Working Conditions About this section
Hours. The average workweek for nonsupervisory workers in depository credit intermediation was 36.2 hours in 2008. About 8 percent of employees in 2008, mostly tellers, worked part time. Employees in a typical branch work weekdays, some evenings if the bank is open late, and Saturday mornings. However, banks are increasingly expanding the hours that their branches are open and opening branches in nontraditional locations. For example, hours may be longer for workers in bank branches located in grocery stores, which are open most evenings and weekends. To improve customer service and provide greater access to bank personnel, banks have phone centers, staffed by customer service representatives. Employees of phone centers spend most of their time answering phone calls from customers and often work evening and weekend shifts.
Administrative support employees normally work in large processing facilities in the banks' headquarters or other administrative offices. Most support staff work a standard 40-hour week; some may work overtime. Those support staff located in the processing facilities may work evening shifts.
Work environment. Branch office jobs, particularly teller positions, require continual communication with customers, repetitive tasks, and a high level of attention to security. Tellers also work for long periods in a confined space.
