What is normal in the workplace these days? I’m out of touch..

[Itsthefinal]

After I had DD I moved from a busy NHS job where I worked every hour under the sun to a remote role. I worked my hours, nobody questioned it, but I got bored and so 3 weeks ago I started a new role back in an office 5 days a week.

It’s an office role, well paid, and when I’m there I pour every bit of myself in. I think I’ve settled in quickly, picked the work up fast and am making positive change already, and that’s the feeback from my boss. I start at 8:30 but get in for 8:15, I don’t take my full lunch break and then drop the post at the post office when I finish, which is out of my way, adding on another 15 minutes so I think I’m clocking an extra 45 mins a day unpaid.

However the first few days he asked ‘oh what time are you going today’ and I said.. well, 4:30 when I finish. Then today we talked about how the end of year bonus should be performance related but he said he would rather it was attached to how many hours you worked, so those doing over their hours got a bigger bonus. He made a comment that ‘some people clock off exactly when they’re meant to finish and run out the door’.

I have a 3yo DD that I collect from childcare when I finish.. I don’t have the flexibility to work extra hours and I made that clear when I was offered the position. Am I being unreasonable here? I am really enjoying the job but it’s putting me off massively as I feel guilty every day when I leave. I’m working my contracted hours and am not sure what else I can do really.

Should I ask if he’s still happy with our arrangement of my working hours, or leave it? I guess I’ll find out when my probation ends..

Of course you're not being unreasonable, he's taking the piss and on dodgy ground with HR and legally if push comes to shove. How is that meeting going to go? Itsthefinal comes in early and helps with the post on the way out, but doesn't want to work for free so I think we should let her go..?

I would ask for a copy of the bonus scheme rules - I’d be very surprised if working excess hours was included.

No this is not normal. Performance reviews should be based on results. You could sit there til 8pm and faff about on the internet - how is that benefitting the business and performing better than others?

It is a small business, and very male dominated - those who can stay late don’t have childcare. It’s just strange as the feedback is glowing but he is constantly asking me what time I’m leaving that day. The time I’m bloody meant to finish!

People can be present for extra hours, but it doesn't mean they're doing productive work or achieving much. Bonuses for presenteeism is a bad idea, and as PPs have mentioned, could be on dodgy ground HR-wise.

Just tell him that you are so efficient at your job that you don’t need to stay late to look good

I've worked for small business owners who were always trying to bully me into extra unpaid hours. They were the least grateful people i've ever worked for. Stick to your hours and ignore.

You've had good feedback and you are working 45 minutes a day extra doing the post drop off. Is everyone else working really late? Is he asking what time you're leaving because you're not expected to do the post in your own time so could leave earlier?

No, there are 2 people that work maybe 50 hours a week and are definitely the golden ones, neither have children and can work whenever they want. Some work school hours, and some work standard office hours.

I think he wanted me to join that ‘golden’ club, or thought I would - maybe I came across that way in my interview. I’m hoping that a few more weeks of me giving it my all and he will stop being so bothered. He’s also aware I’m midway through my Masters degree alongside work which I’m squeezing in every spare minute I do get!

I’d say “if you want me to do the post which adds half an hour - 4.30 - when I technically finish”

see what he says to that .