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AIBU?

Compressed hours - am I being a massive cf?

53 replies

karmacoma1 · 21/01/2018 13:13

I am three weeks into a new job.

This is my first job since returning from mat leave. My daughter is 10 months and full-time in nursery.

On Friday, my boss announced he’s leaving, within the next two weeks. I don’t particularly care, he really wasn’t very good. However this has kind of thrown the team a bit, especially as we’ve been advised the recruitment for he’s replacement is going to take a while.

On top of all this... I don’t particularly like the job. The people are lovely, but it’s not really how it wassold to me in interview.

I don’t want to leave. I want to make it work.

I’ve been thinking about what to do. I’ve thought about going part-time, but can’t take the pay cut. I’ve now thought of compressing my hours. For example, working mon-thurs 8-5.30pm. A total of 34 hours - I could even do 36 if they left me just have a half hour lunch.

That saving i would make on having just 4 days a week childcare rather than 5 would make a huge difference...

I have thought about my colleagues. We are currently on a shift rota which they all hate. Me being there would mean they could chose the time they want (early mid late) and stick to it. And on the day I’d be missing the other member of the team who has contracted hours (8-3) would be in to cover the early.

I have read up on ‘flexible working’ and it says you need to be working for 26 weeks somewhere... what if you are on probation; and pass it? Could it be written into a new working contract?

Am I being a massive cf by requesting it ? Blush

Any experiences of this would be great - it’s something I’ve no experience of.

OP posts:
BlondeB83 · 21/01/2018 13:14

You’ve got nothing to lose! Go for it!

needmorespace · 21/01/2018 13:17

legally, you have to be there six months to request, but your company may be willing to agree to it sooner - my last employer was. Just because it is the minimum legal requirement it doesn't mean that your employer has to adhere to this guideline - what does their specific policy on flexible working say?

Dozer · 21/01/2018 13:17

Many employers aren’t keen on doing 4 days in 5 IME, and it can be exhausting. A “nine day fortnight” is another option.

PuntasticUsername · 21/01/2018 13:17

On a quick read - it doesn't sound CF to me. You've thought about the problem and you aren't just moaning about it, or demanding a solution that only works for you - you can demonstrate how your suggested change should benefit your colleagues/the business too. Sounds pretty positive to me.

Maybe you should be thinking about applying for your departing boss's job...?

Fluffyears · 21/01/2018 13:18

You can ask, you csnpresent the reasons tonthem it would work business wise. There are a few who do it at my work and it does work out ok.

Allaboutthatcake · 21/01/2018 13:18

It’s a bit soon, but what have you got to lose? I’d frame it as benefiting them as far as possible...

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 21/01/2018 13:20

Not a cf to request it. They can just say no if it doesn't work for them.

PuntasticUsername · 21/01/2018 13:20

Oh, just thought of something though. Obviously your colleagues will still need to cover the days when you're off on a/l, sick, training etc. Get the arrangements for that absolutely crystal clear up front, otherwise they may start resenting you for it when they have to 'cover for you'. Obviously you're the one doing THEM a favour really by making it possible for them to work their preferred hours most of the time - but yanno, people Smile

GrooovyLass · 21/01/2018 13:20

No harm in asking. I currently do 9 days/fortnight including every other Saturday. I'd say that approximately 2/3 of my colleagues are on a flexible working pattern instead of one of the (many) official shifts on offer!

Temporaryanonymity · 21/01/2018 13:20

I've done compressed hours and it can be brutal. I know a few people who are fine with it though.

happinessischocolate · 21/01/2018 13:21

It might be a more popular idea if you were to take your off day as any day other than Friday.

Oldraver · 21/01/2018 13:22

It isnt CF, you have rights to request by law. However it is up to the company and they can refuse on grounds that it doesn't work for their working model (can't think of the exact terminology)

karmacoma1 · 21/01/2018 13:28

Thank you for your responses!

Puntastic - thank you, but I don’t think I could manage people Blush

Happiness- yes this is a good point - I could put forward Monday... means they don’t have to pay me for bank holidays either.

OP posts:
Alonglongway · 21/01/2018 13:31

We’re big on work/life balance in my organisation and wouldnt see this as cheeky request. However we do get thin on the ground on Fridays so I agree with PP about considering another day

UpstartCrow · 21/01/2018 13:32

I did compressed hours and preferred it.
Your proposal sounds good on paper, you could suggest they try it for 3 months and see how it pans out. That way they know they can back out without losing face.

Franm2 · 21/01/2018 13:40

I'm not sure Monday is any better than Friday, to be honest. If one of my colleagues having a long weekend every week made it difficult for me to have a long weekend any week I think I would be narked. If it's only the number of hours that matters I think you'd find the people you work with more supportive of you having a day off during the week (presuming you don't work weekends.)

LadyLapsang · 21/01/2018 13:42

I wouldn't think you are being cheeky. Do people just work their contracted hours though? I don't really see much difference, if at all, in the working hours compressed hours people work on their working days than those that are in the office five days pw, i.e. those working full time in the office often pick up more of the extra stuff.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 21/01/2018 13:44

I agree with Franm2, I wouldn’t be too happy if someone had a long weekend every weekend meaning I couldn’t, it or was difficult to do it. Other than that it sounds as though what you are proposing is reasonable.

Wingedharpy · 21/01/2018 13:45

You may get some objections from your colleagues, if you never have to work a bank holiday but they do.

How about suggesting Wednesday, that way, you never have to work more than 2 consecutive days and that may help in coping with the long days?

You can only ask.

UpABitLate · 21/01/2018 13:45

what's a cf?

ChocolateWombat · 21/01/2018 13:48

I think you will need to work whatever full time hours are - otherwise it's part time, not compressed hours.

Do any other people do this where you work? Whether it works depends on the nature of the business. For jobs which have customer contact and front facing roles which require people available during set hours, it doesn't always work, because if the normal working day is 7 hours and the front facing hours are 7 hours, you working 8 doesn't help the business because you can't deal with customers for the extra hour, because they simply aren't there. The thing with the 9 day fortnight is it might not save childcare costs because your CM or nursery probably require a weekly arrangement and fees. A CM might be happy to have a 2 week pattern of hours.

Think carefully about if this is workable for your business.

And as others have said, you are more likely to achieve this if you ask for 9 day fortnight. It is possible to make up an a adage working day over 9 days with just under an extra hour a day. To make up a day in 4 days requires 2 extra hours a day, which is a lot and many firms aren't keen on it.

You could wait until the 6 months to ask, or you could ask now. I would have a proposal or a couple of options to offer and put them in writing and be clear you are happy to discuss. Wait until the new manager starts.

Or you could accept this job isn't for you. The hours etc do t work for you. Look for something else.

Commuterface · 21/01/2018 13:48

I’d ask for it now - they have to give your request consideration and the worst they can do is say no. Additionally, where I work (public sector) you can make a new request every 6 months. If you have the same, this could work in your favour if you have a new manager, eventually, who is understanding of family commitments and work/life balance

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PavlovianLunge · 21/01/2018 13:50

I worked on a team of four where one person worked compressed hours, Monday to Thursday, with Fridays off. This made it very difficult for the rest of us to ever have a Friday off for a long weekend. She was also entirely inflexible about this, even though she had no particular commitments that meant she had to take Friday off. In the event, the rest of us would juggle things around to help each other, but it did colour my feelings about her as a teammate and as a person.

I’d say, if your company does it, then you’re totally within your rights to ask for it, but if it happens, try to be flexible about the day you are off, if you’re asked to swap from time to time.

ChocolateWombat · 21/01/2018 13:54

I know someone who does a 9 day fortnight. He loves it. However, he works for a big organisation which is very keen on flexible working and has loads of people working part time or flexibly or on compressed hours.
He does work hard on the 9 days - there's no having a late start or an early finish because he has to get the hours covered. And it works because he organises his own diary and largely works alone, so what he does isn't impacting anyone else. I think he can do it, but people who work on the phones in his offie couldn't, because any longer hours would be when the phone lines sent open anyway.

The only people I've done to do a 4 day week compressed full time, have been home workers. Sometimes women do it and I think they often work some of the evening to get the hours up. It works for them and is fine for the business because they don't need to interact with clients at set hours and as lomg as the work gets done, it doesn't really matter when it's done - it becomes a form of flex working.

Chewbecca · 21/01/2018 13:55

You are entitled to ask for it, it isn't CF to ask, though might have been better to ask before starting than 3 weeks in.

I'm not a fan of compressed working in my workplace for a few reasons:

  • Most people work longer than their working hours anyway so people working compressed hours are perceived to 'get away' with that.
  • compressed hours means we reduce the number of days we can hold meetings etc. which impacts the rest of the team & the manager.
  • I'm not sure the employee is as effective in one 9 hour stretch vs a 5 and a 4 hour stretch.


Depends in the nature of your work and workplace whether these points are relevant to you or not.
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