Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jul 2, 2014 12:24:23 GMT -5
How much freedom do you have to come & go, run errands, work from home, etc?
My work is really flexible. Basically as long as my work gets done & I don't miss meetings, no one cares what I do.
I went with a bunch of coworkers Tuesday to watch the world cup game at a bar & found out some other guys we met there had to use vacation time to get off work. Then one guy's wife couldn't attend because she wasn't allowed to leave her work. It got me thinking that maybe I am pretty darn lucky & I was curious as to how it is for other YMers.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jul 2, 2014 12:27:34 GMT -5
In general once I get things set up on the HPLC it runs on it's own. So on the rare occasions I've been called by daycare I am able to leave, drive down to MIL's and come back without having to document I was gone. My OB clinic is right across the street so I come/go as I please when I have appointments.
If I am doing anything that is timed, bacterial work or sample prep I can't leave. I have to keep going because if I don't whatever it I am doing will be ruined requiring more time and more money when I have to repeat the process.
If I am only gone for an hour or less nobody says anything. Anything longer than that I need to document.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 12:30:36 GMT -5
Lol. The kiddos would notice if I were gone and tattle on me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 12:31:18 GMT -5
I'm like you, I can pretty much come and go as I please as long as I get things done and support the meetings I need to support (either in person or dial-in). I can also telework when I need to/want to.
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jitterbug
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Post by jitterbug on Jul 2, 2014 12:42:15 GMT -5
My company is understanding when something pops up that you have to attend to (family situation, doctor's appointment, etc.) - but the expectation is that we are here from 8-5, even if you have nothing to do but twiddle your thumbs. Going off to the bar in the middle of the afternoon to watch the soccer game - not so much. I wouldn't say they'd fire you for that - but definitely earn disapproval!
I would LOVE to have a job, though, where you can go home when there's nothing to do! I have now built my job into something of substance, but I spent my first 5+ years here killing time. The position was here, but I have no idea what the person before me did. I hear she was on the phone a lot. Obviously - I still have time on my hands, since I'm cruising this board!
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Jul 2, 2014 12:49:11 GMT -5
Ours is flexible in some ways and very rigid in others.
We are allowed to set our arrival time (anytime between 7 - 10 a.m.), as long as we stay 8 hours. If your normal arrival time is 8:30 and you get here at 8:45 (as I do most days), it's fine, as long as you stay until 4:45. However, you have to record your deviation from "normal hours" in Sharepoint.
Almost all vacation request are automatically approved - again, you just have to put them in Sharepoint. I can decide at 4pm Thursday that I'd like a 3-day weekend - no issue about having to provide a certain number of days' notice.
But, since we are beholden to the taxpayers, there is a certain amount of "ass in seat" time. Some weeks (like this one) I have 25 hours' worth of work, other weeks I have 60, but I have to be in the office the same amount of time each week.
Still - I look at other jobs, like my sister's (she's a nurse - they get docked half a day's pay if they arrive more than 7 minutes after the start of their shift) and think mine isn't so bad.
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quince
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Post by quince on Jul 2, 2014 12:56:16 GMT -5
I work entirely from home, whenever I like as long as I make 20 hours a week, use PTO as I please. Kinda nice.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jul 2, 2014 12:56:50 GMT -5
I would LOVE to have a job, though, where you can go home when there's nothing to do! I have now built my job into something of substance, but I spent my first 5+ years here killing time. The position was here, but I have no idea what the person before me did. I hear she was on the phone a lot. Obviously - I still have time on my hands, since I'm cruising this board! The corollary to this sort of job is that when you need to work, you work as long as you need to work. It DOES balance out in the end. I can't begin to count the number of times I was called into the lab at 10 at night because an alarm was going off. Freezers seem to have this innate ability to croak at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon, so rather than leave, I spend the next 4 hours looking for -80 freezer space for a large dying freezer. I've run 24 hour experiments where it was easier to take a nap on the couch in the ladies room for a couple hours than go home. I had the sort of job where I could work whatever hours I wanted to work. So I chose to work 7-3:30. If I had a lot of computer stuff that I needed to do, I did it at home (or when I went to see TD). Most of my doctors were on campus, so I could run over for an appointment and be back in less than 30 min.
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gs11rmb
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Post by gs11rmb on Jul 2, 2014 13:05:32 GMT -5
I have a lot of flexibility. In general, I work from 8-4 and take time off whenever I want. I had lunch and went to an 'expo' with my husband today and didn't take off any official time. I think the ability to accommodate errands, doctor appointments, etc. in to your working day is an important part of job satisfaction. I like what I do, take it seriously and never miss a deadline.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jul 2, 2014 13:08:41 GMT -5
It depends. For the most part my job is really pretty flexible. The "office" is open from 8 until 4:30 so someone has to be here to cover any customers/phone calls. There are 4 of us that can cover the office (Dispatcher, myself and two salesmen). I technically don't work for this company but they still lump me in with covering the office. (two companies in one building, Bossman owns both, I work for both but Company A is the one that pays me and that I do the bulk of my work for. They "rent" me to Company B to do their bookkeeping).
With regards to appointments, kid stuff, days off, etc. they don't really care so long as someone is here to cover Company B. Company A- I'm the only 'Office' employee of so when I'm out people either leave me a voice mail or call my cell phone.
Today- I can in early-ish (7:15 am). Dropped off some donation items during my post office run (took probably 30 extra minutes) and had a quick bite at my desk for lunch while chatting on the phone with my BFF. I'll cut out of here at 2:45 today to go to a 3pm hair appointment. But Monday and Tuesday I was here for 7:30 to 4:30 both days and ate lunch at my desk while working.
If I announced I was taking tomorrow off no one would really care.
I don't accrue vacation time or sick time in the traditional sense. I'm salaried and I just take whatever time I want off. I really try not to abuse it. I typically take maybe 8 to 10 days a year off on average. Usually I'll come in and work until noon/1pm and then take off.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 2, 2014 13:11:29 GMT -5
I have a fairly flexible work environment. I work Tues - Fri and pretty much set my own hours for those days. I check emails, etc. on Mondays and if anything major pops up I can typically take care of it from home. There are certain times of the year when I am really busy (Oct. - March) and other times not so much. July and August are the slowest months so I only have about 3 hrs worth of work each day. I end up staying in the office around 34- 36 hrs a week because I am sure leaving at noon everyday would probably be frowned upon . Last summer I wasted some time and made a little money by doing some stock trading during the day. Since most of the stocks are overpriced right now that is not happening, so just wasting time on YM.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jul 2, 2014 13:13:05 GMT -5
I get to come and go as I please.
My entire summer schedule is changed so that we don't have to put our school aged kids in daycare. That alone saves us about 5K. This year alone, I will have had three different schedules. That doesn't include all the kid stuff at school...
My job has no financial perks, other than the paycheck. Wage is not tied to actual output. It's tied to public/political sentiment, how balanced the budget is, and how much the lawmakers want to punish public sector workers.
Because my department recognizes this, I think they work hard to make the job attractive with things like flexibility, paying for continuing education, etc.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jul 2, 2014 13:14:01 GMT -5
At my last job, I could take off just about anytime I wanted or needed to, but it always came out of my PTO. Despite this, my coworkers would get pissy about others doing this if it did not jive with their own philosophies of what constitutes a valid reason to get out of work, or how they themselves worked it, such as working through lunch. Hell, one of my coworkers got pissy if you went to research something in the basement records for 5 minutes and didn't tell her.
Just writing about this makes me glad that I left that place. It sort of begs another question. Do you get crap from coworkers about your flexible schedule?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jul 2, 2014 13:22:37 GMT -5
Do you get crap from coworkers about your flexible schedule?
I have no co-workers.
On the flip side having no co-workers means while I have flexibility I have to be very mindful of how I exercise it since there is no one else to help with the workload.
Which I have to constantly explain to people like my MIL and DH who sometimes take for granted that I can do sick parent duty.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Jul 2, 2014 13:25:16 GMT -5
I don't have Angel's flexibility but I'm not punching a time clock either. Usually my hours are 7-4:30 with a day off every two weeks plus weekends. I generally don't get grief about telework when I need to or my time off requests. I have a set day off but I can change it if I want to.
When I had physical therapy at 4:45, I came in at 6:45 and left at 4:15. As long as work gets done and we cover what needs covered,
Most of the old guard can only telework one day per week, can't adjust hours is gone thankfully.
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swasat
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Post by swasat on Jul 2, 2014 13:27:19 GMT -5
I'm like you, I can pretty much come and go as I please as long as I get things done and support the meetings I need to support (either in person or dial-in). I can also telework when I need to/want to. Exactly the same for me. I don't even take PTO for personal errands if the errand duration < 2 hours. The boss doesn't care. In turn I provide the same flexibility to my own direct reports.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 2, 2014 13:30:29 GMT -5
At my last job, I could take off just about anytime I wanted or needed to, but it always came out of my PTO. Despite this, my coworkers would get pissy about others doing this if it did not jive with their own philosophies of what constitutes a valid reason to get out of work, or how they themselves worked it, such as working through lunch. Hell, one of my coworkers got pissy if you went to research something in the basement records for 5 minutes and didn't tell her. Just writing about this makes me glad that I left that place. It sort of begs another question. Do you get crap from coworkers about your flexible schedule?There is an employee at my office who doesn't come in until around 11AM (sometimes noon). I am typically here early because I like to go exercise after work, have dinner with friends, read a book, watch Netflix, do whatever in the evenings. When I first started (about 4 yrs ago) she would make comments like "leaving already" when I would leave at 5PM. She would also often make comments about how she stayed until 8PM or 9PM the night before. Finally, one day I said "well, since you didn't get here until noon leaving at 9PM is a regular day of work, right?" That pretty much shut her up. I never could figure out what point she was trying to make? Does she think no one notices she doesn't walk in the door until almost noon? We only have 10 people in the office.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 13:32:38 GMT -5
I'm like you, I can pretty much come and go as I please as long as I get things done and support the meetings I need to support (either in person or dial-in). I can also telework when I need to/want to. Exactly the same for me. I don't even take PTO for personal errands if the errand duration < 2 hours. The boss doesn't care. In turn I provide the same flexibility to my own direct reports. I never take PTO unless I'm short hours in a pay period. Since I can work at home there's no reason I can't get my hours in. I currently have 6 weeks of vacation time despite having taken off a week in May and a week in March (and in both of those pay periods I had overtime). I'm salary but I get paid for any hours in excess of 80 in a pay period. I'm taking off 2.5 weeks in august and hope to actually use some of my PTO time.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Jul 2, 2014 13:34:44 GMT -5
Pretty flexible as long as my work is done - I leave once a week for an hour to go hang with my kids at their kindermusik class. But my boss also likes to see us in the office 8-5 most of the time. He starts to get irritated if it looks like we are taking advantage of the flexibility, so we just have to be mindful of how it looks to everyone. The field crew needs to be working early in the summer, when construction is going, but if they keep on their "summer hours" too late in the year and my boss never sees them in the office, he starts getting peeved at them. So there is flexibility as long as no one is abusing it.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jul 2, 2014 13:35:10 GMT -5
Fairly flexible here. I have always tried to schedule doctor's appointments before 8 a.m. so I am not late, but some specialists don't start that early. I have never abused sick time, so if I need it (and I will later this year for a colonoscopy), there's no issue using it.
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JustLurkin
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Post by JustLurkin on Jul 2, 2014 13:46:52 GMT -5
We're a 24-hour operation, so although we have set hours we are scheduled supervisors are pretty flexible. It's all about the numbers, so as long as the tps reports look good .
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Jul 2, 2014 14:00:04 GMT -5
Similar to Drama (although I'm in the financial industry) I have no co-workers. It's just me. If I'm not here, work piles up. I like what I do and I need to be available during stock market hours, so I take very little time off.
In the past 10 years only ONCE have I taken off a whole week at a time. But, it doesn't bother me. If it did I'd change it, but early on in my career (different company at the time) I went through a messy divorce, court dates, and subsequent health issues due to the stress. I feel I took WAY too much time off then. By the grace of God I kept my job and continued to advance, so in some ways I feel I've been "paying it back" ever since. I don't mind a bit. Karma, and all.
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jitterbug
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Post by jitterbug on Jul 2, 2014 14:23:39 GMT -5
So, for all of you who get this flexible time - are you paid a salary or just for the hours actually worked? Because if some of you are getting a salary - and get all this time off for errands and such - that's a sweet deal!
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Jul 2, 2014 14:31:01 GMT -5
I'm salaried and my schedule is pretty flexible. Most of the year I'm here from 7:30-5 but mid-day I go work out for about an hour. Being seen at 7:30 and 5 is kind of a necessity or rather beneficial as I'm a manager so those that are here early see me and those that stay later see me. If I have an appointment or need to leave early it's never been a problem. As long as you get your work done, have a good attitude and don't abuse the situation it isn't a problem here and anyone who did is no longer here.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jul 2, 2014 14:36:29 GMT -5
Going off to the bar in the middle of the afternoon to watch the soccer game - not so much. I wouldn't say they'd fire you for that - but definitely earn disapproval!
LOL! None of us had to go off to a bar because there was a huge screen set up on the street below our office and a huge street watching-party going on . . . it was so loud most of us couldn't concentrate (so we just HAD to observe from the conference room . . . . )
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Jul 2, 2014 14:38:44 GMT -5
Going off to the bar in the middle of the afternoon to watch the soccer game - not so much. I wouldn't say they'd fire you for that - but definitely earn disapproval!
LOL! None of us had to go off to a bar because there was a huge screen set up on the street below our office and a huge street watching-party going on . . . it was so loud most of us couldn't concentrate (so we just HAD to observe from the conference room . . . . )
My work just had a 'company meeting' and put the game on in one of the conference rooms for anyone who wanted to stop in.
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violagirl
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Post by violagirl on Jul 2, 2014 14:42:43 GMT -5
In a way they are very flexible. If I have an appointment, it is not a big deal to take off in the middle of the day. When you work on billable hours aside from needing a bit of "face time" so they know you aren't a slacker, it doesn't really matter when you do those billable hours as long as they are done.
In accounting there is also an expectation of overtime hours. Unpaid of course. Certain times of year it just is what it is. I can't put 100 hours of work into a 40 hour work week so I have to do ot. On the other hand if I spend a bit of time at less busy times watching the Olympic hockey game (lets' face it no one in Canada was getting anything done during the woman's game against the US).
On the other hand, some of my coworkers are treated like children in the way they are managed and hate it. I think if you want professional behaviour you have to trust your workers to behave like professionals. They do what needs to be done to satisfy the customer. If that means staying late - they do. On the other hand, nickle and diming people over every minute of the day creates an atmosphere where people are NOT willing to do extra. IMO. In my case anyway. Don't tell me I HAVE to work overtime, treat me right and I will be willing to go above and beyond no threats or beatings required.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Jul 2, 2014 14:50:12 GMT -5
So, for all of you who get this flexible time - are you paid a salary or just for the hours actually worked? Because if some of you are getting a salary - and get all this time off for errands and such - that's a sweet deal! Salary, pretty flexible, but the flip side of the coin is that while you might take 2 hours off in the middle of the day for errands you might also end up working an extra 20 hours next week without any extra pay because things are busy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 14:51:23 GMT -5
So, for all of you who get this flexible time - are you paid a salary or just for the hours actually worked? Because if some of you are getting a salary - and get all this time off for errands and such - that's a sweet deal! I get paid for every hour I work - including those over 80 in a pay period - even though I'm an exempt employee. Don't ask, I don't know why, but I'm just happy I do since I've been working about 50+ hours a week for quite a long time. the counter to being paid the same if you only work 30 hours a week is that on the weeks you work 60, you still get that same salary.
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emma1420
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Post by emma1420 on Jul 2, 2014 15:03:14 GMT -5
I wouldn't be able to take off in the middle of the day to watch any sporting event.
Work hours is 8 to 5. Although if you come in 10-15 minutes early usually it's not a big deal to leave 10-15 minutes early. (and vice-versa) As long as I let my boss know i'm out of the office I can be gone for up to 2 hours without having to use PTO. And my boss is excellent if you need to take off to pick-up a sick kid, etc., (you do need to use PTO if you are gone for more than 2 hours).
No one is allowed to work from home or have flex hours. However, the level of flexibility greatly depends on your boss and where you work in the building. For example, some of our customer service staff disappear for hours at a time. We have other people in one of our departments who don't have a supervisor in their part of the building and they come and go as they please.
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