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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that more services could available outside of working hours?

36 replies

LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:09

Whether it's doctor's appointments, customer service calls for any major companies you have to pay bills for, certain shops, the local council etc. everything seems to be only open during work hours in the week! Squeezing in life admin alongside a very busy full time job just feels like such a chore, especially if you have a chronic health problem like me!

With the rise of remote work and more flexibility, AIBU to think that we can as a society somehow recalibrate working hours so that everything's not only open at the same time?
I'm very willing to pay a premium for those who have to work on weekends, and totally agree that no changes should be made unfairly to anyone, but it does feel like there's a level of inconvenience unnecessarily baked into our lives?

OP posts:
Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 16/04/2023 21:10

What do you do?

Original poster
LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:10

I'm a solicitor

OP posts:
Hiddenmnetter · 16/04/2023 21:12

Our society was implemented and designed around there being one adult at home all the time. Both parents working makes life v awkward and one of the most useful things about shift work.

Tinybrother · 16/04/2023 21:12

It is quite annoying having to take time off my job to see a solicitor because their working hours are the same as mine

SalmonEile · 16/04/2023 21:12

Honestly I think there’s something to be said for more flexible business hours in theory but not sure how well it would work in practice

Mycathatesmecuddling · 16/04/2023 21:12

LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:10

I'm a solicitor

Solicitors would definitely be helpful to work extended hours, each time ive had to use a solicitor has been at a stressful point in my life, and trying to get fit them in with my working hours has been a nightmare

SweetSakura · 16/04/2023 21:13

Equally, as a solicitor (i am one too,.also with a chronic health condition) are you not yet able to work flexibly?

Original poster
LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:14

Tinybrother · 16/04/2023 21:12

It is quite annoying having to take time off my job to see a solicitor because their working hours are the same as mine

Not sure if this is intended as sarcasm (I personally often provide client services on the weekend) but I strongly agree that lawyers should be in the category I mentioned! People should be paid extra for working outside hours, and where relevant customers should absorb that premium, but I think many would be to do so to avoid constant inconvenience?

OP posts:
SalmonEile · 16/04/2023 21:15

As a solicitor do you work for yourself or a company
If for yourself could you take an hour off in the afternoon to do your own life admin and then arrange an appointment with a client for 6pm and make up an extra hour then?

Original poster
LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:16

SweetSakura · 16/04/2023 21:13

Equally, as a solicitor (i am one too,.also with a chronic health condition) are you not yet able to work flexibly?

I'm a 28 year old solicitor working in corporate law and no, generally at my firm we're expected to be in the officer from 9 and in theory until 6 although often much later, which isn't usual from people I know at other firms?

OP posts:
HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 16/04/2023 21:16

LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:10

I'm a solicitor

Do you work 9-6 Monday to Friday and expect your clients to fit in appointments with you during those times?

lljkk · 16/04/2023 21:18

Lead the way, OP. Advertise evening and weekend availability. Let us know what premium you charge for that, and how many clients take you up on it.

Tinybrother · 16/04/2023 21:19

LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:14

Not sure if this is intended as sarcasm (I personally often provide client services on the weekend) but I strongly agree that lawyers should be in the category I mentioned! People should be paid extra for working outside hours, and where relevant customers should absorb that premium, but I think many would be to do so to avoid constant inconvenience?

Show quote history

Not sarcastic.

Original poster
LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:19

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 16/04/2023 21:16

Do you work 9-6 Monday to Friday and expect your clients to fit in appointments with you during those times?

Show quote history

In theory yes, because those are my contracted working hours - if my company rearranged hours with higher pay at the weekend I'd certainly be amenable to that. In reality I have US clients calling me at hours, and am often working at the weekend for no additional pay.

OP posts:
PenCreed · 16/04/2023 21:19

I used to do a job where we had specific late nights and weekend working to allow access outside of normal working hours. I got time off in the week instead (useful for life admin/the dentist/hairdresser). I loathed weekend working, but one late evening a week offered by some of those services makes sense.

But then my local council tax office only answers the phone two days a week, so maybe it’s too late to get something more helpful in place.

giggly · 16/04/2023 21:22

Given all the research on teenage brains I’d rather my teens went to school 11-7.

Original poster
LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:23

giggly · 16/04/2023 21:22

Given all the research on teenage brains I’d rather my teens went to school 11-7.

Totally agree - I wish we could rethink our limitations on timing like this! I'd be very pro public sector 4 day week pilots too, as the private sector ones have gone well, and that's definitely where we should be moving if we can.

OP posts:
Oopswediditagain2023 · 16/04/2023 21:27

Yes, in particular banks. My bank only opens three days a week now, 9.30-4.30 and not at the weekend, so for my partner it's impossible for him to go! I'm self employed so have a bit more flexibility for these kinds of things, but not much. My friend has her mortgage with aforementioned bank and it took her and her partner 4 weeks to sign the paperwork together when they both had a day off! Absolutely ridiculous.
Quite a few other places where I live though do "late night thursdays" where they stay open until 9ish which is good, including our doctor's surgery.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 16/04/2023 21:27

LadyGodiva4 · 16/04/2023 21:19

In theory yes, because those are my contracted working hours - if my company rearranged hours with higher pay at the weekend I'd certainly be amenable to that. In reality I have US clients calling me at hours, and am often working at the weekend for no additional pay.

Show quote history

They're certainly not going to pay you extra when you're already doing it for free!

SweetSakura · 16/04/2023 21:30

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 16/04/2023 21:27

They're certainly not going to pay you extra when you're already doing it for free!

Show quote history

If op.is a corporate lawyer then her salary reflects the expectation she will work long hours and anti social hours. She isn't working "for free" and she's being disingenuous to imply that she is

Op- I work in house now, I get a glorious amount of flexibility but of course you might turn your nose up at my salary

JudgeJ · 16/04/2023 21:32

giggly · 16/04/2023 21:22

Given all the research on teenage brains I’d rather my teens went to school 11-7.

They, the teens, woul;d think of another reason for being bone idle. I can't see teens wanting to be in school until 7.

carriedout · 16/04/2023 21:33

The four day week would help.

I personally do NOT want office hours extended further. Work already encroaches more than is healthy.

gogohmm · 16/04/2023 21:38

Personally I do not want to work weekends. I'd rather spend my lunchtime's doing life admin or working through on some days to leave early for a medical appointment

memoriesofamiga · 16/04/2023 22:01

I work for a council. Even if I wanted to work unsociable hours (which I don't, I have a family too), there's no money to pay for that. Unless council tax goes up even more to pay for it, which nobody wants.

AppallinglyReheated · 16/04/2023 22:11

I don't think the standard office hours are actually the problem at all - and I say that as someone who works 2pm - 10pm (from home), so I am more than happy for folk to work alternative hours.

The problem is the toxic work culture where you're expected to live to work, not work to live. Where you can be penalised for genuinely being ill, a thing that is out of any human beings control, and where taking time off for appointments and general life shizzle is not acceptable. Where you're expected to, and will be penalised if you don't, work many more hours than you're paid for.

There will always be jobs where it's not possible to take time off short notice, but they are the minority in reality.

We need a better work/life balance for most people - I have it, but then I am self employed and WFH, part time due to disability, so if I end up working too much well that's my choice. I work to live, not the other way around and my time is paid for, or I won't be doing it!