Colleague paid for early start

[TheChineseChicken]

I work in a relatively stressful, pressured job in an office. My contracted working hours are 9-5 but everyone starts early or works late (or both) pretty much every day. That's fine, that's the nature of the job.

I've just discovered a new recruit is working 4 days, 8-5 and being paid for those hours. So she's getting paid for the overtime that the rest of us do for free.

AIBU to be annoyed by this? I know you're all going to say that I should ask for the same thing but how to do so without sounding petty?

Be more efficient or renegotiate your contract. S'up to you.

@chestylarue52 I think you're reading more into my post than is there. There's been no sniping at anyone not staying late or early

Oh right. My mistake then. I thought you were asking aybu to feel annoyed that colleague gets paid for hours you do for free.

‘the norm and expected’ then make a stand. Let them know that if you’re not getting paid for it’s not your norm and they needn’t expect it from you. Martyring yourself then whining about it isn’t going to get you the outcome you want is it? Your coworker’s contract has nothing to do with you, good for her if she managed to negotiate a deal that means she gets paid for the actual hours she works. More fool you for not doing the same.

I agree with you. It's unfair. Have other colleagues noticed / commented? I would very much try to slowly reduce the unpaid overtime. I completely understand that it's the situation (I also do the same) but put yourself first and really try to streamline your role. What could you change to ensure you work within your hours? Good luck.

I might just leave this here. And before I get accused of flouncing by @chestylarue52 it's not that, I just don't think I am going to get any different responses than I've already had. I'll take on board that I am being unreasonable. Thanks for the input, all.

I worked in a place like this many years ago. One colleague worked from 7-3 instead of the official 9-5, everyone assumed she was part-time, since the 9-5ers all stayed until 6 and often came before 9.

When it transpired she had agreed condensed hours (incl only a ten minute lunch break) and was paid ft, everyone started coming at 9 and leaving at 5 sharp. She turned out to be quite good for most employees, everyone gained hours of free time.

This does not work if you are trying to make a career of your current job, but if it is just a job to pay the bills, do it.

No I wouldn't accuse you of flouncing, I think that's projecting.

I hope you don't think I'm being rude or mean to you. You did ask for opinions and I haven't directly attacked you.

But in theory isn't she expected to deliver more than you? Her contracted hours are more surely so more should be expected of her

I agree to stop doing unpaid overtime. I never work unpaid overtime. If your workplace has that culture it needs to change.

YANBU to be annoyed by this but you have to decide what you want to change.

I can see only 2 options. Firstly she stops getting paid for working between 8-9 which is obviously never going to happen or secondly you start getting paid for extra hours and if you want this to happen you have to speak up.

It can work if you want to make a career. Maybe not if you're a lawyer or do something else billable. But if you consistently perform and deliver you can argue against a culture of presentee- ism. And now that I manage people I encourage them to do the same.

This is one of the problems with compressed hours, and why some workplaces don’t allow it.

I would agree that it seems unfair, this is why my company will allow part time and various other versions of flexible working but not condensed hours. I think your options are to start only working your paid hours (prioritise, push back on low priority work and say no to things) or to request to increase your hours to FT (or whatever hours you actually work) on a condensed basis as your colleague is doing.

Anyone else click on here expecting a story of an employee who paid their employer for the right to start work early?

OP, it's not petty to say 'I feel aggrieved that someone is working the same hours as me but being paid for more of them. Boss, would you like me to:
a) stop coming in early and just work my contracted hours
(OR)
b) continue to come in from 8am but get paid extra for it'

An employer that thought this wasn't going to happen as soon as they hired someone on different terms to the current team was being a bit stupid and naive anyway, imo.

But am I missing something? If she's working 4.5 days in 4,shell need to deliver more than the op to still be in the same standing. She isn't doing any unpaid overtime to catch up.

But compressed hours are a form of flexible working, employers could be on dodgy ground if they apply a blanket ban (unless office opens/closes at set times etc), flex working has to be considered on a case by case basis.

TheChineseChicken

I obviously don't know the nature of your work, but presume you and the new person do the same / similar work under the same pressures?

This new person will either be able to cover their allocated work load between 8-5, or she will have to do the extra time that you claim the you and other colleagues have to do. The fact that her working hours are different from yours shouldn't make any difference?

However, if you are saying that her work load is exactly the same as yours but she has been allowed 4 extra hours a week to do it in, then you have a cause for complaint.

Does she have the exact same responsibilities as you and is she the same level as you? It kind of sounded like that, but not sure. You are paid for 40 hours, she is paid for 36 so shouldn't she be getting less than you anyway?

If so, then go to hr about it. If you're higher than her, that tends to happen that you get more work and work longer than others.

I don't think you're being unreasonable.

Oh wait you work 4 days so she actually works more hours than you and gets paid the same? Not sure you have a case there then.

I work 3 days a week - 8am-4.30pm with a half hour lunch. Standard part-time is 21 hours but I am paid for 24 hours as per my contract. I don't care what anyone else is doing or being paid for.

On the face of it, inequitable treatment (and I speak as a very senior manager). However have you also considered the alternative- that your colleague is on 4 days a week but she is contracted to work longer? Is she on the same pay as you?

And to all the posters saying only work overtime because inefficient - not if your working in an organisation where what needs to be done is in excess of available staff, which is a very common position, particularly inthe public sector.

Ask if you can move on to same contract as her. If told no then come in at 9 leave at 5 and if work not completed point out it can't be done in those hours. Tell them you are not prepared to continue to work unpaid overtime.

I'm also salaried and in a professional role, as are many other people at my place of work with the same conditions and hours of work.