AIBU to think that team should be available at 9am for meetings?

[Overthebow]

I set up a weekly client meeting for my project team at 9am. I have had a decline from a key team member as it clashes with school drop of time. AIBU to think that 9am is a standard working time and my team should be available to attend important client calls at this time, unless they have a formal working hours agreement in place?

It depends on what the agreed core hours are.

What are yours?

Do your company have a flexi-time policy? If yes, then employees can work when they like unless there are core hours in place.

Well, I guess the "correct" answer depends on your company policy. But the "common sense" answer is, does the team member work hard and do a good job overall? If so, does it matter if they get to work at 9.30 rather than 9am?

Are they your employes or self employed/contractors?
Your employees then set working hours.
Not your employees, work to everyone's schedule I think. You can't dictate peoples working hours who you don't employ. In that case she should have just said she already had a commitment, didn't need to tell you what.

It entirely depends. Our company’s core hours are 10-4 and people can do what they want so long as they (a) are there 10-4 and (b) work the correct number of hours per week, no formal agreement needed

Presumably they are wfh?

What were their hours before wfh?

If they would have been working at 9am then they absolutely must attend the meeting. Make it face to face if they decline virtual.

Can't say without a bit more info. In some industries a 9.30am start is the norm, in which case you are being unreasonable…

What do their contracts say? If they are supposed to work 9-5 without any flexitime system in place, then yanbu.

I can’t think of one client who would be particularly pleased with a 9am weekly meeting to be honest, let alone your own team. Unless they are in another time zone.

Most workdays start at 9am. Putting a meeting in for literally the start of the day is a recipe for resentment.

Why not just push it back a bit?

Loads of people (male and female) in my organisation have to accommodate school drop off/pick up at least some of the time.
I ask my team to show this in their calendars though so people can plan meetings.

Even the really senior people (myself included) in our organisation do some school runs each week.

If it's agreed with their manager I think it's fine. My contract states hours but days and times are flexible to be worked out with agreement with my manager. I start at 9:10 after school run. I do make arrangements for ad hoc 9am calls but would also decline a weekly one.

We have flexi-time where I work. If you book something before 9.30, you need to accept that some may decline. Same if you book something past 4 pm and 3 pm on a Friday.

Everyone thinks you’re a dickhead for putting in a weekly 9am call, just so you know.

It's literally right at the beginning of the day, at least push it back to half 9.

I just moved my weekly call to 9.15 to accommodate those doing school drop offs; compromise on my part and the team are happy so all good. Can’t you compromise slightly (unless your team have form for not working their contracted hours)?

Why not just book it for 9:30 instead? Everyone will thank you, maybe just not out loud!

What are their contracted hours?

You'd be surprised at how many people in some offices start at 9 then go and make breakfast and natter for 30 mins

@MiddleParking

Everyone thinks you’re a dickhead for putting in a weekly 9am call, just so you know.

^ this^

Unless there is a very specific reason for it to be at 9am, Why not push it back? Show staff they are valued as human beings with lives of their own.

I couldn't get worked up about this, just move the meeting a bit later. I've worked flexi time forever and always put in the required hours, and more, but my boss is very understanding.

YABU. Just move it to 9.30.

Is 9am the only feasible time? Are there core hours or is it a strict 9-5?

I start work at 8am, I'd accept a 9am meeting. I don't have meetings in the afternoon so not starting calls till 9.30/10 would cause issues at my workplace if 9am wasn't a reasonable meeting time.

My hours are flexible other than meetings.

@MiddleParking

Everyone thinks you’re a dickhead for putting in a weekly 9am call, just so you know.

I agree! Does the call have to be at 9am or are you just trying to make some sort of point? We start work at 9 ish but don't really put calls in until 9:30am, if it's not a school run, you need a bit of time to settle in after logging on etc. If you're just doing it for doing it's sake then change it!

I don’t think it does any harm to push it back to 9.15/ 9.30 does it?