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Original poster

Saying "I start at 9.30"?

276 replies

cjt110 · 17/09/2018 10:55

I changed my work hours recently to accommodate my son now going to school. I start at 9.30, have half an hours lunch and finish at 5.30. I also have reduced my days from 5 to 4.

Since I changed my hours, I regularly get into the office at approx 9.15-9.20. Also regularly, I get my boss, and other departmental bosses, ringing/speaking to me as soon as I get in.

This morning, I walked in the door at 9.15, hadn't even put my bags down to my boss saying "I've emailed you X and we need to do Y" followed by a conversation about X and Y. I politely said "Ok, fine. Just let me get in the door first"

No sooner had my boss walked away, another boss came up saying "I know you don't til 9.30 but could you check....."

This is becoming a regular nonoccurence. The odd conversation here or there fine but this is happening almost daily now.

How do I address this? I don't want to be rude but I also want to say "Hang on, it's not 9.30 yet - go away!"

OP posts:
WerewolfNumber1 · 17/09/2018 10:57

I’ve always been in “work mode” from the moment I walk in. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect people to ignore you till your official start time.

AssassinatedBeauty · 17/09/2018 10:58

If you're in work though before 9.30 it's going to be hard to tell people you're not actually working yet. I'd just stick with the "let me just get in the door first" approach, and not respond to any emails etc before 9.30.

Original poster
cjt110 · 17/09/2018 10:58

I don't mind questions if I'm sat at my desk and logged on but when I first get in the door and my backside has barely touched the seat.....

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Doyoumind · 17/09/2018 10:58

I would suggest you arrive at 9.30. If you need to get settled when you get in, get there at 9.27.

SinglePringle · 17/09/2018 10:59

I manage and employ people and I would think it a pretty poor show if one of my team had an attitude such as the one you’ve described.

I don’t ask people things before they’ve even taken their coats off etc but I would once they’re at their desk / standing making a drink even if it were 15 minutes or so before their ‘start’ time.

Andtheresaw · 17/09/2018 10:59

I think that refusing to speak to anyone would be odd/rude.
Don't action anything until 09.30 if you are on a work to rule, but let them speak to you or send email instructions.
Drop your coat off and go and make a cuppa until 9.30. If you are at your desk in a professional environment people will speak to you..

SpoonBlender · 17/09/2018 10:59

Don't walk in until 9:29.

porky1000 · 17/09/2018 11:00

I did exactly the same - coming in at 9.30 instead of 8.30 for school run. I've just sucked it up to be honest if anyone asks me to do anything before my 'official' start. If it bothers you that much don't get in the office until 9.30!

flowery · 17/09/2018 11:00

I’m struggling to see how this is a problem really. Your approach sounds fine, and unless it’s a clocking on and off shifts type job, surely it’s not unusual for people to get to work and get started a few minutes before their contractual hours begin?

EssentialHummus · 17/09/2018 11:00

Another vote for “Arrive at 9.27”.

Mookatron · 17/09/2018 11:00

Take a book, find a bench near the office, read a chapter before you go in. Arrive at 9.30.

MnerXX · 17/09/2018 11:01

That is really annoying. We have clients who like to get in touch over the weekend, at night, early in the morning...

I would suggest that either you are going to need to be firm and keep repeating your boundaries (ie that you start at 9.30am) until they leave you alone or stay out of the office until 9.25/9.30am.

SD1978 · 17/09/2018 11:02

I agree with others- don't enter until 09.25 then. I'd probably be that great full they accommodated the working day and reduced the days I worked, that the extra ten minutes wouldn't bother me. If it bothers you. Don't come into the workspace until a time you feel is more appropriate then.

GeorgePorge · 17/09/2018 11:04

Another vote for arriving dead on 9:30am

Liz79 · 17/09/2018 11:05

Start when you arrive, but leave at 5.15

Original poster
cjt110 · 17/09/2018 11:05

I think today it's just irked me as it's not the first time and I hadn't even put my bag down or took my coat off.

I often will sit and eat my lunch at my desk, rather than the empty kitchen, answering mails as I get them... Perhaps I'm being a bit soft.

There isn't really anywhere to go at work other than to make a brew.

OP posts:
5SecondsFromWilding · 17/09/2018 11:05

If it bothers you then you need to arrive later rather than assuming anyone who needs anything from you is going to check the clock before they say anything.

Arriving at 9:15 though, surely you don't get any real chance to do anything they ask before it hits 9:30 anyway? Settling in, getting a brew, putting lunch in the fridge, etc, it all takes time, and I've always arrived 15 minutes before my shift so I can start my shift on time.

Original poster
cjt110 · 17/09/2018 11:06

Liz79 I'm not allowed to do this, nor take say the extra 15 mins for my lunch - so 45 mins instead of 30.

I know 15 mins doesn't seem much but when it's almost daily it adds up.

OP posts:
Original poster
cjt110 · 17/09/2018 11:07

Settling in, getting a brew, putting lunch in the fridge, etc, it all takes time, and I've always arrived 15 minutes before my shift so I can start my shift on time. I didnt even get chance to do this this morning. Coat in, bags in hand I got asked. So my stuff just got dumped to one side. Then asked next thing...

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 17/09/2018 11:08

If you're there, then there's not much you can do about it. If it bothers you then don't arrive until just before 09:30.

Original poster
cjt110 · 17/09/2018 11:09

I'm thinking the 9.27 arrival will be the way forward....

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 17/09/2018 11:09

It doesn’t matter then if you get in at 9.15 or 9.30 if you are going to be asked work related questions as soon as you walk in. Just say “I will look into it once I’ve logged on”

No big deal surely?

DolorestheNewt · 17/09/2018 11:11

I'm guessing this is not really a financial question of your boss imposing on your unpaid time, more a sort of manners question around letting you get settled?

In your shoes, I'd probably start arriving at 9.20, and I would consistently and politely say "I'll just take my coat off and [whatever else], and I'll be with you and can listen properly". I would say that every time, and when I started at 9.30, I would make them repeat whatever they'd said while I still had my coat on "because I didn't quite take it in".

My hope would be that my boss would eventually start saying "when you're ready, Dolores" and would say the specifics when I present yourself, ready to work, at 9.30. Or, in my case, probably 9.28.

If it's about being paid by the hour, which makes clock-watchers of all of us, then I would say "I'll be with you at 9.30" - I'm not at all bolshie about it, but there's no margin for error for timekeeping where I work, so I think it's reasonable to be equally rigid about not engaging outside the hours for which I'm paid.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 17/09/2018 11:13

I'd suck it up tbh. At some point your kid will face plant the playground, you'll spend 10 minutes mopping up tears, be 10 minutes late for work...

Shit happens. If you give a bit, you'll get a bit back.

Original poster
cjt110 · 17/09/2018 11:13

sort of manners question around letting you get settled? Yes. This entirely. I don;t mind the odd 5-10 or even working through lunch because the kitchen is empty and I'd rather be at my desk.

I just feel like I'm "pounced" upon as soon as I walk in the door.

I also find I panic when bombarded when I've just walked in. This leads to me logging in as quickly as I can and getting on with it...

OP posts: