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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:
StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2018 14:00

Where do I start

StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2018 14:02

From the op
cjt110

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.....

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 17/09/2018 14:02

In my work, when you're in, you're in. I sometimes try to sneak through and get to my office unseen so I can change my shoes, tidy my hair and get the computer fired up before being accosted, but I'm usually spotted.

I would love to see my director's face if I said I needed to get myself a cup of tea before listening to him - I think I will do that tomorrow just for the laugh.

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StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2018 14:04

What about taking your coat off or turning your computer on?

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 17/09/2018 14:04

And btw there is nothing worse than someone standing over you impatiently pawing the ground while they wait for your computer to switch on so you can deal with their query.

Xenia · 17/09/2018 14:06

I have never met anyone ilke this. If you were instead on a factory production line that wuld be reasonable but in an office job and you want to do well you don't clock qatch like that - people will laugh at you with at attitude. If you don't want work before you get in just sit in the car reading the papers with a croissant until exactly 9.30.

Mushroomsarehorrible · 17/09/2018 14:07

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha

I would love to see my director's face if I said I needed to get myself a cup of tea before listening to him

^ THIS

I'm frankly astonished that those of you who think it's ok to say "I'll get onto that when I've had a cuppa" have got jobs! Your attitude is woefully unprofessional Hmm

StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2018 14:08

What about turning your computer on?

Twofishfingers · 17/09/2018 14:11

I also work at 9.30 and arrive at 9.20 and take on whatever work I have to do at that time. Calls, emails, direct requests, I don't mind.

For me it's about brownie points. If I am flexible, people will be flexible for me and if I have to take a call re. my kids then I can take a few minutes off work and people won't bat an eyelid.

Jux · 17/09/2018 14:12

I think it's completelynormal for people toassume you're in work mode as soon as you're there. So I think you need to take some deep breaths to aboid the panicked scramble to respond in situations where you haven't yet got your coat off, and then to calmly get yourself sorted. If you would normally go and make yourself a drink before settling in at your desk, you could ask whoever is blathering at you to make it for you "would you mind making me tea while I log in and do X?"

I have done that, and the boss has been happy to do it.

dorisdog · 17/09/2018 14:13

I think it would annoy me too. But I think it depends on the motivation of the people doing it. If you sense it's because they resent you coming in later (this totally happens - I had really rude and and frankly sexist comments said to me when I was working flexibly) then enforce those boundaries to the extreme! If it's just that people are a bit stressed/over enthusiastic/pleased to see you (?) then maybe just gently keep repeating that you'll 'be with them as soon as you've settled in.'

I know the feeling you describe of it making you anxious. Everyone needs a transition to sit down and get themselves sorted before they're bombarded with stuff.

SuperstarDJ · 17/09/2018 14:14

Your employers sound like they’ve been flexible to accommodate your change in working hours and reduction in days. Your attitude sounds a bit off and clock-watchy. Don’t arrive in work until 9.27 if if bothers you that much.

WaxOnFeckOff · 17/09/2018 14:17

My colleague is similar, what she does now is just starts when she gets in but leaves earlier, so in at 9.20, leaves at 5.20 or sometimes she uses it to have a longer lunch. Not officially flexi time but reasonable in the circumstances. It would be a pain hanging about for 10 minutes when you could be in the office getting started.

OhtheHillsareAlive · 17/09/2018 14:18

If I were you, I'd stick to the "Just give me 5 minutes to get sorted" line, and then get yourself sorted. You can deal with things at 9:30 - 15 minutes shouldn't (generally) make a difference in office admin style work.

I wouldn't insist that no-one speaks to you until 9:30 precisely. Because you never know when you might be held up or late (traffic, public transport fail etc), and then you'll have the goodwill points stacked up. If questions are asked, you can point to your regular entry at 9:15 and the demands made upon you from that moment.

DarlingNikita · 17/09/2018 14:18

I think it's completelynormal for people toassume you're in work mode as soon as you're there.

I think anyone who assumes you're in work mode when you're standing up with your coat on and your computer firing up is either seriously thick or being deliberately unobservant.

actualpuffins · 17/09/2018 14:18

I think, reading the OP again, that the bosses have only grudgingly agreed the reduction in hours and are making a point by grabbing the OP as soon as she gets in. It's just rude and entitled of them.

StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2018 14:18

It doesn't help with the fact she is bombarded and can't actually help them at that point though

WaxOnFeckOff · 17/09/2018 14:23

I thionk the difference hers is that the OPO has taken a pay cut to work less hours. If you work full time for full time pay, it's perfectly reasonable to work the odd bit extra for nothing. But when you've specifically asked to be paid less to work less hours then it's not really on imo if you end up doing them anyway.

I work 2.5 hours short of full time, half an hour a day. This costs me money to do so. Why would I then think it was okay to be expected to work an extra 15 mins every day for brownie points? I don't really get expected to do less work btw, just not be in the office so long - another point the full timers don't always appreciate when they make sarcy comments when I head out the door at 3. Forgetting that I've been in since 8 (or before).

actualpuffins · 17/09/2018 14:23

It doesn't help with the fact she is bombarded and can't actually help them at that point though

Exactly. Do people actually find that they get the best out of people by firing orders and giving them tasks before they can even pick up a pen and paper? Or do you think it might be better to let them come in, sit down and get started?

Some people need to get over themselves and acquire a little emotional intelligence.

ItscalledaVulva · 17/09/2018 14:25

It's the not letting you get your coat off that's rude. There is some element of give and take of course but your boss is just paid to do a role and manage you doing your work, they don't own you! This sort of thing used to really piss me off. I would say "give me two minutes and I'll come to you" and go off to the loo. Walk away from your desk to hang up coat etc

Itsatravesty · 17/09/2018 14:37

Wow, OP, your attitude is appaling and you sound so entitled.

What exactly is entitled and appalling about wanting to get your coat off/bag away before being accosted by colleagues? Genuine question.

RiverTam · 17/09/2018 14:37

The bitterness on this thread at those who have arranged flexible working for themselves is unbelievable.

butlerswharf · 17/09/2018 14:37

If I was you I'd ask to officially change my start time to 9:15. If you always get there at that time and you get asked to do stuff right away then that's the best solution and you'll be able to leave 15 minutes earlier. Smile

caoraich · 17/09/2018 14:39

OP I think you've been pretty clear and it's unfair that people are calling you a clock-watcher. Obviously this is the issue - It's walking in the door and being bombarded with stuff that could wait 2 more minutes til my backside has even graced my seat
Not about the time, but about rudeness of people not even letting you get set up to work. And I agree that sometimes when it's a senior person, it's very difficult to say "give me two minutes".

I used to have a very professional job (salaried, theoretical working hours but worked 2-3 hours over every day) and a number of colleagues would work very different hours to me. They were usually outside having their first fag break of the day when I was getting parked and one of them took to getting into my car as soon as I had the engine off to tell me about the "urgent issues"!! It was bloody tough to handle and I actually ended up parking a 10 minute walk away and sneaking into my workplace through a different entrance. This obviously wasn't a decent solution long-term as they figured it out.

In the end I got a senior colleague to help me phrase it and every time I got bombarded as I walked in I replied with "Look, I appreciate there's a lot of stuff to be done but I need to get my brain into work mode and get my notebook out to make sure I've got a proper note of what you need. Give me two minutes, OK". Repeated ad nauseam.

StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2018 14:42

Butlers but in order to be ready to work at 9.15 shed need to get there at 9.assuming that is possible, she's just moving the issue forward.

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