World's 2nd richest man recommends working longer

[Ronstar]

World's 2nd richest man recommends working less for a decade longer, limiting their work week to 3 long days. I think I prefer the work while you're young and get out as soon as possible.

Working less for longer « Bankrate, Inc.

 

[Fermion]

Think of the expenses you have while working. Most of these expenses will need to be met if you are working 5 days a week or 3 days a week. You still need work clothes, work vehicle, and the need to live somewhat close to your job.

For efficiency it makes sense to work 5 days a week for a shorter time. The additional work related expenses for the 2 extra days are negligible.

 

[aaronc879]

World's 2nd richest man recommends working less for a decade longer, limiting their work week to 3 long days. I think I prefer the work while you're young and get out as soon as possible.

Working less for longer « Bankrate, Inc.

If everyone worked an office job then MAYBE they could work until 70-75 and work 11 hour days as he recommends. But very few laborers could work to that age. My dad had to retire at 64 for health reasons. He had to give up golf and can barely walk around the block. He's not worse off than many other his age. Expecting everyone to work into their 70's is unrealistic.

 

[Andre1969]

If everyone worked an office job then MAYBE they could work until 70-75 and work 11 hour days as he recommends. But very few laborers could work to that age. My dad had to retire at 64 for health reasons. He had to give up golf and can barely walk around the block. He's not worse off than many other his age. Expecting everyone to work into their 70's is unrealistic.

I think even an office job can take its toll on you. Carpal tunnel, strain from sitting too long, getting fat and lazy, turning into Jabba the Hut in front of the computer screen. Not to mention the hell the flicker of the fluorescent lights and computer screen plays on your eyes.

When I was younger, I had no trouble pulling down a 40+ hour per week full time job, and then doing a 25-30, sometimes even 40 hours in the evenings jockeying pizzas around. But, I was in my 20's then, and gave up pizza delivery for good when I was 31. Now, at the ripe old age of 44, I get pretty tired of my office job in the early afternoon, and by around 3 pm, my eyesight is starting to strain.

But yeah, most of those manual labor type jobs are even worse! They tend to wear people out and then throw them away once they're deemed no more useful. You don't see too many old people working at construction sites, for example, unless it's the guy directing traffic, flipping the sign between "Stop" and "Slow"

 

[BBQ-Nut]

I think even an office job can take its toll on you. Carpal tunnel, strain from sitting too long, getting fat and lazy, turning into Jabba the Hut in front of the computer screen. Not to mention the hell the flicker of the fluorescent lights and computer screen plays on your eyes.

That can give you a 'brain cloud', right?

[remember Joe and the Volcano and the office scene?...or wait...that's where I work...]

 

[robnplunder]

World's 2nd richest man recommends working less for a decade longer, limiting their work week to 3 long days. I think I prefer the work while you're young and get out as soon as possible.

Working less for longer « Bankrate, Inc.

I prefer working 3 days a week AND retire early.

 

[Andre1969]

Never saw Joe versus the Volcano, but have heard of it. Just looked it up...good lord, 1990?! It was THAT long ago?

And yeah, 3 days a week AND retiring early sounds like a great plan to me!

 

[sengsational]

Most megacorps want you "full time". I would have lept at the chance to work less, but still work. But I didn't want 3 days a week, I wanted 5 days a week and 100 days of vacation! In fact, I asked for that, but got an expected "no can do", so I quit.

 

[marko]

A few companies had gone to a 4 day, 10 hour work week. The employees wanted to go back to 5 days 8 hours because they were spending too much money on their 'long weekends'.

 

[robnplunder]

A few companies had gone to a 4 day, 10 hour work week. The employees wanted to go back to 5 days 8 hours because they were spending too much money on their 'long weekends'.

LOL if that is the case. There got to be other reasons, like 10 hours being just too long. Including commute and occasional OT, a work day can easily end up being 12 - 14 hours. I prefer French week work hours . Isn't it like 36 hours or even less?

 

[MichaelB]

From the article it sounds like Mr. Slim's suggestion to work few but longer days and retire later in life is motivated by his desire to limit retirement costs.

 

[razztazz]

Cheap Laborite.

 

[marko]

I prefer French week work hours . Isn't it like 36 hours or even less?

Lived in France for several years. It's a 35 hour work week but at my company they worked 40+ hours.

They way they did it was to bank their extra 5-6 hours per and then end up taking a 4-5 day long weekend ever other week or so.

Of course, they would always couple that up to some holiday (seems there was one every other week and they had it planned out to a "T") so the effect was that they'd work a 40 hour week and then have 2-3 3 day weeks.

 

[Andre1969]

A few companies had gone to a 4 day, 10 hour work week. The employees wanted to go back to 5 days 8 hours because they were spending too much money on their 'long weekends'.

I've tried doing 3 day weekends on occasion, and one thing I notice is that it messes with my sense of time. I swear, it felt like the 3-day weekend went by just as quickly as the 2-day weekend, but then the work week went by quicker, so it felt like time was speeding up!

But then there have been a few times where I'd try for a 4-day weekend, such as taking an extra day off during an already long holiday weekend. That would seem to break up the routine pretty nicely, and it actually FELT like a long weekend.

 

[RunningBum]

Think of the expenses you have while working. Most of these expenses will need to be met if you are working 5 days a week or 3 days a week. You still need work clothes, work vehicle, and the need to live somewhat close to your job.

For efficiency it makes sense to work 5 days a week for a shorter time. The additional work related expenses for the 2 extra days are negligible.

I think job expenses are overstated. Fewer people wear expensive suits these days, and your wardrobe will last longer if you wear it 3 days a week instead of 5. I always needed/wanted a vehicle whether working or not. I'm sure there are some couples who get along with one car in retirement but I'm guessing more keep one per driver. Your point about home location is a good one if you work somewhere expensive like Silicon Valley and move in retirement.

 

[BellBarbara]

My biggest personal pet peeve, guys who do not do labor type jobs suggesting everyone should work longer. I come from blue collar guys, my grandma installed HVAC, other grandpa was a butcher, etc. They were BROKEN by 65, bad knees, backs, etc.. They could not work any longer and were not going to be able to find a "desk job".

 

[Animorph]

DW did four 10 hour days for most of her working years. She really liked it with a weekday off to schedule appointments and spend with the kids. Usually a Wednesday off, so never more than two days of work in a row.

She went part time last year, two 10 hour days. That was OK, but she found that working part time took her out of the loop a little too much. She was used to being a central figure and missed being a stronger influence. Now she gets to watch people screw up. However, only 1 or 2 days to go in August and she's out of there. Much more open to retirement after part-time and having her boss leave.

 

[razztazz]

My biggest personal pet peeve, guys who do not do labor type jobs suggesting everyone should work longer.

I don't know. Sounds dangerously close to "class envy".

 

[Andre1969]

I don't know. Sounds dangerously close to "class envy".

I think "Work longer" is a dangerous strategy to rely on, no matter what type of work you do. People who do a lot of hard, manual labor tend to get "used up", for lack of a better word, and can't do that type of work later in life. But even in cushy white collar jobs, your health can fail, you can get downsized out of a job, and so on. And there's no guarantee that someone is going to want to hire you as you get older.

 

[razztazz]

But even in cushy white collar jobs, your health can fail, you can get downsized out of a job, and so on. And there's no guarantee that someone is going to want to hire you as you get older.

That is exactly the conclusion I came to early in life. Real freedom is in not having to depend on people or events to survive. Especially in the short, run as in today, this week, this month. In the long run we're all dead.

 

[DAYDREAMER]

But even in cushy white collar jobs, your health can fail, you can get downsized out of a job, and so on. And there's no guarantee that someone is going to want to hire you as you get older.

+1!
Couldnt agree more! My goal is to solve the financial independance issue, and if i decide to continue to work its a personal choice and not a necessity. At age 30, I realized that older people around me were constantly being ousted. This made me realize, I better get my ducks in a row, so when it happens to me, I leave with a big grin.

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

I don't personally care for Mr. Slim's plan. It could be good for some workers,those who don't do back breaking work.For those workers who do hard labor they better be saving every penny they can because the years go by so fast .It would be a bummer to wake up one day and realize you can't work anymore but you are not financially able to quit.There's a Clock in England somewhere and it has the chilling words:It's later than you think.

 

[Walt34]

IIt would be a bummer to wake up one day and realize you can't work anymore but you are not financially able to quit.

That is what is probably going to happen to one BIL. He readily admits that he HAS to work until he is 66 but his job is physically demanding. I hope he makes it.

He's the one married to the one that I've referred to as "Spendarina".

 

[foxfirev5]

Let's face it. Most companies really don't value older employees all that much. I see coworkers virtually shunned from involment in new projects and put through hell. Fortunately I created a niche and am not involved in this BS. However if I weren't FI I would be nervous. Instead I'm the guy with the go ahead and make my day attitude. I would hate to depend on working longer as a retirement strategy.

 

[BellBarbara]

I don't know. Sounds dangerously close to "class envy".

Not at all, I am in the desk job, highly compensated class.(RE at 54) If you don't have family members who worked labor jobs, you can be unaware of how hard some of these jobs are on your body over time.

It's unrealistic to suggest they work another 5 or 10 years. I was just talking to my first husband on the phone the other day - he is a painting contractor. He is 64, broke his hip falling off ladder. He did not break anything until the last few years and has now broken ankle, femur, hip in separate incidents. He needs to stop working.