To think that many companies are now really petty?

[NeOublie]

December is our busiest time of year. We were also short staffed and worked our backsides off.

Many of us worked NYE. Our company said they wanted to close an hour early due to it being NYE. However, they said we have to make up the hour, so asked us to come in early, or make it up in the next few weeks.

AIBU to think this is just pathetic, and petty? Also, that it is unproductive as it just makes staff feel like they aren’t valued and why bother?

It has certainly made me feel this way. In fact, this tipped me over the edge, and I’ve already updated my CV and I’ve started looking for a new job.

Why are companies and management just so anti- staff welfare these days?

I’d be furious with this!! I’m so lucky I work for an organisation that has common sense when it comes to staff wellbeing, we all got a free half day off before Xmas

Definitely look for another job. You’re worth more than some shitty petty bad culture workplace

I’ve always found it an indicator of companies which have underlying struggles - financial, office-political, management infighting etc. It affects their ability to be cohesive and look at the longer term strategic picture, including when it comes to resource management.

Our CEO (multi-billion dollar global financial services) often has an email sent out to tell us all to log off and chill out for the afternoon just because the sun is shining in summer or there’s an English sporting team playing. It reflects the company’s overall security and success, I think.

That is pathetic and petty.

In my experience, this kind of thing usually comes from an individual rather than company policy.

Some people cannot be trusted with even the tiniest bit of power. It was always in lower paying jobs where I found this most acute.

It’s just one of many petty and poorly managed things but this one really got to me. It was the moment I stopped kidding myself that it’s going to get better.

We literally worked our backsides off and we didn’t even get a Christmas thanks (no Christmas drinks or thanks) and got told we’ve got to make up the hour. So one day I’ll have to go in at 0800, or work through my lunch or stay an hour late. It’s petty.

The way they are has literally made me depressed 😔 on the few days holiday I’ve now got, when I should be steaming ahead with my new year plans.

At least I’ve done my CV and started looking around. I am furious. I feel like I’m in an abusive relationship and I’m staying because it was good and hope it’ll change, but I know it won’t.

I’d be really annoyed. I would count every minute you work over your contracted hours, and count time you worked beyond your contracted hours already, in the busy build up to Christmas.
Youve probably worked more than extra hour over the last few weeks anyway,so you’ve made up the time already.
If not, then make it up in 5 minute blocks over the forthcoming weeks.
If they can be petty, so can you!

I’d add ten minutes to your day for the next week and a half. If they’re going to be petty you can as well. It can be guaranteed you’re absolutely not going to be productive in that hour they “gave you”.

So many companies and management just can’t see the bigger picture any more and wonder why they might have a great product or service but it’s just not making the £££. It’s because they expect their staff to deliver/sell/provide the product/service but treat them like absolute morons on poor pay and wonder why they are only getting the bare minimum back.

My work has a Christmas party every year, occasional small financial rewards for doing well, and a general feeling that they appreciate us, so staff are willing to do extra and give extra.

It’s absolutely shit of them to close early and then decide they want the “value” of that hour at another time. If you are contracted to be paid for certain hours, you should be paid for them - not based on whether they decide it’s worth the bother of staying open.

That’s ridiculous, Yanbu.

I wouldn’t make up time when I was forced to stop working normally. I’d say I don’t have childcare.

Plenty of places treat their staff well, I too would be looking to leave.

Can they even make you make it up if they decided to shut early?

Maybe do a minute a day 😂

Good suggestion from DelphiniumBlue. Each of your colleagues should do the same - but do the 5 minute blocks at all different times/days.

I was part of a teaching team which was awarded Outstanding. As a reward they gave us an extra day’s holiday.

Big multi-course college corporation. We all had to take 5 days leave over Christmas so that all departments had the same.

The year we got Outstanding and we got the extra day’s leave, we were also told we had to take six days at Christmas instead of five.

No , you’re not unreasonable to feel that way!!

Was anybody affected as in having to wait for transport home, etc due to this short notice announcement?

It's one thing to give people the option to leave early, but to tell you all to go but to make up the time is piss poor.

Work to rule until you leave. Companies like that don't get above and beyond.

I agree with you, it's so petty and pathetic, i hate that bean counting pound of flesh attitude - is the job you asked me to do done or what? I let my staff go sometimes 2hrs ahead of time or even at lunchtime if they finish quickly and they still get paid, i think it helps morale which means i spend less time and money looking for new staff or poking an unmotivated workforce into doing things. As long as my tasks have been done what's the problem?

Luckily I work got an organisation which is very staff friendly. Xmas eve I was letting my staff go several hours early, working between Xmas and NY was a recommendation to switch laptops on a deal with urgent things but otherwise not to worry too much. I didn't expect them glued to their laptop.

Find a company that values their staff, not just the time their staff puts in.

Yep, morale on the floor, sickness at unprecedented levels, people off with stress and anxiety.

They just don’t understand why people are leaving. They actually don’t deserve to stay afloat. I stayed because I like my workmates, and it used to be a lovely place to work but now it’s actually bordering on abusive. They don’t get that if you treat your staff well, it’s a tangible investment. Instead they treat them like crap, don’t get the results they want, so treat them even worse.

It’s laughable.

Let me guess, small or medium sized business run either by the owners and/or their family or by someone promoted from the shop floor. I worked for one where they promote from the shop floor, they sacked my mates mum for stealing a loaf of bread...in the pub, after work. If you read Peter Kay's autobiography I think he worked for them too and had a dreadful time too.

Yup! My employer has always given us 3 days off between Xmas and New Year.

They told us in NOVEMBER we wouldn’t be getting it this year and it’s always been ‘discretionary’ despite having comms earlier in the year confirming the dates.

Everyone was fuming as understandably, everyone had already planned holiday assuming we would be off

You were presumably about to take some holidays which are paid and part of your contract so I don't see why extra time would be expected.

They were allowing flexibility / redistribution from when it was busy and challenging, so agree it should be made up.

I finished with a final half day too, which meant I beat the queues at the supermarket and got some wrapping done without the kids, but I'd already done the equivalent three hours, one per week through December, when I/it was needed.

Idiotic management.

In your position, I'd make up the hour on the first possible day so that the problem is sorted. I would then do the bare minimum whilst looking for another job.

You should all have insisted on working until your normal finish time on NYE, as you are contracted to do. They can choose to close early giving you an extra hour off, but they can't alter your contractual terms without agreement. Fight pettiness with pettiness.
Are you in a union?

My company tried to close on Monday 23rd for Christmas, but make all of us take it as extra leave. We all refused and said we would work. The boss had to come in and let us go at lunchtime anyway...

Does your company begin with M ? By any chance ?

No, sorry