Work First, or Family First?

timebandit
By timebandit

This is a spin off thread inspired by the 'Loud and clear' thread.

When I was younger, I was happy, in fact eager to work outside of office hours. a) Because I loved my work, and b) because it earned me massive brownie points with the owners.

But as I grew older, and gained a family, I would find work interruptions at Birthday Parties, family meals etc. most annoying. They were not only annoying to me, but also to my family who felt cheated when I would have to stop doing whatever it was I was doing with them, and go and do some work related stuff. Even if it only to me 30 mins to sort it out, the interruption had been made, and disappointment caused, souring happy times.

So what should come first, Work or Family?

PS. It is my experience here in Qatar that there is a great deal of respect for Weekends, especially Fridays.

By Kareena74• 23 May 2011 14:35
Kareena74

I am afraid now Britexpat.. do you have any? Male I mean.. hahaa

By britexpat• 23 May 2011 14:34
britexpat

Do you have any rich, female, single cousins, friends ?

By Milky_BarKid• 23 May 2011 14:24
Milky_BarKid

work life balance!

By Kareena74• 23 May 2011 14:09
Kareena74

Funny.. I am planning to be a housewife once I get married.. Let my hubby do the part which includes paying the rent, utlities, groceries etc.. I am just going to sit at home and look after the kids..

By britexpat• 23 May 2011 14:00
britexpat

Just the person I'm looking for.. Are you looking for a house husband by any chance ?

By Kareena74• 23 May 2011 13:59
Kareena74

I am a working spinster but how can I help you Britexpat?

By britexpat• 23 May 2011 13:43
britexpat

perhaps there are two young working spinsters who may be able to help us..

By Uranus1• 23 May 2011 13:39
Uranus1

I work so that my family can be safe, secure and enjoy the opportunities that my wealth provides. If the amount of work I do starts to become detrimental to my family then I reduce my hours or change jobs.

I agree that it is fine balance between the two.

By nomerci• 23 May 2011 12:39
nomerci

Usually sacrifices have to be made on both sides.

By KHATTAK• 23 May 2011 12:22
KHATTAK

Family first, but work gets in the way...........

By Ice Maiden• 23 May 2011 12:19
Rating: 5/5
Ice Maiden

Simple, try to balance between the two. In some cases when there is a deadline, work takes prority. In others when there is a "very important" soccer match or the children are sick, family takes priority.

Have managed so far to balance between family & work, and no regrets. It all boils down to YOU.

By timebandit• 23 May 2011 11:56
timebandit

I would love to be a house husband, and be the one staying at home looking after the family.

By anonymous• 23 May 2011 11:54
anonymous

Right TB and there are also many homes were the wife is the main bread earner.

By Formatted Soul• 23 May 2011 11:54
Formatted Soul

There are many fathers in the west who take break in their career to look after the child. Its not only moms who sacrifice their career to look after the child. There are many happy children who are brought up by working mothers.

By anonymous• 23 May 2011 11:48
anonymous

Kareena that is by no means a fact, rather a misconception. There are plenty of working mothers raising happy well adjusted children.

By Kareena74• 23 May 2011 11:44
Kareena74

It is a widely known fact that children need their mothers more than their fathers so it is only fair that women sacrafice their careers for the sake of their kids but the same cannot be said for the fathers because they have to earn in order to support their wives and kids.. Right?

By Kareena74• 23 May 2011 11:31
Kareena74

For a man, it is ok if work comes first and family after but for a woman the case is reversed. Her first priority is family of course..

By britexpat• 23 May 2011 11:31
britexpat

In response to your comment - Culture does come into play also - because the individual may have no choice ..

By anonymous• 23 May 2011 11:28
anonymous

It's a balance and it depends on the stage of your career. Right now for me, I don't mind working some evenings and weekends,and my husband is ok with that as well because he knows I'm trying to furthur my career. However when a baby comes it will be family first, work second.

By happygolucky• 23 May 2011 11:18
happygolucky

painther... aila (tendulkar style) ...not at all overcharged...completely chilled ...:)

By painther• 23 May 2011 11:11
painther

Happy, Overcharged today??

Plz tell which Tea you had this morning-

Indian Tata tea?

Srilankan Dilamah Tea or

British Tetley (ohh that's even owned by Tatas)

By happygolucky• 23 May 2011 11:06
happygolucky

If Mr. TATA does not understand the needs of individuals why are the individuals who have been removed trying to lobby to still work on his companies through the help of trade unions and others... shouldn't they be happy that they can now sit at home and be with their families to their hearts content having escaped the claws of such an uncaring and bullying boss...

By blue_rose• 23 May 2011 11:00
blue_rose

hmm work is also important but give enough time to ur family.

By Sohaib Ashraf• 23 May 2011 10:50
Sohaib Ashraf

family first dude....

By timebandit• 23 May 2011 10:49
timebandit

So there we go... I think most would agree that the thread indicates different people have different needs.

It would seem therefore that Mr. TATA is unable to comprehend that people have different needs, and is quite simply a bully who does not care about workers having lives outside of work.

By painther• 23 May 2011 10:41
painther

jjj75, what's your number??? :P

LOL....

By painther• 23 May 2011 10:40
painther

Neither work nor Family.....QL first!!

(pun intended)

lol

By jjj75• 23 May 2011 10:29
jjj75

Nope, no respect at all for calling out of hours, particularly from locals, always wanting my private number and when I refused, they would say 'but I won't call you don't worry' and I replied, well you don't need it then. Colleague gave out her number - more fool her, calls day and night (middle of the night too) until she had to change her number to stop the calls. So, my experience - zero respect here.

By happygolucky• 23 May 2011 10:18
happygolucky

No hard and fast rule...whatever takes precedence at that particular moment...if I look forward to work allowing me to leave in exigency, I should allow the work to call on me when required or in a similar situation..

By Formatted Soul• 23 May 2011 10:10
Formatted Soul

A wise man will always maintain the balance..a wise woman will always understand his priorities..and manage the family in his absence.

By Qatar33590939• 23 May 2011 10:02
Qatar33590939

Hope to be Bestman---Inshallah also trying to be bestman on this Land

By jpa• 23 May 2011 09:55
jpa

Classic excuse of failures.

"It depends".

By Obed Castro Jr• 23 May 2011 09:47
Obed Castro Jr

When your at work spend your time working,

When with your family spend your time with your family.

Never bring work at home.

By Rizks• 23 May 2011 09:40
Rating: 4/5
Rizks

if workholics dont get married they get Alcoholics and ruin their rest of the life behind bars or at Ramada parking lot....:(

By DaRuDe• 23 May 2011 09:40
DaRuDe

you are bestman right?

By britexpat• 23 May 2011 09:39
britexpat

You are indeed wise beyond your years :o)

By KHATTAK• 23 May 2011 09:38
KHATTAK

Workoholics should not get married.

By Qatar33590939• 23 May 2011 09:38
Rating: 4/5
Qatar33590939

no one is First -- Keep Allah is first and respect all and always family first

By Rizks• 23 May 2011 09:37
Rizks

agree with britey !

there has to be balance, u cant just forget ur work and stay with ur family or vise versa...coz in order to have a Happy life and a Happy family u need to have both...

By jpa• 23 May 2011 09:35
jpa

It's like the balance sheet in accounting, neither is acceptable if not equal.

By britexpat• 23 May 2011 09:32
britexpat

It is not always so clear. There has to be a balance. However at the end of the day, the family needs to take priority (especially with young kids)

By chocolate• 23 May 2011 09:31
chocolate

Read thissome time ago

---No man on his death bed ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office”

By Rizks• 23 May 2011 09:31
Rizks

"work interruption at birthday parties, family meals etc."...isnt these parties and meals done in evenings ?

I think most of them dont work in evenings after 5 or max 6pm ?

By timebandit• 23 May 2011 09:29
timebandit

So you are a Work First vote then Rizks?

By Rizks• 23 May 2011 09:24
Rizks

U work for your family - right ?

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