Question for Executives- do you have set business hours or

[jelloshots4all]

have ever been told you need a 9-5 schedule?

I am 2nd in charge at my company, and have always had flex hours with this job as well as previous employers.  My instructions have always been get the work done and work the hours you need to (always over 40), which includes nights and weekends, but the flexibility to work from home, oh and be available on your time off.

I love the flexibility because I have children, and I probably work 45-55 hours per week, with 35 of those being in the office.  And I commute an hour per day and use that for work calls.

But my world changed today when my boss asked me for 5 days a week, 40 hours in the office.  I was offended.  I have proven myself 10x over during the last 3 years, so its not like I am new to the company.

I have been a professional for over 20 years, and feel like I am being treated like a toddler and I know it is a control play on his part.  And I'm pissed!!

So advice on how I should handle this?  Overall I really like my job, but I can't work for someone whom micro manages me and my schedule. 

[simser]

My job has a morning meeting at 9. We all have to have the stuff from the previous day and overnight summarized for this meeting. It takes me an hour to do this summary. It takes someone else 3 hours. I used to get in at 8, and the other person got in at 6. Until my boss said everyone needs to be here by 7:30. Now I waste my time because I'm efficient... So annoying.

The only person that gets out of that has kids.

So really, I'm no help, but I sympathize greatly!!!

[jelloshots4all]

Thanks Simser! And I appreciate your comments.

I think I am the opposite of your coworker w kids. I am more efficient, eat lunch at my desk, and work as opposed to socializing during work hours because I want to get my job done and be there for my kids.

My Boss is an empty nester and LOVES to talk!  Also had a stay at home wife to take the kids to all appts, which falls solely on my shoulders, hence why I need the flexibility.  I will talk and strategize if it is important. But I have deadlines, so I am very focused on completing my work when at the office, and other work at home at night/weekends.

[bobosensei]

Is what your boss asking actually a tradeoff?  Meaning you will only be working 40 hour weeks- not more, and no more being available after hours?  If so, I'd take that in a second.  If not, start looking for another job.  Something isn't right.  Either he thinks there is something wrong with your performance, or he is going to be a horrible micromanager.

[lund]

I would ask about the hours previously done outside of the office hours.
Is that work is now to wait and be done during the office hours, or does this change mean compensating time-off or overtime pay?
He may not have thought about it, or somebody is jealous and has complained.
If the former, he needs to do some thinking, and if the latter, you need to counter.

Then I would start looking for a new job.

[alabamagal]

Some jobs may have certain hours due to nature of the job. But as a professional I would be insulted if my boss said " you must be in your office by 8am ". I have known of bosses who told their workers (professionals) that. If my boss told me that then my reaction would be that I am leaving 5pm sharp.

I currently work for a German company. We try to schedule teleconferences at 8am Central time but sometimes do 9am or 7am occasionally even 6am. If I go in at 6am you can bet I am leaving early if I can.

[billisonboard]

I do set my own office hours/days except when we have facility users who I need to serve according to their schedules. I do respond to emails as they arrive to my phone or tablet unless the timing is totally inconvenient.

I am the top dog at our location. My immediate superior has his office on the other side of the state but has duties that have him usually on the road (which is actually a choice on his part). I have worked for him for over twenty years. He displays total trust in me. He will likely precede me into retirement. I will certainly be upset if a new supervisor were to toughen my reins.

[flamingo]

My office is open 9-5. I have to work 9-5. So does everyone on my staff. And, for those that are salaried, there are some evenings and weekends (1-2 evenings per month we work until 7pm, and 1 Saturday and 1 Sunday per YEAR). Even if you are super efficient and get all your work done by say 3pm, you cannot leave early. It's the nature of our business. As a boss, I do require my employees to be in the office by 9am sharp. If you need to stop at Starbucks for your morning coffee, leave 10 minutes earlier so that you are still here by 9am. On the flip side, as long as you are done with your work for the day, you can leave at 5pm sharp. All of us leave by 5:15 90% of the time. Also, no one is required to work from home, check emails on their phone/tablet/home computer.

It works for my office for a couple reasons. 1, the nature of our business requires us to be here 9-5. 2, no one gets special treatment. 3, if you are good about being here 9-5 most days, and you are running late or need to leave a few minutes early (no more than 30 minutes), as long as you tell me ahead of time, I can let you do that. But our business is about meeting with people in person/phone and because we advertise we are open til 5pm, I need the majority of my folks in the office until 5pm.

I don't think that it's a micromanagement thing to require people to work certain hours in the office. It's just a rule of the office and because it's set as an expectation of everyone, it's easy to follow. I do think, however, if this is fundamentally changing your job hours/duties, then a conversation should be had with your boss.

[emma1420]

I work 8 to 5.  Working from home is not permitted for the majority of staff (only c-suite employees are permitted to work from home, and even then that is only permitted if there is at least one other c-suite employee in the office).   However, I regularly walk in around 8:10 or 8:15 a.m., but I never leave before 5p.m., (unless I have a doctor's appointment or something) and I work in the evenings at least one or two days a week, and work on average one weekend a month.

Even if I do have a day where I finish up a project early, and I'm not ready to start on the next thing, I need to finish up the work day in the office.  I don't think it's unreasonable for an employer to expect you to work in the office during normal business hours.   

To the OP, I would ask your boss the rationale for the change at this point.  It may not be that there is any issue with your work performance.  But, it may be that the staff you supervise need more supervision, or that your boss wants to get you involved in other activities that require your presence in the office.

[Cookies Galore]

Our core hours are 10-3, but people can choose their actual working hours, so long as it works with the rest of their team/work. Most of my team is made of early birds who work 7-3, myself and one other person on my team work 8-4.
Most positions here are work at home eligible, so my team has one day a week where everyone is in the office.

[wvugurl26]

The head boss in my office often finishes up his day somewhere besides the office. He works from home at times and more commonly has to go into our DC office. He does try to be in when possible so he can meet with people, pick up work that's ready for his review, etc. He does have flexibility.

The rest of the country for whom he is loosely responsible tends to work at home 2 days per week. We have flexibility unless we are in training or doing on site audits. I know it's not possible in some jobs so I appreciate it. And it hasn't always been so flexible. It has come with the changing of the guard.

Eta: we have core hours of 930 to 3 but even that can be worked around if needed. If we weren't getting out jobs done, all that flexibility would be gone. Is it possible they are trying to crack down on bad apples?

[movingforward]

Nov 12, 2015 12:43:27 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Our core hours are 10-3, but people can choose their actual working hours, so long as it works with the rest of their team/work. Most of my team is made of early birds who work 7-3, myself and one other person on my team work 8-4.
Most positions here are work at home eligible, so my team has one day a week where everyone is in the office.

I seriously want your job!

[movingforward]

Our business hours are technically 8:30AM - 5PM which essentially means 2-3 people need to be here during those hours.  The front office person has set hours from 8AM - 4:30PM Monday - Friday.  The rest of us have flexible hours.  Most everyone works 4/10 with half the staff off on Monday and half the staff off on Friday.  We check emails and do a few work related things on our day off. 

[Cookies Galore]

Nov 12, 2015 12:52:04 GMT -5 movingforward said:

Nov 12, 2015 12:43:27 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Our core hours are 10-3, but people can choose their actual working hours, so long as it works with the rest of their team/work. Most of my team is made of early birds who work 7-3, myself and one other person on my team work 8-4.
Most positions here are work at home eligible, so my team has one day a week where everyone is in the office.

I seriously want your job!

It is a great place, I'm very grateful!

[ArchietheDragon]

Nov 11, 2015 23:32:48 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

have ever been told you need a 9-5 schedule?

I am 2nd in charge at my company, and have always had flex hours with this job as well as previous employers.  My instructions have always been get the work done and work the hours you need to (always over 40), which includes nights and weekends, but the flexibility to work from home, oh and be available on your time off.

I love the flexibility because I have children, and I probably work 45-55 hours per week, with 35 of those being in the office.  And I commute an hour per day and use that for work calls.

But my world changed today when my boss asked me for 5 days a week, 40 hours in the office.  I was offended.  I have proven myself 10x over during the last 3 years, so its not like I am new to the company.

I have been a professional for over 20 years, and feel like I am being treated like a toddler and I know it is a control play on his part.  And I'm pissed!!

So advice on how I should handle this?  Overall I really like my job, but I can't work for someone whom micro manages me and my schedule. 

So is this issue all really over 5 additional hours a week needing to be in the office?

[billisonboard]

Nov 12, 2015 13:56:55 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Nov 11, 2015 23:32:48 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

have ever been told you need a 9-5 schedule?

I am 2nd in charge at my company, and have always had flex hours with this job as well as previous employers.  My instructions have always been get the work done and work the hours you need to (always over 40), which includes nights and weekends, but the flexibility to work from home, oh and be available on your time off.

I love the flexibility because I have children, and I probably work 45-55 hours per week, with 35 of those being in the office.  And I commute an hour per day and use that for work calls.

But my world changed today when my boss asked me for 5 days a week, 40 hours in the office.  I was offended.  I have proven myself 10x over during the last 3 years, so its not like I am new to the company.

I have been a professional for over 20 years, and feel like I am being treated like a toddler and I know it is a control play on his part.  And I'm pissed!!

So advice on how I should handle this?  Overall I really like my job, but I can't work for someone whom micro manages me and my schedule. 

So is this issue all really over 5 additional hours a week needing to be in the office?

I can determine for myself how many and which hours/days I need to be on site for me to do my job. I am currently allowed to do this. If I was no longer trusted to make that determination, I would be upset. A part of it for me is that my pay is not as high as it might be for the responsibilities of my position. I consider my independence to be a piece of what makes my job worth holding.

[ArchietheDragon]

Nov 12, 2015 14:13:03 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Nov 12, 2015 13:56:55 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

So is this issue all really over 5 additional hours a week needing to be in the office?

I can determine for myself how many and which hours/days I need to be on site for me to do my job. I am currently allowed to do this. If I was no longer trusted to make that determination, I would be upset. A part of it for me is that my pay is not as high as it might be for the responsibilities of my position. I consider my independence to be a piece of what makes my job worth holding.

I understand that, but there is also a point at which you start to cut of your own nose to spite your face. 

[ArchietheDragon]

Nov 12, 2015 14:13:03 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Nov 12, 2015 13:56:55 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

So is this issue all really over 5 additional hours a week needing to be in the office?

I can determine for myself how many and which hours/days I need to be on site for me to do my job. I am currently allowed to do this. If I was no longer trusted to make that determination, I would be upset. A part of it for me is that my pay is not as high as it might be for the responsibilities of my position. I consider my independence to be a piece of what makes my job worth holding.

I also say that as a person that works at a pretty inflexible employer. We are expected to be here during business hours 8-5.   

[movingforward]

Nov 11, 2015 23:32:48 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

have ever been told you need a 9-5 schedule?

I am 2nd in charge at my company, and have always had flex hours with this job as well as previous employers.  My instructions have always been get the work done and work the hours you need to (always over 40), which includes nights and weekends, but the flexibility to work from home, oh and be available on your time off.

I love the flexibility because I have children, and I probably work 45-55 hours per week, with 35 of those being in the office.  And I commute an hour per day and use that for work calls.

But my world changed today when my boss asked me for 5 days a week, 40 hours in the office.  I was offended.  I have proven myself 10x over during the last 3 years, so its not like I am new to the company.

I have been a professional for over 20 years, and feel like I am being treated like a toddler and I know it is a control play on his part.  And I'm pissed!!

So advice on how I should handle this?  Overall I really like my job, but I can't work for someone whom micro manages me and my schedule. 

Is this a new policy for everyone or just for you?  If it is a new policy for everyone then it could be that someone in the office is taking advantage of the flexibility.  It truly sucks but sometimes one person can ruin it for everyone.

[billisonboard]

Nov 12, 2015 14:21:24 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Nov 12, 2015 14:13:03 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I can determine for myself how many and which hours/days I need to be on site for me to do my job. I am currently allowed to do this. If I was no longer trusted to make that determination, I would be upset. A part of it for me is that my pay is not as high as it might be for the responsibilities of my position. I consider my independence to be a piece of what makes my job worth holding.

I also say that as a person that works at a pretty inflexible employer. We are expected to be here during business hours 8-5.   

To be honest, I am here during "business hours". It is just that our business does not run on an 8-5 schedule. It either runs on "group is scheduled to arrive at ... so someone has to be here then and they want us to provide them with services from ... to ... so we need to be there then also" or on "no one is going to be around today so show up about ... unless you sleep in and then show up about ... unless you feel like showing up about ... or not showing up at all occasionally you when you feel like staying home" business hours.

[ArchietheDragon]

Nov 12, 2015 14:29:05 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Nov 12, 2015 14:21:24 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I also say that as a person that works at a pretty inflexible employer. We are expected to be here during business hours 8-5.   

To be honest, I am here during "business hours". It is just that our business does not run on an 8-5 schedule. It either runs on "group is scheduled to arrive at ... so someone has to be here then and they want us to provide them with services from ... to ... so we need to be there then also" or on "no one is going to be around today so show up about ... unless you sleep in and then show up about ... unless you feel like showing up about ... or not showing up at all occasionally you when you feel like staying home" business hours.

pot dispensary?

[emma1420]

Nov 12, 2015 14:24:24 GMT -5 movingforward said:

Nov 11, 2015 23:32:48 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

have ever been told you need a 9-5 schedule?

I am 2nd in charge at my company, and have always had flex hours with this job as well as previous employers.  My instructions have always been get the work done and work the hours you need to (always over 40), which includes nights and weekends, but the flexibility to work from home, oh and be available on your time off.

I love the flexibility because I have children, and I probably work 45-55 hours per week, with 35 of those being in the office.  And I commute an hour per day and use that for work calls.

But my world changed today when my boss asked me for 5 days a week, 40 hours in the office.  I was offended.  I have proven myself 10x over during the last 3 years, so its not like I am new to the company.

I have been a professional for over 20 years, and feel like I am being treated like a toddler and I know it is a control play on his part.  And I'm pissed!!

So advice on how I should handle this?  Overall I really like my job, but I can't work for someone whom micro manages me and my schedule. 

Is this a new policy for everyone or just for you?  If it is a new policy for everyone then it could be that someone in the office is taking advantage of the flexibility.  It truly sucks but sometimes one person can ruin it for everyone.

This is what happened with my organization.  About 10 years ago, my organization had a very liberal WFH and flex-time schedule.   Most people could WFH with no real notice and they often came and went as they pleased.   It was ridiculously abused, and so a time clock was instituted (for everyone including all c-suite staff), and WFH was limited to only c-suite employees.   The employees who abused the policy ended up leaving, but everyone else still has to live with their choices.  

[billisonboard]

Nov 12, 2015 14:30:32 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Nov 12, 2015 14:29:05 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

To be honest, I am here during "business hours". It is just that our business does not run on an 8-5 schedule. It either runs on "group is scheduled to arrive at ... so someone has to be here then and they want us to provide them with services from ... to ... so we need to be there then also" or on "no one is going to be around today so show up about ... unless you sleep in and then show up about ... unless you feel like showing up about ... or not showing up at all occasionally you when you feel like staying home" business hours.

pot dispensary?

200 bed host facility for educational programs, school kid and adult. We sit ten miles outside of a small town. No "drop-in" business. We are in the field enough and work enough weekends/evenings to where most people assume we are just busy or taking comp time as why we don't answer the phone every time it rings between 8-5 weekdays. I have my email connected to everything so I see messages when they come in and respond promptly. I remotely check the answering system if I am playing hooky.

[Deleted]

I know it is a control play on his part

Why would he do that?

[bimetalaupt]

I am single ( widowed two times) with one son, three retirement plans and Principal of two firms.  Now I also have a beautiful blond DIL! Yes I live in heaven: not bad for a 70 year old that is going on 8.  I put in about 80 hours a week and make more then the president.  This year I plan to teach Advance economics in the spriing so I love reading and work very hard to produce Mathematica  models on economic development of Money and GDP: Economic power of bonds.  What more may I do for the 7th generation?

I do watch my timing for  eating due in part my insulin requirements.  I can no longer clam to be a single partner as my only son is now 48 and just fo8und the best wife on the earth.  We are working as a team with her.

Just a thought,
Bruce Duke-Lendrum, MBA

[gooddecisions]

That's a tough situation. We've had a similar culture shock at my company when after 10+ years of working from home they recently started moving us back into offices and they actually expect us to be there everyday even though we all have laptops and fully functioning home offices. Productivity was not the issue as that was tracked and working from home proved to be much more productive. Collaboration and innovation was (supposedly) suffering without the water cooler conversation and such. My department is all over the country, so there still isn't a lot of in person collaboration.

I recall one peer asking my boss if she could work 7a-3p and then take whatever meetings after 3p at home. Our boss, who lives in a different state, said no. Her reasoning, it would be a perception issue leaving at 3p and working 10+ hour days would be a work/life balance issue. She was pissed and I don't blame her. My boss told the folks on the west coast it was fine to work east coast hours if that worked better for them. No perception issues there, but I guess a better business justification. This has created huge problems as still over half the department gets to continue to work from home while the minority of us shmucks have to leave our cushy, private at home office for whatever non-ideal accommodations they set up in a center. So, maybe perception is your manager's issue and people are complaining about you leaving early or whatever. It's none of their business, but office politics are always an issue.

When I worked from home, whatever time I took to do anything else- using the bathroom, getting something to drink, throwing in a load of laundry, getting the mail, whatever- got added back into my productivity time. Now that I'm in the office, I'm there 8 hours. Whatever time I spend chit chatting, eating lunch, bathroom trips walking to the cafeteria, etc does not get added back in and I track fewer productivity hours, but technically I'm there. sucks.

[jelloshots4all]

Thanks for all of the responses. I am C Suite and an Officer of the company (we are owned by a larger parent company, but they have VERY little involvement and do not dictate anything like this). Most of our office employees have strict business hours, as they are customer facing.  I am not customer facing.

All of my staff know they can call me whenever they need something if I am not in the office, as does my boss.  I have taken conf calls/worked while on vacation, days off, etc.  I work most evenings for an hour or 2 at home, or an hour in the morning before going into the office while ensuring my kids are up for school.

In the past my boss has told me he knows how hard I work in and out of the office.  He hasn't had a problem with it.  He was on a power trip, and hopefully it's just short lived because I can't work for a control freak.  Especially when he doesn't follow the same rules for himself and doesn't let me know when he is going to be late or out of the office for periods of time (and I don't need to know as I can email/text or call him if I need anything- which is rare).

[formerroomate99]

I have a director who is doing pretty much the same thing and it is because he is more concerned with perception than productivity. In my experience, there is no reasoning with someone like this. So either suck it up and take it or find another gig.