Working 50,
60, 70 hours
per week?
There's still
time for a
rewarding
personal life.
DEBBIE L SKLAR
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
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PHOTO BY GLENN TR I EST
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n any given Sunday morning, Donna and Rik Jag-
Rik and Donna
ger can be found nestled in their West Bloomfield
Jagger make it
home, noshing on bagels spread with lox and cream a point to spend
time together.
cheese and surrounded by at least a half-dozen news-
papers.
The Jaggers, like many Americans today, are both hard-working
professionals. Unlike some American couples, however, they have
found a way to work quality time into their personal lives.
A recent survey done for Day-Timers, a maker of personal orga-
nizers, reported that two-thirds of American workers find it difficult
to complete all their tasks each day.
That's because men work an average of 50 hours per week and
women aren't far behind at 42 hours per week, the survey said. The
survey also noted that workers spend an average of 10 hours per
week alone with their mates, but do six hours ofjob-related work at
home.
Many local Jewish men and women — like the Jaggers — are putting
in long hours on the job. But they are finding a way to spend time with
their loved ones. They say it's essential to maintain those relationships.
Donna Jagger, 36, is the owner of Malibu Visage Anti-Aging In-
ternational Salon in Farmington Hills. Besides spending countless
hours at the salon helping her clients look their best, Ms. Jagger does
makeup for several on-air personalities at Channel 50.
"Between working at the salon and Channel 50, I put in over 70
hours per week," Ms. Jagger said.
Her husband, "Captain" Rik Jagger, is the co-host of the morning
show at WHYT-FM radio.
"Because Rik and I are so busy during the week, we make it a point
to spend Sundays 'cocooning,' " Ms. Jagger said. "All of our friends
know not to call us on Sundays because they'll just get our answer-
ing machine.
"We get up and buy some bagels, lox and cream cheese. Then we
buy all the major newspapers so we can read them."
At dinner time, the couple may head out to pick up some sushi.
"After we're done eating dinner, I start doing my paperwork for
the salon. That takes until about mid-
night," Ms. Jagger said.
The Jaggers also spend Tuesdays to-
gether. Ms. Jagger's shop is dosed that
day and she gets together with her hus-
band after he finishes work.
"Each Tuesday during the summer,
we go up to Zingerman's in Ann Arbor
and have a picnic," she said. "In the win-
ter, we eat inside the restaurant. After
we're done, we often spread out our pa-
perwork and do it there. We laugh a lot
and it doesn't seem like work at all.
"In order for us to keep our marriage
strong, we take time for ourselves. Dur-
ing that time, everything else becomes
secondary."
Cookie Chayet, 50, of Southfield, who
is single, has three jobs but she still
finds time to see her daughter and
grandchildren once a week.
"I have dinner with my daughter and
grandkids every Wednesday," she said.
"I don't let anything get in the way of
that day."
Ms. Chayet is a receptionist at a sa-
lon, a hostess at an Italian restaurant and a psychic. She's been hold-
ing the three jobs for the last year and a half. While it is rare for her
to tackle all three jobs in one day, two in one day isn't unusual.
"I would say I work more than 60 hours per week," Ms. Chayet
said. "I work at the salon Wednesday through Friday and at the
restaurant Friday through Sunday. In between, I do my psychic par-
ties when I have time.
"I really don't have time for socializing, though every once in a
while I:11 go out to eat or to a movie. Sometimes I miss the social life,
but there aren't a lot of places I want to go and no one I'm interest-
ed in going there with.
"If anyone ever hired a private detective to follow me around,
the investigator would probably fall asleep on the job — he'd be so
bored."
Wendy Fayne, director of operations at the Hamilton, Miller, Hud-
,...,
son and Fayne travel agency in Southfield, is anoth l'usy woman.
Ms. Fayne, 41, says she works at least 50 hours r week doing
everything from interviewing potential employee overseeing a
portion of the operation of the wholesale division.
"My job is extremely fast-paced, it's constantly changing and it's
a challenge," she said. "I don't mind working long hours because I
thrive on them. I love the challenge of seeing something completed
from start to finish."
Ms. Fayne is married to David Glaser, a warehouse manager. She
says it's difficult to make time for each other, but they do it.
"It's important. If you don't do it, you can't sustain a relationship,"
Ms. Fayne said. "We're both operations people, so he understands
what I do and vice versa, and that's a big help."
The couple relaxes by going to movies, dancing and attending art
shows. O