What is the best solution for my work schedule?
March 8, 2016 6:40 AM Subscribe
I need to stick to a scheduled work day, from clock-in to clock-out times. I've been having lots of trouble with this and need to find the right solution for me.
I'm a higher-level exempt white-collar office employee, but we are required to select an hourly schedule and stick to it. My current schedule is 7am to 4 pm, with a 1 hr lunch. 45 total hours, minimum, per week are required. Though I guess that doesn't matter much, assuming you're sticking to the schedule you select. For several reasons, I've been unable to adhere to this. I typically come in around 7:15, 7:20, and leave around 4:15, 4:30. Here are the reasons I can't seem to stick to 7 to 4:
1. I don't agree with it. I get my work done, I excel (literally last week got a big surprise raise), I'm salaried/exempt, why do I have to work a strict schedule? (read: come in on time. Of course, working late is fine/encouraged.) This mental holdup is a big factor. There are lots of other rules I find petty, too, but they affect me less. (No cell phone usage, no internet use, generally get treated like kids/entry level workers, even though we're just below c-level.)
2. I'm a natural night owl, and I try to go out once or twice a week with boyfriend or friends. The 5:45/6am wakeup time is rough for me. I am definitely, definitely not a natural morning person. I typically only get 6 hours of sleep.
3. My commute is 45 mins, and that's on early/off-peak hours. If I switch to, say, 8 to 5, I'll have much heavier traffic to deal with. Traffic can also be unpredictable. I live in NJ, which is extremely densely populated and the roadways are super crowded.
4. I hate getting home late or with no daylight hours. So, theoretically, I might do well with a 9 to 6 schedule, but I would get home at 7 and I would despise that.
Possible shifts are: 7-4, 8-5, 9-6, 10-7. Starting on the half hour is a possible option but is not encouraged/may not be possible after all.
At this time, I cannot move closer to work, nor do I want to. I am supposed to have my team all on roughly the same schedule, most of them are 8 to 5.
I have considered seeking employment at other companies that have more flexible hours (and are more flexible in general), but I've been with this company 5 years, I see a lot of future success with them, and I make alright money. I'm not really ready to give that up.
What is the optimal solution here? If the answer is 'suck it up and work the 7 to 4,' I may have to do that, but I would love to hear others' input.
I'm a higher-level exempt white-collar office employee, but we are required to select an hourly schedule and stick to it. My current schedule is 7am to 4 pm, with a 1 hr lunch. 45 total hours, minimum, per week are required. Though I guess that doesn't matter much, assuming you're sticking to the schedule you select. For several reasons, I've been unable to adhere to this. I typically come in around 7:15, 7:20, and leave around 4:15, 4:30. Here are the reasons I can't seem to stick to 7 to 4:
1. I don't agree with it. I get my work done, I excel (literally last week got a big surprise raise), I'm salaried/exempt, why do I have to work a strict schedule? (read: come in on time. Of course, working late is fine/encouraged.) This mental holdup is a big factor. There are lots of other rules I find petty, too, but they affect me less. (No cell phone usage, no internet use, generally get treated like kids/entry level workers, even though we're just below c-level.)
2. I'm a natural night owl, and I try to go out once or twice a week with boyfriend or friends. The 5:45/6am wakeup time is rough for me. I am definitely, definitely not a natural morning person. I typically only get 6 hours of sleep.
3. My commute is 45 mins, and that's on early/off-peak hours. If I switch to, say, 8 to 5, I'll have much heavier traffic to deal with. Traffic can also be unpredictable. I live in NJ, which is extremely densely populated and the roadways are super crowded.
4. I hate getting home late or with no daylight hours. So, theoretically, I might do well with a 9 to 6 schedule, but I would get home at 7 and I would despise that.
Possible shifts are: 7-4, 8-5, 9-6, 10-7. Starting on the half hour is a possible option but is not encouraged/may not be possible after all.
At this time, I cannot move closer to work, nor do I want to. I am supposed to have my team all on roughly the same schedule, most of them are 8 to 5.
I have considered seeking employment at other companies that have more flexible hours (and are more flexible in general), but I've been with this company 5 years, I see a lot of future success with them, and I make alright money. I'm not really ready to give that up.
What is the optimal solution here? If the answer is 'suck it up and work the 7 to 4,' I may have to do that, but I would love to hear others' input.
1. Well, get a job that doesn't require you to stick to a scheduled work day, or lobby your workplace to change the rule. I agree it's super-dumb.
2. Try 10-7.
3. Try 10-7.
4. Good news, Daylight Saving Time is coming! Try 10-7.
posted by mskyle at 6:49 AM on March 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
2. Try 10-7.
3. Try 10-7.
4. Good news, Daylight Saving Time is coming! Try 10-7.
posted by mskyle at 6:49 AM on March 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Are you actually literally clocking in and clocking out? Who polices your schedule? Why can't your schedule just be 7:15-4:15?
posted by Wretch729 at 6:52 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Wretch729 at 6:52 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I don't feel like clocking more hours than are required except when there's a project that requires it. I do not want to be on 'work time' for anything other than work and lunch, especially since we don't exactly have a lovely campus to lunch on, or a great surrounding town.
Even though Daylight Savings is coming, the seasons will eventually change.
Yes, we physically clock in and clock out via fingerprint sensor. My immediate supervisor checks the timecards, which have clock times listed. Schedules are 'supposed' to only be on the hour, not halves or quarters.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:58 AM on March 8, 2016
Even though Daylight Savings is coming, the seasons will eventually change.
Yes, we physically clock in and clock out via fingerprint sensor. My immediate supervisor checks the timecards, which have clock times listed. Schedules are 'supposed' to only be on the hour, not halves or quarters.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:58 AM on March 8, 2016
Best answer: So you have four competing priorities that correspond to the points you listed above:
1) You don't want to quit.
2) You want to stay out late and wake up late.
3) You don't want to commute in heavy traffic.
4) You want to have some daylight remaining when you get home.
Good news: you get to choose your favorite three.
Bad news: you have to give up on one of them.
Pick.
posted by jon1270 at 7:02 AM on March 8, 2016 [32 favorites]
1) You don't want to quit.
2) You want to stay out late and wake up late.
3) You don't want to commute in heavy traffic.
4) You want to have some daylight remaining when you get home.
Good news: you get to choose your favorite three.
Bad news: you have to give up on one of them.
Pick.
posted by jon1270 at 7:02 AM on March 8, 2016 [32 favorites]
I get my work done, I excel (literally last week got a big surprise raise), I'm salaried/exempt, why do I have to work a strict schedule?
To keep you just slightly off-balance enough that you won't rock the boat about all the other stupid pointless rules.
Your present de facto schedule seems to be working for you just fine. Why change? You've been there five years. They've given you a raise. They're clearly not itching to replace you. That makes the correct response to "You need to tighten up your schedule" clear and easy: I hear what you're saying and I'll take that on board.
posted by flabdablet at 7:02 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
To keep you just slightly off-balance enough that you won't rock the boat about all the other stupid pointless rules.
Your present de facto schedule seems to be working for you just fine. Why change? You've been there five years. They've given you a raise. They're clearly not itching to replace you. That makes the correct response to "You need to tighten up your schedule" clear and easy: I hear what you're saying and I'll take that on board.
posted by flabdablet at 7:02 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good news: unless and until they actually threaten to sack you or dock you over this, you don't have to give up squat.
posted by flabdablet at 7:05 AM on March 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 7:05 AM on March 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Take heart from the shining example of others. Maybe exercise a little more diplomacy.
From: David Thorneposted by flabdablet at 7:12 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Date: Monday 13 February 2012 9.52am
To: Simon Dempsey
Subject: Re: Timesheets
Good morning Simon,
No, I have decided not to do time-sheets anymore. I'm not a robot. As your new token responsibility as time-sheet collector is essentially the office equivalent of placing an OCD child in charge of equally spaced fridge-magnet distribution to keep it occupied while The View is on, this saves you from having to bother with the whole embarrassing process...
You can get in the habit of waking up quickly/early. At least I remember doing so at past points in my life--multiple times, in fact. It is easy to lose the habit but it's really not that bad while you're doing it.
Move the alarm clock to another room. Get out of bed, stumble to the lock and *never* hit snooze. Let loose a stream of profanity if you need to. Move immediately into your morning routine (shower, run, tooth-brushing, whatever). If you arrive at work early because your moving faster you can wake up later, or add a newspaper read or a cup of coffee or something, just do it after you're fully ready to walk out the door. (I also find morning internet reading, like I'm doing now, to be a great way to be late.)
posted by mark k at 7:13 AM on March 8, 2016
Move the alarm clock to another room. Get out of bed, stumble to the lock and *never* hit snooze. Let loose a stream of profanity if you need to. Move immediately into your morning routine (shower, run, tooth-brushing, whatever). If you arrive at work early because your moving faster you can wake up later, or add a newspaper read or a cup of coffee or something, just do it after you're fully ready to walk out the door. (I also find morning internet reading, like I'm doing now, to be a great way to be late.)
posted by mark k at 7:13 AM on March 8, 2016
Response by poster: They have listed suspension or termination as possibilities if this does not change. We have reached this same point in the past (with the same threats), and I adhered to my schedule for a while out of fear, and drifted back again to what it is now. Someday they may actually follow through, not sure. They seemed fairly pissed this time.
posted by rachaelfaith at 7:13 AM on March 8, 2016
posted by rachaelfaith at 7:13 AM on March 8, 2016
We have reached this same point in the past (with the same threats), and I adhered to my schedule for a while out of fear, and drifted back again to what it is now.
That worked last time. Do that again.
Basically, just wear them down. They will eventually get sick of nagging you.
posted by flabdablet at 7:19 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
That worked last time. Do that again.
Basically, just wear them down. They will eventually get sick of nagging you.
posted by flabdablet at 7:19 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
It may be that it's screwing things up for other people by example. Some office cultures need public compliance for rules to be followed that aren't popular, and punctuality very rarely is. Having senior staff openly turn up later when they want can piss off lower level staff who are forced to comply because it feels and is unfair by that office's value system. Or you have an hr person getting yelled at over timesheets that are always out of whack and pushing a firm line.
I have not terminated someone over their punctuality but it comes up surprisingly often as a complaint by people's colleagues and supervisors. Your fifteen minutes if everyone else is prompt screws up their day.
I don't work fixed hours for that reason, I would die. But at the office when I'm there, I turn up on time or early. Otherwise, yeah. You're being a jerk.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:23 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have not terminated someone over their punctuality but it comes up surprisingly often as a complaint by people's colleagues and supervisors. Your fifteen minutes if everyone else is prompt screws up their day.
I don't work fixed hours for that reason, I would die. But at the office when I'm there, I turn up on time or early. Otherwise, yeah. You're being a jerk.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:23 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
By jerk I mean working a scheduled hours job and not doing the hours. Negotiate a change which is absolutely reasonable - flexible hours are brilliant - or stick to the agreement.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:26 AM on March 8, 2016
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:26 AM on March 8, 2016
I've seen people get away with a lot of stuff like this by simply not making a big fuss about it. If you force a dramatic showdown where HR has to choose between firing you and officially authorising an exception for you, things may go badly (no-one likes an ultimatum). But if you can keep things simmering at the level where it's easier for everyone involved to put the issue on the "deal with later" pile, and it really is a pointless rule that no-one really cares about, "later" may never come.
If things do seem serious, have you tried saying to an actual person supervising you "Boss, as you know I just got a big surprise raise last week. Clearly what I am doing has value to the company. Am I seriously going to get fired just for being 15 minutes off the hour?" You may find that they have non-petty reasons for requiring you to pick a schedule and stick to it, such as the examples given by dorothyisunderwood above. If that's so, maybe getting those issues out in the open (instead of concealed behind the time thing, which is really more of a symptom) will help you address them in a way that satisfies everyone involved.
But, yeah, it really sounds like you should be looking for a job at a company with a more relaxed attitude about this sort of thing, if it's a big quality-of-life issue for you.
posted by No-sword at 7:32 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
If things do seem serious, have you tried saying to an actual person supervising you "Boss, as you know I just got a big surprise raise last week. Clearly what I am doing has value to the company. Am I seriously going to get fired just for being 15 minutes off the hour?" You may find that they have non-petty reasons for requiring you to pick a schedule and stick to it, such as the examples given by dorothyisunderwood above. If that's so, maybe getting those issues out in the open (instead of concealed behind the time thing, which is really more of a symptom) will help you address them in a way that satisfies everyone involved.
But, yeah, it really sounds like you should be looking for a job at a company with a more relaxed attitude about this sort of thing, if it's a big quality-of-life issue for you.
posted by No-sword at 7:32 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I see a lot of future success with them ... They have listed suspension or termination as possibilities if this does not change ... They seemed fairly pissed this time.
Then you most likely do not have a great future with them.
I am you but worse. I never got fired but no one was happy. I left for more flexible workplaces, everyone is happier, and I've been more successful without the frequent friction. Surely there's another company in the same driving radius that you would be happier at?
posted by Candleman at 7:55 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Then you most likely do not have a great future with them.
I am you but worse. I never got fired but no one was happy. I left for more flexible workplaces, everyone is happier, and I've been more successful without the frequent friction. Surely there's another company in the same driving radius that you would be happier at?
posted by Candleman at 7:55 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you are in a situation where you are a salaried employee and you are allowed to set your hours yet simultaneously your ability to keep rigid hours is problematic to your employer enough that they have threatened termination, your employer has no loyalty to you. This means you need to pick hours, preferably the 7-4, and schedule your interviews with perspective new employers starting at 4:15.
Seriously, this cannot get any better unless you are either able to change (which you've indicated you are not really willing to do) or they fire you.
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:16 AM on March 8, 2016
Seriously, this cannot get any better unless you are either able to change (which you've indicated you are not really willing to do) or they fire you.
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:16 AM on March 8, 2016
Seriously, if it matters to your employers (even if you hate it and disagree with it) and you want to keep working there, you just need to do it.
I am a night owl. I work 9:30-6:30 because of it. My workplace is flexible, so if some days I get in at 10am I either put in a few hours extra at home one night, or I stay a little late that day. But if it mattered to anyone when I got in, I'd get in on time. And sure, it sucks in the winter to go home in the dark, but hey, it would suck more to get up at 6am. I get to sleep until 9 and roll in to work at 9:30. Good deal.
Find a new job, take the later hours, or deal with more traffic. Those are your choices. But pick one and stick to it.
posted by clone boulevard at 8:18 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am a night owl. I work 9:30-6:30 because of it. My workplace is flexible, so if some days I get in at 10am I either put in a few hours extra at home one night, or I stay a little late that day. But if it mattered to anyone when I got in, I'd get in on time. And sure, it sucks in the winter to go home in the dark, but hey, it would suck more to get up at 6am. I get to sleep until 9 and roll in to work at 9:30. Good deal.
Find a new job, take the later hours, or deal with more traffic. Those are your choices. But pick one and stick to it.
posted by clone boulevard at 8:18 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are simply not enough daylight hours for you to be both a night-owl and want to be home with daylight hours left. It's just that simple. With 1.5-2 hours of commuting and working 9 hours a day, it's defying the laws of night and day in your part of the world for the majority of the year, assuming your location in your profile is correct. Something has to give. Which is more important to you?
posted by cgg at 8:35 AM on March 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by cgg at 8:35 AM on March 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
This is why they call it "work". You don't always (in fact, seldom) get to do what you "want". Your employer pays you to do the job the hired you to do, and the conditions include the time schedule; in this transaction, you have agreed to do what your employer wants you to do.
You need to give up the idea that it's okay to stay out late a couple of nights a week (non-weekend), because that is messing with your sleep schedule.
Six hours is not nearly enough sleep on a regular basis. You would likely feel better and be more productive getting at least 7. The health risks of six hours over long periods isn't worth it, IMO.
Every job has a sucky part, some more, some less. As others have said - pick your poison.
posted by dbmcd at 9:02 AM on March 8, 2016
You need to give up the idea that it's okay to stay out late a couple of nights a week (non-weekend), because that is messing with your sleep schedule.
Six hours is not nearly enough sleep on a regular basis. You would likely feel better and be more productive getting at least 7. The health risks of six hours over long periods isn't worth it, IMO.
Every job has a sucky part, some more, some less. As others have said - pick your poison.
posted by dbmcd at 9:02 AM on March 8, 2016
Also as a bonus per scrittore's point about hitting 40 hours with your desired criteria, my employers that haven't cared about when I work have also not cared that much about how much I work as long as the assigned and needed work gets done.
posted by Candleman at 9:07 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Candleman at 9:07 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I think you should get a job where no one cares if you are at work from 730am-430pm instead of 7am-4pm. It is stupid. I cannot fathom, unless you are supposed to be answering the telephone at 7am, why anyone would ever care about that 30 minutes.
If you are a rockstar, and you say you are, then go find a job for a rockstar, one that treats you like an adult, that is results-oriented, that doesn't care about this kind of BS. In my world "on time" is in the office by 9am, no one cares when really, and no one will do a meeting any earlier than that. Some people show up at 8. I'd be surprised if you really DO have to put up with this.
Punching a time clock as a salaried person is not something I'd subject myself to, personally.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:24 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you are a rockstar, and you say you are, then go find a job for a rockstar, one that treats you like an adult, that is results-oriented, that doesn't care about this kind of BS. In my world "on time" is in the office by 9am, no one cares when really, and no one will do a meeting any earlier than that. Some people show up at 8. I'd be surprised if you really DO have to put up with this.
Punching a time clock as a salaried person is not something I'd subject myself to, personally.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:24 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Either get to work on time or find a job that doesn't require you to work set hours. Them's the breaks.
Getting there at 7:15 is you getting in late out of spite. I get it, you think it's dumb, many people think it's dumb, I'm sure some of your superiors think it's dumb too. IT DOESN'T MATTER. You start at 7, so get in by 7. It's really that simple.
You can fight this in principle but they are bringing up termination: is your rebellion worth it? If you feel like it is, by all means test them. Keep on coming in late, or come in on time for a little bit and then revert back to your old ways. But do not be surprised if they can you for it.
I am frustrated on your bosses' behalf, here, because you are clearly a good employee who just can't seem to not make a big issue out of something that ought to be a non-issue. You start at seven: be punctual.
posted by lydhre at 10:49 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Getting there at 7:15 is you getting in late out of spite. I get it, you think it's dumb, many people think it's dumb, I'm sure some of your superiors think it's dumb too. IT DOESN'T MATTER. You start at 7, so get in by 7. It's really that simple.
You can fight this in principle but they are bringing up termination: is your rebellion worth it? If you feel like it is, by all means test them. Keep on coming in late, or come in on time for a little bit and then revert back to your old ways. But do not be surprised if they can you for it.
I am frustrated on your bosses' behalf, here, because you are clearly a good employee who just can't seem to not make a big issue out of something that ought to be a non-issue. You start at seven: be punctual.
posted by lydhre at 10:49 AM on March 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It is stupid. I cannot fathom, unless you are supposed to be answering the telephone at 7am, why anyone would ever care about that 30 minutes.
On the one hand, it can be great to be an employee in an office with rules like this. I work in one. If I’m late, it isn’t a big deal. On the two days a year when that happens, I don't have to worry too much.
On the other hand, it sometimes really sucks to be in an office with rules like this, because people whose approval I need for projects to move forward are often likely to be late, and I’m often trying to stall or postpone decisions that need an answer NOW because the person who should be answering isn’t in yet. And for some people, “being kind of late” is an every single day thing, so their posted house aren’t actually their working hours.
I’m sure there are positions where being at work on time is actually, factually irrelevant. But a lot of MY working hours are made less productive because the people whose answers I need to finish my own projects are ALWAYS late.
I mention this because, OP, I think it is easy to assume that “bosses want employees to be on time” is somehow draconian or unreasonable. But as someone in a mid-level position who desperately wishes some fellow mid-level employees could show up to work on time on a regular basis, it isn’t always about what the bosses want, but about setting patterns and expectations for the sake of the entire org.
Also, think about this on an interpersonal level. We tell people on AskMe all the time— “if your boyfriend doesn’t respect your clearly stated boundaries, dump him.” Well, your employers have given you a clearly stated boundary. It doesn’t matter if you think it is stupid or insulting or whatever. They have told you that it matters to them, and they have already told you that it needs to start mattering to you or they will dump you.
You can dump them, too, of course. But they’ve drawn a bright line, and you seem more invested in convincing them that the line is wrong than in figuring out how to meet that incredibly obvious and normal requirement on a regular basis.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 10:49 AM on March 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
On the one hand, it can be great to be an employee in an office with rules like this. I work in one. If I’m late, it isn’t a big deal. On the two days a year when that happens, I don't have to worry too much.
On the other hand, it sometimes really sucks to be in an office with rules like this, because people whose approval I need for projects to move forward are often likely to be late, and I’m often trying to stall or postpone decisions that need an answer NOW because the person who should be answering isn’t in yet. And for some people, “being kind of late” is an every single day thing, so their posted house aren’t actually their working hours.
I’m sure there are positions where being at work on time is actually, factually irrelevant. But a lot of MY working hours are made less productive because the people whose answers I need to finish my own projects are ALWAYS late.
I mention this because, OP, I think it is easy to assume that “bosses want employees to be on time” is somehow draconian or unreasonable. But as someone in a mid-level position who desperately wishes some fellow mid-level employees could show up to work on time on a regular basis, it isn’t always about what the bosses want, but about setting patterns and expectations for the sake of the entire org.
Also, think about this on an interpersonal level. We tell people on AskMe all the time— “if your boyfriend doesn’t respect your clearly stated boundaries, dump him.” Well, your employers have given you a clearly stated boundary. It doesn’t matter if you think it is stupid or insulting or whatever. They have told you that it matters to them, and they have already told you that it needs to start mattering to you or they will dump you.
You can dump them, too, of course. But they’ve drawn a bright line, and you seem more invested in convincing them that the line is wrong than in figuring out how to meet that incredibly obvious and normal requirement on a regular basis.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 10:49 AM on March 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Basically, just wear them down. They will eventually get sick of nagging you.
And fire you. You have a clock-in job. You have been given your warning that you will be termed if you won't change this behavior.
Given what you've outlined I would try the 10-7 schedule. It'll be out of the worst of traffic and from 4-7 you'll have 3 hours at the end of the day in a quiet office.
There are plenty of jobs that don't require clock-in. You might simply be better suited to that type of job.
posted by 26.2 at 10:50 AM on March 8, 2016
And fire you. You have a clock-in job. You have been given your warning that you will be termed if you won't change this behavior.
Given what you've outlined I would try the 10-7 schedule. It'll be out of the worst of traffic and from 4-7 you'll have 3 hours at the end of the day in a quiet office.
There are plenty of jobs that don't require clock-in. You might simply be better suited to that type of job.
posted by 26.2 at 10:50 AM on March 8, 2016
Best answer: I'm going to say something that's harsh as hell and largely from the POV of having worked at places that care about this stuff, so bear with me:
They care about that 30 minutes because someone out there (not necessarily anyone you report to) thinks that this makes you unreliable, and they've made their opinion heard. The fact that that person is griping about the perception of your reliability means that they also probably have Feelings about whether you actually deserve your job, and why management puts up with your schedule. Basically, you doing this undermines your bosses' authority and hurts your reputation with the rest of the team. You're either not as much of a rockstar as you think or not well-liked enough to get away with it. Sorry, but them's the breaks.
This is BS. Total BS. That said, it is your office culture, and to the extent that you're not able to stick to a schedule, you're a poor cultural fit and on thin ice. Honestly, I'm not even sure if adhering to a schedule will repair your reputation at this point, depending on the circumstances. That's something for you to figure out.
posted by blerghamot at 11:07 AM on March 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
They care about that 30 minutes because someone out there (not necessarily anyone you report to) thinks that this makes you unreliable, and they've made their opinion heard. The fact that that person is griping about the perception of your reliability means that they also probably have Feelings about whether you actually deserve your job, and why management puts up with your schedule. Basically, you doing this undermines your bosses' authority and hurts your reputation with the rest of the team. You're either not as much of a rockstar as you think or not well-liked enough to get away with it. Sorry, but them's the breaks.
This is BS. Total BS. That said, it is your office culture, and to the extent that you're not able to stick to a schedule, you're a poor cultural fit and on thin ice. Honestly, I'm not even sure if adhering to a schedule will repair your reputation at this point, depending on the circumstances. That's something for you to figure out.
posted by blerghamot at 11:07 AM on March 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
You say they don't like exceptions but may allow it. I'd push this to get your boss to agree to 7:30am-4:30pm. You can say it's difficult to get in earlier than that, but leaving later than 4:30pm makes your commute much more difficult. That's it. It sounds like if you can make your case for an exception to the on-the-hour rule, those hours would work for you.
posted by JenMarie at 11:13 AM on March 8, 2016
posted by JenMarie at 11:13 AM on March 8, 2016
In similar circumstances, I've found it helpful to remind myself of this: I don't have to feel like it, I just have to do it.
posted by kate4914 at 11:29 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kate4914 at 11:29 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you decide to stick to the earlier schedule, shortening your morning routine as much as possible might help you feel more in control. I can be out the door in less than ten minutes from waking up. I know that's not possible for everyone for Reasons, but doing that made me feel like I was gaming the system in a sense. It required preparation (having lunch and clothes ready the night before) but was worth it.
Doing as much personal stuff as possible during work hours may also make you resent it less. Can you get there at 7 and then go brush your teeth in the bathroom? Step out at lunch to do grocery shopping, exercise, make appointments, etc.?
posted by metasarah at 12:24 PM on March 8, 2016
Doing as much personal stuff as possible during work hours may also make you resent it less. Can you get there at 7 and then go brush your teeth in the bathroom? Step out at lunch to do grocery shopping, exercise, make appointments, etc.?
posted by metasarah at 12:24 PM on March 8, 2016
Back to make another, less-harsh point about cultural fit and flex time: if you're working off-schedule from a number of your team members (particularly the more influential ones), it's going to be hard to hit that top rung of group cohesion. At times, we've had this situation where I work, where the people who left earlier had well-justified FOMO because they were missing out on the late show's informal bonding experiences.
I don't know if that's something that's relevant in your situation, but choosing the earliest shift could lead to that happening. It's a common and annoying consequence of flex time policies. Your managers can't force you to choose a later schedule in most circumstances, but the early shift may make it just that much harder to build rapport with your colleagues. Not having sufficiently strong relationships with the right people might have set this situation in motion.
posted by blerghamot at 12:59 PM on March 8, 2016
I don't know if that's something that's relevant in your situation, but choosing the earliest shift could lead to that happening. It's a common and annoying consequence of flex time policies. Your managers can't force you to choose a later schedule in most circumstances, but the early shift may make it just that much harder to build rapport with your colleagues. Not having sufficiently strong relationships with the right people might have set this situation in motion.
posted by blerghamot at 12:59 PM on March 8, 2016
One more minor point about that suggestion to keep coming in at the same time but work the 8-5 shift. You'd be at the office instead of spending that same time in stuck in motorized traffic. You could use that you-time until 8:00 to sponge up knowledge or something.
Or move close to work and commute to go out 1-2 times a week.
posted by aniola at 1:29 PM on March 8, 2016
Or move close to work and commute to go out 1-2 times a week.
posted by aniola at 1:29 PM on March 8, 2016
I agree with you that this is a dumb rule and I'd have the same problems you're having. But the way you present it sounds inflexible, like "I have ruled out every single option. What are my options?"
Starting on the half hour is a possible option but is not encouraged/may not be possible after all.
So, which is it? Possible or not? If this is a possibility, isn't it better to establish 7:30 as your on-time arrival than to be late every day?
Also, have you tried the 8-5 or the 9-6, or have you just ruled them out based on theory? How can you know if the traffic or the later arrival at home would not be workable for you until you've given it a shot? I mean, nothing is perfect. Maybe the trade-off would be worth it. Maybe you'll find you have extra energy when you arrive home at 7 because you've gotten enough sleep the night before, or something. That's true in my case. The minor suck of arriving home in the dark is worth never having to deal with the major suck of waking up before my body wants to.
posted by kapers at 2:51 PM on March 8, 2016
Starting on the half hour is a possible option but is not encouraged/may not be possible after all.
So, which is it? Possible or not? If this is a possibility, isn't it better to establish 7:30 as your on-time arrival than to be late every day?
Also, have you tried the 8-5 or the 9-6, or have you just ruled them out based on theory? How can you know if the traffic or the later arrival at home would not be workable for you until you've given it a shot? I mean, nothing is perfect. Maybe the trade-off would be worth it. Maybe you'll find you have extra energy when you arrive home at 7 because you've gotten enough sleep the night before, or something. That's true in my case. The minor suck of arriving home in the dark is worth never having to deal with the major suck of waking up before my body wants to.
posted by kapers at 2:51 PM on March 8, 2016
I had a similar choice - my commute is 1-1:15 if I leave home at 7:45 to be there reliably by 9, or at 6:45 to be there at 8; and 45 minutes if I leave at 9 to be there reliably by 9:45. I could get a 45 minute commute if I went for a 7am target, but I don't do that. I work 9:45-6:30, and drive home in twilight. I do go out after work and my usual not-staying out late bedtime is around 11-11:30. It suits me. Another contributor is that my workplace culture is "stick around until things are done" so it's hard for people to actually walk out the door at 4 just because their schedule says they can; 10-7 is actually a shorter workday than 7-4, around here.
BUT, I gave up my garden to take this job (and these hours), because I'm just not home by daylight enough to keep up with it. That kind of has to be okay, because my other options are not having this job, or being up before dawn all winter long and not going out and being tired all the time. I do enjoy waking up to sunlight. I'll survive. I can't have everything.
So, given that you have to work a 9-hour day, your options are:
1. get there at 7am like you said you would, and leave work at 4-4:30.
2. get to work later, and leave later, and don't see the afternoon daylight.
There's not much we can do to add hours to the day (unfortunately) or create mors daylight, so maybe this is a question about how to get to work at 7?
posted by aimedwander at 3:04 PM on March 8, 2016
BUT, I gave up my garden to take this job (and these hours), because I'm just not home by daylight enough to keep up with it. That kind of has to be okay, because my other options are not having this job, or being up before dawn all winter long and not going out and being tired all the time. I do enjoy waking up to sunlight. I'll survive. I can't have everything.
So, given that you have to work a 9-hour day, your options are:
1. get there at 7am like you said you would, and leave work at 4-4:30.
2. get to work later, and leave later, and don't see the afternoon daylight.
There's not much we can do to add hours to the day (unfortunately) or create mors daylight, so maybe this is a question about how to get to work at 7?
posted by aimedwander at 3:04 PM on March 8, 2016
It's incredibly frustrating to be working a job where the perception (as an employee) is that the place cares more about butts in seats at 7am and 4pm than anything you do in between. Or in your case, fingerprints on scanners in lieu of butts in seats.
That said, if a 15-minute sway time is enough to cause problems for you, find out if they care if you get in early. I ended up setting my schedule to start at 9 am and getting there any time 6:30-9 am. I also had an 1h15 commute and traffic delay into work was heavily time-dependent.
At this job, anything that caused automatic red-flags to come up (ooh this employee keeps taking off Mondays every week, that employee teleworks every Friday) in automated reports cause issues that then caused talking-tos by bosses, regardless of employee/work quality. Just set your start time so that the finger scanner happens before your scheduled work time. Reduce headaches and reduce the reports that get generated with your name on them.
Ultimately, I got a new job about two months ago which is much saner about schedules.
posted by bookdragoness at 3:20 PM on March 8, 2016
That said, if a 15-minute sway time is enough to cause problems for you, find out if they care if you get in early. I ended up setting my schedule to start at 9 am and getting there any time 6:30-9 am. I also had an 1h15 commute and traffic delay into work was heavily time-dependent.
At this job, anything that caused automatic red-flags to come up (ooh this employee keeps taking off Mondays every week, that employee teleworks every Friday) in automated reports cause issues that then caused talking-tos by bosses, regardless of employee/work quality. Just set your start time so that the finger scanner happens before your scheduled work time. Reduce headaches and reduce the reports that get generated with your name on them.
Ultimately, I got a new job about two months ago which is much saner about schedules.
posted by bookdragoness at 3:20 PM on March 8, 2016
Response by poster: Welp. I was told all office positions are migrating to an 8 to 5 schedule regardless of preference, so that's that.
Thank you all for your input anyway!
posted by rachaelfaith at 3:53 PM on March 8, 2016
Thank you all for your input anyway!
posted by rachaelfaith at 3:53 PM on March 8, 2016
Oof. I was going to say that I have similar rhythms and preferences to you and I really prefer the 10-7 schedule. You will have daylight after work for half the year, which feels like a decent place to be, and though you leave later, the slower-paced morning makes up for it. Since you are a night owl you'll appreciate that.
Sounds like you can't choose it any more, but keep it in mind. And yeah, that place sounds really rigid, so maybe start looking around.
posted by Miko at 5:05 PM on March 8, 2016
Sounds like you can't choose it any more, but keep it in mind. And yeah, that place sounds really rigid, so maybe start looking around.
posted by Miko at 5:05 PM on March 8, 2016
Exempt employees can not be required to a work specific schedule or any specific number of hours. Be sure to use these magic words when you raise this issue with HR: Fair Labor Standards Act and NLRB. However, verify first you are exempt. Many believe salaried = exempt.
posted by Homer42 at 6:44 PM on March 8, 2016
posted by Homer42 at 6:44 PM on March 8, 2016
Exempt employees can not be required to a work specific schedule or any specific number of hours.
This is absolutely not true. Exempt employees' pay cannot be deducted for failure to work certain hours but the issue can be addressed as conduct or performance. An exempt store manager at Target cannot, say, work 12am to 8am just because they want to. A case worker for a call center open 8am to 5pm can't decide to work 6pm to 4am. Employees must perform the duties their jobs require them to, and employers are allowed to set those hours based on what they deem to be business necessity. There are exceptions, but exempt employees can absolutely required to work certain schedules.
Further, while employees can ask for flexible schedules, flexible schedules are not covered under FLSA.
posted by good lorneing at 7:40 PM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is absolutely not true. Exempt employees' pay cannot be deducted for failure to work certain hours but the issue can be addressed as conduct or performance. An exempt store manager at Target cannot, say, work 12am to 8am just because they want to. A case worker for a call center open 8am to 5pm can't decide to work 6pm to 4am. Employees must perform the duties their jobs require them to, and employers are allowed to set those hours based on what they deem to be business necessity. There are exceptions, but exempt employees can absolutely required to work certain schedules.
Further, while employees can ask for flexible schedules, flexible schedules are not covered under FLSA.
posted by good lorneing at 7:40 PM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
You and your situation reminds me of myself. When options are slim the thin that I found makes the most difference in my quality of life is leaving work on time. I usually set an alarm to go off 20 minutes before i have to leave so I can tie up loose ends to any works in progress and make myself a shortlist of what needs to be addressed first thing next shift and then leave right on time, not a minute late. getting sucked in to staying 15 minutes seems to turn into an hour too easily, so I strategically duck out.
posted by WeekendJen at 1:19 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by WeekendJen at 1:19 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mercredi at 6:46 AM on March 8, 2016 [13 favorites]