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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that workplaces should be less accommodating of personal lives?

210 replies

HangryDenimBird · 30/09/2024 11:30

I’ve noticed workplaces bending over backwards to accommodate personal lives. AIBU to think that employees should keep their personal issues separate from work?

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2024 11:42

If I wanted to keep my staff I would be as accommodating as possible.

crispyeggs · 30/09/2024 11:41

OonaStubbs · 30/09/2024 11:37

Work is work, and home life is home life. They should be kept as separate as possible. Your home life is NOT the concern of your employer who is trying to run a business.

God, I'd hate to be managed by someone like you.

I think that it's good to have a healthy divide, but it's impossible to keep the two separate at times of intense stress. During pregnancy, I was very ill and also looking after my terminally ill mother. My workplace being flexible meant that i could look after myself, my mum, and still get my job done.

A complete divide would mean they demand I come into the workplace, every day, 9-5 with no accommodations. Had this been the case, I'd have been off sick for 6 months and my team would have been down a staff member, meaning there would be far too much work to go around.

TheCentreCannotHold · 30/09/2024 11:41

I offered my resignation when DC1's needs meant I would need to make adjustments to their care.
My employer refused to accept it and has supported me to the hilt because they value my work. Their choice.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 30/09/2024 11:40

Whether employers like it or not, people do have lives and other things going on outside of the workplace.

If they insist on being totally inflexible and never accommodate anything, people will eventually go elsewhere. Life is way too short to work for a company who can't even pretend to give a shit about you.

Blobblobblob · 30/09/2024 11:40

The devil is in the detail

Ultimately it boils down to whether people are doing their best to also help themselves.

I'm sure we can all think of examples of reasonable and unreasonable requests for flexibility.

Need to wfh over the school holidays because summer camp has shorter hours than normal wraparound provision? Fair.

Want to wfh because "I've fallen out with my friends and I can't face leaving the house". Ridiculous.

Both real examples from colleagues that I've heard in the last few months.

Tdcp · 30/09/2024 11:38

It really depends on the situation, it's hard to gauge without more information.

OonaStubbs · 30/09/2024 11:37

Work is work, and home life is home life. They should be kept as separate as possible. Your home life is NOT the concern of your employer who is trying to run a business.

Tbskejue · 30/09/2024 11:36

Depends what you mean; social life or actual responsibilities/stressful life events.
If you’ve ever been an enormously stressful time in your personal life or have DC with extra needs then you may not think that.

SweetSakura · 30/09/2024 11:34

Employers are free to be as accommodating (or not) as they choose (subject to legislation of course).

Employees are free to work where they wish.

Many employees may decide that they would even take a pay cut to have an employer who allowed them flexibility.

Plexie · 30/09/2024 11:33

In what way? Give some examples.