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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to an out of hours work meeting at 7:30am?

172 replies

Hop27 · 21/02/2022 06:19

I work in a small leadership team, and generally speaking we offer flexibility around meeting times so that is suits all of the team. We used to hold a meeting at 7:30am for 1 hour on a Friday, so that it didn’t interrupt our billable client time. But one of our team moved onto a 4 day week, so we moved the meeting to mid-week at 8:30am to suit them, but we did condense the meeting into 30 minutes. The person who worked a 4 day week has now left and our manager wants the meeting back on a Friday at 7:30am. AIBU to request for the meeting not to be moved? I have a fitness related commitment which I would not be able to do, if I had to be in the office at 7:30am? I could rearrange my routine, but honestly I don’t want to. I like getting up at 5, to go to this class and not having to take a gym bag to work (and lug it round with me if I go out for Friday drinks). My contracted hours are 8:30-5pm, but we are always expected to do more outside of those. AIBU to request the meeting isn’t moved or should I just accept the change to avoid a potential conflict?

OP posts:
EthicalNonMahogany · 21/02/2022 10:20

ah you see from my post that I think both things are normal Grin

And yeah the billable thing is all bollocks but big consultancies have drunk their own mood aid and will sell people out at 110% billable hours.

EthicalNonMahogany · 21/02/2022 10:21

kool aid. I'd like some mood aid

WorryMcGee · 21/02/2022 10:21

I would say I have a recurring appointment that cannot be scheduled for another time.

WhatAHexIGotInto · 21/02/2022 10:37

@WorryMcGee

I would say I have a recurring appointment that cannot be scheduled for another time.
Yep, this is what I would be saying. You don't have to explain further.
TerribleCustomerCervix · 21/02/2022 10:46

@EthicalNonMahogany

You'll just get a lot of work-to-rule people commenting who don't get that out of hours work is normal and expected in senior positions in some fields. Once you've ignored them , there is some good advice on this thread. I think post pandemic pre-9am meetings are less likely as people are doing school dropoffs in a way they never used to.

Could you suggest end of play on Thursday? 6pm-6-30?

OP hasn’t indicated that she’s in a senior position.

Even if she is, she still has the right to put down some boundaries to protect her personal commitments, no matter how unimportant anyone else thinks they are.

girlmom21 · 21/02/2022 10:48

OP hasn’t indicated that she’s in a senior position.

The first line of the OP is I work in a small leadership team

LorelaiDeservedBetter · 21/02/2022 10:49

How long was it in the 8.30am slot? It may have been management agreed to that because they knew it was only going to be for a short time period and at a less busy time of year.
Did the 8.30am slot impact productivity or mean that meeting items bled into other parts of the week in a less effective format?
You can still ask for the meeting not to be moved but I think you need to make a business case for it rather than a 'I don't want to change my gym routine.' That's why you need to think about the questions above and also the point a PP made about who is pushing for it to be moved back to 7.30am. If it's a senior management decision, then you need an even stronger case to challenge it.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 21/02/2022 10:55

@girlmom21

OP hasn’t indicated that she’s in a senior position.

The first line of the OP is I work in a small leadership team

She could be a PA to a department lead, or managing her own one-person department on a fairly modest wage. That could mean anything.

Or she might be in a senior leadership position, in which case she has the clout to say that a 7:30am meeting just doesn’t work for her.

Dixiechickonhols · 21/02/2022 11:02

I’m guessing you are a city solicitor. I’ve got a regular Fri pre work commitment now so can’t do that time is not unreasonable but only you know how that would be received.

buddylicious · 21/02/2022 11:07

Just tell them you can't do a 7.30am meeting. Don't tell them why!

Have a meeting in a lunch hour or after work.

I bet you won't be the only one not wanting to do 7.30am!!!!

JuergenSchwarzwald · 21/02/2022 11:10

You'll just get a lot of work-to-rule people commenting who don't get that out of hours work is normal and expected in senior positions in some fields

I totally accept that, I work in a law firm myself. But nobody would expect weekly routine meetings at 7.30. Occasional one-off to suit clients in Asia, maybe. Every week to suit a boss in the UK - nope.

Original poster
Hop27 · 21/02/2022 11:11

Thanks everyone.
I'm the only female, and sometimes I find myself over compensating so as not to be seen as 'the precious one'
I'm reluctant to give much more to be honest, I feel give enough - I need balance, for my mental and physical health.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 21/02/2022 11:16

I need balance, for my mental and physical health. but you not giving yourself balance with your addiction. Have you sort help for it?

WorryMcGee · 21/02/2022 11:19

Adding to my comment earlier in the thread - I’m a senior manager who frequently does out of hours work without complaint (besides moaning to my dogs/husband 😂) sometimes that involves meetings at 2am to accommodate Asia, which are painful but occasionally necessary. I’ll do it for a business need because that’s just the way things are in some jobs and at a certain level, but would not agree to a regular out of hours routine appointment like this. I am flexible when the business needs me and in exchange I expect my personal life to be respected when it’s not urgent. It took me a very long time to learn this though.

IntermittentParps · 21/02/2022 11:47

@MyDcAreMarvel

I need balance, for my mental and physical health. but you not giving yourself balance with your addiction. Have you sort help for it?
What addiction? Did I miss something?
HollaHolla · 21/02/2022 11:59

Absolutely, as a one-off, or to accommodate time zone issues, I have done, and would continue to, do this.
As a regular 'thing', then no. I'd just say I have another commitment, which means it's not possible for you to move to a 07:30 meeting. What's wrong with leaving it at 08:30, as it is?

Original poster
Hop27 · 21/02/2022 18:48

No reason it can't stay where it is, it's just my boss's preference for it to go back to 7:30 every Friday. I'd compromise and attend via teams, but his preference is for those in the local office to be present. Completely missing the point that the rest of the national team dial in for if.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hop27 · 21/02/2022 18:50

@MyDcAreMarvel
Not sure where the addiction comment came from?

OP posts:
PearPickingPorky · 22/02/2022 07:24

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

Tell them it would clash with your paper-round. Smile
Brilliant.
DoNotTouchTheWater · 22/02/2022 07:37

Your employer should recognise that if the business requires a weekly team meeting, it should be within the team’s contracted working hours. If that interferes with billable hours, then they need to consider the trade offs and make a call. That’s how these things work. Expecting people to just start an hour early on a Friday is not a reasonable solution.

masterblaster · 22/02/2022 17:49

Unless there are people in a different time zone, fuck that.

PaganOfTheGoodTimes · 22/02/2022 17:58

It doesn't matter if its minimum wage or a 100k pa job - a salary doesn't entitle your employer to all the hours in your day for heaven's sake! OP YANBU, as a one off or for an international role, maybe, otherwise nope.

Knittingchamp · 22/02/2022 18:01

Just want to say I am bloody impressed you want to get up at 5am to go to the gym then make it out for drinks after work. You are a dynamo. And yes please do tell work no to the ridiculous meeting time!

redambergreengo · 22/02/2022 18:06

He accommodated previous employee so I'd expect he can accommodate you and you should be able to say you cannot make that time as you have a ore existing commitment.

balalake · 22/02/2022 18:24

I host an operational call each day. It would be more convenient for me if it was half an hour earlier. However it would be unreasonable to at least three of those who attend. So I have no intention of moving it.

Joining remotely seems the best option if your boss is not willing to agree to a sensible request.