Those in a senior position+

[Kittykat32]

For those in a senior position, what do you class as a reasonable amount of additional work per week?

reason I ask, big clamp down on flexible working / compressed hours for those at a certain grade due to an expectation of additional hours where the business requires.

I won’t say how many are classed as reasonable yet but given I don’t believe it’s required per day every day I don’t think the argument is sufficient, it peaks and it’s manageable for a worker then why not.

so what would you class as a reasonable amount of additional hours?

I'd look at it slightly differently and think about how many total hours are required rather than additional hours. But maybe that's a reflection of my industry as 'additional hours' implies there's an average/minimum level of hours whereas our expectation is you work whatever hours are necessary to get the job done.

@HundredMilesAnHour i agree with that, however if it was that every single day and week then for me the team isn’t resourced correctly to get the job done or what’s being asked of me is too much and frankly I should be more to do those hours if it’s consistent. Where there’s a deadline, it’s a case of getting it done but that peaks throughout the year and actually with good self time management I can be in control of that.

Do you feel you could do your job in a compressed week without relying on others to support your work? If not, then why?

In general, I work about 50 hours a week during peak periods and about 30 when there's a slow week. I'm a director in charge of 9 people

@winterdarkness how many hours are you contracted for?

I’m contracted for 38hrs I think. Some
days I will do 10+, others less. I don’t measure or keep tabs.

I think of it more as ‘being available’ so if something happens in India or California I’m generally available out of hours to step in. I don’t work at 6.30am but I do check my emails just in case there is a situation. Likewise at 10pm, I’m not actively working but am available if someone in the US has a problem.

I'm a senior manager with 10 direct reports, my working hours are officially 9-5.30pm but prior to December when my son was born I worked consistently 8-6pm, our company doesn't do overtime or anything like that so it was my decision and it was based upon the demands of my role at that time. When I return to work in January from maternity leave I will be working strictly my contracted hours to make sure I have more of a work/life balance for my son!

Similar to @NewNameNoelle - director with six direct reports globally. I work one mega long day where I get the train at 6am and am still on the train home at 9pm so will use that day to clear all my admin and emails. Other days I'm usually online at 7.30am, then bring laptop downstairs at 6ish and have it on in the background until DS goes to bed. I do an earlier finish on a Wednesday to facilitate pick up and his swimming lessons, then try and keep my Friday light. I'll check emails over the weekend too in case anything kicks off. Well over 50 hours but I am paid well for it and I enjoy my job.

Thanks all.

I’m contracted for 35 hours, with a requirement for additional hours to suit the business needs. To me this is above and beyond, should something need to be delivered it will be delivered if it can wait it’ll wait etc therefore not every day or every week.

My request for compressed hours have been declined as there’s a mass clamp down on it especially over a certain grade, as the example provided by HR is that you’re contracted for 7 hours a day, with working 1.5 hours a day additional time, add in the compressed hours required it would be a long working day and not sustainable.

I agree it’s not sustainable however, I fully disagree that there is a requirement to work an additional 1.5 hours every day every week, that is an additional 7.5 hours per week which is MORE (ok only by 30 mins) than a full day I’m actually being paid for.

This is a huge huge corporate business and I think it’s terrible and it’s actually made me think differently about the organisation i work for. I don’t mind doing 10 hours every day for a week or two as the business needs knowing it’ll end but actually as I manage my time well and only go on calls I need to be on and ensure I have people on calls who I can get a decision out of, I’ve not had to work additional hours at all recently.

This also isn’t at director level, think 2 grades down - org classes them as senior roles though but it’s leader of people or project / change type roles. not just me, it’s across the org. but I feel sorry for anyone who is expected to do 1.5 hours extra.

Director level. Contract is 35 hours per week. I usually work 5 to 10 hours more per week on top. Have 150 staff for context, in fintech.

@Kittykat32 , I'm contracted for 37 hours a week

That's the nature of the industry I work in (Financial Services). Everyone 'wants more for less'. We are always under pressure and there are always aggressive deadlines. It's a challenging place to work at all levels.

Compressed hours aren't really an option because no-one works 9-5 regardless of what any contract might say. Some people work 4 days instead of 5 so they get paid 80% of the salary.

Thanks all.
there’s just this blanket rule no compressed hours for any AVP and above in financial services which I don’t agree with.