Give & Take in the workplace

bugslet

Nebulous2 wrote: »

Most workplaces will tolerate some give and take, treat people like adults and they will (generally) behave like adults.

There is a downside to all that though; you always get someone who takes advantage and spoils it for others, .

Hit the nail on the head.

I can't answer as I'm the boss, so I can use the internet - as I am now! - slope off for doctors appointments, but then I expect myself to take calls in the middle of the night and shuffle in at the weekends if need be.:o

The problem is when you've had a group of people who have worked that system for a while and neither party feels put upon and then someone with a different mindset arrives and determines to 'take' more than they 'give'. It makes other employees as annoyed as it does the boss, then more formal regulations creep in and that's how you end up with dismissals for things that I think of as minor.

DKLS

Cloudydaze wrote: »

Whilst at work, I expect to be able to:
- send personal emails, texts, calls Yes
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet Yes
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries Yes
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter Yes
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want Yes
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed Yes you cant beat a 2-3 hour lunch with a director

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre) No, If plans are set they are set
- stay late or come in early (unpaid) Yes
- not have a lunchbreak when busy Yes
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked NEVER
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours Yes
- almost always work more than the contracted hours Yes

Obviously, not all the above happens all the time! I get paid a decent salary and a bonus which usually compensates for the extra hours.

I'm just interested in what is normal for others.

Middle to Snr Mgt

Murphybear

My last paid employment was yes to most, I certainly wouldn't be expected to cancel leave once booked. My hours were what it took to get the job done. If I was out of my office if someone wanted something they spoke to my secretary.

Also University administrator

KevInChester

- send personal emails, texts, calls

Yes - just don't take the mickey.

- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet

Likewise

- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries

Can be arranged, medical appointments are always ok, others are judged on a case by case basis. Reasonable accomodations will be met.

- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter

This is allowed, however again it shouldn't be done to excess.

- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want

Loo breaks aren't regulated as long as you aren't taking one every 20 minutes (though even that would be fine as a 1 off type thing). Drinks are allowed in certain areas but not others, so depends where I am. Water is allowed in all places though so usually have a bottle with me.

- take more than an hour for lunch if needed

I have half an hour for lunch (unpaid) and 2 x 20 minute breaks (paid). I can negotiate with the team to go different times, as long as we all agree it can be split up as we like.

>
In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre)

On rare ocassions this may be asked but is not enforced. I am more than willing to help though,

- stay late or come in early (unpaid)

Not expected, if it is asked for some reason then we are either paid for it or given TOIL

- not have a lunchbreak when busy

Nope, but would be expected to arrange the lunch break to meet the needs of the college.

- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked

I am pro rata averaged out of the whole year, so when college isn't open to students, I am on 'holiday'. Not allowed to take holidays outside of this.

- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours

Never been asked to do so, would be willing to do so if asked on an irregular basis.

- almost always work more than the contracted hours

Rarely, times of high demand I may be asked to do longer hours in exchange for more pay or TOIL.

I work in the education sector as a student support/admin/librarian/tech support/learning advisor

My pay is on the low side (as it is averaged out) but I get a lot of holidays and enjoy my work.

kleapatra

Cloudydaze wrote: »

I've read a couple of threads recently about people getting fired for gross misconduct for things which, quite frankly, no one would bat an eyelid at anywhere I've worked. What has surprised more is the response from other posters who think the employer was justified.

I'm curious to know if the amount of give and take relates to industry, salary, level of seniority or something else. I work in financial services and the following has always been the norm...

Whilst at work, I expect to be able to:
- send personal emails, texts, calls
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre)
- stay late or come in early (unpaid)
- not have a lunchbreak when busy
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours
- almost always work more than the contracted hours

Obviously, not all the above happens all the time! I get paid a decent salary and a bonus which usually compensates for the extra hours.

I'm just interested in what is normal for others.

I'm so glad you posted this Cloudydaze as I've been reading this forum and thinking exactly the same! I expect to be able to do all the things you listed, I only need to add having all my personal deliveries sent to the office as I obviously won't be at home to receive them. I have never in my life bought any stationery and I don't have a home printer because on the very odd occasion I need to print something out I just do it at work! I've recently changed my job and my new company work very similarly. As long as I get my work done my hours are flexible. Lunch hours are whenever you want and again flexible. But equally as you said, they expect certain things of me, pretty much as you listed.

I work for a small company now as their FC however my last employer was a lot bigger (similar role) and in a completely different industry but I still expected and they still expected similar things. Maybe though based on things I've read on this forum I've been lucky with all the companies I've worked for so far in my life!

Undervalued

Cloudydaze wrote: »

Whilst at work, I expect to be able to:
- send personal emails, texts, calls
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre)
- stay late or come in early (unpaid)
- not have a lunchbreak when busy
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours
- almost always work more than the contracted hours

I've certainly worked in an environment like that. It relies on trust and goodwill in both directions.

However there are many places that are totally "by the book" sometimes for genuine security reasons but sometimes just because they are.

What is important is to have a clear understanding of what is and isn't allowed and, more difficult, what is reasonable.

kkgree1

- send personal emails, texts, calls Yes but calls expected to be made during lunch break.
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet Yes
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries Yes for medical, no for others (unless emergency)
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter Yes
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want Yes
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed Yes, rarely but always ask permission first!

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre) No
- stay late or come in early (unpaid) Yes
- not have a lunchbreak when busy Yes
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked No
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours Sometimes
- almost always work more than the contracted hours Yes

I'm a PA in a school.

iammumtoone

Cloudydaze wrote: »

Whilst at work, I expect to be able to:
- send personal emails, texts, calls - mobiles had to be turned off in the office so not texts but yes to the others, using the works phone as long as you didn't take advantage
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet - yes
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries - yes to medical and plumbers depending on the delivery yes for a sofa etc, parcels could be delivered to workplace occasionally.
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter - not officially allowed but you wouldn't get the sack for it
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want - yes but coffee had to be drunk at desk whilst working
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed - yes

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre) - not forced to but I did as I appreciated the above perks
- stay late or come in early (unpaid) - yes
- not have a lunchbreak when busy -yes regularly more than staying late or come in early
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked - no
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours - yes but only from my manager
- almost always work more than the contracted hours - yes, see lunchtime comment and always started work when I arrived at the office rather than my official start time

Worked in an office at senior level

The above relates to my previous job I am currently looking for work and sadly suspect my next job might not be so flexible.

Owain_Moneysaver

Whilst at work, I expect to be able to:
- send personal emails, texts, calls
no computer or internet access
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet
no computer or internet access
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries
absolutely not officially, in practice if can be covered by colleague
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter
no access to stationery, and that would be theft
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want
loo as many as needed, subject to exigencies of the service. Coffee breaks no, but in practice what a manager doesn't see...
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed
40 mins lunch break.

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre)
of course
- stay late or come in early (unpaid)
of course, but would be paid
- not have a lunchbreak when busy
what happens, happens
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked
no, holidays are rostered a year in advance
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours
not appliccable
- almost always work more than the contracted hours
yes, and get paid overtime

ticket examiner for railway, through agency

bluenoseam

Cloudydaze wrote: »

I've read a couple of threads recently about people getting fired for gross misconduct for things which, quite frankly, no one would bat an eyelid at anywhere I've worked. What has surprised more is the response from other posters who think the employer was justified.

I'm curious to know if the amount of give and take relates to industry, salary, level of seniority or something else. I work in financial services and the following has always been the norm...

Whilst at work, I expect to be able to:
- send personal emails, texts, calls Absolutely not
- deal with personal admin ie pay a bill/look sth up on the internet No, I'm there to work.
- come in late/leave early for medical apts, plumbers or deliveries certain amount of give & take for medical appointments given circumstances, but plumbers & deliveries, no chance!
- take the odd bit of stationery for personal use or frank a letter maybe the odd pen...
- take as many coffee/loo breaks as I want when you gotta pee you gotta pee, but we're allowed a bottle of juice/water at the counter.
- take more than an hour for lunch if needed take an hour for lunch, are you stoned or something??!?

In return I have been expected to:
- cancel last min plans with friends to work late (inc missing theatre) Rota is done on a weekly basis, the potential exists for me to rock up at work one day to find out I'm working the next.
- stay late or come in early (unpaid) Well how else is the place going to be tidied up after a days trading?
- not have a lunchbreak when busy No, but a shortened lunch break is permissable.
- change holiday plans once holiday had been booked No, holidays are booked for a reason.
- answer work emails/calls outside of working hours Not strictly, although lets be fair I've answered thousands of questions about products on my commute to & from work.
- almost always work more than the contracted hours Only on occasion, but not entirely unexpected when you're on a 4hr contract.

Obviously, not all the above happens all the time! I get paid a decent salary and a bonus which usually compensates for the extra hours.

I'm just interested in what is normal for others.

I work in retail, if I was caught doing half that stuff I'd be out the door before my feet touched the ground - sorry to say this chief, but you're probably the reason why a lot of people think all people working in finance are jerks!