Work outside of normal hours

74jax

Do you think working outside your normal hours is reflected by the 'status' you are in a company?

IE the higher up you are the more is expected of you, or do you think it doesn't matter where you are in the food chain nowadays everyone is expected to work evening and weekends and we should be lucky we have a job?

Lunar_Eclipse

I think both can apply, but very long days and working weekends seem the norm for those I know in managerial/director level positions in large companies. It's not ideal on a regular basis though.

peachyprice

I don't think it's the norm for those further down the food chain, no. Our support workers work their regular hours and would never be expected to work at any other time. That's what those higher up are paid higher salaries to do!

Katgrit

I know in the NHS if you work overtime you're entitled to get paid for it, unless you're a band 8 or above. Those jobs tend to come with a line in the job desrcription saying words to the effect of "the employee is expected to work adequate hours to get the job done". They aren't supposed to claim overtime but could take time off in leui. I know when I worked as a band 7 on average I put in at least half an hour overtime nearly every single day and hardly ever claimed for it - just saw it as my responsibility and more significantly, my b!tch boss treated me like I was a con artist if I did try to claim back my hours.

Marisco

I don't think anyone should be expected to work unpaid overtime. If they want to, then that is a different matter.

Reggie_Rebel

I've always seen it as swings and roundabouts. I'll do the extra when needed but then I don't expect to have to lose time or annual leave for doctors, dentists, opticians appointments etc.

duchy

Marisco wrote: »

I don't think anyone should be expected to work unpaid overtime. If they want to, then that is a different matter.

Plenty of companies think otherwise and an unwillingness to do so is a black mark against you and will lead to comments on appraisals like "poor commitment" or "not a team player"

LilElvis

Marisco wrote: »

I don't think anyone should be expected to work unpaid overtime. If they want to, then that is a different matter.

It depends on whether you want a job or a career. I've not worked for the last few years but when I was employed I always worked additional hours with no extra pay, starting with my first graduate job. The reward was career advancement and with it a higher salary, so a long term gain.

purpleshoes_2

If you worked in supported accommodation like I did and someone failed to turn up for a shift you had to stay there until another worker was called in to let you go. When I started there as a part time worker, if I did an extra shift I got overtime, then the company changed it to your flat rate and by the time I left we got time off in lieu as the manager changed and he didn't believe in paying people for extra hours worked.

Also, when people left their jobs weren't filled quickly so the hours had to be done by someone. When I was promoted to assistant manager if someone called in sick and I was on call, I did the shift, unpaid.

You weren't allowed to say no. Things will have changed due to working time directives but as far as I'm aware people can opt out.

I also worked the rota as assistant manager, my boss on the other hand worked a 9-5 and never did additional hours himself.

I ended up off work for 6 months due to stress and my working hours didn't help. There are some jobs depending on the manager you have where if you are off and you pick up the phone and you can't do it, it really doesn't go down well.

We had a bank of relief staff as well but if someone phones in sick with a couple of hours to go, you are stuck.

I'm just glad I'm off that treadmill and self employed and work the hours that suit me.

Buzzybee90

Yes I do think it depends.

My boss (head of team) works an awful lot but then gets paid more (but not as much as she could get in a different sector)

No one expects anyone else in the team to work outside their allotted hours and we all have contracts which specify this.

In fact, if I reply to an email at say 8pm, I will often be told to stop working!

Boyfriend is more experienced and much better paid, he is also not expected to work at home but will reply to clients on urgent issues.

Georgiegirl256

74jax wrote: »

Do you think working outside your normal hours is reflected by the 'status' you are in a company?

IE the higher up you are the more is expected of you, or do you think it doesn't matter where you are in the food chain nowadays everyone is expected to work evening and weekends and we should be lucky we have a job?

It totally depends on the field you work in. I used to work in retail as a sales associate and we were always expected to work evenings and weekends.

My husband does flexitime, so as long as he gets his hours in, he can start and finish when he wants to a certain extent. However, there are times when he has to work late at night as it is the only time you can access a certain computer system/server. He's quite high up in the company he works for.

I don't think it's so much to do with where you are in the company though, but dependant on the needs of the business.