No more flexible working.

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

Quite a long story so will try and keep it short.
have been in my role for over 5 years and am the only person in my role so I am different to everyone else, in that they all work a full day, whereas there are periods of my job where I work much longer hours and also expected to be able to work from my annual leave. Have been sending emails and chasing queries from the side of the pool before. And also often not get lunch breaks.
now I don’t mind this and was prepared for this because I’ve always been able to work half and hour later and leave half an hour earlier.
a new manager has taken umbrage to this and has questioned it multiple times. I have always referred him back to the big boss who has said it’s fine and I’ve carried on.
I usually come in the half hour later due to commitments at home and taking dd to school as no transport from home to school. So she’s getting there half an hour early so that I can still get to work on time. (She’s 6th form so has the common room to sit in) and rarely leave that half an hour early, usually leave about quarter to ten to so 15/10 minutes early but often there until 10pm at etc.
sorry also forgot another element in that I have a voluntary role outside of work where I have been allowed to leave an hour early one day a week.

my line manager started questioning it again so the big boss called a meeting. He started off the meeting by saying he didn’t have an issue with my hours and appreciate that I always go above and beyond and work hard.

somehow by the end of the meeting because of my line manager not giving in, I now have to work the full time hours and have been given a term notice to stop the voluntary work or drop an hours pay a week. And any overtime will be given as time of in lieu that I can’t use as I want as they would rather that I say worked an hour and half overtime a day for a 6 week period and then for the next 6 weeks leave an hour and half early!!!

im very unhappy with this arrangement and said that I would want to take time off in lieu when I wanted to eg if I had a weeks worth could tack it on to my holidays. What good is going home early? I won’t benefit from that as a short term thing.

do I have a case to answer in that for 5 years this has been my standard practice and any way I can object and have my hours to changed?

I was given core hours. 8.30-3.30. I have now found an email that says this from the old head and line manager.

You need to send a copy to your manager's manager.

Particularly as the manager and their manager will be the ones contacted to give you your reference when you get a new job.

🤞for the new job.

Your take on it sounds toxic to me. Just do the extra hours because 'that's part of the job' but don't dare demand any flexibility back? No wonder so many people have job dissatisfaction these days.
If a job consistently requires 'extra hours' then that should be the 'normal hours' and paid accordingly. Not pay people for 40 and expect 50. Employers take the mick these days

Your take on core hours seems different to mine and might be the issue with your manager also.

Core hours (to me and my sector) are the shared mandatory times to be in the office, with the rest of our 7hr day (plus 30min unpaid lunch) to be worked either side. There is some ability to shift the start/finish to leave at the core hour finish line, but the clear expectation is that we are present for all of our days hours.

Your interpretation seems to be that you only do the 6hrs and the rest is optional?

People don't get tracked because you are all adults and should be able to be trusted. Sounds like you've been taking the piss for a long time, and I'd say your colleagues have noticed this too and most likely complained to this new manager.

This.

And the hour off a week to go and work unpaid somewhere else is an absolute pisstake.

This. And change email to automated response of your working hours

@UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter

I have actually got an interview for the job I applied for and will if offered it make sure I am much more specific about the timings of my working day and expectations for extra hours and flexibility before accepting. If I get the job obviously. It also a lot more money with room to move upwards whereas I am stuck in my current role and it’s no real scope to move up the ladder.

Good luck for the new job. Sounds like, if the conditions are met, you'll be in a better position with the new job. Fingers crossed for you. 🌹

Good luck with the interview!

Hope you do brilliantly. I'm sure you don't need this suggestion but just to state the obvious don't say anything negative about your current employer and the aggro that you are having with them. Keep it all "I have loved working at x but I feel ready for a new challenge" etc. Any mention of aggro and they won't know whether it is the employer being unreasonable or you.

You could also think about whether it would be best to mention the core hours/flexibility that you need at interview or whether you would rather ask for a discussion re if your core hours expectations etc are compatible if you are offered the job.

Ooh good luck OP!