Discussion
Hello all,
I was wondering what you guys think. I started a new job about 2.5 months ago. It's a 3 month probation.
Contract hours are 9-5.30. I am always leaving about 6.30-8.30. Mostly averages at 7.00-7.30. My salary is market rate. Nothing special. I get home about 8.00-8.30 most days and I am wrecked by Wednesday.
My boss is constantly pushing for more work to be done and it is never ending I feel.
I have a wife at home and a year old son. She has returned to work recently. On the weekdays we literally have no time together due to my hours. I feel my family time has taken a huge dive.
If you were in my shoes what would you do?
I was wondering what you guys think. I started a new job about 2.5 months ago. It's a 3 month probation.
Contract hours are 9-5.30. I am always leaving about 6.30-8.30. Mostly averages at 7.00-7.30. My salary is market rate. Nothing special. I get home about 8.00-8.30 most days and I am wrecked by Wednesday.
My boss is constantly pushing for more work to be done and it is never ending I feel.
I have a wife at home and a year old son. She has returned to work recently. On the weekdays we literally have no time together due to my hours. I feel my family time has taken a huge dive.
If you were in my shoes what would you do?
My first question is what happends at 7:30 to prompt you to leave, rather than what happens at 5:30 to cause you to stay late?
In other words, if you stay until 7:30 and then leave because you're tired, it's down to you to change that habit. If you;re there until 7:30 because a process you work on runs until then (I have no idea what you do), then you need to talk to your boss about your hours.
I see this a great deal. People work late every day because they have so much work, but working late doesn't make much of a dent in the backlog, all it does is tire them out. If that's the case, then working more reasonable hours may well mean you get through less of the backlog, but you'll be less tired overall and therefore more productive. Invariably, the employee has made a rod for their own back by working late, and when they decide to stick to contracted hours, the perception is that they're sloping off early every day.
If there genuinely are not enough hours in the day, then get through your probation, and then raise the staff shortage wit your boss.
In other words, if you stay until 7:30 and then leave because you're tired, it's down to you to change that habit. If you;re there until 7:30 because a process you work on runs until then (I have no idea what you do), then you need to talk to your boss about your hours.
I see this a great deal. People work late every day because they have so much work, but working late doesn't make much of a dent in the backlog, all it does is tire them out. If that's the case, then working more reasonable hours may well mean you get through less of the backlog, but you'll be less tired overall and therefore more productive. Invariably, the employee has made a rod for their own back by working late, and when they decide to stick to contracted hours, the perception is that they're sloping off early every day.
If there genuinely are not enough hours in the day, then get through your probation, and then raise the staff shortage wit your boss.
Also, can you guys advise. Yesterday I called in saying I won’t be able to make it to the office as my wife is unwell. She had a high temperature and was in bed and my son too had a temperature. My wife needed assistance with my son. It was unfortunate and I had to take the time off as holiday. She really struggled on the Monday, and so I took the Tuesday off. I may have been wrong here to do so. My one year old has had a temperature for 5 days and not been eating. I can’t do nothing. Companies will have to do what they have to do.
My line manager had a big ass issue with it today saying you have been here 2.5 months and been off 2 days due to sickness and off 2 days on holidays to take care of family. Other team members have been here 4 years and not taken any time off apparently. I explained despite having a temperature I still came in to the office to work and then had to take 2 days off as I was unwell.
With regards to the posts above, it is much appreciated. I am doing the longer hours as there is so much on and it’s a new job. I don’t mind doing the longer hours when it is busy but as pointed out it is a lot of the time I am staying late to get things done. Now we have audits on it will be more of the same!
My line manager had a big ass issue with it today saying you have been here 2.5 months and been off 2 days due to sickness and off 2 days on holidays to take care of family. Other team members have been here 4 years and not taken any time off apparently. I explained despite having a temperature I still came in to the office to work and then had to take 2 days off as I was unwell.
With regards to the posts above, it is much appreciated. I am doing the longer hours as there is so much on and it’s a new job. I don’t mind doing the longer hours when it is busy but as pointed out it is a lot of the time I am staying late to get things done. Now we have audits on it will be more of the same!
It's difficult for people to comment without knowing what you do or how much you earn.
If I were earning £20k a year, then I might well put my foot down about working contract hours. If I were earning £60k+, then I'd expect to put in the hours required to get the job done, regardless of what my contract says.
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
If I were earning £20k a year, then I might well put my foot down about working contract hours. If I were earning £60k+, then I'd expect to put in the hours required to get the job done, regardless of what my contract says.
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
Kermit power said:
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
Okay, maybe you are right. I should not have done that regardless of how unwell they were. oops. My salary is £50k, no benefits.
Kermit power said:
It's difficult for people to comment without knowing what you do or how much you earn.
If I were earning £20k a year, then I might well put my foot down about working contract hours. If I were earning £60k+, then I'd expect to put in the hours required to get the job done, regardless of what my contract says.
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
Why does the salary matter? Its still got contracted hours. I know it means you've made your way up, most likely by working long hours etc, but more money doesn't automatically dictate '40 hours working week, but we'll make you feel threatened for your job if you don't do 60'.If I were earning £20k a year, then I might well put my foot down about working contract hours. If I were earning £60k+, then I'd expect to put in the hours required to get the job done, regardless of what my contract says.
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
Why not put 60 in the contract?
illmonkey said:
Kermit power said:
It's difficult for people to comment without knowing what you do or how much you earn.
If I were earning £20k a year, then I might well put my foot down about working contract hours. If I were earning £60k+, then I'd expect to put in the hours required to get the job done, regardless of what my contract says.
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
Why does the salary matter? Its still got contracted hours. I know it means you've made your way up, most likely by working long hours etc, but more money doesn't automatically dictate '40 hours working week, but we'll make you feel threatened for your job if you don't do 60'.If I were earning £20k a year, then I might well put my foot down about working contract hours. If I were earning £60k+, then I'd expect to put in the hours required to get the job done, regardless of what my contract says.
I would, however, be staggered at the notion of anyone taking time off to look after their spouse because they have a temperature, especially during a probation period!
Why not put 60 in the contract?
If your not being paid the overtime, then stop doing it. Its only a job, your family is far more important. We all work extra hours when the need is there, but if your expected to do 2 hours every day, then something is wrong with the role, even more so if your expected to do it for free. To put it in to context your doing an extra 13 weeks work a year for your company for free (2hrs x 5days x 52weeks / 37.5 hours), or your company is taking 13 weeks of your time away from your family for nothing.
Speak to your boss or seek new employment. Either way I hope you get it sorted as missing your child growing up for a job you dont like will eat away at you.
Speak to your boss or seek new employment. Either way I hope you get it sorted as missing your child growing up for a job you dont like will eat away at you.
illmonkey said:
Why does the salary matter? Its still got contracted hours. I know it means you've made your way up, most likely by working long hours etc, but more money doesn't automatically dictate '40 hours working week, but we'll make you feel threatened for your job if you don't do 60'.
Why not put 60 in the contract?
I totally agree with the above. TBH I have not done long hours in the past and the only reason I am on £50k is because I passed a few exams.Why not put 60 in the contract?
By working the hours your working you are keeping someone out of a job, stop now, work your contracted hours, manage upwards pushing stuff back on to your boss.
I work my contracted hours, I will work extra on rare occasions and my boss knows this. But I will not work over my contracted hours every single day.
You work to live mate, not live to work.
Life is about enjoyment, forfilment.
Not working, unless of course you get them things from your job.
I work my contracted hours, I will work extra on rare occasions and my boss knows this. But I will not work over my contracted hours every single day.
You work to live mate, not live to work.
Life is about enjoyment, forfilment.
Not working, unless of course you get them things from your job.
Your contract lists your holiday entitlement - its probably four weeks per year - if you've been there nearly a quarter of a year it is not unreasonable to take less than a quarter of your entitlement off tho's I accept they'd reasonably have preferred some notice - unless it is a total climate of fear it is unlikely that in several years some staff have not had any time off
Mrs V does this. She works (interior designer) at least 1.5 hours extra a night and gets in early each morning to work too. I keep telling her to stop - the 1.5 hour commute each way means she is leaving before 7 each morning getting in around 8 each evening and can manage just enough to eat and go to bed....
Her response to my questions is 'its expected in the industry. everyone does it'.
But the way she sees it, and suppose I do to an extent too, is that there are hundreds of people waiting to take her job and her company would probably just get rid of her if she wasnt a 'team player'. She is a graduate so obviously dosen't have as much clout as the OP but it should not matter!
This is all unpaid extra time too
Her response to my questions is 'its expected in the industry. everyone does it'.
But the way she sees it, and suppose I do to an extent too, is that there are hundreds of people waiting to take her job and her company would probably just get rid of her if she wasnt a 'team player'. She is a graduate so obviously dosen't have as much clout as the OP but it should not matter!
This is all unpaid extra time too
Posts like these make me sad, sad that so-called 'leaders' in business put you in these difficult situations in the first place; there's no need to. A lack of understanding, insight and business skills causes effects like these. If your bosses had a grasp of only some simple management tools they could be more effective at both their own roles and managing others. A leader with only a sprinkling of self awareness and emotional intelligence would spot the effect that poor management practice is having on their employees, and thus the business as a whole.
It's very difficult to offer advice as the problems are often multi dimensional and layered. I can only suggest asking to have a talk with your boss about the whole situation and attempting to get an understanding of their perspective and pressures before suggesting ways of alleviating your own pressures. If you can gain some empathy for their challenges, there's a slim chance they may reciprocate. Failing that, I would consider my future in that organisation. Risk is is that the next one may not be any better. This is one of the main reasons why people become self employed; then you have only yourself to blame!
Good luck!
It's very difficult to offer advice as the problems are often multi dimensional and layered. I can only suggest asking to have a talk with your boss about the whole situation and attempting to get an understanding of their perspective and pressures before suggesting ways of alleviating your own pressures. If you can gain some empathy for their challenges, there's a slim chance they may reciprocate. Failing that, I would consider my future in that organisation. Risk is is that the next one may not be any better. This is one of the main reasons why people become self employed; then you have only yourself to blame!
Good luck!
I can understand working significantly longer hours during a project's crunch period or when the s
t hits the fan, but not as a permanent working practice. I also don't think having all staff working until 7-8pm every night is sustainable, sooner or later staff will find other jobs, resign or just burn-out.
t hits the fan, but not as a permanent working practice. I also don't think having all staff working until 7-8pm every night is sustainable, sooner or later staff will find other jobs, resign or just burn-out.Odie said:
You work to live mate, not live to work.
Life is about enjoyment, forfilment.
Not working, unless of course you get them things from your job.
Very, very wise words.Life is about enjoyment, forfilment.
Not working, unless of course you get them things from your job.
I went through a massive change of lifestyle and work recently based on this. Now I am earning slightly less, but I work 9-5 Monday to Friday. I will never be rich doing this, but endless chasing money ended up making me constantly miserable.
I never truly understood the meaning of that saying until I changed my lifestyle, and looking back I wish I had done it long ago.
I used to do 'return to work interviews' with shopfloor workers who took time off, and I have to say I was a complete tt. If they were on agency I just let them go if they had a couple of illness days in the first 3 months. If they were on a temp 6 month contract I wouldn't renew it if they had 5 days off.
But that was then : In reality there is nothing as important as your family, and if you work for someone that doesn't get it, then you'll always have a problem.
If you are taking time off in a probation period and your boss doesn't understand I expect that you won't be there much longer.
t. If they were on agency I just let them go if they had a couple of illness days in the first 3 months. If they were on a temp 6 month contract I wouldn't renew it if they had 5 days off. But that was then : In reality there is nothing as important as your family, and if you work for someone that doesn't get it, then you'll always have a problem.
If you are taking time off in a probation period and your boss doesn't understand I expect that you won't be there much longer.
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