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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

If you start work at 9 am, is it OK to walk through the door at 9 am ?

596 replies

mmhhhkkkk · 06/09/2021 18:26

Or is that a bit ' late ' ?

OP posts:
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 07/09/2021 00:21

I once had a job where you actually clocked in. If you were more then 3 minutes late, you lost 15 mins pay for every other minute. But you got no credit for staying later or arriving earlier. This was before computers and wasn't customer-facing. Just a bog standard office job with an inflexible employer.

I once temped (thankfully only) for a couple of weeks for a Japanese company (office in the UK) and they had similar - I don't know if this is the norm in Japan? All employees had to clock in and even ONE minute late in clocking in would lose you 15 minutes pay. They could have been in serious danger of breaking UK NMW laws, really - I can't believe it was allowed, but of course, there were none of those 'pesky' unions to challenge them.

However, they made all staff wear a pair of company-supplied trainers for the work day, but you were strictly not allowed outside in them. Thus you had to turn up in your own shoes, go to your locker room to get your trainers, change into them, then clock in and begin work.

I realise that it doesn't take all that long to change your shoes, but it was interesting to realise just how important a minute of their time apparently was whilst a minute of mine was clearly worthless.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 07/09/2021 00:24

Did the OP ever come back to the thread.

Who knew it was such a fascinating topic…

Maybe OP was expecting a landslide of unequivocal agreement with whatever their own perspective was and was irritated that it turned into an interesting, well-balanced discussion? I guess we may never know.

Bobmonkfish · 07/09/2021 00:40

Totally agree @suspicioussam

It's a problem of the past where I work now.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 07/09/2021 01:09

I'm team swan in at 9:05 with a coffee Grin, then gossip with the assistants about Love Island before logging on at 9:15.

But then, I'm often answering emails at 6:30am and have to do conference calls and board meetings in the evenings due to time zones.

Plus, if you're a rainmaker you can do whatever the fuck you like as long as the money keeps coming in.

Snoozer11 · 07/09/2021 02:11

Surprised by how long it takes some people on here to take off their coats, and how much of a pivotal part of their day it clearly is. I just shrug it off and place it on the back of my chair.

Takes very little energy and about 5 seconds!

melj1213 · 07/09/2021 02:28

@Snoozer11

Surprised by how long it takes some people on here to take off their coats, and how much of a pivotal part of their day it clearly is. I just shrug it off and place it on the back of my chair.

Takes very little energy and about 5 seconds!

Surprised that you can't imagine that some people don't have the option to just pop their coat on the back of their chair and immediately start work.

Some of us have to leave coats/bags in a locker room which is in a different place to their workspace. Even if I literally hang up my coat and then walk directly to my workspace it takes a minimum of 5 minutes (with 30 seconds allowed to account for stopping at the clock in machine before I hit the shop floor).

If I'm hanging up my coat at 9am then I am 5 minutes late as I am not at my workspace, ready to work until 9.05.

MeanderingGently · 07/09/2021 03:18

My current job officially begins at 9.30am. I'm usually in for 9am, time to go to the loo, put everything in the locker room, set up my equipment and then collect my duty sheet for the day. All takes time as it's a big building and just getting in involves several corridors and flights of stairs.
I'm ready to work, ie. do the job, at 9.30am.

Plumtree391 · 07/09/2021 03:20

@Snoozer11

Surprised by how long it takes some people on here to take off their coats, and how much of a pivotal part of their day it clearly is. I just shrug it off and place it on the back of my chair.

Takes very little energy and about 5 seconds!

Oh yes but there's also going to the toilet (essential after an hour's commute), brushing hair, making coffee and catching up with your colleagues before properly starting work.
Symphorien · 07/09/2021 03:53

You should be being paid from the moment you end your "normal" activities and start your "work" activities! It's shocking how many UK workers accept unpaid overtime! Unfortunately not illegal but totally unethical!

Cocogreen · 07/09/2021 05:44

@caughtinanet

How can anyone possibly answer that? Confused

You do realise that every job Is different and every workplace has different cultures

What are you hoping to get from this thread?

Thank you. I thought it was only me who doesn't understand the point of this thread? I can only assume the OP is having a go at someone in their workplace who has the audacity to walk in at 9, switch their computer on, put their bag away and start walk at 9.03. Workplaces aren't all the same.
MrsLargeEmbodied · 07/09/2021 06:33

dd worked in a pub, start time 12, but then they told her after getting there at @ 12.00 to be there earlier to start.
we both thought that was unfair

Meruem · 07/09/2021 06:45

The people who are saying you shouldn’t make a coffee or go to the loo during “work” time. Do you apply that to your whole day and deduct any time spent in the loo or kitchen? I would imagine not. So why should the first drink or toilet break of the day be any different? Ok if people are taking half an hour to make/eat breakfast it’s a different matter. That’s a proper break. But getting a drink and going to the toilet are things people do throughout the working day.

My view has always been my work day starts when I enter the employers premises, and it’s never been an issue. Now I wfh and it’s task based rather than time based which is much better.

mmhhhkkkk · 07/09/2021 06:46

Hey everyone ! Sorry for the silence! Great debate.

When I worked in an office, I always came in at least 15 minutes before 9, just to settle down and chill a bit before starting. Coming in at 9 on the dot just didn't set me up well for the day.

I don't care what time my other colleagues come in at all and wouldn't judge.

The question was more about my current nanny. She comes in at 9 on the dot.

Thanks for all the replies !

OP posts:
StarshipsAreMeantToFly · 07/09/2021 06:48

Is she ready to work at 9 on the dot?

MrsLargeEmbodied · 07/09/2021 06:57

have a word with your nanny op,
nicely ask her to come in 10 minutes earlier to be ready to start at her time

ivykaty44 · 07/09/2021 06:58

Meruem It’s rude to get to work and immediately make a drink, it sends a signal that you’re already on a tea break. Either arrive early to get a break before you start or rock up on the dot and work then have a tea break later

ivykaty44 · 07/09/2021 06:59

The question was more about my current nanny. She comes in at 9 on the dot.

Is that the time you start paying for her time?

daisypond · 07/09/2021 06:59

@MrsLargeEmbodied

have a word with your nanny op, nicely ask her to come in 10 minutes earlier to be ready to start at her time
Then she’d need to pay her for that extra time. If the nanny walks in at 9 and is ready to start, that’s fine.
Tilly18101 · 07/09/2021 07:03

I would say ready to work at 9, so if someone walks and is ready to go at 9 they are not late as you are paying them from 9 anyway?

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 07/09/2021 07:09

@MrsLargeEmbodied

have a word with your nanny op, nicely ask her to come in 10 minutes earlier to be ready to start at her time
If the op pays for this time it’s fine then otherwise no, it isn’t

I’m a nanny, I start at 7.15. I walk through the door between 7.10 and 7.15. Immediately take my shoes and coat off and I’m ready to start the day. If the parents want time to do a handover before rushing out the door they’re very welcome to
A. Do it when I get there before they leave
B. Ask me to come in 10m earlier and pay me for my time
Or C. Text me the info I need

I am ready to start work at 7.15, if the parents are not then that does not mean I should come in early unpaid time suit them.

mmhhhkkkk · 07/09/2021 07:09

She's not really ready to start, no.

OP posts:
FoxtrotSkarloey · 07/09/2021 07:10

I've never had a nanny, but I'm a nanny scenario, I would be expecting to hand the child over at 9am. If she's not ready for that then she is late.

caughtinanet · 07/09/2021 07:11

Surely a nanny is the perfect example of someone who has no need to be there before her time starts

Why does she need to come before that?

As soon as she gets there she's ready to start work. If you need to tell her something it's more effective to write it down or send a message imo

Unexpectedbaby · 07/09/2021 07:12

Well I work in an office that when, pre-covid, in the office you would arrive at 9, out your stuff at your desk, turn computer on then go make coffee, breakfast, spend 20 mins in the kitchen then go eat breakfast at your desk.

Seems that it's maybe a bit relaxed compared to some

Cocogreen · 07/09/2021 07:20

Years ago I had a nanny one day a week.
She arrived at 8.30 and was paid from 8.30 - if I had to take time to relay information before I left she was paid for her time to listen to the instructions.
How can your nanny not be ready to start work?