to stop extra flexibility after my manager imposed office hours?

[LouuLou]

I work in a small office team of five people. I’m the only full-time member of staff, everyone else is part time. We had a new manager start last year and honestly, up until now, things have been really good. We get on well, I like his management style and he has always said he cared more about people getting the work done than clock-watching.

I work very hard. I consistently hit targets, usually go beyond what is expected, and I won an achievement award last month. I also work very flexibly. I regularly start work at 7am, answer emails early, and will often still be available after 6pm. I usually work through lunch too. That flexibility has suited both the organisation and me because it means things get done quickly and I can also fit other parts of life around work. It is one of the things I am regularly complimented on - how quick I get tasks done.

Out of nowhere, he has now announced that I have to be physically in the office 9–5 three days a week. No actual problem has been identified, no concerns raised about my performance, no suggestion that work isn’t getting done. The explanation was basically that he “wants to try something different”.

Fine. He is the manager and he is entitled to set office hours if he wants to. I’m not arguing with that part.

But my feeling is that if he now wants strict contracted hours and presenteeism, then that is exactly what he will get. I no longer see the point in starting at 7am, replying to messages before work, being available into the evening or working through lunch. I’m planning to work my contracted hours, take a proper hour lunch break and log off at the end of the day.

I know this will reduce the amount I actually get done overall. But another part of me thinks flexibility works both ways. If management removes trust and autonomy, they can’t really expect staff to continue giving unpaid goodwill on top.

It's work. Unless you have a work from home contract you can be made to come to the office. Pre 2020 most people managed this five days a week.

Exactly this. After COVID, I did hybrid working (and am one of only two people in my previous role that did that within a large organisation).

I left the firm and then came back eventually with an official agreement to wfh 2 days a week (it was a dealbreaker and they wanted me back)

But that was agreed by the board of management because by then I was diagnosed ND and it was a reasonable adjustment. My contract now reflects that.

If you are working on your own in the office, has the manager considered your health and safety being on your own?

Why is being alone in an office more dangerous than being at home alone?

Good luck with that approach though. My manager has the same issue with me and my colleague - we work stupid hours out of choice because when you are ND and you and working in a field that you are truly passionate about, that’s what happens.

He manages us as well as possible but he’s aware that the passion and drive is what makes us good at what we do so it’s a juggling act.

Plus we don’t always admit to the hours we work!

I haven't said it is - I just asked if it had been considered...

Because companies have to have policies on lone working because they are responsible for what happens on their premises. They aren’t responsible for what happens in your house (outside of negligence with equipment etc)

Yes we have a lone working policy.

I do think you need to be careful about still doing additional time on home days, as it is very pointed that it’s only in office days to which you’re applying this approach

that's kind of the point!

Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision, for example:

• as delivery drivers, health workers or engineers
• as security staff or cleaners
• in warehouses or petrol stations
• at home

From https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/.

The employer has responsibility. Working from 7am to 6pm without a break is against the law and the employer can't allow it.

Lone workers can also be office workers.

We have a policy that covers people on their own in an office.

As for not allowing people to work 7-6 without a break, it is quite weird to specify that. I am more likely to work 9am till midnight with a break of about 20 mins.

It’s unenforceable in my case as there isn’t really a line between work and home anyway and they have no way of tracking it

Of course you can be a lone worker in an office. The law applys wherever you work. You can't work for more than six hours without a break regardless of when the six hours are worked. You employer is responsible for making sure you don't.

Except it’s unenforceable.

You can get your boss and firm into trouble by working outside of the hours. I get how important workplace regulations are but it’s ridiculous that someone could get into trouble for something they have no control over

If I see colleagues have sent emails at 7am and into the evening I find it odd. I assume they have poor boundaries and time management.

That’s why I don’t do that. As for poor boundaries - my boundaries are non existent. Judge if you like but my job and my hobby is one and the same.

Our manager put as much pressure as they can to avoid working stupid hours.

Although actually some of my colleagues do do that but they don’t have the kind of job where you can just finish at 5.00.

Sometimes their jobs necessitate weekends/all nighters and bank holidays. (I know this because I used to do it many years ago). It’s just how it is.

I love that you’ve referenced the Golden Cleric speech here. I’ve witnessed someone ‘rage quit’ just the once and it was a sight to behold.
(At another job we had a chap just leave for lunch wordlessly, never to return. All that was left of him was a sad little hoodie as if he’d melted in his chair).

I only do my contacted hours now. If more hours are needed to complete a task then it’s not up to me to do them for free.

It's been great for you to be flexible about work as it suits you. Management changing things did not come from "out of the blue". I wouldn't be surprised if someone possibly complained that you are allowed too much freedom, or that more senior management has criticised his easy going approach. Rather than adopt a "work to rule" attitude which, in your present state of mind, will wind you up further, why don't you ask your manager for a meeting and discuss what can be done so that you both achieve your objectives. You can't lose by a more considered approach.

I'm an ex office manager but before Covid when there was no working from home so i have no experience of managing that.

However I can see why your manager may be concerned, yes I know you won an award!
If one of my employees was working 6 to 10 extra hours for no extra pay I would wonder why.
You make the point about international work needing to be done out of normal hours but your manager must know this and have considered the effect of you working remotely rather than in the office. If they need someone on hand for calls etc at 7am or 6pm they would employ staff to cover those hours.

You do keep mentioning 'popping out to the shop' etc. That would concern me. Why do you need to do that in the middle of the working day?
Just of what you have written it does come across like you are doing the flexible hours to suit your life rather than help the company. If you were doing the extra and unsociable hours for the company then why have you not spoken to your manager about the need to work those hours and asked them to pay you for the time.
Why would you work 10 hours a week for no pay?

Don’t work even 1 minute before or after the office hours . I don’t think people who only do office hours realise how much wfh food so often outside the work hours, often to facilitate those who are in the office . Like I often organise and distribute work before people are even in the office and has they active they shave everything waiting . If my hours are just after 9 then will take me a good 2 hours to do that or will have to take it from the previous day meaning their work is less efficient. Which won’t affect me at all but will affect the overall outcome of the team . Thankfully my work is full work from home by contract now but if I was made to go back they would notice big time

Work to rule then. See how that works out for him.

I had a friend who worked very flexibly. Because of their job, it was actually easier to work earlier than their contract( I’m talking going in at 2am) and they hated the traffic so it didn’t bother them.They’d also go in at short notice for issues- even over the Xmas period. With this flexibility, they would leave “early” Fridays to pick up their kids from school. While it looked like they were strolling out at 11am, they’d been in work since 2am.

They had a new manager who insisted they come in 9-5 and no Friday pick up. They said okay. It was another manager in the end who got involved because it was causing issues as things weren’t getting done because they were sticking to the new schedule. It didn’t last a week.

I know my friend had even considered moving jobs over this. It felt like a slap in the face. In your position, I’d do it for a few weeks then say you don’t think it’s working. I’d look elsewhere too just incase

My (good) boss once said to me that up to a certain salary level, you work your contracted hours, and any overtime should be agreed and paid. Once you go over that salary threshold - ie managerial, you are paid to get the job done, so you work whatever hours are necessary.
Once you become a Director, you can arrive late, take 2 hours for lunch, and go to play a game of golf whenever you like.

You haven’t really said why you think it could have asked for this arrangement ?
there obviously must be a reason….. do you have no idea at all?
Is the kind of business where clients may pop in in the day or where there are some tasks that may crop up that could only be dealt with in person or in the office ? Could it be that that could be putting an unfair burden on others who are there ?
Would they appreciate you being present to assist less experienced staff ?
Or do you think they are just checking you are doing the required hours ?