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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

would you be pissed off/ fed up with this at work?

141 replies

totallyfedup2015 · 05/10/2015 17:58

So today I got 'ticked off' by my manager for being late several times recently. Not quite a formal disciplinary but a clear 'you must be in at 9am without fail' conversation

My nominal hours are 9-5. I've been in after 9 a few times recently, though none later than 09.15.

I work lunch almost every day, because I can have up to 6 hours of meetings a day which inevitably straddle lunchtime. I also stay after 5 at least once a week or more. And do monthly trips to other offices which involve me setting off before 6am, either being away overnight and getting home at 7pm next day, or coming back the same day and getting home at 10pm. I don't object to any of that but I thought there might be a little give and take...apparently not.

I'm also not a junior, I've got 20 years professional qualifications (more than anyone in my office including my manager) and feel rather resentful at getting the same level of chat I used to give office juniors who were in at 0905 and out the door at 1655!

AIBU or would this piss you off too?

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 05/10/2015 18:01

It would puss me off too, I would tell her that if she insists you are in at 9 then you are sure she will understand that you are no longer able to stay past 5, and that you will no longer be working through your lunch hour.

fulldutypaid · 05/10/2015 18:01

You still need to be on time OP. If it's a 9.00 start then that's the time you would be there at regardless of anything else YABU.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 05/10/2015 18:01

Depends. If you work somewhere that clients and customers expect to get hold of you from 9am yabu. For a 9-5 day I get in for 845/850 to boot up the computer etc

catfordbetty · 05/10/2015 18:03

It would piss me off too. What better way to erode your goodwill?

Twickerhun · 05/10/2015 18:03

Seems petty but if you are due in at 9 and have a pattern of lateness then your boss was entitled.

HackerFucker22 · 05/10/2015 18:06

I would start sticking to my exact hours in that case and I'd also start taking a lunch break.

My company used to be really pushy about things like this (being in on time, taking lunch breaks at certain times) until they realised how bad it was for morale.

I am in 10 minutes early everyday but I walk out the door on the dot, I do work through lunch as well.

Original poster
totallyfedup2015 · 05/10/2015 18:08

I don't have clients or customers.

I won't be staying after 5 (that'll be fun in the meetings that go on til 6) or working my lunch, or past 12.30 when I have a half day booked.

My OH earns more than me, in a senior role albeit quite a different role to mine, he pitches up any time before 10, no one bats an eyelid. So long as he gets his work done - which he does, as do I. He couldn't believe it when I told him.

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 05/10/2015 18:08

The problem is that as you are senior, you lead by example. How can you discipline someone for poor punctuality when you are in late yourself?

FarFromAnyRoad · 05/10/2015 18:09

It's plain petty and I wouldn't be surprised if there was some other motive beyond being a stickler for da roolz.
Because I hate shit like this I would (possibly childishly) immediately begin a kind of 'work to rule' regime. Guarantee your manager will get bored of it before you do!

DoJo · 05/10/2015 18:10

I agree - if they are going to quibble about small stuff like this then I think it's time you started making a point of working your contracted hours and insisting that you cannot attend meetings which do not allow you a lunch break or that mean you run over in the afternoons. This is what I did when faced with a similar situation and it made me realise how much 'free' work I did, so when I had a performance review it gave me the confidence to ask for a raise as well, which I got!

FarFromAnyRoad · 05/10/2015 18:10

Also I do not believe senior management should be accountable to junior employees in that way - precisely because of all the extra time that is put in and extra demands that are made.

Chococroc · 05/10/2015 18:10

I think it's two separate issues. If you start work at 9 then you need to be there at 9 unless agreed otherwise. If you're doing too much working through lunch, late finishes etc then address that separately, asking for time off in lieu if applicable.
The staff I manage often finish late due to travelling, and I'm happy to agree TOIL or a late start the next day, but it has to be agreed in advance.

Original poster
totallyfedup2015 · 05/10/2015 18:11

I don't manage anyone, that's not part of my role. I have supervised junior staff in the past, I don't now and haven't for the 3 years I've been in this role.

OP posts:
anothernumberone · 05/10/2015 18:12

You still need to be on time OP. If it's a 9.00 start then that's the time you would be there at regardless of anything else YABU

Not necessarily I used to work crazy hours when I worked in consultancy. DH still does now. We would never have expected a slap in the wrist for a later start in fact DH starts at 10 but but he owns his practice now. Goodwill works both ways and it would be a very foolish employer who did not see that.

dodobookends · 05/10/2015 18:13

I've been in the same situation - working late (all night sometimes at year-end), eating lunch at my desk etc etc and no overtime to speak of; and then hauled over the coals for getting in at 5 past 9 several times (due to roadworks and a long detour, then jams).

Technically yes, you ARE supposed to be setting an example to the other staff by getting in at 9, but by gum it really grates when they treat you like this.

SwedishEdith · 05/10/2015 18:14

I'd definitely be working to rule on this. I'm assuming that your nominal 9-5 hours are just that? As long as you do your hours (and you do more, it seems) and the work is getting done, I cannot see what the problem is here.

Tiggeryoubastard · 05/10/2015 18:15

After 20 years of professional work you should realise that you should be in by your start time. Not be late frequently and then petulant when pulled up on it.

Mouthfulofquiz · 05/10/2015 18:15

I think you should stick to your start time. If you are senior then leading by example is important, and to be honest, you probably ought to know that! However - I can see why getting told off about stuff would get anyone's back up. Don't do the whole 'working to rule' thing. It will make you look petty.

hackmum · 05/10/2015 18:15

"You still need to be on time OP. If it's a 9.00 start then that's the time you would be there at regardless of anything else YABU"

I think this is a really silly view. It means that arriving bang on time is more important than the quality of the OP's work, or the fact that she stays late and works through lunch.

If the boss is that petty, then if I were the OP, I'd make sure that I'd start arriving by 9am every day, but taking a full hour for lunch and leaving bang on five. Fuck 'em, we're human beings, not fucking automatons.

FarFromAnyRoad · 05/10/2015 18:17

Well said hackmum and DoJo.

Since when did senior management have to explain themselves to juniors? Absolute nonsense!

fredfredgeorgejnrsnr · 05/10/2015 18:19

Why does your boss say you need to be in at 9?

If there's no reason, but a shitty presenteeism boss - then yes it would hugely piss me off.

One thing to really annoy - put in a flexible working request to move your start hours, if there's no genuine requirement and the org is big enough you'll get the freedom, it'll piss off your manager though, depends how important the job is to you to risk it. I would (or rather I'd just leave or ignore such an asshole boss/company)

LordPeterWimsey · 05/10/2015 18:22

YANBU. If my boss did this to me it would be instant work to rule, and dear God would he regret it - they get far more hours than I'm contracted for out of me. My contract says 35 hours per week, but doesn't specify a start time or a leaving time. Fortunately my boss is a sane and reasonable being and would never dream of raising it with me (I don't get in till about 9.45 twice a week because I drop DD at school before coming to work).

Iliketeaagain · 05/10/2015 18:22

I'd be pissed off too.. I understand there is a start time, but IME as a manager, you know the people who always arrive a few mins late and leave a few mins early - they are the ones who need to be pulled up on punctuality. And if you are strict about start time, then you also need to be strict about finishing time and not expect people to do anything more than their exact hours.
A little bit of flexibility goes a long way in improving staff morale, and more likely that staff will volunteer to stay a bit later if something essential needs to be done.
The only time I would be that strict about start times is if there is a meeting or people are waiting about for you to arrive.

fiorentina · 05/10/2015 18:24

It is a tricky situation, despite being senior I've always made an effort to be in by 9am and lead by example, if I'm going to be in later I would just mention it, not ask. I guess that's the key. Perhaps others are arriving late as well and they are trying to crack down.

I don't agree with the 'working to rule' responses though. As a senior manager that is going to seem petty in my opinion.

Mouthfulofquiz · 05/10/2015 18:25

I think that if you can't get in for 9 - then put in a request to change it to 9:15 - makes far more sense to be proactive than to just be late for work!