Who is in the right here, work wise?

[Anafternoonofbingewatching]

I have a part time job in a family home. I have set hours and days, but have often been very flexible when these have changed and they have been flexible with me on occasion.
My working hours for today are always 9.30-12.30. Fairly late last night, they texted and asked me to start at 10.30
as they would be home late and sleeping in in the morning (this has happened lots before) I agreed.
Was in the middle of working and employer asked me when I finished, I said 12.30, nothing more was said. At around 12.25, she said she had to nip out and could I stay half and hour more. I was a bit reluctant as did have things I wanted to do, but I agreed, expecting to leave at 1 and thinking I could do it then. She arrived back at 1.18, no apology etc. I started to get my bag ready to go and she said quite rudely ‘(My name) it’s 1.18?’ I didn’t really understand and said ‘Oh?’ and she said could I stay until 1.30 to round up to the hour and again asked when I started, to which I replied 1.30 and said yes ok and put all my bags back etc.
Just went home feeling a bit odd about it. I was meant to leave at 12.30, stayed a little longer to help her out, then she was late and didn’t apologise and then said that.
Or am I in the wrong here?
Im always v v flexible with her and have helped her out so much in last minute situations.

*To which I replied I started at 10.30 this morning

I’d get rid of her. Since she was late back and inconvenienced you, she should have given you the extra 12 minutes as a thank you.

She obviously thought you were working the 3 hours starting from 10:30.
You obviously thought you were finishing at 12:30 as usual.
So, crossed wires

A bit of miscommunication on both sides. You were supposed to work 3 hours 9.30 - 12.30, when they said start at 10.30 they meant start the 3 hours at 10.30 so finishing 1.30. You thought they meant do just 2 hours, 10.30-12.30. Would they have paid you the 3 hours anyway or were you expecting to be paid for 2 hours instead?

@Midnightpony Yes, I think that’s the confusion, however, they changed it late last night and I did say to her when I arrived that I was working until 12.30. I should’ve just said no when she asked me to stay longer, but she sort of put me on the spot, was very casual about it like it would be quick and was literally walking out of the door.
I suppose it’s the way she spoke, just quite rude.

Any time I've been asked to change my work start time, I've still been expected to work the same number of hours.

@Overthebow I only get paid for when I stay, so in my mind I was only getting paid for 2 hours

What usually happens when you start late?

I voted YANBU but I suppose one can argue she thought you would work full hours.

Did she know she was inconveniencing you? If so she was very rude to (a) return late and (b) insist on full hours after you agreed to be flexible. If she didn’t know you were inconvenienced, maybe the lesson here is to speak up next time.

In future, you'll need to clarify what she expects when she messes your start time around.

She obviously though you were moving your whole three hours - although should have cottoned on that you thought otherwise when she asked your leaving time. You thought you were simply working an hour less, and leaving as normal.

Just reply in future and say, yes I can start later but I'll still need to leave at 12.30.

Also, how does your pay work? Don't agree to changes if they'll leave you out of pocket or having to work time back later at a less convenient time unless you're happy with this.

@ISeeMisledPeople I was wondering that, so maybe i’m in the wrong? They’re forever changing things and I’m so flexible.
Perhaps I should have said the night before I can start at 10.30
but have to leave at 12.30

Hmm I disagree with the majority - they just asked you to start late to suit them, they should have been clear they were asking you to change your work slot if that's what they wanted. Most people have things to do after work so just expecting you to be available at short notice isn't on. Okay with hindsight you should have asked, but I'd say the employer is in the wrong for not being clear.

Just say to her next time you're in that you think you got crossed wires over your finish time and in future if they need you to start later can they clarify the finish time, if its a short notice change of start time I would want to clarify that your end time will still stand so you can plan your day. I'd also then want to clarify would they still pay you for the hour they've dropped. Just so you're all working off the same page in future.

If you started later, I'd expect you to work later.

They asked you to start late to suit them, so i would have assumed you were working to 1.30, they moved your shift back an hour, they didn’t cut an hour off it. Sounds like a general communication error.

Thanks for the update, OP. The lesson does appear to be that more clarity is needed.

Also, if they do this a lot and it results in shortened hours, you might want to think about how happy you are with that. IMO they should be paying your full hours when they request a last minute delay to your start and you cannot work a full shift.

I'd have raised it with her at the time, that she said she'd be 30 mins, it's been 45 mins, I need to go. A bit of asserting yourself won't go amiss. But in the future I'd get clearing in texts because it seems they're a bit flakey.

That's definitely what I would do in future. That gives them the opportunity to change their mind about your start time

You both need to improve communication.

Ask for clarity in future over when your start time is delayed, are you expected to work full hours, or reduce your hours. They shouldn't be constantly reducing yoru hours unless you're fine with that?

And secondly, if you are asked to stay to cover, is that paid, and if so is that full hours only?

Couldn't have put it better!

There's definitely a communication issue here. In my opinion, it is up to your boss to explain exactly what she means and be clear but I guess if she doesn't, you can and should clarify and there are obviously slight shifts according to to what you do for them and the history/set up etc.

eg, my cleaner asks if she can come a bit later, I assume she'll still be doing the same number of hours, just starting later. Ditto, if I ask her to change the slot, I'm asking for the entire slot to be changed. I think based on our interactions, we'd both understand that. If I asked her to change at the last minute, and she couldn't, I'd expect to get fewer hours but still pay for the full amount.

So from her point of view, do you think she thought I was being rude? trying to leave early?

That's surely the only explanation for her curtly pointing out the time to you as you were leaving. I think she's in the wrong. If she expected you to stay for three hours but with a later start time, she needed to have explained that, because you could have had stuff on after 12:30, planned your day, etc.

If you said “I normally work 9.30 to 12.30 but today I’m starting at 10.30” I would assume you were working 10.30 to 1.30. Anything else is a bit cheeky, you’re expecting to be paid for an hour you didn’t work?

Maybe she thought you were rude, but so what? Her attitude sounds pretty entitled

She clearly thought you were being rude, just like you think she was being rude. Misunderstanding all round.