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Subject:RE: Working later than the boss From:"James Barrow" <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net> To:<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 04 Jul 2007 09:04:45 -0700
>On Behalf Of TECHWR-L Administrator
>
>With approval from a department manager, my company offers flex-time. I
>generally work from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (1/2 hour for lunch). I get to work
>promptly at 8:00 am, if not earlier, every day. She is late 95% of the
>time.
She? Who's 'she'? This is what happens when someone doesn't order the
entire Time-Life series ;^)
>I am rarely able to leave at 4:30 pm (due to workload, meetings, etc) but
>when I can, I happily do.
Well, don't grin too widely when you walk out the front door - it makes
people think you know something that they don't.
>My boss has the same hours but she NEVER stays after 4:30 pm, no matter
>what is going on.
Is this the same 'she' referenced above?
>We both prefer to leave earlier because we have children the same age who
>need to be picked up from child care, etc. We also have about the same
>commuting time (approx 45-50 minutes).
Oh boy. I don't like where this is going. Not being able to complete your
work because you have to pick up your kids or because you have a 45-minute
commute doesn't cut it in my book.
>She's hinted lately that she'd like to have one of the "senior" people stay
>until 5:30 pm, which is technically when the business day ends here.
>(Important note: I am her backup when she is out but I still don't have the
>senior title yet.) Since I generally stay later than 4:30 pm it hasn't been
>much of an issue, but she wants someone to be here until business hours are
>over.
You want a pat on the back for staying until 4:30pm when COB is 5:30pm?!
>I don't feel I should be the one who has to make the change. More
>importantly, I don't feel I should have to. She's the manager, not me. If
>anyone is going to stay late, shouldn't it be the her?
Well, you *are* her backup. Even so, I'm not seeing where she's asking you
to go above and beyond the call of duty. It sounds like you're miffed
because she gets to leave early and you have to put in a full day.
>I've always believed that a good manager manages by setting a good example
>She comes in late and leaves at the same time and doesn't seem to fret
>about it. When I come in a few minutes late, I fret and stay a little later
>to make up for it. To me, this is what conscientious employees with a high
>work ethic do. Why should any of the department employees have to hold down
>the fort for her? On an occasional basis that's fine, but not everyday.
>That doesn't seem fair. Without flaming, what do you all think about this?
I resisted reading the answers to your post so that others' answers wouldn't
influence my response. Seeing how confused I am at the moment, I probably
should have. I really don't see what the problem is here. If I understand
correctly, your manager is leaving an hour early every day, and she is
looking to you to 'hold down the fort' for an hour. If you're not doing her
job for that hour, then I don't see what labor law is being violated here.
If she's asking you to make decisions for her for that hour and/or asking
you to work overtime, then that's a different story.
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