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Posts: 158

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Q: How heavy is everyones work schedule?

I finally  took a half day (mental health day) today ( Saturday), which got me  to thinking about this.

I used to work 70 hours a week here a few years ago, but have cut back to 60 due to burnout.

The money is good, but the schedule is grueling.

12 years 19 weeks ago in  Business & Jobs - Other cities

 
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Posts: 2409

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Typical week is between 60-80 hours per 7 day work week.  And even then I am always available by phone, email or SMS.  

But I try to take one full weekend per month just so I can decompress a little.

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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For my full time job at the college, I usually work 12 hours a week. For my part time jobs, every other week it's 8 hours, every other week it's 11. So altogether, 20 to 23 hours a week. Of course, that doesn't include prep time, so add a little more. It feels like a lot because I only have one morning off every other week, and work 3-5 nights a week. Even though I have off in the afternoon, the time goes by so fast, especially if I take a nap.

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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30 hours of classes plus prep time foolish paperwork having to work with other teachers on  final exams this school sux

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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12 maths classes of 40 minutes each, Monday - Friday, day time only. Prep time is minimal, because I did lesson and semester plans for the entire semester in the first week. Additionally, about 10 hours per week providing training materials to foreign companies for use in China, but no set hours.

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Thanks everyone for taking the time out of your busy schedules to answer.

It seems to be quite a diverse group on here, teachers, students, people posted here, wandering entrepreneurs like me, etc.

The work schedules are quite diverse too.

@Xpat John. You sound like me. What do you do exactly in China if I may be so bold to ask!

I will go first....I own my own company, look for import/export oppportunities, put in QC systems, design new products, site visits to ascertain feasibility, QC of shipments, benchmark existing products, business development and things of that ilk.

bennyfulltrack:

I do same as you.

12 years 18 weeks ago
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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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I am a Dot.com'er.  When I first came to China, I started a software/web outsourcing company.  After 3 years I sold it to someone who wanted a turnkey business.

After that, I helped a startup company get its legs and set it on the path to profitability.

Now I am starting a new internet company based on the software outsourcing industry.  It is just in its infant stage right now which is one of the reasons I work so many hours.  Well, that and I am a work-a-holic.  I have always believed in the work hard, play hard philosophy.

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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My first three jobs were a scam (two teaching, one not teaching). They were in smaller cities (young idealistic idiot me thought that would be a better way to acquaint myself with the culture and language) and, in spite of the contracts, it was common to do 14-hour days, seven days a week, at all three of them.

Now, in Hangzhou, I make over twice as much as my first job in China, and I'm on a strict, forty hour a week punchcard system. It's funny, I'm actually learning Chinese faster in a foreigner-filled, traditionally dialect-speaking city, just for the free time I have.

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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1197

Shifu

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I'm supposed to teach 5 classes a day but it's usually more than that because several of the teachers at my school are the worthless kind of laowai who come here, teach for some pocket money, then drink all night and call in sick because of the hangover. Whatever. I'm getting that overtime pay.

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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
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I work 60-70 hours and 6-7 days a week during production season.
In the off season (like now) I work about 20 hours and maybe 3 days a week.
I LOVE the off season....life is good.  But too much free time can get one into trouble!wink

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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
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5 periods a day, 40 minutes per period, Monday - Thursday.  Friday mornings, 4 periods a day, 40 minutes per period, finish at 11:25 and have nearly a 3 day week-end.

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12 years 11 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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When I first arrived here 6 years past , it I was wearing my donkeys ears and tail. A  franchise in Zhangjiagang, invited me to teach there. I had been told later that she hated foreigners, apparently some Italian broke her heart, however she was hppy to use and cheat foreigners to make her money. I worked 7 days a week, from 9am until 9pm. Sunday only 6 hours with 1 hour lunch. I was shattered, nackered , wrecked after 4 months. Then I was told she had done a way with some of her Chinese teacher an gave the words load to me. She was deducting tax, but putting it in her purse. I called it a day after the 4 months and opened a private school in the newly developed Tainba Business Building. I stayed 3.3 years and worked my own hours. Great business if you can do it.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 448

Shifu

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I work between 50-60 hours a week. I addition I have to entertain clients when they visit (a couple of times a month. Also almost nightly teleconferences with the U.S. or Europe.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 703

Shifu

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Part of the reason i am in China is to take a break. I work lots of hours when I am back home, so here I don't work as much, 3 to 5 days per week, depending.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 497

Shifu

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I spend in work many hours - the same time like offices in factories - 8-18 or maybe later, with 2h lunch break, 5 days a week

But my working schedule is flexible - I can stay working at home, go out at any time etc. (when there are no important tasks that involves my presence in factory).

Work is also not the same every day... sometimes I work all the time, including lunchbreak, and even late on evening, but more often ... I have some spare time during working hours.

all depends on tasks

when factory is finishing production of "my" items - I spent there a lot of time, just minding the business

when it is a gap between "my" orders - I have spare time

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 887

Shifu

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14 classes a week (45 min). Mon, Wed and Fri

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 796

Shifu

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My schedule:

Wake up at 7:45 a.m,walk to the company and buy breakfast on the way

Start to work  8:40 a.m -- 12:00a.m,1:30 p.m --6:00 p.m

Reach home at 6:50 p.m after supper in the company.

7:00 p.m -- 9:00 p.m :study accounting

9:00p.m --11:00 p.m :study Portuguese

11:00 p.m -11:30 p.m  do exercises

11:30:p.m -1:30 a.m  watch movies ,have fruits and drinks

At most of the time,my work can be done in 4 hours or so in each day,so usually i just read newspapers and browse comments on echinacities at the first phase of my working time and work in the afternoon.However,i have to work six days a week.Too bad!HAHA

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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