Working hours in Australia
Apr 20th 2010, 9:50 pm
#76
Mostly Harmless
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Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
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Apr 20th 2010, 10:48 pm
#77
Officially Bewildered
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
Posts: 5,523
Re: Working hours in Australia
Apr 21st 2010, 2:01 am
#78
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Apr 21st 2010, 3:22 am
#79
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 23
Re: Working hours in Australia
I've noticed that many people wanting to move to Australia are under the impression that Australians work less hours than most and have a good work/life balance.
I can only say to any prospective migrant that this just is not true.
Australians generally have to do at least 40-45 hours per week and more...
They also get very little in the way of annual leave , I think the only industrial nation that works more hours than this and less holidays is America.
By the time you get home in the evening all that sunshine has gone as even in summer it's dark by 8pm in Oz.
Just an observation , I'm sure lots of people will get mad at me telling the truth again
I can only say to any prospective migrant that this just is not true.
Australians generally have to do at least 40-45 hours per week and more...
They also get very little in the way of annual leave , I think the only industrial nation that works more hours than this and less holidays is America.
By the time you get home in the evening all that sunshine has gone as even in summer it's dark by 8pm in Oz.
Just an observation , I'm sure lots of people will get mad at me telling the truth again
Apr 21st 2010, 3:26 am
#80
Frequent Flyer Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,994
Re: Working hours in Australia
I've just been handed a roster for the next 3 weeks...6 day working week with only Sunday off...I guess you could call that respecting the weekends? 
Even worse because I live in Melbourne but work in Sydney (at the moment) I can't realistically go home - so I'll have to fly OH up here on the weekends they're not working.
Woe is me eh!
Even worse because I live in Melbourne but work in Sydney (at the moment) I can't realistically go home - so I'll have to fly OH up here on the weekends they're not working.
Woe is me eh!
Apr 21st 2010, 3:31 am
#81
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: Working hours in Australia
I've just been handed a roster for the next 3 weeks...6 day working week with only Sunday off...I guess you could call that respecting the weekends?
Even worse because I live in Melbourne but work in Sydney (at the moment) I can't realistically go home - so I'll have to fly OH up here on the weekends they're not working.
Woe is me eh!
http://caccioppoli.com/gif%20animate...ing_violin.gif
Even worse because I live in Melbourne but work in Sydney (at the moment) I can't realistically go home - so I'll have to fly OH up here on the weekends they're not working.
Woe is me eh!
http://caccioppoli.com/gif%20animate...ing_violin.gif
Apr 21st 2010, 5:27 am
#83
...giving optimism a go?!
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Brisbane (leafy, hilly western suburbs)
Posts: 2,202
Re: Working hours in Australia
Most get 20 days... and then also get the public holidays (between 8 and 10 depending on the year and whether some fall on weekends - in which case you get shortchanged like Anzac day 2009 which was a saturday but DIDNT get a public holiday moved to the monday).
Having said that there seem to be a growing number of jobs where public holidays arent respected.
I share working 7am-10:30pm 365 days a year with 5 people. That means I get on average 2 public holdays a year where I'm working, I lose 21 weekend days a year to work and have 1 day each week extended by more than 6 hours. All unpaid and in excess of a 'normal' 40 hours week.
I *am* looking for a new job
Edit: Just checked 2011 public holidays and we get cheated AGAIN: Easter Monday April 25th, ANZAC Day April 25th - Both listed as public holidays!!! What kind of SCAM is that?!!
Having said that there seem to be a growing number of jobs where public holidays arent respected.
I share working 7am-10:30pm 365 days a year with 5 people. That means I get on average 2 public holdays a year where I'm working, I lose 21 weekend days a year to work and have 1 day each week extended by more than 6 hours. All unpaid and in excess of a 'normal' 40 hours week.
I *am* looking for a new job
Edit: Just checked 2011 public holidays and we get cheated AGAIN: Easter Monday April 25th, ANZAC Day April 25th - Both listed as public holidays!!! What kind of SCAM is that?!!
Last edited by DadAgain; Apr 21st 2010 at 5:34 am.
Apr 21st 2010, 5:39 am
#84
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 165
Re: Working hours in Australia
That is such a cheat!! Anyway why do they need reasons for public holidays? What's wrong with a good old 'May bank holiday weekend' or maybe a 'June bank holiday weekend'?
Definitely not enough public holidays in NSW for my liking..
Definitely not enough public holidays in NSW for my liking..
Apr 21st 2010, 5:56 am
#85
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 247
Re: Working hours in Australia
Labour are too far left to celebrate being English .
Anyway looks like the land of milk and honey doesn't really do very well regarding annual leave and working hours ....best move to France or Austria for that !
Apr 21st 2010, 6:26 am
#86
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: Working hours in Australia
Gosh I sure am glad I'm retired and not working any more. I had a fantastic (as also my oh) working stint in the Dubai - 8-4:30 including commute time (10 minutes to office); strict 5 day week, 6 weeks holidays a year; don't even ask about the public holidays - almost a whole week off for the two main festivals, 28 days every year where we worked only 6 hours a day...unbelievable! No wonder the place was so popular with some expats!
We did have the odd muppets who thought they could spend day and night at the office in the hope of making a good impression on the boss and getting a promotion...lol. My boss (this was in 1996, when I just started my new job in Dubai) used to actually joke and tell me he used to set his watch when I picked up my bag to leave for the day at 2 pm (although my colleagues used to hang around until 4-5 pm
) In those days - a full day's work was from 8-2pm
We did have the odd muppets who thought they could spend day and night at the office in the hope of making a good impression on the boss and getting a promotion...lol. My boss (this was in 1996, when I just started my new job in Dubai) used to actually joke and tell me he used to set his watch when I picked up my bag to leave for the day at 2 pm (although my colleagues used to hang around until 4-5 pm
) In those days - a full day's work was from 8-2pm
Last edited by IndieG; Apr 21st 2010 at 6:28 am.
Apr 21st 2010, 6:31 am
#87
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 247
Re: Working hours in Australia
Gosh I sure am glad I'm retired and not working any more. I had a fantastic (as also my oh) working stint in the Dubai - 8-4:30 including commute time (10 minutes to office); strict 5 day week, 6 weeks holidays a year; don't even ask about the public holidays - almost a whole week off for the two main festivals, 28 days every year where we worked only 6 hours a day...unbelievable! No wonder the place was so popular with some expats!
We did have the odd muppets who thought they could spend day and night at the office in the hope of making a good impression on the boss and getting a promotion...lol. My boss (this was in 1996, when I just started my new job in Dubai) used to actually joke and tell me he used to set his watch when I picked up my bag to leave for the day at 2 pm (although my colleagues used to hang around until 4-5 pm) In those days - a full day's work was from 8-2pm
We did have the odd muppets who thought they could spend day and night at the office in the hope of making a good impression on the boss and getting a promotion...lol. My boss (this was in 1996, when I just started my new job in Dubai) used to actually joke and tell me he used to set his watch when I picked up my bag to leave for the day at 2 pm (although my colleagues used to hang around until 4-5 pm
) In those days - a full day's work was from 8-2pmLike the bit about muppets , I've met a few of those twits !
Apr 21st 2010, 7:18 am
#88
Not actually a squirrel
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,446
Re: Working hours in Australia
Yep, love Aus but in all the years here I've noticed more hrs worked overall at all levels as the work culture seems to be to work harder, not smarter
The upside though is that everyone takes weekend time more seriously than UK & come friday night, it's family time over the weekend
The upside though is that everyone takes weekend time more seriously than UK & come friday night, it's family time over the weekend
Apr 21st 2010, 7:49 am
#89
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,396
Re: Working hours in Australia
In Victoria next year, Tues 26th April is a public holiday in lieu of Anzac Day - so Fri, Sat, Mon & Tue over the Easter period are all public holidays. Have words with Ms Bligh if QLD aren't doing that!
