If you work 9-5 and book half a days leave, what time do you finish?

[EmmyToo]

Gosh this is such a non issue but my brain can’t compute it.

I work 9-5, 7.5 hour days with a half hour break.

I want to book half a days leave, so assumed I’d be working 3.75 hours (= 3 hours 45 minutes) and taking 3.75 hours leave. So finishing at 12.45.

But because I don’t get my half an hour break, I have to work 4 hours 15 minutes. So can’t finish until 1.15.

I get it, it makes sense, but my brain doesn’t like taking half a days leave and the result being that I’m working more than half a day.

Also… this is the first time this has ever come up in 10 years at the same company. Just a new line manager.

What do you do? Is this standard?

Simple maths: if you work until 1:15 you've worked 4 hours 15 minutes. Clearly that's more than half a day!

Double that (for the 'half a day off' that you are taking) and that would make 8 hours 30 minutes.

Can you now see the mathematical sticking point here OP? Your manager is pulling a fast one!

As other posters have already pointed out, you need to count forward, from 9am, not backwards from 5!

If it helps your boss get head around it...

Work 3.75 hours (9-12.45)

Break 30 mins (12.45 - 1.15)

Then AL 3.75 hours (1.15-5pm)

You can do what you want on break add it to AL.

You are right. Manager is wrong.
You work 3hrs 45 mins. Start at your normal time, finish 3 hrs and 45 mins later, assuming breaks are unpaid.

Then she’s just ignoring the work culture and micromanaging you so you’ve got bigger problems.

I’d probably just raise this with her or with another senior person who understands your work culture. I don’t think this will be an isolated situation.

My manager did the very very same to me the other week. Said I had to work until 1.15pm. The argument was so exhausting I just said yeah and left, leaving my laptop running on until then 🤣

Your manager is wrong. You are right! Leave at 12.45

7.5hrs work day / 2 = 3 hrs 45mins working

She sounds like a nightmare

Yes I know that legally employers have to give their employees a lunch break, that wasn't what I was querying.

The basis of the 30 min lunch break being unpaid has been clarified, which was what I hadn't picked up, as there were a lot of updates from the OP so I missed it.

I cannot believe the pettiness of managers doing that to their staff. Don't they realise that for the sake of a few minutes, they have lost all respect and loyalty.

Fucking hell this is as clear as mud isn’t it.

Not really, it’s very clear. And posters aren’t confused. You would leave at 12:45.

The absolute latest you should leave is 1pm, definitely not 1.15pm - as 1pm is the exact midpoint between 9am and 5pm, 4 hours from each.

I do think that the strongest argument is for 12.45, however, due to your break.

You aren’t paid the lunch break 12.45-1.15 so you can leave when you want during the time that would have been your lunch break. I would choose to leave at 12.45 and have lunch at home.

I meant my attempt to rationale my bosses thinking, in which that particular remark was to highlight how insane it is, but thanks for the patronising comment, you douchebag.