Full time flexible hours

book12

I have applied for a job which is full time. The working hours mentioned on the job description are 'flexible hours', instead of daytime/regular hours, evening hours, and weekend hours.

I have a few queries that I would like to ask about 'flexible hours':

• does the employer determine the hours I work, since it's 'flexible hours? Or do I determine it?
• when I don't work during some hours, do I go home, or do I hang around in the workpalce until something comes up, then I will do it?
• the job mentions the annual salary (for example, £15,000). Since it's flexible hours, do I still get that much even though the hours vary each day?
• Is it possible to have the job, but negotiate the working hours from 'flexible hours' to 'daytime hours'? The reason is that if some days (for example) I only work 4 hours in that day, 3 hours the next day, 6 hours the other day, I might get bored... If I do 'daytime hours', I might not be bored.

getmore4less

ask if you get the interview.

I suspect if will be some form of shift pattern.

Oldernotwiser

Do you mean flexible hours or flexitime?

book12

getmore4less wrote: »

ask if you get the interview.

I suspect if will be some form of shift pattern.

Got a phone interview next week. I will ask then. Or should I ask during the 'face-to-face' interview?

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Do you mean flexible hours or flexitime?

Flexible hours.

getmore4less

Do it during the first contact.

You should not need to ask direct is should be covered when they explain the job to you.

if you don't understand what they tell you ask.

Zazen999

Don't ask those questions that you have asked here; just ask 'What do you mean by flexible hours please?' and note down what they say.

It could very well mean that you work when you want' but it is more likely to mean you work when they want. If their description isn't clear; then ask more probing questions; such as a typical week's hours and write it down when they tell you.

terra_ferma

You don't say what type of job it is, so it's difficult to help.
Is it an office job? Private or public sector? Does it involve shifts?

Often, in office environments, this means that you work x hours every day/week, and there is flexibility about when you work. E.g. 7 hours every day, 1hr or 1/2hr lunch, between 8 and 6pm. To be mutually agreed, depending on the needs of the business, and your needs (e.g. a carer, children etc).

I agree you should ask. I would be mindful though not to sound more worried about the hours than interested in the job.
What I mean ask at the end but don't dwell on it. Spend more time showing interest for the job.

Oldernotwiser

terra_ferma wrote: »

You don't say what type of job it is, so it's difficult to help.
Is it an office job? Private or public sector? Does it involve shifts?

Often, in office environments, this means that you work x hours every day/week, and there is flexibility about when you work. E.g. 7 hours every day, 1hr or 1/2hr lunch, between 8 and 6pm. To be mutually agreed, depending on the needs of the business, and your needs (e.g. a carer, children etc).

I agree you should ask. I would be mindful though not to sound more worried about the hours than interested in the job.
What I mean ask at the end but don't dwell on it. Spend more time showing interest for the job.

That's what I'd call flexitime.

juliescot

I had a job some years ago which had no regular shift pattern and covered hours from 0530 to 0030 (not all in one go mind you.)

It meant that one day I could be in at 0530 finish at 1400. Nexy day in at 1000 finish at 2200. Next day in at 1400 finish at 1800, you get the idea.

So that was flexible working and although you were given a couple of weeks notice the hours could change two or three days before hand.

book12

getmore4less wrote: »

Do it during the first contact.

You should not need to ask direct is should be covered when they explain the job to you.

if you don't understand what they tell you ask.

Ok, I will do it during the first interview then. Or maybe they will tell me about it after the phone interview. We will see...

terra_ferma wrote: »

You don't say what type of job it is, so it's difficult to help.
Is it an office job? Private or public sector? Does it involve shifts?

Often, in office environments, this means that you work x hours every day/week, and there is flexibility about when you work. E.g. 7 hours every day, 1hr or 1/2hr lunch, between 8 and 6pm. To be mutually agreed, depending on the needs of the business, and your needs (e.g. a carer, children etc).

I agree you should ask. I would be mindful though not to sound more worried about the hours than interested in the job.
What I mean ask at the end but don't dwell on it. Spend more time showing interest for the job.

It's a cashier job at a bank. Sorry for not being precise in the first place.

I'm not worried about the hours. I'm just curious what the 'flexible hours' is all about, what it means, how it will work out, etc...

Zazen999 wrote: »

Don't ask those questions that you have asked here; just ask 'What do you mean by flexible hours please?' and note down what they say.

It could very well mean that you work when you want' but it is more likely to mean you work when they want. If their description isn't clear; then ask more probing questions; such as a typical week's hours and write it down when they tell you.

Ok. I think I will ask them, since they didn't mention in the job description. It just said 'flexible hours'.

terra_ferma

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's what I'd call flexitime.

What I (and the employers I worked for) call flexitime is when you are entitled to work longer than (say) 7hrs a day, and take up to 1 day off every 4 weeks if you have accumulated enough additional hours.

If you have to work your hours no more no less, but when you start and finish can vary, is often called flexible hours/working instead.

I would say there is no standard practice as the definitions of flexible working and flexi-time vary.