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?

Nobody covers for me, nobody can actually do the job that I do in my organisation, my manager only has a vague idea so I know there isn't a colleague picking up the pieces it will all just be waiting for me on my return

Off topic but they're ridiculous to not have any business continuity measures in place, unless the role isn't that important anyway.

I think it’s really hard for people in hours with rigid workplaces to understand that some setups are much more flexible.

My previous workplace had a core hours expectation for FT staff of 10-4. Around that, working hours were as agreed between line manager and employee, with an expectation of consistency on both sides to enable people to plan their lives.

My current workplace is about to shift to something quite different - an ‘open for business’ window of 7-7, and much greater flexibility for staff to work their hours within that window (again as agreed locally in teams based on particular business need.) So one person could conceivably work 7-3 with a shortened lunch break of 30 mins, while another does 10.30-7. There is

Childcare while working from home as a regular arrangement (as opposed to when kids are ill, schools closed due to Covid, etc) is not allowed - and that’s enforced. But greater flexibility should allow more people to work with us and will really challenge the meetings culture.

@BigFatLiar - If you don't need to be at meeting maybe you aren't necessary

My only point was that many jobs require flexibility ( and i mean the employee as well as the employer ) so if you are contracted for 10 till 4 - great. Just a lovely thing. Some high paying jobs require more flexibility. Also if you are important to a project / job and once a week you need to join a meeting - surely that is doable - even if you do it from the car on the phone after drop off - you could I assume do that.

Not the point of the thread I know, but isn't it a sign of the times that being in a car is simply assumed.

@ExceptionalAssurance - shame on me but I do see your point

Starpleck, are you a feminist? Just curious. Business continuity solution would have to be outsourcing (which i did mention), worst case scenario as bountiful people with the credentials, knowledge and expertise in this field don't exist. I was one of two interviewed for the job. I have someone I have been asked to train up in the basics but this won't cover everything! It comes back to appreciating differences exist and trying to imagine other work practices are not like your own line of work.

No, I think you can decline a meeting that is outside your working hours.

You probably can do that in some work places. I wouldn’t have any clients left if I took that attitude.

@Amberflames

"I think the people who complain about this really need to wake up and realise how good they've got it already - flex working/ WFH was never an option 15-20 years ago when my DC were small"

It was certainly an option because I did it. As did everyone else working in the local government where 9 day fortnights and 10am-4pm for core hours was standard.

I wish people would stop posting as if their experience is some sort of definitive "only way".

I have multiple projects running at the same time all of which have a weekly project call with the client. If the client wants the weekly call at 10am on a Tuesday but that's already taken by a different project they have to just accept a different time/day. The client can't possibly always dictate when a call is to take place.

We start all our daily stand up calls at 9:15 or 9:30. We support flexible working and it's recognised that several staff members drop children off at school, as I do myself. 9 times out of 10 I'm back home by 9, but if my child gets upset on the way to school, I need to speak to their teacher, the teacher is late coming out...etc I can be 5-10 mins late back. Same with people whom maybe rely on public transport, or have laptops which take forever to start up after an overnight system update which is out of their control. It's just not nice to be rushing and stressed when starting 15 minutes later makes all the difference to a good start to the working day.

@Goldenbear

Starpleck, are you a feminist? Just curious. Business continuity solution would have to be outsourcing (which i did mention), worst case scenario as bountiful people with the credentials, knowledge and expertise in this field don't exist. I was one of two interviewed for the job. I have someone I have been asked to train up in the basics but this won't cover everything! It comes back to appreciating differences exist and trying to imagine other work practices are not like your own line of work.

Oh don't get me wrong I don't care at all, it's not like it affects me is it :) its just curious when businesses put all of their eggs into one basket as it were in regards to certain roles. Ah no surprise it's a niche role no one else could possibly do. Not sure the relevance of whether I'm a feminist or not, presuming you're asking to ascertain whether I believe women should be afforded more flexibility. I believe everyone should, but its a meeting at 9am and people are behaving like it's 2am on a Sunday. Evidently it is the way that business works that they have international clients, so perhaps it would be good for you to appreciate the differences?

Honestly, this debate has become so ridiculously polarised. Of course you can't tell an important client to go hang; you can however say politely that a key member of the team can't make it before 9.15am so could we possibly push the start time back by 15 minutes. Perfectly reasonable.

Equally the missing team member could be encouraged to be a little more helpful than just declining and options could be explored as to how he might be able to make himself available at that time. Also perfectly reasonable.

OP is just narked because she agreed to something she can't enforce (and Keating I know you find it hard to believe but DH's worldwide, multi-national industry runs largely without 'core hours' for anyone) and now faces having to backtrack. More fool her for not communicating with her team first!

Off topic but they're ridiculous to not have any business continuity measures in place, unless the role isn't that important anyway.

Can't get over how it's assumed everyone works in the same sort of organisation, with the same sort of set up, the same sort of size, and the same sort of bureaucracy.

@sunglassesonthetable

Off topic but they're ridiculous to not have any business continuity measures in place, unless the role isn't that important anyway.

Can't get over how it's assumed everyone works in the same sort of organisation, with the same sort of set up, the same sort of size, and the same sort of bureaucracy.

I can imagine some run like that though, just that it's foolish that they do.

Oooohhhh... so so interesting.
I have achieved loads in last 15 years & can 💯 be trusted to put in all the hours and more.
I have two older primary school kids. Let me start at 9.15am and I’ll give you the world.
Let me pick up at 3-3.30 and get back on until 5pm and I’ll be loyal, hardworking & go over and above.

Make me attend meetings at 9am that could be 15 mins later & I’ll think you’re unreasonable: as a one off (one a month) absolutely fine. Regularly; that would really cost me in terms of time, money & goodwill.

You’re being an arse. Please enable women to make it all work: don’t work against us.

Can I ask what sector you work in @Starpleck ?

@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?

I would check their hours and whether they have a flexible working agreement in place. A lot of people are just chancing it doing things like this and hoping people won't challenge them on it

@home2012

9am Meeting are rubbish. Give people time to settle in, read overnight emails/ check for emergencies/urgent queries. 9.30 Is perfect for that.

I agree with this , I hate walking straight in to a meeting . My start time is 930 , and I wouldn’t attend anything before that - mornings are stressful enough with nursery drop off etc

I think op is being un reasonable moaning about it , surely the person wouldn’t have declined if they could make it .

@Amberflames

No, I think you can decline a meeting that is outside your working hours.

You probably can do that in some work places. I wouldn’t have any clients left if I took that attitude.

But in this case, he obviously can. The fact that you employer expects you to be available all day everyday, doesn't impact this situation.

This is utterly ridiculous question and needs far. Lee context - eg, why do you insist on it being at 9am, why don’t you just change the time? Why are you picking on this one particular person? Does this person actually have other options available?

Hopefully all the replies here will give you some insight as to why you are wrong.
Just arrange the meeting for half past!

I am guessing op has just taken exceptions to the fact they have said they do the school run.

I am guessing if they just said 'I don't start until 9.15am and can't get in any earlier'. She would have had less of a problem.

I didn't vote b/c the question/issue really is that a 9am start is ridiculous anyway, given how many workers have kids who need to be at school for 9am. It has never been family-friendly so this would be a great opportunity to accommodate working parents.

As a good employer, it would not be unreasonable to start at 9.30 or 9.15 to accommodate a staff member, and in my team I would do so. Much more interested in the outputs from my team than exactly what time they start. I had a boss years ago who used to call people in remote branches at 5.29 to check they were still there- it was a real morale killer.

@MiddleParking

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

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