Really irritated. Are they "allowed" to do this?

HurdyGurdy

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Many places state that flexitime is subject to the business need. At least you got prior warning albeit less than 24 hrs.

I agree. And we *are* grateful to have flexi time. It has only fairly recently been introduced, and it has made our lives a whole lot better.

My issue is the way I was told (not even *asked*)

HurdyGurdy

mattcanary wrote: »

I have to say this kind of thing often happens in many factory/warehousing/driving/shop roles.

Are you able to do it jsut this once, or have you got things going in away from work that ean you can't stay there later than normal?

No, I can do it. That's not a problem. I work in front line Children's Services, so I do understand that there needs to be flexibility in working hours. And when it is "on the day" and we suddenly get an influx of referrals, I don't blink an eye at staying.

But as I have said above, it is just the way I was contacted and *told* about it.

marybelle01

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

Well, I know that no one is indispensable, but yes . I could tell them to shove it and not worry.

I am transferring to another department/team as soon as they can recruit a replacement for me! I did wonder if they would block that move, but the new team are desperate for a new member of staff, and I think an enormous stink will be kicked up if my current team try to delay it. It is already over a week since I was offered and accepted the new role and due to my line manager's manager being on leave for three weeks, and HER manager being off sick (four weeks so far), no one is able to do the recruitment.

I think you misunderstood my question. Flexitime is based on the needs of the business and not your desires. And nobody is indispensable, especially not if they wish to work there in the future. You work in a social service. There is no such thing as "my time is more important than the business". Not when a child's safety or life depends on it.

DaveTheMus

Work is not a democracy......when anyone goes to work they enter, for want of a better word, a dictatorship.

You're told what to wear, what time to turn up, what time to leave, what time to eat, how much you'll be paid, what your role will entail.....

Some works treat their employees better than others, but, when you break it down, you have no power at all, apart from talking with your feet and going to a different organisation.

getmore4less

don't give work your personal mobile.

If they insist on having one get a spare one, they are available free.

turn off any work phones.

HurdyGurdy

marybelle01 wrote: »

I think you misunderstood my question. Flexitime is based on the needs of the business and not your desires. And nobody is indispensable, especially not if they wish to work there in the future. You work in a social service. There is no such thing as "my time is more important than the business". Not when a child's safety or life depends on it.

Which is exactly what I said in post #13

poorlittlefish

Had you have switched your phone off (or pretended you had) you wouldn't have known until the actual day, which would have been even worse. I've been in similar situations in that, like yourself, I'd be the first one in (at 7am, after an hour's drive). Plenty of times this would be "forgotten" by people who'd arrive up to three hours after me and request my attendance that day for a 5pm meeting. It makes for a very long and draining day.

As others have said, while flexi is a big help most policies state that it is subject to the needs of the business, so no-one has the right to say they won't stay an extra 20 minutes when the office is open until then. However, the whole situation has been badly handled and your manager certainly could have been more considerate in their approach.

I would certainly have a word with them and mention the difficulties that short-notice requests have. Some people, for instance, might need to pick kids up or catch a pre-booked specific train.

As for working all those 30 mins "for free" I agree that you can't claim for time worked before official hours start, but can't you recoup the time by taking an hour's lunch and entering 30 minutes or adjusting your leaving time to compensate? I don't mean by sneaky means as you don't want to appear like you're fiddling your times but that's a lot of minutes to lose every week from your flexi credit.

SeaLion_2

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

Taken on it's own, it's not a big issue, but it has just irritated me, especially as it follows two other occasions when I have been "dumped on" due to poor management of staff leave.


So, this evening at 17:46, I got a text message from the acting line manager (the previous line manager having left 2 weeks ago).

"Hi HurdyGurdy, I'm sorry but we have an issue for tomorrow in that there will only be you, AA and BB here tomorrow afternoon as [the previous line manager] approved leave for me, CC and DD as well, we are not in. I have a half day, so I will be here in the morning, so you will need to be here till 5.20 tomorrow"

I am wondering if they are "allowed" to contact me outside of office hours and tell me that I must alter my working hours at short notice. I am sure they are, but I am going to have a word with the manager tomorrow, and I don't want to be making wild assumptions.

I am just irritated that

1. I was sent a text message, and not a phone call
2. I was sent a text message outside of working hours
and
3. I was sent a text message outside of working hours, *telling* me that I *will have to* work later than usual the next day.

)

Yes, work isn't a democracy, and you work subject to business needs. So it is a question of 'telling' not 'asking'.

Yes, it sounds like the leave has been poorly managed, but sh%t happens.

However there is nothing wrong with saying that you would have preferred a call, the personal touch would have made you feel more a part of the team and valued as an employee.

Blackpool_Saver

SeaLion wrote: »

there is nothing wrong with saying that you would have preferred a call, the personal touch would have made you feel more a part of the team and valued as an employee.

Or a text AND a phone call/leave message or whatever. This texting is not very professional is it?

agrinnall

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

But as I have said above, it is just the way I was contacted and *told* about it.

Well if realisation about staffing levels only came to light after you left for the day then the alternative would have been that they told you about it after you'd arrived at work the next day, so you would have had even less notice, and much less opportunity to rearrange any plans that you might have had for the extra 20 minutes.

Yes, it would have been better if they could have given you more notice, but this is the real world and sometimes you either have to shrug and accept things or kick up a fuss and make yourself unpopular.