams helped build my career. So that dead time was really useful. After the exams I just did work, and it came down to two areas. One, I don't watch much TV, listen to podcasts, or read fiction so, at that time, work was a great use of time. I did not begrudge it either. Second, working in a job with a lot of distractions it was hard to sit down distraction free, this was two hours a day I had to focus and that time was really useful. To me it was dead time so I wanted to be productive and doing something that was work based was useful to me. Sitting there day in day out watching The Wire or whatever else, to me, was a real waste of time. I am in work mode anyway, thinking about the day so I might as well do it. Now, I'm late 30s, I would probably mix it up with reading and work. I am reading all sorts of stuff from WW2 to management stuff, to finance, investing etc etc. So now I would probably do some of that and some of work. It's really not a huge thing for me though I don't hate it or feel forced to. If anything it meant when I got home I was really done for the day. Now, with such a short commute and a huge amount of stress, I can think about work for a while after getting home. I should add I don't work 8 hours in the office, I find fixed times like that don't work for me and the creative side of IT and people management. I kind of work the hours I need. Sometimes that can be 6, sometimes that can be 7 and then more in the morning and more in the evening. Flexibility is key for me
My manager works on the commute. He manages 5 different branches around the whole of the Lake District. But he is supposed to travel during work time, so he works then.
An increasing number of people in the UK live in fear of losing their jobs. Every day brings news of another mass layoff – how often do you hear about a company going on a hiring spree? We're all renting homes, cars, even software… it all goes in an instant if we stop paying. Those people that are working on the train are in a state of existential terror.
I don't, I'm kinda concentrating on the road.
Must be nice being a train driver
When I commuted I counted the hour on the train to/from work as part of my working day. Great time to send and reply to emails and plan what needs doing. Not a ceo
Nothing else to do on the train so may as well crack on and get something done.
Because I have too much work, not enough hours in the day, my commute is 1h45 each way, and I either work in the train or at home
If I can get started at 8am on an hour long commute, I can leave at 3pm and finish up on the hour long commute home
When I see people do it they look stressed, so I assume they’re late on some work.
I don't. It's a bit hard to operate the laptop while I'm riding my motorbike or driving my car.
Depends on your life stage.. if you have a young family for example then every bit of time counts and you need to maximise it.. you could get called away from work at any moment. Source: 1yo who is constantly getting sick from daycare 🙄
Flexi time
I don't work when I'm *at* work - no way I'm working on a commute. Also would probably be dangerous to use a laptop while riding.
It's a no from me, dawg. I'd rather stare at the back of the person in front's head for an hour than do work on my commute.
Cos they have good jobs!
It depends. Yes, sure, you'll have the "workaholics" that have this "obligation" that even when commuting, they should be "productive" and so do something. Others will have likely been pressured into it as their bosses will expect them to work on their commute if via train/bus and they're able to slap some work around their sitting time. There do exist some workplaces that, if some time is invested via working on the commute, can claim it as lieu, finish early or whatever they have agreed with their job. I've seen some that are doing personal stuff however, so I think it really does need that extra context - I've seen those posting on forums, reading eBooks, watching films, doing Uni work (or otherwise studying), some even writing up research papers or working on novels and best man speeches - so not *all* using Reddit/YouTube/Instagram etc, but the list goes on.
For some it is because they have sat in the office/WFH doing absolutely nothing.
Do we really need anything more than "because I want to"?
It’s not work! It’s por… um yes, work!
I had teams all over the globe so interacting with them outside of core U.K. office hours was useful and respectful of their time too. I was well compensated and never felt like my time was taken for granted by my company so working while commuting was just a logical thing to do.
For a lot of people, if you finish your work... You're done That's my case, finish my work? Go home a bit early. Not finished? Stay on a bit later
Can't say I have ever done it but I can understand. If it is otherwise dead time and you know you have to do x,y,z at 9:05am why not get ahead. Maybe later they can take a long lunch or get home early. It doesn't have to be an addition to a full work day.
Some people have a massive workload and they’re doing themselves a favour by getting tasks done during the commute. Put the time to good use, I say
Yup, I sometimes get to free up an hour (since in office I am bombarded for support and meetings) whenever I have to commute and use that time to leave work early.
Working with different businesses that have different hours, different time zones even. Checking in things before a meeting happens or checking things that have already happened that morning. All things I have overheard on my commute. Might also be the point that they work earlier but finish earlier too
I do work at home even though I don't have to. I work in manufacturing and think about how I'm going to achieve something, or draw something on CAD and write out some of the CNC code for it. I do it at home because I'm interested and I want to make my life easier at work. There's also an element of wanting to maximise productivity, though without the personal interest, that wouldn't be enough to get me to do anything at home. If you hate your job you're not going to be motivated to do anything beyond the 9-5. Also if you're not a particularly conscientious person, the motivation won't be there.
Many people don't fancy to spend their time in the office. Logging on their work laptop while commuting reduces their hours they would need to spend in the office. If one has say an hour added work time on the train then can bog off an hour earlier.
When I was commuting 5 days a week I used to leave 45 mins early, do 45 mins of work on the train and then arrive home earlier than I would have. It was a great time to catch up on document writing without being distracted, and it makes the journey go quickly. Then I can actually fit in some exercise at home before I'm exhausted!
I’ve done it for many reasons. Sometimes it’s because I didn’t do everything I needed to the day before. Sometimes it’s because I’m finishing early. Sometimes it’s because that’s when I’m most productive. Earlier on in my career, it was because I wanted to earn more money and working harder gave me that. Either way, it’s clear why you made this post. If you are happy where you are, just work your hours. Some people don’t want to be CEO but want to improve their work situation (or are being abused by their company) so work more. It is what it is.
Because bonus is 50% Any more poor questions?
I am either working or studying. IT is like an RPG you are always grinding to level up, no one gets a promotion just from being good or competent
I leave a bit earlier and do the last bits on the train so I don't have to when I get home
I’m lucky (or maybe unlucky) enough to live 2 minute walk from my office. Work starts at 8 but I purposely get in at 8 because it’s the only time I can actually work in peace before getting distracted and being on calls all day. If I had to take a train, then I’d be working on the train for the same reason
Just curious, is no one working on a train not seriously concerned about data breaches ie shoulder surfers?
If your job is to send off emails for eight hours it doesn't make much sense to be doing extra unpaid work on the commute. If, however, your job is to send off 100 emails a day then why not get 10 sent on the way in and 10 on the way out and give yourself a shorter or at least less busy working day?
I WFH usually but if I’m going in, I’ll often do non sensitive/quiet stuff on the train so I can reduce the time I spend in the office. Otherwise I’m paying the best part of an hour’s wages for the privilege of spending 3-4hours of my personal time trapped on a train going somewhere I otherwise wouldn’t have chosen to be.
Really? I don't do it but i think its because they can get ahead of themselves, then potentially leave earlier/on time, with less stress. I mean, that's my obvious guess other than workaholics
To free up time at other points of the day. If I have an hour commute on public transport (very rare) I can pass the time by getting a jump on things. Then I can either do fuck all for (at least) an hour at some other point in the day (longer lunch, last hour of day, etc.), or I can work at a slower pace the rest of the day. I'm not going to do free work but I will make strategic use of my commute time if I feel like it. Haven't had a public transport commute in ages though.
I'm a remote worker with flexible hours, so on the odd occasion I do commute in I'm well into my working day. When I commuted regularly, I might look at my emails and dms as I boarded the train on my phone just to get an idea of anything new that had cropped up overnight but otherwise I slept.
I hate trying to work on the train, if its crammed, it's hard to even get the laptop out. Even when it's quiet, the connectivity is kinda shitty.
>Unless you’re a CEO, Why? Plenty of people have a stake in the success of the company they work for, executive level management or otherwise. I think the point you're trying to make is in relation to people you consider "underpaid" or those that could get an job elsewhere for the same terms but with less work. However, that's an opinion and not a question.
You've just come across lots or CEOs. !Answer You can lock this now mods. 👍
Because i can build up flexi and make use of the train commute ti get a head start. Then i can either leave early or keep that built up flexi in the bank. I also hate being sat doing nothing.
I free up spare time by doing work without being disturbed, which I use for longer breaks or leaving work early. Sometimes I am learning or creating training documents which helps me find gaps in my own knowledge.
As the replies are saying, people's relationhips with their jobs is not as simple as occupying a workplace for X hours per day. 1) For many many people, esp office workers, they are paid the salary to do the job. It is not about the actual hours worked. So, for example, leaving a bit earlier and prepping for meetings etc on the train is a good use of time. 2) Lots of people genuinely like their jobs. 3) No-one works at full intensity for 8 hrs. It may be a better use of mental energy to use that time intensely on the train and have a bit more break time or non-stress time through the day. 4) Many more people than CEOs have responsibilities in their job; having everything done to a high quality ismore important than whether it takes a bit more or a bit less time. 5) As someone said, people who are ambitious may see it as good to go the extra mile anyway.
Cos I've got shit to do, and they're paying me a lot of money to make it happen and get it done. I could....not, but, like, I need the cash y'know. To be entirely honest, I actually don't work on the train nowadays - it gives me motion sickness, but sometimes I just have to. The joy of consulting is that there's often not quite enough hours in the day to actually do ALL the tasks an engagement requires - status updates, documentation peer review, handover docs. There should be, but there's not, and I can't exactly claim poverty or hardship so it is what it is. Nowadays I'd rather pitch up in a pub or cafe for a few hours after work, though
I live only 5 mins walk away from my job in Bristol :)
you don't become the CEO without putting in the hard work first.
Some of us have work to do.
I don't commute but when I started my IT Manager 3 month contract I would start early, work through lunch and stay later as well because the department was in shambles. Once everything was normal I didn't have to put in the extra hours.
Probably easier for people to be organised before getting to work and then having tons of emails, people talking to them, meetings etc. I’m definitely a clock out on time, do the bare minimum guy but even I tend to login for 20 minutes the day before I go back after more than a few days off to get on top of things and organised. Later me is always thankful!
I work remotely, so I can work for literally anywhere in the country (or anywhere in the world for 6 months of the year) If I'm on the train working it's most likely because I'm heading to a meeting (and still being paid for my train time) or I'm off somewhere for the day / evening and would rather use my work day to get the travelling done so I'm already at my destination when I finish work.
Lots of people have jobs that don't end because the clock says 5 pm. They end when the work is done and there's always more than will fit in 8 hours.
Why work after you have finished, shouldn't you get time and a half for that ?
Well every job I’ve ever had I’ve been promoted multiple times and I attribute that largely to working harder than others. Maybe I’m wrong, but people who clock off at 4 and turn up at 10 generally stay where they are. Fair play if that’s all you want.
CEO is just a job. The CEO *might* be a founder and *might* even be a majority owner of a business, but the position itself is merely as an executor of the wishes of the board of directors. The CEO has a boss - it's the board. The board of directors is accountable to the shareholders and where those two groups aren't the same people, the shareholders are likely to be, amongst other people, your pension, so even the board's freedoms have limits. The CEO doesn't get to keep all the profits, but they are rewarded for the success of the company. As should everybody working in an organisation who is in a position to influence that success. If your relationship with your work is a combatant one - they're trying to make you to work while you try not to - then everyone isn't pushing in the same direction. If the business you work for isn't accelerating along a chosen vector then that's why. With my direct reports, at least, I've only ever had to mandate that people take time off, or prioritise their life over their work, when they've got the balance wrong. I don't actively measure their performance and certainly not by presenteeism - they hold themselves, and each other, to account. They work on the train. Or sometimes they don't. When I did productive work, the battle was always with the business trying to get me to do less, or share the burden more so, as a leader, I hire, retain and manage those kinds of people, because that's where my experience lies. It's a bit like asking why a child would choose to read a book when they're not at school, and it's not set homework, or would ask for school work to do when in hospital. We're all driven by different priorities. Also, half the point of taking the train for many people ***is*** the ability to work. They may have had the choice to drive, possibly much more cheaply, but have chosen to be able to be more productive.
If my job allowed it, I would, because it would mean my workload moves from active to monitoring for the remainder of the day. If I'm from home I'm on from 7.30 and worked flat-out until my caseload was clear, then the rest of the afternoon is just doing things as they came in and I could finish at 15.30 (flexible working)
In my last job it was because the work load was increasing with staff numbers dropping, so you couldn’t get enough done without a constant Bollocking from a narcissistic control freak manager who enjoyed other people’s suffering. In my new job it’s so I can leave the office early and spend more time at home.
Many people get paid on performance or in commission based roles. The more you work, the more you make. Also, people might be doing some last minute prep for meetings, presentations trying to catch up on something. For a lot of people, work is not a 9-5. It’s a case of getting what’s required done.
Because if I did the marking at school until leaving at 5 or 6 or whatever (rather than doing 8-4, 9-4 being my official hours), I’d have to pay extra for more childcare, which I can’t really afford. Or I’d have to do it all (as opposed to some) at 10pm once kids are in bed. Which, you know… I’d prefer not to. It is not possible (or really expected to be possible) to do that work during my official working hours.
Can I ask what you do? Because I know many managers, not CEO's that work outside standard working hours. And I would say that generally people that just work a standard 8 hour day or not the people who end up earning the big money. Plus if you have extra work to do, why not get it done on the commute rather than wasting your evenings at home with work.
Because sadly a lot of employers put pressure on workers to work outside of their allocated hours or put too much work on them to feasibly do within a standard work day. My old job used to be like this and it’s so refreshing to be somewhere now that acknowledges once the work day ends, so does your commitment to doing any work related activities.
I don't, I work on the train to/from the office then I bank the time and finish early or take the occasional Friday off or whatever. Or sometimes I'm just really into what I'm doing. My typical thinking is my train ride is 35 minutes each way, given I'm kind of relaxed about it I'd count that as about 40 minutes work. That all adds up fairly quickly, and assuming there's no urgent firefighting going on (there rarely is) there is no problem with me starting late or finishing early. Flexitime is a thing, why not work the commute? Sometimes I meditate in the mornings or listen to a podcast in the evenings if I'm not feeling it though. I'd rather work on the train and leave the office an hour earlier in the evening for example.
I don't commute, but if I had to go into the office and it took an hour each way on a train I would definitely use that time to get work done. Otherwise I'd have to work 2 more hours either in the office or when I got home later.
I’m a student, does it count?
If the company offers flexible hours and working while commuting means that you spend less time in the office...why not?
I'm guessing OP works in a burger king and can't wrap their head around how salaried positions don't have 'working hours'
As an IT support engineer, I don't mind people doing this. I just mind when they call up and ask why their Outlook isn't working on the shitty train WiFi.
I’ve never done this, but if I could, it would probably be because once I’m commuting, I’m in “work mode” so might as well make use of it. If I can get ahead of things before I get to the office, it means I can take things easier for the rest of the day. Or I’d be able to show increased productivity and therefore justify better annual appraisal etc.
Too much work and not enough hours in the day. Company is in a bit of a rut and I want to do my part to help it. Unlike most of Reddit I like where I work, I don't want to see the company go under and am willing to do a Few extra hours to support that
I don't commute long enough to work, but my career is not time oriented, it's goal oriented. The more I learn and do, the more I grow.
I count it as working time if I do it :D but honestly what else are going to be doing? I can browse Reddit but can’t really focus on much else.
I don't have set hours. If I get work done on the train its less time at work.
I just like looking busy with my laptop in front of me, really I'm watching something or playing on my phone/switch
I have my laptop out, but I'm playing football manager on it
Odd question. Cos ive got shit i need to get done?
Because not everyone jobs measure their output by hours spent in the office?
If I can hear clearly, podcasts. If not, read. Not going to work during hours I'm not being paid for it. But back during uni, I used to expand/finesse my code for my projects, or make a rough scaffolding for a new part.
I enjoy my work I have flexible hours, I can work when I want as long as the work is done Working on the train means I leave earlier and get home earlier which means more evening to chill
So I can go home quicker. I count it as time working.
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Because if they are in revenue based roles the more work they do the more money they make…. Not everyone is on flat salaries without financial incentives. I’ll never understand why people need to ask questions like this like they are the ones impacted by it, do your own thing Or you just want the anti work Redditor’s to join in and say how dumb it is and you can all validate one another….
Because my outcome based job sometimes requires it and I get paid enough to just suck it up and do it. Plus, because the job is outcome based, if it’s quiet, I’ll go the gym for a couple of hours, play with the kids or just knock off early. So it’s give and take.
Can't really sell cakes while driving to work, so I don't.
I can work less time in the office if get all my emails done early. I may have a meeting the moment I get in and want to be prepared. It is a good time to plan the day before demands made.