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?

Very interesting
Everywhere I have worked people did extra time,all private sector.
It was expected .Not really sure how it would work in practice.If train gets you in 20 mins before you start do you walk round the block.
Do you go out for your whole lunch hour every day
Geniunely interested !

I'm surprised at how many people there are who are prepared to allow themselves to be taken advantage of.

I might start a company, employ a load of people and pay them 4 hours per day but EXPECT them to do 8 hours. Ta-da! Halved my staff costs.

@Janedoe5000 I agree, working in a sector that has been obliterated by cuts if I allowed myself to be taken advantage of I would be massively, I love my job, it's a career I have worked hard for, but I do not owe it to anybody to go above and beyond consistently, I have a skill set that deserves to be compensated for appropriately, I will not sell myself short working for free. We have had to change our priorities and expectations since 2008, I am happy to verbalise that to both customers and higher management, obviously yes certain projects may require a bit of extra input for a minimal time, but not forever.

I'm surprised at how many people there are who are prepared to allow themselves to be taken advantage of

Actually, I'm surprised how many people say they don't routinely work beyond their contracted hours. Whenever a teacher on MN complains of long working hours, people pile in to say that EVERYONE works over and above their contracted hours! I think it depends very much on the nature of the role, the seniority of the employee and the culture of the employern

It's an employers market. Can't see it getting better any time soon

But the thing is for senior management you’re generally paid well because of it.

For example, my FTE is £80k. My contracted hours are 9-5, but realistically it’s 8.45-5.45 because I don’t just down tools at the stroke of 5. Occasionally I do stuff on my day off. I consider my salary sufficient to cover this, if I didn’t I’d leave and look for something else...

I don’t just down tools at the stroke of 5.

Good for you, many women have to go and pick DC up you know, leaving at 5/ on time isn't just laziness

How did you find out what her package was? If you're in the finance team tried very carefully.