To think "Sod it, I'm not doing any more overtime if that's the thanks I get".

[AnnaRack]

Firstly sorry this post is so long, but thought I should set out all the details at the outset.
I work part-time over 4 days while the DCs are at school. I have 1 week-day off (sorry, I'm being deliberately vague with the details to avoid outing myself).
I work in a small department with an unpredictable and variable workload. The kind of work I do has to be completed to a schedule. If one date is missed, the whole schedule is scuppered. Sometimes there is too much work and outside contractors are used. Other times we have nothing to do. People generally work overtime when it's busy and take time off when it's quiet. I've worked in this department for 12 years, 8 of these part-time.
My boss has always complained that my being part time means they can't give me work as there aren't enough hours to do it by the required deadline. Sometimes my boss has had to outsource work, leaving me with nothing to do, which I hate - it costs the company more, and makes me feel I am going to be made redundant one day.
Now that both DCs are at school I've discovered I can be more flexible and do a few extra hours - staying a bit later, taking work home, even working on my day off if necessary. I have done all these on occasions.
So over the summer and autumn I racked up quite a few hours of overtime. I recorded the hours spent on the company's time recording system, which my boss is supposed to monitor and use in their reports to management.
Now that things are quieter I've tried to take an hour off here and there, with my boss's agreement, but they have been sniffy about it.
One day I left 30 minutes early (having finished all my work, and checked with my boss whether they had any more work - they didn't). I came back to a snotty email the next day - my boss apparently didn't know how many hours I had accrued (to put this in perspective, my boss arrives in the morning any time within a 30 minute timeframe. They have sometimes cancelled meetings without telling me, worked at home with no notice, come in 1 hour late without any explanation).
Obviously I only want to take time off in lieu when it's convenient to the organisation, ie when things are quiet, and give as much notice as possible.
But it has occurred to me now that my boss hasn't once said "thank you" for working the extra hours. I'm tempted to think "Sod it, I'll just work my fixed hours from now on", but might do myself out of a job ...
AIBU to expect thanks?

Of course you're NBU. I'm in a similar position. I did loads of overtime to cover holidays/sickness/term time only staff and at first it was agreed I would get it back in lieu due to my CTC. Then they realised I had done so much they couldn't give it back so agreed for it to be paid. It wasn't paid to me so upon bringing it up, suddenly they could give it to me in lieu

No thanks, nothing. So until I get back the overtime done in summer, I'll be saying no for the foreseeable future. Such a pain isn't it?

Thanks TheScience. I dont want bouquets etc (though that would be nice ) , just an ordinary thanks!

If they expect you to be flexible then it is reasonable for you to expect them to be flexible in return when possible if you need the time off. I don't mean to be nit picking but the time you left 30 minutes early, strictly speaking and to cover yourself, you should have told somebody in charge if you were doing this and not just taken upon yourself to go.

The point is although it isn't right a lot of firms have the attitude we pay you don't we, what more do you want. And gratitude for hard work by the staff never enters their heads. So if I were you, I do what suited me. If it suited me to have the extra money I'd do the overtime. If it didn't I wouldn't. I stuck a job I hated for years and years. Don't do that.

YANBU

I used to work in our village shop and was aleays swapping my shifts around or doing overtime to help out. The one time I asked to start half an hour later, so I could go to DD1's first nativity play, I was refused. After that I only ever did my contracted hours

Vivienne - thanks. I don't get paid overtime, we are expected to take time off when it's quiet. That's why I feel resentful, flexibility is supposed to work both ways no?

Sorry Anna. Didn't read properly and your're not paid overtime. Flexibility doesn't work both ways I learnt that the hard way! If you're really unahppy and resentful look for something else. And it's so often the way as freddiefrog says. You bend over backwards doing things for them and being helpful and flexible but when you want something it's a different story.

If everyone does overtime when required, then it would be a bit odd if the boss specifically went out of his way to thank you for doing what everyone else does as a matter of course.

However, if you are supposed to get the time back in lieu, then this should happen, but probably needs to be agreed in advance rather than just leaving early. Unless that's what everyone else does.

Noblegiraffe - saying thankyou should happen as a matter of course! It costs nothhing and it's simple good manners. I suppose that's why I'm narked. If I was rude to my boss I'd get a snotty email the next day. If my boss is rude to me I'm just supposed to get on with it.

Anna- it sounds to me like this isn't working for you anymore. I'd be tempted to say both keep just to your set hours for now, but also start looking for something else, no rush to leave, make sure you go to something better.

It sounds like they aren't showing much loyality or flexiblity to you, but expect it back, it doesn't work that way. Start looking elsewhere.

Yanbu - flexible working doesn't appear to be very flexible when it's in your favour in some places of work.

Where I work you are allowed to take a flexi day if you have enough time accrued, however you have to give a reason as to why you want this day off and if it is deemed to be an acceptable use of a day you can have it.

I have never understood why as no one asks what someone is planning on doing with their annual leave and there isn't really any difference.

It sounds as though they agreed to you being part time without really considering the impact on the business and are regretting it now.

Think Norks is right - it's not the first time I've heard of a company agreeing to reduced hours without considering how those other hours will be covered, the general assumption is that you will do exactly the same amount of work, just in 4/5s of the time - how that extra work is fit into 4 days is really your problem, and if you have to do overtime, they don't see it as you having to do over time, more, it's the way you manage your workload.

As I said earlier, in those situations, you have two options, go full time, so at least you're being paid for those extra hours, or find another job that is genuinely 4 days a week.

It sounds as though they agreed to you being part time without really considering the impact on the business and are regretting it now.

That's what I was thinking. If you can, go 3 days in your next job. I find 4 days means you get paid for four days and actually work full time.

agree with the 3 day/4 day thing, I've never heard of anyone having someone else do their job on the 5th day but lots with 3 days!

Oh and in the future, don't do overtime for the promise of time back, do it for money.

Don'tmind - I'm not prepared to go full time, it would drive me loopy I'd need child care and the impact on the househol would be too much. I can only stick the job cos it's part time! Lots of helpful replies, thanks - I'll stay put, but do the minimum overtime required to keep the job (cos we need the money).
Whoever said management hadnt thought through the implications of me going part time - that may be true, but its their lookout now, isnt it? They can't sack me (tho they could make me redundant Isppose).

oh yes definitely, their problem. Yes, they could in theory make you redundant and replace you with someone FT but I think they'd struggle , however I am no expert

Dontmind - actually I worked 3 longer days bwfore dc2 was born, then after dc2 I had to go 4 days cos the boss needed less of a gap between my days. So I've xhanged my working patterns to suit the company. I don't fancy my chances of going back to 3 days. My boss would probably say no, or allow it, but constantly moan about how inconvenient it is.

I was once told by a Managing Director "if you want gratitude and loyalty get a dog" so I showed him my loyalty by getting a different job and taking some of my staff with me.

So I would look for another job.

TheHolly- part time jobs are like gold dust round here - I reckon I'm stuck there, and tbh it does pay quite well. I just want some apppreciation for going the extra mile!

Well, it couldn't hurt to put some feelers out.

Or just don't expect the thanks or the two way street of flexible working. shrug

I worked for two big firms. Went above and beyond at both

At first firm they just accepted it; working to rule or going beyond were treated just the same. Bettering yourself was frowned upon.

At second firm managers at all levels took pains to acknowledge good work and extra effort whenever it happened. It was a culture of appreciation and career development.

Guess which has no trouble hiring, and which lost people from all departments like a tree its leaves in autumn?

Cross posted. First firm made a part-timer redundant to employ a full-timer, although that was a genuinely full-time management post.

OP - you might not get a part time position straight away, but there's no harm in starting looking now, it might take 6 - 12 - 18 months for the right role for you to turn up, but you're in no rush. You might be surprised...

Good advice, but I know that in my town part time jobs that a) I can do and b) pay enough are like hen's teeth. I can't travel cos I have to be back for the school run.
I'd have to retrain or something, and that's a whole other thread ... Thankyou all for your advice!

So sad when I read threads like this, a thank you and praise for doing more than expected should be encouraged and is quite easy to do when managers get used to saying thank you, good job, well done and I appreciate your effort.

It makes it so much easier to raise areas that need improving if you consistently tell some one you recognise they are doing their best, a negative, constructive comment is so much easier to take on board when you know the person giving it values your work.

Do I sound too wanky? I've just finished a new management course?