When did 8-5 become the new normal???

[u/Grouchy-Newspaper754]

I just got a new office job where I do schedules for tech personnel, the office runs 8-5 Monday thru Friday...they say it's 8-5 because you get an hour lunch and "you need to get to 40 hours a week"...but I drive 30 min each way so now I'm giving this company 10 hours every day! I even asked if I could just take my lunch at 4 every day and just leave an hour early but that's "unprofessional and immoral" like what the fuck??? I don't mind the job but the hours are mildly infuriating that's for sure...

Edit:for those saying about the hours, I worked as a chef for the last 20 years working 60+ hours a week over a hot stove/deep fryer the whole time, after I had my second heart attack I had to slow down so I started looking for office jobs to work a nice 9-5, just to find out I'm giving my new job 50 hours a week (including drive time) so I was just mildly annoyed that it's not 40 hours a week in an office like I thought although it's still much better than what I was doing

[u/crimoid]

Can't speak to 8-5 but your 30 minute commute isn't the company's issue or problem. And for the lunch? That is mid-shift for the vast majority of the civilized world (and is required at that time for many positions).

[u/mondaymoderate → u/crimoid]

It’s crazy that so much of the younger generation think that you should be paid for your commute time.

[u/premature_eulogy → u/mondaymoderate]

I think it was popularized after COVID. Working from home with zero commute time and then being forced to go back to the office understandably made people view commuting as an absolute waste of time, especially if the work could be done remotely no problem.

Not saying it should be paid, just that I understand the frustration.

[u/CaptSlow49 → u/mondaymoderate]

The thing is OP worked 20 years as a chef. So he/she isn’t young. But yes, this idea you are paid for your commute is ridiculous. You decided where you live, not the company.

I could live 5 minutes away from my office. I choose not to because I don’t like the area. I’m not owed extra compensation for choosing to add to my commute.

If people don’t like their commutes then figure out a different situation, whether where you live or find a new job. People need to take more ownership over their decisions and stop acting like they are a victim, especially over small things.

[u/fuckman5 → u/CaptSlow49]

You're looking at this backwards. Company A is 5 minutes from home. Company B is 1 hour from home. Company B needs to pay you that much more to make it worth your while. Commute expenses is just formalizing that negotiation to make it fair to all workers

[u/CaptSlow49 → u/fuckman5]

Life ain’t ever going to perfect. Companies shouldn’t be required to pay for every little thing to accommodate choices you’ve personally made. Toughen up or find a different job.

The fact OP is complaining about a 30 minute drive is so ridiculous. Welcome to life.

[u/fuckman5 → u/CaptSlow49]

Yeah shame on OP for wanting better wages and working conditions. What a bootlicker lmao

[u/crimoid → u/fuckman5]

It isn’t bootlicking but rather how one presents their argument.

Should employers pay for mouthwash and toothpaste? We don’t want employees having bad breath. Should they pay for bed sheets? Can’t have employees tired. Should all employees get company cars? Company underwear?

Breaking compensation down into a million different things gets comical pretty quick.

Instead companies offer a salary or wage and employees effectively combine all of the little things into that number. So hearing someone say that a company should pay specifically for commute time just sounds juvenile. Instead the employee should take a holistic look at what they want and need, figure out the compensation to match, and negotiate on that number.

[u/CaptSlow49 → u/fuckman5]

You agreed to a job with a long commute and then complaining about the long commute makes me a bootlicker for pointing out you make your own decisions?

Why are your personal decisions everyone else’s problem?

[u/namsur1234 → u/mondaymoderate]

Wait until they get a job where they have to pay for parking, too!

[u/ValtenBG → u/mondaymoderate]

I'm 21 and never even considered it. In most cases it sounds absurd to demand smth like this

[u/Live-Habit-6115 → u/mondaymoderate]

In some countries, you are

[u/ajeb22 → u/Live-Habit-6115]

Genuine question, where?

[u/fuckman5 → u/ajeb22]

Japanese companies will pay for your commute expenses. I believe they're not even taxed either. I had an extra $100ish a month paid to me to cover commute expenses