Working too many hours - how do I approach this?

CoRhona · 16/07/2021 22:37

I think the issue is that you're doing overtime because you choose to and as he's already said he can't afford it, I guess he wouldn't want to pay you.

Stop doing it?

rookiemere · 16/07/2021 22:45

Could you ask to increase your hours?

LaurieFairyCake · 16/07/2021 22:51

Well of course he could afford to pay you more as the big fuck off house will testify

It's just he doesn't want to as he'd rather pretend he's your friend, exploit you and get rich off YOUR LABOURS

Bet he whines and guilt trips you when you ask to be paid for the work you do

These people have no shame

crapbuttrue · 16/07/2021 23:00

@LaurieFairyCake I don't agree.

I'm sort of in the same position but I do log hours when I remember and take time off in lieu.

I think they know you are putting yourself out but they are hoping the status quo continues as it suits them but they do feel guilty and know it can't continue. You need to pull up your big girl knickers and put your foot down I really don't think they would complain.

SwedishEdith · 16/07/2021 23:24

Could you agree a set start and end time of for your day (maybe vary for different days if that suits some of the people you need to deal with?) and let everyone know. Have it as part of your email signature and your out of office response. Say that you will deal with any queries as soon as you start your next day.

Agree with all pps, your employer can afford it but doesn't want to. So, don't do the extra hours.

SynchroSwimmer · 17/07/2021 00:04

Maybe bring into a dialogue with them mentioning that you want to confirm your hours and are they happy with the current 4 hours a day - as you are thinking of taking on a second job/role starting at 2 p.m. in the afternoons....

Might cause the boss to formalise the requirement that he does actually want you to be available for the business - and he needs you for more hours?

Hawkins001 · 17/07/2021 00:08

@HappySonHappyMum

I've been working for my employer for over 20 years. It's a small company and I work from home. I have been working from home for nearly 15 years and am supposed to work 4 hours a day. Working for such a small company and for so many years means that I count my boss (and owner of the business) as a friend. Consequently I find myself working may more hours than I am actually paid for. As my kids have grown I have worked when best suits me but now they are older I find myself working in solid blocks and have usually done my hours by 1.30pm. Problem is I am still working long into the afternoon - my job is often time sensitive and the people who I deal with directly I have also known for many years and I don't want to let them down either by making them wait which would cause problems. I did get paid overtime a few years ago - although I was conscious not to ask for too much as my boss told me he couldn't afford it. Since Covid hit - there has been no overtime paid at all and when I was furloughed I was only paid 80% of my wage. I know I need to address this - I can't keep working for free forever - I am on a pretty average wage but I don't want to leave because working from home is great and I do love my job. Even though I'm highly qualified I can't see anyone else wanting to employee me. It's an industry where being modern and trendy is everything and I'm fat and in my late 40s. My boss has done well, he lives in a large house and he's not slumming it. How can I bring this up - it's so awkward, I hate talking about money at the best of times and it feels wrong to ask him about it but my kids tell me I'm being taken advantage of and so does my husband.

These days, and this is only my presumption, but to keep on top of tasks , client requests, and various other tasks ect, overtime needs to be achieved, these days it's only natural to keep ahead and on target.

zoeydollie · 17/07/2021 00:12

Send your boss an email saying that to maintain a healthy work/life balance, your office hours from now on are 9.30am-1.30pm.
Ask directly - if there is time sensitive stuff would they rather you got in done in the afternoon as overtime or should you leave it til your working hours the following day?

flowery · 17/07/2021 06:57

You just need to say that your contracted hours are x, but for a long time now you’ve been working many hours extra each day unpaid to cover what’s needed to be done, and that simply isn’t something you are able to do anymore, therefore can you have a conversation about how many hours need to be covered and how that can be achieved.

Original poster

HappySonHappyMum · 17/07/2021 09:16

I know you are all right - it's just starting that conversation. I feel a huge sense of responsibility to him and to the people I do work for everyday - I suppose I am a people pleaser and I take huge pleasure out of completing a project and noting how happy my work has made people. I've never done any work on the side for other people as I don't want to compromise my actual job, although recently I've been doing things for myself that bring me joy as being furloughed took all the day to day joy away for a while and I struggled. It's made me realise that I could do stuff on the side for people but I just don't have the confidence to take the leap and start and earn extra that way. It all seems too difficult plus if I started to advertise on social media and share what I do with family and friends to build up a client base he would know.

OP posts:

flowery · 17/07/2021 09:22

I know it’s hard. But I am a business owner and I would be devastated to think one of my employees couldn’t come to me if there was a problem. If your boss is also your friend, I’m sure the same will apply.

Erictheavocado · 17/07/2021 09:36

When you were furloughed, who did your job? Or was there no demand for whatever you do during that time?

rookiemere · 17/07/2021 10:05

Surely the simple solution is to ask for your hours to be increased - properly not through overtime - to be more reflective of what you're actually working?
Means you get more money and you get to do a thorough job.

LindaEllen · 17/07/2021 10:19

I had a similar situation for this, and I was very much in need of the extra money so I really needed to be paid for the hours I was working.

I sent them an email saying I would rather work for them, but if they couldn't increase my hours I would have to stick to my contracted hours with them and find paid work elsewhere in the evenings.

They did actually up my hours. You might find that your company would, too, if they were faced with having to hire someone else to cover the overtime you're doing.

Original poster

HappySonHappyMum · 17/07/2021 11:50

@Erictheavocado

When you were furloughed, who did your job? Or was there no demand for whatever you do during that time?

Demand dropped off for my job dramatically - as most of the people we do work for were furloughed too.

OP posts:

Original poster

HappySonHappyMum · 17/07/2021 11:54

@flowery

I know it’s hard. But I am a business owner and I would be devastated to think one of my employees couldn’t come to me if there was a problem. If your boss is also your friend, I’m sure the same will apply.

I'm sure he would be upset - I'm part of the furniture you see, which is probably half the reason this situation has gone so far. I'm that old, reliable employee that just gets on with things and does her job. I'm going to have to put on my big girl pants aren't I - which scares the life out of me

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PuppyMonkey · 17/07/2021 12:04

If you find you end up doing lots of work later in the afternoon, could you send an email to your boss suggesting you completely switch to afternoon working only to make sure you don't miss this important work that keeps coming in then?

And if boss says no, it's important you work in the morning blah blah, you can then say "okay that's fine, going forward I confirm my working hours will be 9am-1pm (or whatever), thank you for clarifying."

Then, at 1pm precisely put your Out of Office replies on and switch phone off and do something else.

SeasonFinale · 17/07/2021 15:51

Your colleagues and boss are happy because you do the work and they don't have to and your boss because you do it for free.

Time to put your foot down and do your contracted hours. If the work needs doing they will either find a way to get it done or pay you to do it.