At What Point Are You At Work?

Ms_Chocaholic

Thanks for all your replies.

The reason for my enquiry was that my work base is changing, my boss is a bit of a bully and has called a meeting for dead on 9.00 am on our first day there (he's never usually at work that early either, just making our work lives difficult). I won't know where I will be working till I get there so I was hoping to arrive at the office block at 8.59.59.

You do all make valid points regarding at what point you start work but ceridwen comments that I can be asked work related questions as soon as I step through the door so that's the stance I'll be taking.

Thanks to you all xxx

Ms Chocaholic xx

Zazen999

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

The reason for my enquiry was that my work base is changing, my boss is a bit of a bully and has called a meeting for dead on 9.00 am on our first day there (he's never usually at work that early either, just making our work lives difficult). I won't know where I will be working till I get there so I was hoping to arrive at the office block at 8.59.59.

You do all make valid points regarding at what point you start work but ceridwen comments that I can be asked work related questions as soon as I step through the door so that's the stance I'll be taking.

Thanks to you all xxx

Ms Chocaholic xx

Interesting angle, not one I'd choose myself.

hundredk

I'd say you are technically at work from the employer starts to pay you from. If you clock in then you should be immediately available to start work. Also depends what the job and duties are and what the contractual hours state. If you have a 5 min fag break and it takes another 5 mins each way in lifts etc to get outside then you are not available for work for 15 mins.

Pound

Ninja_Seb wrote: »

I consider myself to be at work when I arrive at my desk.

Anyone who comes in early to 'log on' is pretty sad

Much better to come in bang on 9.00 then spend the next 15 minutes waiting for your computer to boot up and making yourself a coffee, no point being ready to start at work 9 when you could have an extra 15 minutes in bed. To really make it clear you're not a saddo you should have your computer shut down and your coat on by 4.50 at the latest and then possibly hover around the exit so you can be the first out at the stroke of 5.

LittleVoice

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

The reason for my enquiry was that my work base is changing, my boss is a bit of a bully and has called a meeting for dead on 9.00 am on our first day there (he's never usually at work that early either, just making our work lives difficult). I won't know where I will be working till I get there so I was hoping to arrive at the office block at 8.59.59.

You do all make valid points regarding at what point you start work but ceridwen comments that I can be asked work related questions as soon as I step through the door so that's the stance I'll be taking.

Thanks to you all xxx

Ms Chocaholic xx

Being on the premises and therefore available to be asked work-related questions is not the same thing as attending a meeting called for a specific time.

What do your written particulars of employment (that's your contractual terms) say about your working hours? They probably (if sensibly drafted) will include something about being variable according to the requirements of the work. Hence, even if your regular hours are 9-5, a meeting called for 9 am means you have to arrrive in the building earlier in order to get to the meeting.

seadee

LittleVoice wrote: »

Being on the premises and therefore available to be asked work-related questions is not the same thing as attending a meeting called for a specific time.

What do your written particulars of employment (that's your contractual terms) say about your working hours? They probably (if sensibly drafted) will include something about being variable according to the requirements of the work. Hence, even if your regular hours are 9-5, a meeting called for 9 am means you have to arrrive in the building earlier in order to get to the meeting.

I would have thought that if your hours are from 9-5 (as in the example above) you should be available during to work during that time so a meeting at 9 is perfectly acceptable, as would a meeting that finished at 5pm

All companies should have policies to deal with bullying in the workplace - which might help you deal with your boss

Zazen999

seadee wrote: »

I would have thought that if your hours are from 9-5 (as in the example above) you should be available during to work during that time so a meeting at 9 is perfectly acceptable, as would a meeting that finished at 5pm

All companies should have policies to deal with bullying in the workplace - which might help you deal with your boss

Yes, being at the meeting for a 9am start means being in the meeting room for a 9am start, which is usually seated, having said hellos and with a coffee in your hand. Not standing on the welcome mat at the entrance.

Aggravating bullies just gives them the upper hand, and an excuse to get out of any bullying clams [Yes, I was angry. They had been specifically called to a 9am meeting and were late, on the first day at the new premises - can you see what I am up against with these staff???].....

OP - Deal with the bully properly, using the grievance procedure, but being pedantic about things will probably make the situation worse.

seadee

Zazen999 wrote: »

Yes, being at the meeting for a 9am start means being in the meeting room for a 9am start, which is usually seated, having said hellos and with a coffee in your hand. Not standing on the welcome mat at the entrance.

Aggravating bullies just gives them the upper hand, and an excuse to get out of any bullying clams [Yes, I was angry. They had been specifically called to a 9am meeting and were late, on the first day at the new premises - can you see what I am up against with these staff???].....

OP - Deal with the bully properly, using the grievance procedure, but being pedantic about things will probably make the situation worse.

If staff are late for work you should have procedures to deal with that as well.

Zazen999

seadee wrote: »

If staff are late for work you should have procedures to deal with that as well.

I'm confused....

The OP says she is deliberately going to be walking through the door at 9am, when she has been called to a meeting for 9 and is doing this because the boss is a bully.

Why are you quoting me and telling me that i need procedures for staff being late?

duchy

It all sounds rather petty and childish.
When I worked in an office (I now work from home-I still clock in and if my shift starts at 9 then I'm logged in and ready to take calls BY 9 not just started to log in).
If there is a meeting for nine then you are not going to gain anything by arriving later or by refusing to be involved in any questions before 9. All you'll do is pee people off. The polite thing to do is be considerate of everyone attending the meeting (bosses and collegues) by been there and ready to start at the agreed time. If there are changes going on within your company at the moment -then in the current economic times when "change" can mean " reduction" it's probably even more important.

If you don't like your boss then look for another job rather than play games.

As for when you are "at" work.......if I arrived at work at 8.45 when due to start at 9 and swore at another member of staff before 9 o clock -the company would still be able to sack me for gross misconduct so in that context when you are on company premises or in any way representing your company (eg wearing a company uniform when travelling) then in my understanding you are "at work" and subject to company rules and policies.