It might be worth mentioning that 'normal' i.e. 9 - 5 workers by and large leave home after 7.oo am and are back home before 7.oo pm ( I know that is a generalisation, but it covers a lot of the population ) so they aren't even away from home for even half a day of the five that they work, then they get another 2 days off at the weekend !! Maybe they are away from home a max. of 2.5 days a week ? I used to be criticised by my neighbours for 'always' being at home - and I rarely achieved even 50/50 time away to time at home spread over a lifetime, i.e I achieved some 3.5 days a week at ' home v. my neighbours who enjoyed 4.5 days at home with their family. ( and I could never plan to be home for Christmas Day, Birthdays etc. - I knew I had been after the event ! Bidline rostering helped change that of course )
ExSp33dB1rd: I understand your argument, but I'm not sure it is the full story. You are assuming that every hour at home is as valuable as any other. This just isn't the case. I suspect that most people would say that being at home during the day is more valuable than being at home during the night (when most people are asleep). In my case for example, I have chosen to work from home for many years. This has cost me some promotion opportunities, but I have always felt it was worthwhile, especially when my children were very young. It has meant that over my working life I have been able to spend much more time with my family. However, this has required me to be at home during the hours of daylight. Being at home at night, when my children (and wife) are asleep doesn't really provide me any benefit.