Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
ShotsFired · 17/09/2018 14:58
  1. Is OP really "bombarded" by hordes of people every single day?
Because if she is, that would suggest her flexible working isn't working for the business and needs reviewing. Ergo I'd be a lot more circumspect about complaining it didn't suit me....
  1. Why is she incapable of answering a question during the few seconds it takes to shrug a coat off? Most people can manage to breathe, walk and talk simultaneously, what is so difficult about coat removal that it requires deep, uninterrupted concentration? (ditto making tea, putting bag under desk)
DarlingNikita · 17/09/2018 15:05

2. Why is she incapable of answering a question during the few seconds it takes to shrug a coat off? Most people can manage to breathe, walk and talk simultaneously, what is so difficult about coat removal that it requires deep, uninterrupted concentration? (ditto making tea, putting bag under desk)

It's not that it's difficult, it's a basic courtesy not to start asking people work questions before they've got their arse on their chair and feet under the desk! Not to mention, the answer to the question might require her to look at her computer, and if she's still switching that on and waiting for it all to load, she can't use it to find out information. So it's a waste of time grabbing her as soon as she appears in the office.

RiverTam · 17/09/2018 15:07

Shot I like that you think it’s the OP’s problem if her colleagues are incapable of having the manners to wait for her to remove her coat etc.

A lot of people on this thread sound like some of the awful managers I’ve worked with over the years - been promoted to the next step which includes people management, but without the skill set or even innate ability to understand people sufficiently to manage them well.

Equally I’ve worked for some fabulous managers who’ve had great teams working for them, all ready to do what needs to be done, whenever. Funnily enough, none of them have been the type to think it acceptable to talk about anything other than last night’s Bake Off before you’ve switched your computer on. They’ll be the ones who have the low turnover of staff, too. Strange...

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General relationships
Witchend · 17/09/2018 15:15

It's give and take in such things.
Absolutely fine to say "give me a minute or two to get settled.

But if you start saying "I don't work until 9:30" then they'll spot the times when you are 5 minutes late.

StereophonicallyChallenged · 17/09/2018 16:46

Haven't read all replies so I might be repeating thid point, but to those that say suck it up....10 mins a day unpaid is 40 hours a year or a while weeks wages.

I wouldn't do it tbh.

StereophonicallyChallenged · 17/09/2018 16:47

this and whole bloody autocorrect Grin

loadthetoad · 17/09/2018 16:53

But if you start saying "I don't work until 9:30" then they'll spot the times when you are 5 minutes late.

This.

I would just go in a bit later. Whilst it's a nice gesture to start a few minutes early there should be no expectation on the OP to do so, if she is paid from 9:30.
Some of the responses here are odd and unhealthy, frankly. Who wants to work for free?

EthelThePiratesDaughter · 17/09/2018 17:15

You should be taking your lunch breaks too, OP. Take your half an hour, go outside, walk round the block, eat your sandwich on a bench somewhere, pop to the shops. Your employers are clearly not the kind of people who respect boundaries so you should be taking yourself off the premises as far as possible during your breaks.

Nacreous · 17/09/2018 17:35

Mushrooms No one would bat an eyelid at my work if we did that. I’d offer the director a cuppa at the same time though...

Frankly everyone knows the firm functions solely on caffeine so if I’ve left the house at 6:30 am and need a cuppa before I’ve got my act together then they’ll deal with it.

Equally though, this is not a firm of clockwatchers and if the work is done at 1:30 on a Friday it’s perfectly acceptable to leave then. Believe me they get a good deal out of that because I’ve worked a hell of a lot more unpaid overtime than early Fridays I’ve had off.

I guess it depends on the job but mine involves managing up to 8 people and then maybe 6 different clients at once, as well as the complex functions of about 5 different computer programs. I can remember the status of the people but probably not the exact status of the clients or the random function someone wants to know without actually checking my notes. I can’t hold all that information in my head at once. That’s what paper/spreadsheets are for!

Xenia · 18/09/2018 07:15

The difference between us on the thread is probably just between those in a standard reasonably well paid office job and clock watchers clocking in and out in factories working their hours to the letter - usually the difference is pay too - higher paid jobs tend to require more flexibility probably have no paid over time etc.

RiverTam · 18/09/2018 07:54

Sure, but it the real problem is not working to time (or not), it’s being so rude and self absorbed that you can’t wait for your colleague, who has perfectly legitimately and with the approval of her line manager changed her hours, to take her coat off and switch on her computer before hitting her with queries. It smacks of bitterness and jealousy and social incompetence.

She could be in an hour early unpaid every day and this would still be rude and unnecessary.

dudsville · 18/09/2018 08:00

I'd suggest you don't respond by dropping everything and hurrying on line. Make a note of requests as you're settling in of you want to, but stay calm and collected. Sounds like when you arrive there's some anxiety and you're stepping into it.

BitchQueen90 · 18/09/2018 08:10

I start work at 9.30 and this is why I don't walk in the doors until 9.25.

It doesn't take me long to get ready to start work as everything I need is on my desk. I sit down and start straight away.

If I went in earlier I'd end up starting earlier as I'm in a shared office and I'd feel awkward sitting there while everyone else is working!

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 18/09/2018 08:14

Get there at 9:30 🤷🏻‍♀️

pusspuss9 · 18/09/2018 11:56

This type of things puts employers off flexible working

so so true. I used to work with HR and I know exactly this. When others are already deep into their tasks then having to wait an hour or so before finishing because of info needed from a late starter, then this holds everybody up.

pusspuss9 · 18/09/2018 11:58

also the fact that they 'waylay' you the minute you get in suggests that they have been held up in their work and need to get on.

DolorestheNewt · 18/09/2018 12:13

This type of things puts employers off flexible working

But then what's the solution? I'm not being confrontational, I'm asking sincerely! Flexible working is important if we're going to continue to see improvements in conditions for working parents (whether they be male or female). Really difficult to accept (though it may be true) that those who do manage to negotiate flexi arrangements are going to be seen, to some extent, as squeaky wheels, rather than something that employers should learn to accommodate and accept.

Partly, I think that most "hold ups" in people's work, really - is it that urgent? Most things I work on (support services, financial services sector) could be put on hold for an hour while someone comes back to me on something. You think it can't wait, but it can. Maybe part of the solution is MORE flexible working, so that people get more adept at putting a task to the side while they wait for Joe Bloggs to arrive? I'm not stating a position here, I'm thinking aloud!

ShotsFired · 18/09/2018 12:24

@DolorestheNewt there's a common line of thinking amongst the (good, law abiding, safe) cycling groups I am part of - that the only way to make cycling safer is to have more cyclists.

I think your comment is in a similar vein. The only way to make flexible working work is to have loads more flexible working. (9/10 that urgent request is actually not urgent and/or the asker could have got the answer themselves another way anyway.)

It also impacts things like reducing peak hours for traffic/public transport; staggers the mad dash round tesco during lunchbreaks; offices could be more agile and efficient by not needing so many desks or communications etc etc

DarlingNikita · 18/09/2018 12:28

Dolores, I completely agree.

DolorestheNewt · 18/09/2018 12:31

ShotsFired yes, that's exactly the way my thinking was going

RiverTam · 18/09/2018 12:42

Dolores good post.

puss well, the manager I worked for who regularly did this functioned in permanent panic mode.

havingabadhairday · 18/09/2018 12:45

At my work (and we are very easy going) people walk in and announce that 'they're not really here' and then we mostly don't bother them with work stuff.

I'm also a bit Hmm at the idea that you do a bit extra and you'll get a bit of leeway in return. I've worked in jobs where you were expected to be flexible to the point of breaking and would get bugger all back.

Luckily my current workplace isn't like that.

pusspuss9 · 18/09/2018 12:46

you are right in that flexible working would be an improvement for many people in their private lives, and this would also be helpful in many international companies that deal with different time zones on a daily basis. Currently this often means working from home to accomodate international phone calls etc.

However in today's business world, in many companies who have already cut employee numbers down to a bare minimum, and existing employees have a huge work load which has in many instances to be completed very quickly as they are one link in a chain
of people waiting for information. One person holding up the chain often impacts many others who can't continue until they have that info.

And it' no good saying then the company should employ more people, that's not going to happen as these companies are all competing against each other and looking at their bottom line at the end of the day (I'm not saying this is right, but it's the way it is)

Andylion · 18/09/2018 15:46

I breeze in wearing my headphones and sunglasses, making no eye contact. I realize that this might not work for some workplaces. It it works for me.

pusspuss9 · 18/09/2018 16:06

just a question Andy, are you your own boss?