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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think compressed hours works out as less than FT hours?

69 replies

moana5 · 13/09/2023 19:22

Some people at my work do compressed hours, so they do 5 days in 4 and have Fridays off (so they work 8-6 rather than 9-5 or thereabouts).

There are A LOT of meetings in my job, but etiquette states these would usually be between 9:30-4:30. So in effect, people who work compressed days are getting out of a whole day of meetings, as they won't have meetings during their longer hours.

I've also found they log in and out to the minute of their hours, whereas those who work Monday - Friday generally login at 8:45 and log off at about 5:15. I really doubt they are 'full on' working that whole time to make up for a whole day off every week.

It's become a pain to me personally because my colleague has to offload lots of things to me because she doesn't work Fridays and she is now complaining about her workload as she has to compress all meetings into 4 days. I also have to attend her Friday meetings that require attendance as she can't go.

AIBU to think compressed hours are actually working less hours? Preparing to be flamed!

And I can't do compressed hours in my role but even if I could, I'm not sure I would do it.

OP posts:
Youcancallmeirrelevant · 13/09/2023 19:24

Working isn't just meetings. Some days i have 0 meetings, doesn't mean i'm not working...

I am logged on and working my FT hours over 4 days. Even before i compressed into 4 days i have never worked extra minutes that i won't get paid for

Milkkbottles · 13/09/2023 19:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the OP's request.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 13/09/2023 19:26

YABU. She works 8 extra hours over 4 days. You only work 7-7.5 on Fridays (depending on how long your lunch is). Also how would you know the exact times everyone on compressed hours work? You're not there!

gwenneh · 13/09/2023 19:27

AIBU to think compressed hours are actually working less hours?

No, it sounds like they are working their hours, and you are working too many hours, all of which is happening under bad management/workload distribution.

wellandtruly · 13/09/2023 19:28

Meetings aren’t work, as far as I’m concerned, so I’d say the person doing fewer meetings is actually doing more work. And it’s on you if you log on early and finish late.

BendingSpoons · 13/09/2023 19:28

This can be the case. In my work, I am expected to see 6 clients a day. We had a colleague who did compressed hours and used the extra time to catch up on her admin. It was explained to her that she needed to see at least an extra client a day, as full time was 30 (5x6) so if she was doing 4 days she needed to be doing 7/8 a day. Personally I would be too tired to do that.

TheHennaHairedHarridan · 13/09/2023 19:30

I actually found the opposite, I am part time and moved from 4 full days a week to 5 short ones (at the request of my employer, and I agreed because it worked well with school runs). However I think I am less productive with this working pattern. It takes a while to get up to speed each day with anything I missed the previous afternoon, and I have to attend more meetings (previously I would not attend if they were on my day off, whereas now I attend them all). Once my kids are a bit older I will ask to swap back.

Moonsoup · 13/09/2023 19:30

Yes, because in the real world most people don't actually work exactly 9-5 and those little bits extra every day add up. On MN though, people just seem to work their exact hours.

ohsoso · 13/09/2023 19:30

I work compressed hours 8-6 and absolutely I log in at 8am and off at 6pm exactly! It’s a long day and absolutely exhausting. YABU to think everyone on compressed hours works less than you do…

gwenneh · 13/09/2023 19:33

Yes, because in the real world most people don't actually work exactly 9-5 and those little bits extra every day add up.

I don't steal from my employer, and equally I don't allow them to steal from me. Fair play if I get paid for those extra bits, and of course the odd late finish or early start is necessary, but if an employer makes a habit of this and employees rely on it, that's just poor practice.

kikisparks · 13/09/2023 19:36

YABU. My work is not just meetings, and most of the meetings I do have I arrange so I just have more meetings per day than I would otherwise have, but I also always know I’ll have at least 7-9 to catch up on emails and draft documents. I actually work harder since I compressed my hours but it is a long exhausting day. We have flexi time so anyone who works longer than their contracted hours can get that time back.

Oblomov23 · 13/09/2023 19:40

I think your jealousy is misplaced. Why are you working extra hours? Address that. I work 4 days, non compressed hours, just 8.30-4. It's fab.

RamsesTheChub · 13/09/2023 19:41

Not sure. No-one is (or should be) obliged to work over their hours. The fact that people on compressed hours have virtually no time left (or colleagues online at same late time) in those 4 days to do so is perhaps a perk, but we should really all have the courage to say "no way am I working overtime for free". I tend to find these things are about individuals. E.g. often part-time workers end up just as productive as full-time.

I'm far more frustrated with the work-life balance brigade who like to hold court about, and expect everyone to bow down to, their out of work activities. Activities which almost invariably leads to further time off for injuries because they're too damn old to be kicking a ball about or climbing a mountain. Rant over, feeling better already 😁

Scunnered123 · 13/09/2023 19:42

I think it's like everything else to do with work. Some people take advantage and others are conscientious and don't. In my work there are a number of people who do compressed hours. Some work equivalent of 5 days, others don't. It's annoying when you're aware of those that don't but I think that is for their manager to sort.

CurzonDax · 13/09/2023 19:44

How long is your lunch?
Do the people on compressed hours get a slightly longer lunch for each of their full days (say an extra 10 or so minutes per day)?
If not, they are actually working more hours than you are. As they are doing a full 8 hours (2 hours per day), whereas you still get your lunch on the fifth day, so are only working for 7 or 7.5 hours (depending on lunch length) on that day, as a PP said.

TodayForTomorrow · 13/09/2023 19:50

I get your point about meetings, OP. Meetings certainly are a lot of work because they have to happen at a certain time and don't always finish when they are meant to. They often interrupt your "flow" and keep you from other pressing tasks, which then need to be slotted in around these meetings. Whereas if you're cracking on with your own work, independently of anyone else, you're in more control of what you do and when.

DinnaeFashYersel · 13/09/2023 19:56

There's more to work than meetings.

You are choosing to start and finish early than others.

But if you genuinely think your colleagues are skivving then report them to your manager.

Good luck.

PrincessOfTigger · 13/09/2023 20:01

I do compressed hours. I probably do less hours than I did when I was FT but I wasn’t being paid for them so meh.

ohtowinthelottery · 13/09/2023 20:01

Surely this is a management issue. You shouldn't be attending extra meetings that you wouldn't normally be at because the person who should be there has changed their hours. If their presence is required a Friday meeting then they need to work on Fridays.

A friend of mine asked her employer for compressed hours. She was told that her availability was needed daily so she couldn't have a whole day off. She now works 3 full (longer) days and 2 half days.

allhellcantstopusnow · 13/09/2023 20:02

I do compressed hours. I do 37.5 hours over 3.5 days a week.

It's your look out if you're logging in earlier than your start time.

If you think they've got a better deal, maybe do the same and have an extra day off. It'll do wonders for your unreasonable grumpiness.

Itsnamechange · 13/09/2023 20:06

Nope. They're working the same amount of hours over less days. They aren't missing meetings. They're attending the same number of meetings as everyone else. If anything theyre getting things done during those two meeting free hours each day.
If you are choosing to log in early and work late that's your issue.

pointythings · 13/09/2023 20:06

Everyone I know who works compressed hours works their hours and is also usually answering emails and dealing with things in the evening. Lunch breaks are nonexistent.

Those of us who don't work compressed hours also tend to go over their hours daily, because thatg's the nature of working in the NHS.

The difference is that we don't get jealous of each other and moan about each other online.

Auntiedear · 13/09/2023 20:08

I don't think the issue is worked hours but it is that you are having to cover her work on the Friday. It sounds as though the job doesn't suit compressed hours as opposed to compressed hours being less time working. That is definitely something you should raise with your manager.

Brefugee · 13/09/2023 20:12

I arrange my time how i like - sometimes i work all my hours in 4 days and what i notice is that because our meetings are held between 9 and 4:30 outside of those times i can get a lot more done than in the weeks when i work 5 days of regular hours.

The best way to increase productivity? say "no" to meetings now and then.

fridaynighter · 13/09/2023 20:13

YANBU. I agree with everything OP said. Annoys me too.