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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Compressed hours - am I being a massive cf?

53 replies

karmacoma1 · 21/01/2018 13:13

I am three weeks into a new job.

This is my first job since returning from mat leave. My daughter is 10 months and full-time in nursery.

On Friday, my boss announced he’s leaving, within the next two weeks. I don’t particularly care, he really wasn’t very good. However this has kind of thrown the team a bit, especially as we’ve been advised the recruitment for he’s replacement is going to take a while.

On top of all this... I don’t particularly like the job. The people are lovely, but it’s not really how it wassold to me in interview.

I don’t want to leave. I want to make it work.

I’ve been thinking about what to do. I’ve thought about going part-time, but can’t take the pay cut. I’ve now thought of compressing my hours. For example, working mon-thurs 8-5.30pm. A total of 34 hours - I could even do 36 if they left me just have a half hour lunch.

That saving i would make on having just 4 days a week childcare rather than 5 would make a huge difference...

I have thought about my colleagues. We are currently on a shift rota which they all hate. Me being there would mean they could chose the time they want (early mid late) and stick to it. And on the day I’d be missing the other member of the team who has contracted hours (8-3) would be in to cover the early.

I have read up on ‘flexible working’ and it says you need to be working for 26 weeks somewhere... what if you are on probation; and pass it? Could it be written into a new working contract?

Am I being a massive cf by requesting it ?

Any experiences of this would be great - it’s something I’ve no experience of.

OP posts:

MarigoldGloveHotel · 21/01/2018 13:55

How often are you able to put in a request for flexible working? If it's once every 12 months and you out one in now you'll have to hang on for a year. Fine if the chance is they'll consider your request. So make sure you understand your employees policy .

Would it work for you to do the hours on a trial basis? Or do you need to know either way to enable you to sort childcare? Would your childcare let you drop a day?

Our work wouldn't let you do 30 minute breaks in those hours but we are public sector so might be different elsewhere.

FurCoatFurKnickers · 21/01/2018 13:55

Wednesday would also be a good option so you have 2 days on, 1 day off, 2 days on. As a PP mentioned, compressed hours can be brutal so you might find that helps to give you a midweek break.

People are also less likely to want Wednesdays off whereas Monday and Friday are popular AL days because you get a long weekend.

ForalltheSaints · 21/01/2018 13:56

If your option helps others then all the more reason to ask for it. I agree with one of the earlier posters about Friday- choose another day as your non-work day when making the request.

Chewbecca · 21/01/2018 13:56

Oh and the days you select shouldn't make any difference to your pay or holiday allowance which is pro-rated in most organisations.

wrenika · 21/01/2018 14:26

You've got nothing to lose by asking - go for it!
We have flexible working and I do a 4.5 day week. I work 6.30am to 4pm monday to thursday, then 6.30am to 10.30am on a Friday. Some folk do a 9 day fortnight instead. It's great.

trinity0097 · 21/01/2018 14:36

Amazed that you think that working 8am to 5.30pm would be compressed hours! That’s less than a normal day of work for me!

rookiemere · 21/01/2018 14:40

A lot of people in our office do compressed hours.

TBH it does annoy me a bit as because they are sending emails and sometimes trying to organise meetings out of normal working hours i.e. 9-5, it looks as if they are super hard working and reinforces that idea that we should be checking our blackberries ( yes last company in the world to have them) 24/7.

I do a proper 4 day week instead.

No harm in asking though OP.

lalalalyra · 21/01/2018 14:54

Does your company open on BH's? If so don't have a Monday as part of your working week. You'll be entitled to pro-rata BH hours, but your working week will be shorter because of a BH so you'll end up owing them time. Whereas if you have a Monday off you'll gain time.

Friday presents a similar issue, but there are less BH Fridays.

Iprefercoffeetotea · 21/01/2018 14:56

That saving i would make on having just 4 days a week childcare rather than 5 would make a huge difference...

are you sure? When my ds was in nursery a full time place was little more than 4 days a week so although I worked 4 days a week (with Wednesdays off) I had a FT nursery place in case I needed to swap my days round occasionally.

Glumglowworm · 21/01/2018 15:02

Not cf to ask! Especially since it sounds like it will genuinely benefit the business not just save you money on childcare. Make sure that’s how you pitch it to them! Childcare is the most important to you but it won’t be to your employer.

I do compressed hours (35 hours in 4 days) it’s the default in my team, but a couple of people do five day weeks. Most people have a rotating day off, but a significant minority have a fixed day, mostly for childcare but anyone can ask for it. They’re long days yes, but the extra time per day isn’t as bad as the extra day off is good, if you see what I mean? 35 hours is full time for my employer, I know some will be higher. My employer is also pretty good generally on staff wellbeing and flexible working, and my team in particular our manager is very good at it. I know several people who have special individual arrangements which suit their circumstances.

Silvercatowner · 21/01/2018 15:03

Amazed that you think that working 8am to 5.30pm would be compressed hours! That’s less than a normal day of work for me!

But it isn't for most people. Are you just saying "look at meeeeee..... look how hard I work and you don't"?

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 21/01/2018 15:04

Not working on Monday gives you a lot of extra holidays as you are entitled to bank holiday time even if you are not working in the day so you will need to take the days off at another time.

But IME it is better not to work Tuesday because that means that bank holiday weekends become 4 day weekends.

When DS was little (and extenuating to take care of) I didn’t want longer weekends, it was too much work and not as productive. While having the opportunity to go have a “rest” by going to work on Monday, and the off again on Tuesday or Wednesday helped me keep a good work/life balance (was never too tired to play with DS or so fed up with work to want to forget about it all).

Original poster

karmacoma1 · 21/01/2018 15:12

Trinity - my hours are a shift of 8-4.30, 8.30-5pm, 9am-5.30pm ... so yes, me working 8-5.30pm over 4 days would be compressed - regardless of what hours you may work

Thank you for the suggestions everyone - the idea of my day of being flexible to help out colleagues is really good - I would have to check with nursery to see wether that would work for them - but otherwise, brilliant

Lots to work on to present to them.

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 21/01/2018 15:32

I don't think there's any harm in requesting it. But I always think the compressed hours lark is a bit of a con. Smoke and mirrors. Others are there when you're not picking up the slack. It can cause resentment when one person is allowed to and somebody else isn't. And they might want the occasional day off and they can't because somebody else is always off that day. But if you don't ask you won't get.

ScreamingValenta · 21/01/2018 15:34

I think you should talk to your colleagues to get a feel for the situation first. You have to ask, if it's an option, why more of them wouldn't be doing it.

ShellyBoobs · 21/01/2018 15:50

It’s a bit cf, having been there 3 weeks, but no harm asking.

As others have said, it’s most likely to get other people’s backs up because of the long weekend aspect.

Why not suggest having every Wednesday off instead?

Urubu · 21/01/2018 15:53

I wouldn't check with colleagues first, discuss it with HR, get an arrangement, and if colleagues feel short changed they are free to do the same.
I would also ask for a fixed day off, but be flexible to which day it is.

W0rriedMum · 21/01/2018 15:57

I've never seen compressed working because in my line of employment, you set your own hours and generally work more than your contracted hours. Then you have one person who sticks rigidly to their hours and others pick up the slack.

However i could see it working if everyone stuck to their hours - e.g. a shift system like a call centre or a factory.

C8H10N4O2 · 21/01/2018 16:09

You get nothing if you don't ask for it and women are notoriously bad at asking for salary or job flexibility.

Speak to HR first (assuming you are big enough to have one) but go prepared. Lay out a clear plan of how the business could benefit (less shuffling for the other staff on your work days) and how your off day would be covered. You need to decide how you would benefit if you were the business and your colleagues and pitch your plan to answer those needs.

Also be flexible on which day it would be, although once decided it needs to be regular. You may find that Wednesday off if you are Mon-Fri makes your life easier than a three day weekend whilst giving the other staff more chance of Friday off.

SilverGiraffe7 · 21/01/2018 16:10

It may just be me getting it wrong or not understanding (I don't work in an area where flexible working is possible!) but how is adding an hour a day to a shift over 4 days make up for not working a full shift one day a week?

flumpybear · 21/01/2018 16:22

Sorry haven't read thread but if you complete s form make sure you say how it'll benefit the team and department

caoraich · 21/01/2018 16:23

Sounds reasonable. I work in healthcare and am largely office-based and few admin colleagues do this.

The best arrangement is where you have two people doing it who cross- cover different days.

For example one colleague does 8-6 Mon - Thu and the other does 8-6 Tue- Fri, instead of both working 9-5 Mon - Fri. It works out as 40 hours weekly (paid 20min lunchbreak) and in the rare occasion there is an urgent issue on one of the non-working days there's a designated person to cover it.

It benefits the office because there is always someone in earlier and staying later than there would be usually, which is better for patients so they can phone in at a wider range of times.

Could you suggest similar to a keen colleague.

I also think it's good because it challenges the getting in early/ staying late culture of working unpaid hours that can sometimes affect organisations. My feeling is that if the work can't be done in the hours available by a competent worker, then there aren't enough workers or hours.

Do make a case for it before you request, it will show you have though about it and are committed to the idea.

rookiemere · 21/01/2018 16:23

Silvergiraffe7 - if your standard working pattern is 9-5 with a 1hr lunch break then if you do 8-5.30 you're adding on 1.5 hrs per day, so 6 per week - then another 2 if you take a half hour lunch.

I'm not a great compressed hours fan. As I said above it encourages blurring of working hours and puts an expectation of those genuinely working part time to pick up work in our non-paid hours. Also as some have said above, I doubt people can be as productive if they are working 9-10 hr days. But some folks in our office love it and it works for them.

cdtaylornats · 21/01/2018 16:30

I did it but you'll find you are expected to do doctor/dentist/any appointments on your day off.

Andrewofgg · 21/01/2018 19:00

OP Not CF to ask - good luck.

UpABitLate as nobody else wants to tell you: cf = Cheeky Fucker.

Rookiemere We use BlackBerrys too - they look as if they should be wound up with a key, don't they?

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