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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get to work at 9?

96 replies

forgeti · 27/03/2023 17:32

My contracted hours are 9-5. Aibu to get to work at 9?

There are 2 unpaid breaks that we generally have to work through. IE when colleagues are off (which is daily, loads on long term absences but full caseloads attached) we are expected to work through breaks and take a short lunch to cover them.

lunch is 30 mins paid, 30 mins unpaid so manager expects you to work through the 30 minutes unpaid.

therefore aibu to get to work at 9? I’m being told that I’m not a team player by not getting in any earlier.

OP posts:
Hawkins00 · 27/03/2023 23:14

What is the overall perspectives me personally I prefer early even if outside my hours, but from a legal perspective, is it start on eg 9-5 ect ?

NoDiagnosisForMe · 27/03/2023 23:17

JavaChip · 27/03/2023 22:18

Depends on job and industry.

I work in consulting and if someone doesn't rock up until 0859 with no reason ie school drop off I think pretty poorly of them tbh. Seems rather lazy imo.

But then I'm expected to give limbs and flesh in return for my salary. So I expect the same of others.

How miserable. Is it worth it, in terms of salary and how your work contributes to society?

Changingmynameyetagain · 27/03/2023 23:34

I work for a supermarket and if my shift starts at 8am I’m not allowed to start my shift before 7:57am.
If I clock in earlier or out later than my expected start/finish time it gets passed to my manager for investigation.
We all know where we stand with the system. I do aim to get there about 10-15 minutes early so I can put my bag and coat away and have a quick loo break though.

Gremlins101 · 28/03/2023 07:05

Yanbu. Start looking for new jobs.

Coffeetree · 28/03/2023 07:10

forgeti · 27/03/2023 17:39

As an example of the work I’m asked to do:

50% of my team was off today for various reasons. I had to cover the work of 3 other people such covering meetings, emails, working on caseloads, making decisions on their behalf etc.

I got in before 9, but my manager tried to say if I came in earlier, I could have got a head start and sorted their work out sooner.

This is a good opportunity to say, "Yeah sounds like a good idea! So is that overtime or just time I'd take back later?"

Crumpetdisappointment · 28/03/2023 07:17

i never forget someone trying to say we should be in before our start time, to handover
i said, well nurses do that
we dont need to handover
if i am in much before 9 i am early.
i turn my computer on as soon as i come in.
i rarely finish at 5 on the dot, unlike colleagues who spend 10 minutes wiping their desks reading to dash out on the dot

magicthree · 28/03/2023 07:31

like others say, start at 9 means logged on and starting at 9 rather than walking in at 9.

I've never subscribed to this - logging on is part of your work, not something you do for fun.

Houseyvibe · 28/03/2023 07:34

Nope so long as you’re in the office for 9 I’m happy. Of you then faff about saying hi and makijg a cup of tea I’m not fussed by that either so long as you are doing your work and keeping up

JennyDarlingRIP · 28/03/2023 07:37

Social work OP?

follyfoot37 · 28/03/2023 07:39

starmoonearth · 27/03/2023 17:34

Depending on your job, if you're set up and ready to go at 9 I don't see an issue. I start at 9 but tend to get there between 8:30 and 8:40 but that is to make my breakfast and a coffee

Why don't you eat your breakfast at home? Do you work in hospitality or catering?

youshouldnthaveasked · 28/03/2023 07:41

JavaChip · 27/03/2023 22:18

Depends on job and industry.

I work in consulting and if someone doesn't rock up until 0859 with no reason ie school drop off I think pretty poorly of them tbh. Seems rather lazy imo.

But then I'm expected to give limbs and flesh in return for my salary. So I expect the same of others.

Goodness, your workplace sounds horrible. You would be replaced easily enough

follyfoot37 · 28/03/2023 07:45

forgeti · 27/03/2023 17:48

Yes, I’m going to take every minute of my breaks going forward. I’ll make sure I leave on time too.

It will definitely slow down my productivity at work; but that doesn’t seem to the priority here. I’ll just come in early and sit around doing nothing until 9am.

how very unprofessional. Unless you havexa job wwhich requires you to physically clock in and out, professional workers usually do arrive a fw mins early to sort their shit and be ready to start on time
Professionals also do work over breaks sometimes, leave late sometimes, but get the time back at odd times because their manager appreciates the effort

Original poster
forgeti · 28/03/2023 07:46

I’m about to leave to get there for 8:30am. Going to spend that extra 30 minutes listening to a podcast and applying for jobs!

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 28/03/2023 07:47

I had a similar job once- very basic pay for the role.
I was told by my manager that he has noticed that I go out for my lunch (1 hour unpaid, as we didn't have anywhere to sit exept our desks) and then like to go home on time every day. By doing this, I wasn't giving much thought to my colleagues!

😆 I knew it was time to leave the job.

Smilethoughyourheartisaching · 28/03/2023 07:48

It sounds like they are all take no give.

reading this thread I realise how fortunate I am in my workplace. My boss is very flexible and understanding. I’m expected to start work at 8. I’m usually there for 7.55 and logging on ready to start, with my cup of tea made. If I arrive 2 minutes late, for whatever reason I just make sure I give that back!

our boss and managers don’t keep score, we are told to arrive at work safely and don’t speed if we feel we are running late. Their generosity makes a happy productive workforce.

Original poster
forgeti · 28/03/2023 07:49

@follyfoot37 no one wants to work somewhere where it’s all take and no give. I work through my breaks every day as the office is understaffed. Getting to work 30 minutes early unpaid is not the same as getting there a few minutes early.

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 28/03/2023 07:53

TomatoSandwiches · 27/03/2023 17:34

YANBU, they can either expect you in earlier or work through breaks but not both.

They shouldn't be expect either! OP is paid for 9-5 with unpaid breaks. She should be entitled to start at 9 and take her breaks and leave at 5.

gogohmm · 28/03/2023 07:54

All depends on the job and pay, once you get to a certain level it's normal to "work to get the job done" dp logs in a holiday, weekends etc but he's paid well (low 6 figures) very different to me, I'm paid for the hours I work and I get toil if I work more

Echobelly · 28/03/2023 07:56

I hate employers who demand you work outside contracted hours and don't take breaks your are contractually entitled to. YANBU.

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 28/03/2023 08:00

If you are contracted to be at work from 9-5 you should be at work from 9-5, not 8.30-5, not 8.45-5, not 9-5.05. 9-5 and not a second more.

If you're work want you to be ready to go for 9 on the dot, they can pay you from 8.30 or whatever.

It's really sad to see how many people have been completely and utterly brainwashed by cultural hegemony to their own detriment.

Clarinet1 · 28/03/2023 08:06

In some cases I wonder whether there could be an argument that Employers’ Liability Insurance would not cover employees if there was some kind of accident outside their contracted hours. That should make the bosses pause for thought!

owiz · 28/03/2023 08:15

I work flexi, but I don't start the clock until I am actually starting work.

sequincardi · 28/03/2023 08:18

God I always get to work at the start time

Choconut · 28/03/2023 08:20

Tell them you're happy to get in before your contracted hours if they are happy to pay you for your overtime.
Honestly fuck team player, they just want people to work for free. If you don't put in boundaries they won't respect you and will take the piss any way they can. If you put in reasonable boundaries and they don't respect that and mark you out as 'difficult' for standing up for yourself, then it's time to look for a new job. You will find though that in the right environment having clear, consistent boundaries will be respected.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 28/03/2023 08:36

I am embracing millennial behaviour. I have always throughout my career got to work early, worked through lunch. A few months ago I realised that actually the 8.00 train would get me to work for 9.00. And it would mean travelling in daylight. So that's what I do! .
Carry on matey.