How do I get my new boss to understand that I need to leave early due to flexible working arrangement ?

[rookiemater]

Ok you read the above and think well I'd just tell him surely, but its not as simple.

I work 4 days a week and finish at 4.30. If I get advance notice then if required I can finish later as either DH can pick DS up or I can ask CM to keep DS a bit longer.

We have recently moved departments and the one we are in may not be our final destination. Indeed our department might not exist as it does currently which has implications for our jobs. For this reason I'm trying to make a good impression on my new boss, however something happened today which I found a bit annoying.

He hadn't scheduled a meeting with us but came down to share some information. So far fine, but I was incredibly busy and was hoping to get something completed today as if not it needs to be done urgently tomorrow. But ok fair enough, good that he is trying to put time aside for us.

He then talked for a very long time until it was well past my scheduled leaving time. There wasn't really an opportunity at the start or during the meeting to raise the point and I ended up having to dash off at 4.45 saying that I had to pick up my DC. Now I'm really worried that he thinks I'm not committed but I was already late for the CM as I work to a tight schedule to pick DS up.

I have only had a couple of meetings with him and he did say that existing flexible working arrangements would be honoured, but I haven't mentioned the early finish because there are major things happening at work and it just seems a bit petty to mention it. He mentioned during the meeting that he has a huge number of emails unread due to so much work, so I don't want to email him about it, also seems a bit precious.

My gut feel is that I shouldn't do anything, but maybe put an alarm on my phone that goes off at 4.30 and if I am in any future meetings I can explain why I need to go.

I know it all sounds a bit trivial, but I just want any advice about the best way to handle it. I'm hoping it won't be a regular event, but he does seem to talk for quite a long time when he does hold meetings so it might happen again.

[Anna8888]

I think you should send him an email attaching your contract that describes your flexible working arrangements, and also print out and hand him a copy of that same email.

I would be very clear about it.

[ScummyMummy]

Babe- just tell him. Doesn't sound trivial- I well know the feeling of running off leaving unfinished stuff feeling torn, thinking that your colleagues think you're a skiver. But the kids have to be picked up and that's the bottom line. You can't control what the boss thinks about that. He'll either be sympathetic or he won't. Either way the kids will need picking up unless you want to make some other childcare arrangement. Email him tomorrow and say "Just to let you know, I restart my flexible hours today and will be working from Xam to Ypm though room for manouvre with advance warning" thanks. rookie. Or something like that.

[LadyMuck]

Pop your head round the door tomorrow and say "Sorry I had to leave so abruptly, but as you know I only work until 4:30 so I had to leave. Is there anything that you wanted to flag up with me from yesterday's meeting?"
Flexible working isn't a problem when people are used to it, but so far he may just have picked up on your "day off" and not about the early finish. He needs to be reminded and you need to stick to it. No need to make a huge fuss or put him in the worng, but if you act as if it is a known matter of course then it will be treated as such. If you allow boundries to blur then eventually it will be much more difficult to enforce them again.

[rookiemater]

I don't want to email him my contract, it seems like overkill. Besides he said he had over a thousand emails so I don't think getting mine would help much.

I think I will have to go for LadyMucks approach and just have a quick word with him ( although he does talk for an awfully long time so unlikely to be that quick !). I like the idea of couching it around the is there anything you want to flag up with me.I was hoping to avoid having to do anything, but I will be swayed by the collective mumsnet wisdom.

I just find it a bit annoying as well as someone on my team is quite young and ambitious and he kind of looks oddly at me when I leave, and he gave me that look when I announced I need to pick up DC. He is sprogless though so I'm sure he will learn, although he is a bloke so he probably never will.

[hotbot]

why mention sprog. you work til 4.30 you are paid til 4,30 end of..... non?and its non of collegues business

[flowerybeanbag]

You just need to make sure he knows you finish at 4.30 and need to leave. If he expects you to be leaving it's far less annoying that seeing you clock watching and having to explain mid-meeting why you need to go.

I find the comment that 'existing flexible working arrangements will be honoured' a bit . A flexible working request results in a permanent contract change, so your new hours are exactly as valid as anyone elses, the fact that your working pattern originated from a flexible working request doesn't make them any less important or any more subject to change than anyone else's.

[SlartyBartFast]

well he should read his emails. his problem not yours.
dont feel guilty about leaving, just go

[rookiemater]

Och I know what you mean about the flexible working remark flowery. He obviously thought I would be relieved when he said it, but internally I was thinking that I'd like to see what the unions said unless he had a good reason to want to change it. But he was trying to be nice so I'm not taking it to heart.

Agreed will have a quick chat with him, but will think I will mention picking up DS just so he knows I'm not being pedantic about finishing time.

[flowerybeanbag]

I agree mention that you are picking up your DS, otherwise it does just look as if you are being pedantic and not committed. Nothing wrong with having to leave by an agreed time to collect your child, if you demonstrate your commitment in other ways and are good at your job, that won't go against you.

[blueshoes]

Hi rookie, agree with flowery. Just mention to your boss that you have to pick ds up and this is one area you don't have last minute flexibility. But you can plan in advance to stay late and show flexibility and commitment in other areas.

My working hours end at 3 pm. But with advance notice, I do stay late for meetings or attend social events, come in early when I can or even work late voluntarily if there are deadlines I know in advance. And check emails on weekends (if I happen to feel like it). But I am very matter-of-fact that if I have to leave, I have to leave and can work from home thereafter.

[rookiemater]

Thanks folks.
I didn't get a chance to discuss today, went up but he was in a meeting, but at least I know I'm not being trivial and will mention to him at our next meeting.