Meeting outside work hours

Smodlet

sangie595 wrote: »

In principle this makes sense. Unfortunately, in the real world, for various reasons people do not always have spare money. What they "ought" to have doesn't matter. We don't know what the family income or circumstances are - two wage earners on minimum wages in London, for example, doesn't leave a lot of capacity for "spare money". Equally, in a society that encourages over extending loans and credit, perhaps they genuinely can't afford any unforeseen bills. I know people on good salaries who can't afford an unforeseen bill. It astonishes me because I was brought up with "can't afford, can't have" - but it's worryingly common!

Very good point, Sangie... I did say there would be exceptions.

TELLIT01

sangie595 wrote: »

I know people on good salaries who can't afford an unforeseen bill. It astonishes me because I was brought up with "can't afford, can't have" - but it's worryingly common!

I agree. I worked for a subsidiary of one of the major banks some years ago (before the crash) and one day I was chatting to one of the directors about holidays and he said, totally seriously, that they couldn't afford a holiday that year because of the mortgage. His salary, even then, would have been approaching 6 digits but they had bought a huge house in a very desirable and expensive area.

Smodlet

TELLIT01 wrote: »

I agree. I worked for a subsidiary of one of the major banks some years ago (before the crash) and one day I was chatting to one of the directors about holidays and he said, totally seriously, that they couldn't afford a holiday that year because of the mortgage. His salary, even then, would have been approaching 6 digits but they had bought a huge house in a very desirable and expensive area.

So nice to have the choice to do so, don't you think?

TELLIT01

Smodlet wrote: »

So nice to have the choice to do so, don't you think?

Not suggesting otherwise. It was simply in response to the comment about people on good pay having little spare income. I think the guy was absolutely stupid stretching himself like that.

warby68

If its a one-off don't you just go to the meeting - notice has been given so people can make arrangements. You can't reasonably expect flexible working (in the informal sense) to always be one way. Someone mentioned pragmatism. I agree the rush to 'rights' and confrontation, rather than sucking up occasional inconvenience because you understand the balance of power, is a risky strategy - for the employee.

If it becomes a more regular thing THEN you have the discussion with your employer.

In this case there are clues that this may be a meeting of some significance (unusual time, no agenda, compulsory attendance). More reasons to think about the long game.

Vectis

As others have said, pay for the child care or ask another parent to look after your child for an hour or so before school.

Talk of contracts, hours of work etc is way over the top unless this becomes something more than a one-off. Sometimes things happen and employers expect a bit of flexibility from staff, just the same as you would hope your employer would be flexible if you, for instance, wanted time off work for something important.