I met a girl from Moscow, Russia on an international acquaintance site. She says she is a personnel director and works 12 hours a day. I like her but I do not know if I want to pursue this as she complains about being tired and limited time to write often. But still wants to be with me. Is a 12 hour work shift normal in Russia? I am a computer professional and manager with 15 years experience. From personal experience I work late during important times. I have only seen top level executives work extensively. A former girlfriend of mine was also personnel director so the position is not new to me but this excessive workload to me is strange. I find it excessive for middle management but not for a VP, CEO or Owner.
Russia - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I suppose it is ok for busy carrier/ businesswoman. Same as here in the USA. That is how business is done.
2 :
She is probably paid by the hour, with the hours being "unlimited", the more she works the more money she can earn. By all means persue the relaqtionship, but realize it can't be real until you travel there (she can't get a visa without a very good reason, like marriage and you need to go to Russia to make this happen). In the mean time she must work to pay her bills, good luck.
3 :
They can. My ex lived a short distance from Moscow. She would wake up at 5am, and not be home until 8pm. She was always tired and grumpy, and never had time, only in the weekends if she had the energy. Moscow can drain the life out of you, even I have a pretty long workday and I live in the center and have a small commute. It is hard for us singles to find time to date, because we are always working and when we are not, we have no energy to go out and meet new people. It's not everyone, but many people I know.
4 :
Moscow very big city. You must give a lot of time on transport. For example, I give 4 hours a day to get to work and back home.
5 :
For an HR Director I would say it is normal, for any serious managerial position it is normal. For any person pursuing a serious career it is normal, in any country. But you're also free to choose - you may work 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the whole of your life, but please no big ambitions in this case. Normal working day in Russia is 8 hours, on Fridays 7 hours, 2 days weekend, 28 calendar days vacation.
6 :
It's not uncommon. It's commonplace.
7 :
I agree with Polynesia. The higher your responsibility, the longer hours you work plus counting the traveling time. In Moscow, whether you take the subway or drive, it's time consuming to reach other places. This long working hours is the case all over the world, for upper level management, not only in Russia. It's even worse in Japan, China and Korea. They literally work like dogs.
