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.

Because you have done all your work and are twiddling your thumbs by mid morning?

The point is, they are likely wanting to have a better understanding of when you aren't overly busy so they can make sure the wage paid out is being used to the benefit the business.

When it's a busy period,l stick tobyour hours and don't do the overtime unless asked and you're happy to take TOIL or overtime payments.

Because I posted that one day, you are now completely knowledge about my role?

Maybe you should go into management if that is all it takes 😂

How do they have a better understanding when 90% of the time when I am at the office I am sat on my own all day?

Well because if you weren't playing silly games like trying to make yourself look busy by scheduling work to be sent well after you've completed it, they'd see you twiddling your thumbs.

How can they see when at the office I am sat on my own all day?

They know.

You weren’t called back to the office by coincidence. They are reining you in. They know you don’t want to be in the office, they may be hoping you will quit.
Stop playing games. Work the hours you have been asked to work.
Like every employee, you are completely replaceable.

You have no idea and you are not my manager 😂

You are coming across as increasingly immature.

It is blatantly obvious that your employer thinks you need to be managed.

Think about that.

You are coming across as if you know me and my exact situation.

You don't.

Think about that.

But I thought your boss was in the office next door? Or did you say he was in and out? Or that he is out 90% (meaning he's in 10%).

I think you said all of those as well as he's not there.

I didn't say he is in the office next door. He has a separate office.

I was in the office yesterday and didn't see him. So explain how exactly he is going to see me twiddling my thumbs (which I don't, I do better stuff!)

Ah apologies. You say so many different things it's hard to keep up 😉

No worries.

Maybe I say different things because my job is not the exact same every single day for every single moment 😉

Or because you're a shirker and don't like that you've been caught out 😉

My ex manager some time ago insisted I went into the office. No one else including most of the time him. I warned him my productivity would plummet.

It was a ploy to get me to leave. He couldn't get me on performance but he knew I wouldn't suffer unfair treatment.

What I should have done and what I'd do again is take advantage of the mess that team were. Condense my hours, take lunch, deliver less, do paid overtime.

He wants you in fine. You do your hours. You deliver what you can to an acceptable standard in those hours. Be rigid with breaks including five minutes every hour. And look for something else.

How I have been caught out?

If I am shirking then I can shirk in the office as well 😉

Same as in terms as they can't get me on performance.

I am doing exactly that - do my work in the hours at a slower rate, start and finish on time. No more extras.

Work to rule. You don't need employee of the month certificate. Slow down. Do what you can in the time.
I don't understand why people pee off their best employees. No more good will. Just gray rock time.

You must be at your desk between the hours of nine to five. You must take a set lunch break. You cannot leave early.
This request has been made because they don’t like how you have been managing your own time.

Despite your ‘award’, you are the only one that has to sit in the office all day so they know you are at your desk. How humiliating.

I am working to rule. My manager can see already that things have slowed down and now he is having to pick up on the out of hours calls!

Careful- your kindness is showing. 🤔🙄

Presenteeism is far more important than getting the whole job done competently by working from home flexibly, obviously.

Both ways work when mutually agreed.
This obviously is not the case here. We can’t all just do our own thing whenever and however it suits us.

Some people are just on here for sport.

I wouldn't do the automatic email scheduling because even when they display the scheduled sent time in the inbox screen, the body of the email still shows the actual time. I have done that before and when the person replied the original time was showing in my email. If you get caught out it will make you look petty.

Now I just leave emails in draft and send manually when I want them to go. You have to have outlook open for scheduled emails to send anyway so it doesn't make much difference.

It will be interesting to see if he ever reveals his rationale or is willing to backtrack when he realises he's shot himself in the foot. He might just entrench his position out of pride/embarrassment.