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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to get to not get up an hour early for the sake of 5 minutes?

244 replies

Makemeaname · 20/06/2019 01:23

Starting a new job next week, reliant on public transport for now. My hours are 9-5, have found a reasonable route which I would have to go out at half 7 and would get there at 8.48.

Just had an email through requesting me to be there at 8.45 for my first day, for a 9am start. There will be others starting the same day. WIBU to still get the bus I was aiming for, rather than having to leave the house at half 6 and hang around like a lemon for 55 minutes?

OP posts:
Usuallyinthemiddle · 20/06/2019 09:56

I reckon she's got the point by now!

Good luck OP.

GraceSlicksRabbit · 20/06/2019 10:03

I've (unfortunately) had to spend a lot of time at hospitals under several top consultants with a few relatives. 90% of them have always been late. They don't see the abuse their staff get from frustrated patients who have been waiting on them. They don't see the exasperation the ward staff have trying to work around their time keeping (the nurses are on time, despite often working late).

@Honeyroar I doubt very much that the consultants have been late because they fancied a lie-in, or cut it too fine by taking a later bus! They will have been dealing with other patients or hospital management. How very odd that you would assume they were just lazy or disorganised. Yet you trusted their medical judgment I assume?

GraceSlicksRabbit · 20/06/2019 10:05

Goodness me OP, so many people have taken your lighthearted comment about having to go to bed seriously! I hope your new colleagues have more of a sense of humour than Mumsnet...
Get the earlier bus, and good luck!

GraceSlicksRabbit · 20/06/2019 10:06

Having to go to bed at 7, I meant to write.

Yabbers · 20/06/2019 10:06

@DrPeppersPhD

I've done that for three years, can count on one hand the number of times it's been an issue

Original poster
Makemeaname · 20/06/2019 10:27

@di11y good idea on asking the manager if the 48 bus is realistic - they should be able to tell me if even if it's on time I won't have time to be at my desk by 9

OP posts:
LaMarschallin · 20/06/2019 10:35

so many people have taken your lighthearted comment about having to go to bed seriously!

Having to go to bed at 7, I meant to write.

I'd assumed that the OP was using hyperbole for a mildly comic effect.
The mention of it in my reply was meant to be lighthearted.

Goodness me! Didn't expect to be taken seriously.

Actually, the early-to-bed thing reminded me of this:

www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_good_life/episodes/3/1/

amidaiwas · 20/06/2019 10:36

in my 20's i was always in work around 8. (start time was 9). Never left before 6. (end time was 5.30 i think). That wasn't unusual! I've only become a "rock in just in time for 9" person in my late 40s and having to get kids out too.

Saying that I'm assuming it's a graduate job with some career prospects?

Original poster
Makemeaname · 20/06/2019 10:39

@lamarschallin not a habit - I checked the bus times at half 9 and then went to bed and couldn't sleep becaus3 of my anxiety. Took a sleeping pill at 3 am because it just wasn't happening. Might have to get some more ready for next week!

OP posts:
Original poster
Makemeaname · 20/06/2019 10:45

@amidaiwas temp job with no prospect of becoming permanent. I will ensure I get there for the start time but won't be impressed if they start stretching it out to 8.30 to 6 or something, would just hand in my notice at that point.

OP posts:
Original poster
Makemeaname · 20/06/2019 10:46

As the pay and prospects aren't worth an extra couple of hours work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Makemeaname · 20/06/2019 11:07

Thank you for all the advice - I will now work out whether the half 6 bus or a taxi is more reliable, definitely not get the half 7 bus the whole way.

The reason I asked was because I wasn't sure if that wording meant "we want you by 9 but we'll say 8.45 so you don't aim to be here at 1 minute to and be late" or "we actually want you here for quarter to". Definitely safer to assume the latter though!

I will assess on my first day, the bus gets in at 43 and Google reckons it's a 5 minute walk so i can see how accurate it is when I get there.

There might even be someone else there coming from my direction who'll liftshare for some petrol money. Just have to wait and see.

OP posts:
ghostofharrenhal · 20/06/2019 11:12

Blimey, the system really has done a number on some of you, turning you into good worker drones. Just remember, your employers will dump you without a moment's thought if it suits them.

OP - I would get there early the first day and for the first couple of weeks maybe, then see how the land lies after that and what the culture is like.

YesQueen · 20/06/2019 11:17

@ghostofharrenhal I have had to be early for every job I've ever had in order to log in to computer and start on time
I started at 9.30 today but was at my desk logging in for 9.12am. If I'm late 3 times then I lose my commission which is a lot of money!
Same with lunches and breaks, I have a timer on my phone

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 20/06/2019 11:21

Blimey, the system really has done a number on some of you, turning you into good worker drones.

...or what most of us call "being professional" and find perfectly reasonable. Sorry comrade

ghostofharrenhal · 20/06/2019 11:31

I'm not saying you shouldn't start on time, work hard etc! But things like:

If I'm late 3 times then I lose my commission which is a lot of money!

are just not acceptable, and if people stuck together a bit more and resisted this type of awful treatment, working life might be better for everyone.

Sorry if I came across a little too acerbic. I speak as a former drone who did everything right, but still got shat on, along with hundreds of my equally hard working colleagues. When something like that happens to you, it really opens your eyes.

Anyway, sorry to hijack thread OP, good luck and don't be late!

YesQueen · 20/06/2019 11:35

@ghostofharrenhal it is what it is. We are expected to take a 15 min break, not 20 mins and 30 mins for lunch, not 35 and if we all went a couple of minutes over we couldn't all fit our breaks in as we don't double up on them so it affects everyone
My manager is the most chilled out boss I've ever had but he doesn't set the rules he will bend them if he can
My previous job was emergency services and it was exactly the same (minus the commission!), taking a few extra mins on break or lunch was not allowed

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 20/06/2019 11:37

are just not acceptable, and if people stuck together a bit more and resisted this type of awful treatment, working life might be better for everyone.

Someone I knew worked in a factory, responsible for maintenance. He'd been there 25+ years man and boy etc. Right up till the day he retired, if he'd been one minute late for a shift, he'd have been docked a half day's pay.

Simply because this was a 24/7 production line and if there wasn't as-scheduled maintenance cover, they had to shut down the plant (some kind of H&S type requirement I think).

So despite living only 30mins away on a bad day, he always left at least double that to get to work. He didn't think it was great, but he understood it and just used the time to do admin, reading, fettling some small hobby item he took with him from home etc

Rules like that have to be unambiguous for everyone, otherwise lines start getting blurred. 5 minutes becomes 10 and on and on. If the ship sinks, it takes everyone with it so may as well ensure everyone knows and follows the same rules from the start.

ghostofharrenhal · 20/06/2019 11:39

It just seems a bit harsh to lose your commision if your are late three times (unless it's 3 times in a week or something)! Especially if you are in somewhere like London where your commute can be screwed up unexpectedly.

Changaroorooroo · 20/06/2019 11:40

I bet you don’t last long there. Every week you’ll have another issue crop up won’t you?

LOL do you work in a melodrama factory

Wallywobbles · 20/06/2019 11:42

I got into work up to 90 mins early and stayed late often because I was sharing the drive with others. It's no hardship really. I didn't always use the extra time for work sometimes i did my own admin.

YesQueen · 20/06/2019 11:43

@ghostofharrenhal not in London, I aim to be in the carpark for 40 mins before the start of my shift. It's 3 times in a month
I've been late once, spectacularly by 2.5hrs (overslept) and my boss left me to sleep, rang me and said "not like you, just stay home and I'll give you leave for the day"

ghostofharrenhal · 20/06/2019 11:43

@BuzzShitbagBobbly yes, strict rules like that can be needed in certain scenarios, of course they can. But office based jobs etc, any decent forward thinking employer should offer a little flexibility, apart from anything else it earns a lot of employee goodwill.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 20/06/2019 11:45

But office based jobs etc, any decent forward thinking employer should offer a little flexibility, apart from anything else it earns a lot of employee goodwill.

On this we heartily agree Grin
I'm all about the give and take at work!

ghostofharrenhal · 20/06/2019 11:45

@YesQueen that's a truly impressive bit of lateness! Sounds like you have a good boss.