to ask to finish earlier on a Friday?

[cjt110]

I work in an office. Core hours are 9-5.30. On returning to work after having my son, a colleague who was also off on mat leave at the same time asked could she change her hours from those above to 830-430 with a 30 rather than 60 minute lunch. Her request was granted and other members of her team (without children - not sure if that makes a difference?) were also offered the chance to do the same. After a few months of being back I asked could I work 9-5 with a 30 minute lunch. This was granted. They all opted for this and on a team of 4, they all do these hours. On a Friday, we are allowed to go at 5. Albeit that if required, we stay til 530.

A few months back I realised that those who leave at 430 were leaving at 4. When I asked one of them, they said it's because of the 30 minutes we get to leave early on a Friday - at 5 instead of 530. So they were applying the same to their hours.

I left it and didnt bother doing anything but on seeing someone leave today at 4, I thought how shit is it that they get to go home an hour earlier than me, yet I still have the same 30 minute break as them.

So, I have emailed my line manager with the following:

Hi D,

I believe that those who ordinarily finish at 4.30 in the week leave at 4 on a Friday due to the early finish on a Friday. As such, I would like to be able to leave at 4.30 on a Friday. I believe this is extended to X team and some of the Y team too.

Please can you confirm whether this is acceptable?

So, AIBU to ask for this? A friend of mine says I am because they have already altered my hours following my request (I dont work any less hours - just different times) but I say that IANBU as the other staff also had their hours changed too.

I am too much of a chicken to just leave 30 minutes early.

[Sonders]

YANBU to ask but your email sounds like more you're dobbing in your colleagues and being a goody goody rather than wanting to finish early!

I'm not sure what the tone is like in your office but I'd probably just bring it up in person with my line manager next time.

[BorpBorpBorp]

In my office, if you sent that email you would fuck it up for everyone. The management would crack down and nobody would be able to leave early. It would come out that it was because of you, and there would be ructions among the team.

I think if you want to leave earlier and you feel like you need permission, you should put your case to your manager, but not mention anyone else's activities.

[fastdaytears]

I can see that would be annoying, but I think the email may backfire a bit.

[ilovesooty]

If you've already sent it there isn't anything you can do about it now.

If you think you had a case for leaving earlier I think it might have been better to discuss it with your line manager face to face.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I'd just leave at 4.30. If no one is saying anything to the other team members why would they stop you?

[StarlingMurmuration]

So... Everyone who works 9-5.30 gets to leave at 5 on a Friday, yes? Therefore the people who now work 8.30-4.30 (with half hour for lunch) are leaving at 4 on a Friday (half an hour early, as they would if they still did 9-5.30), yes? I don't think they're unreasonable... Have they asked permission or just started doing it independently? If the latter, why don't you just do the same? I don't think you should have emailed citing other people, you should just have mentioned it to your manager.

[StarlingMurmuration]

For what it's worth, my work is the same - core hours are 8.45-5.15 but you can choose to work the same number of hours with any start time from 7.30 to 10am, as long as you do the same hours and start time every day (ie it's not flexi time). Early finish at 4 on a Friday. Most people do work the core hours, but when I started, I chose 7.30-4. So on a Friday I started leaving at 2.45, so that I was still working the same length day as everyone arriving at 8.45 and leaving at 4. No one ever mentioned it and I didn't ask permission. We don't click in or out though do no one monitors starting and leaving times, we're trusted employees in a relaxed industry.

[cjt110]

Thanks for all your replies. People just started to do it, and when my own line manager asked someone about it, and they said well X team do it (their manager is aware) and he just said ok. So not sobbing anyone in, just using it to back up my request.

[cjt110]

Dobbing* damn autocorrect!