• Question: How often do you get breaks?

    Asked by Jocey to Kylie, Matt, Bex, RobB, Sam on 12 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Sam Briggs

      Sam Briggs answered on 12 Jun 2016:


      Hi 849cesf27,

      Intersting question – what do you mean breaks? Oh those things you used to get at school – I’m joking, I’m literally typing this on Holiday in France.

      I, as a PhD student, work flexi-time, this means I can work when and how I like. From home, in the office, or indeed here on Holiday, I have sent some work relevant e-mails whilst chilling on the beach!

      But I get four weeks holiday, a lunch break and tend to work from 09:00 – 18:00 and sometimes work Saturday’s and Sunday’s too!

      Hope that helps?

    • Photo: Kylie Belchamber

      Kylie Belchamber answered on 13 Jun 2016:


      To be honest, whenever i want one, unless my experiment tells me no!

      If i am working in the lab, i have to follow a protocol, which tells you what to do (like in science at school). I have to do the same thing every time i do this experiment, so that the results come out the same at the end. Some of my experiments let me have 4 hour breaks, and then do 2 hours of non-stop work afterwards, but some experiments take all day, with lots of little breaks. In this time, i will either go and get a cup of tea, have lunch, chat to my work colleagues, or go and do some work at my computer.
      If I am in the office all day, I am normally analysing data or writing up my work. I need more breaks to do this so my brain doesn’t stop working! I normally take a 5 minute break every 30 minutes, then a longer break every 2 hours.

      As a post-doctoral scientist (this means i already have my PhD) I get 5 weeks holiday a year, plus Christmas and Easter holidays, which is pretty good! I refuse to do work while I am on holiday though 🙂

      I hope that answers your question 🙂

    • Photo: Rebecca Thompson

      Rebecca Thompson answered on 13 Jun 2016:


      Breaks mostly revolve around food..

      Bacon butty Monday
      Ice cream Tuesday
      Cake Wednesday
      Posh baguette Thursday
      Doughnut Fridays!

      If I’m having a desk day, I take a lot of breaks to go and get cups of tea too!

    • Photo: Rob Brass

      Rob Brass answered on 13 Jun 2016:


      Hi!

      My situation is pretty similar to the other guys! I nominally work 9 – 5.30 with an hour for lunch, although sometimes I work late or start early or come in on a weekend or skip lunch or have a long lunch so it varies 🙂 I can take a short break (to get a cuppa 🙂 ) whenever I want unless I’m doing something urgent.

    • Photo: Matt Dunn

      Matt Dunn answered on 13 Jun 2016:


      Hi Jocey,

      The best thing about designing my own experiments is that I get to design my own breaks, so the answer is: as often as I want to, as long as the work still gets done 😀

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