Arriving at work early

Ahnimus

I used to work for a call centre and they made us come in 30 minutes early unpaid. I always disputed it and couldn't understand how it was at all legal.

Anyway, I'm working in a job now where we have shift changes. We change-up every night at midnight and my relief tends to come in at exactly 12:00 AM. After a while this started to bother me because we end up talking about what happened during my shift for 10 - 15 minutes. Meanwhile, I come in 15 - 30 minutes early to get the news before I start.

Well tonight I let him have it, I laid into him for being a minute late, he arrived at 12:01 and I asked that he come in 5 minutes early from now on. His response was "I don't start until 12:00" I said "I am off at midnight" he said "It's only a few minutes, I don't see why your making a big deal out of it."

So, this is really just me ranting about some shit that is pissing me off and I try not to get pissed off. It just really bugs me how fucking inconsiderate that is. But then there is nothing illegal about showing up to work right at the time you are supposed to start.. is there?

nickcat0

It is perfectly legal for you to arrive and leave your shift at precisely the correct time .

You come in 10-15 minutes early because you value the information received in a good handover . If the guy starting at 12 wants the same , he should come in at 11:50 . I suggest that as soon as he arrives , you leave .

small town beck

I understand this completely. I am expected to be at my desk ready to take calls at the time I start. It takes a good ten minutes for me to open all my systems. Check which policies have changed over night and read all my bloody emails.

lucylespian

If you work a job which relies on hand-over, that should be incorporated into the roster system.

This is a system problem, which hs=as become an interpersonal problem.

dunkman

i'd do the same as the other guy.. if i didnt get paid until 12am then i wouldnt show up until that moment... not to fuck the other guy off but to highlight the issue to management and perhaps they should pay the other guy from 11.50pm and then a good handover can be done.

but i'm stubborn

my wife's work used to do this to her... make her come in at 8.50am and one day she came in a bit later but before her 9am official start and she received a verbal warning and so she went to her union because of it and as a result everyone in that company still had to come in at 8.50am but they got PAID for it!!! (i must stress it was a small company and that the management were a family business and they agreed that asking staff to come in unpaid was unacceptable)

Daughter of Jeremy

Good on you. He reckons 'it's only a few minutes why are you making a big deal out of it', well ditto buddy. If he came in 5 mins early, and you left 5 mins late then you'd have 10 mins for a handover. I'm sure if you spent a week or two just leaving right on time he would come to appreciate a verbal handover!! r you could spend the last 5-10 mins of your shift writing down the improtant shit that you felt he needed to know, of course that's only if you feel really guilty about leaving without a handover. Mind you at the end of the day whoever you work for should be allowing for a proper handover within the shift changes, cheap bastards!!!

MakingWaves

Ahnimus wrote:

I used to work for a call centre and they made us come in 30 minutes early unpaid. I always disputed it and couldn't understand how it was at all legal.

Anyway, I'm working in a job now where we have shift changes. We change-up every night at midnight and my relief tends to come in at exactly 12:00 AM. After a while this started to bother me because we end up talking about what happened during my shift for 10 - 15 minutes. Meanwhile, I come in 15 - 30 minutes early to get the news before I start.

Well tonight I let him have it, I laid into him for being a minute late, he arrived at 12:01 and I asked that he come in 5 minutes early from now on. His response was "I don't start until 12:00" I said "I am off at midnight" he said "It's only a few minutes, I don't see why your making a big deal out of it."

So, this is really just me ranting about some shit that is pissing me off and I try not to get pissed off. It just really bugs me how fucking inconsiderate that is. But then there is nothing illegal about showing up to work right at the time you are supposed to start.. is there?

If that company you previously worked for made you come in 30 minutes early you could definetly be owed some backpay.

know1

Ahnimus wrote:

I used to work for a call centre and they made us come in 30 minutes early unpaid. I always disputed it and couldn't understand how it was at all legal.

Anyway, I'm working in a job now where we have shift changes. We change-up every night at midnight and my relief tends to come in at exactly 12:00 AM. After a while this started to bother me because we end up talking about what happened during my shift for 10 - 15 minutes. Meanwhile, I come in 15 - 30 minutes early to get the news before I start.

Well tonight I let him have it, I laid into him for being a minute late, he arrived at 12:01 and I asked that he come in 5 minutes early from now on. His response was "I don't start until 12:00" I said "I am off at midnight" he said "It's only a few minutes, I don't see why your making a big deal out of it."

So, this is really just me ranting about some shit that is pissing me off and I try not to get pissed off. It just really bugs me how fucking inconsiderate that is. But then there is nothing illegal about showing up to work right at the time you are supposed to start.. is there?

I generally am at work 45 minutes to 1 hour early. I like getting in and getting a handle on the workload for the day. Sometimes it's the only peaceful, uninterrupted time I have.

blackredyellow

That is a management/scheduling issue... I schedule a lot of staff in a box office. On event days, I always overlap the day staff with the event night staff by a half hour. This gives the day staff time to reconcile and cash out while the evening staff starts, and time for them to talk about any issues (or just socialize which is important for a happy workplace too).

If he won't meet you halfway, then leave at 12:00... if it makes you feel better to communicate issues to him, leave him a note with anything he will need.


Ya, if they made you come in 30 minutes early without pay, then that is illegal (in the US at least).

Juberoo

My husband is salary. His contract says 8 hours per day but he often works 9-10 with no additional pay. Yet if he leaves early, he gets docked. Chew on that one awhile.

soulsinging

know1 wrote:

I generally am at work 45 minutes to 1 hour early. I like getting in and getting a handle on the workload for the day. Sometimes it's the only peaceful, uninterrupted time I have.

you're nuts dude.

i guess this is the only upside of being an attorney... billable time. i track my time in 6 minute intervals and i will get paid for every second i am at or thinking about work. the downside is i will probably have to work 70-80 hours a week for a few years :(

gue_barium

Juberoo wrote:

My husband is salary. His contract says 8 hours per day but he often works 9-10 with no additional pay. Yet if he leaves early, he gets docked. Chew on that one awhile.

He's not actually being "docked" though. He is under contract so the contract salary is what it is.

If you're telling me that there is a stipulation in his contract for leaving early and getting docked for such, then I'd have to say you need a new hubby.

know1

soulsinging wrote:

you're nuts dude.

i guess this is the only upside of being an attorney... billable time. i track my time in 6 minute intervals and i will get paid for every second i am at or thinking about work. the downside is i will probably have to work 70-80 hours a week for a few years :(

Really not that much different from just being salaried in general. All my time is billed as well. The only reason that there is a start time is really so the clients have some expectation of when you might be working.

I'm just a morning person. I'm more productive at that time than in the evenings.

soulsinging

know1 wrote:

Really not that much different from just being salaried in general. All my time is billed as well. The only reason that there is a start time is really so the clients have some expectation of when you might be working.

I'm just a morning person. I'm more productive at that time than in the evenings.

as far as i can tell, there is no time in my life where i am more productive

Ahnimus

Here's the thing, this job is salary. Everyone in this company works unpaid overtime, everyone typically comes in early. All management works 24/7, they come in for full days, then go home and work from there. My boss is in at 7:00 AM and I can e-mail or call him 24/7 and he will respond. That's the kind of Job it is. This is a very big company in the industry, I'd say we are a bit short-staffed, but this way we all get better bennefits. Our company has paid events every other weekend, an excellent package of bennefits and awesome salaries. The company requires dedicated people. People that are willing to put in a little extra for a long-term return, not an immediate return.

But personally, I come in an hour to 15 minutes early. I like being in early to get the news and settle in without rushing or being late. It's just a good work attitude and considerate of other employees.

know1

soulsinging wrote:

as far as i can tell, there is no time in my life where i am more productive

Congratulations.

One of the reasons that I am more productive at that time is because I have at least an hour - and probably more like 2 hours after people come in, eat breakfast, socialize, etc.,- where I'm generally uninterrupted.

know1

Ahnimus wrote:

Here's the thing, this job is salary. Everyone in this company works unpaid overtime,

I don't view anytime that you spend as salaried as unpaid. In my opinion, you're paid to do a job - not paid to be present for a certain amount of time.

soulsinging

know1 wrote:

Congratulations.

One of the reasons that I am more productive at that time is because I have at least an hour - and probably more like 2 hours after people come in, eat breakfast, socialize, etc.,- where I'm generally uninterrupted.

i probly shoulda put quotes around the "more" hehe

Ahnimus

know1 wrote:

I don't view anytime that you spend as salaried as unpaid. In my opinion, you're paid to do a job - not paid to be present for a certain amount of time.

Exactly! The company does pay for additional time worked over 44 hours. For example, this week I am working 48 hours. However, it's been scheduled so that I get time off in lieu, which I am satisfied with. I would have worked the extra day without any additional pay. I'm part of a company, I call it an organism and I am one cell that serves the organism, if the organism prospers, so do I. I won't let people walk over me, but I won't be a stickler about time and pay. We are in this together. Sure, the upper management makes 10x what I do, but they have a lot more responsibility.

In all honesty, this job pays more than it probably should. I don't mind putting in extra because I love the company.

Juberoo

gue_barium wrote:

He's not actually being "docked" though. He is under contract so the contract salary is what it is.

If you're telling me that there is a stipulation in his contract for leaving early and getting docked for such, then I'd have to say you need a new hubby.

If he leaves early, he loses that amount of time in accrued vacation hours.

"need a new hubby"? What an odd comment.

cornnifer

Ahnimus wrote:

Exactly! The company does pay for additional time worked over 44 hours. For example, this week I am working 48 hours. However, it's been scheduled so that I get time off in lieu, which I am satisfied with. I would have worked the extra day without any additional pay. I'm part of a company, I call it an organism and I am one cell that serves the organism, if the organism prospers, so do I. I won't let people walk over me, but I won't be a stickler about time and pay. We are in this together. Sure, the upper management makes 10x what I do, but they have a lot more responsibility.

In all honesty, this job pays more than it probably should. I don't mind putting in extra because I love the company.

It seems to me, that for someone who insists, as you do, so assuredly that this life is it, there is absolutely nothing else, you are wasting alot of fucking time working for nothing. Literally donating, free of charge, much of your precious time to upper management that seeks only to exploit you and rip you off for your labor power.

Juberoo

cornnifer wrote:

It seems to me, that for someone who insists, as you do, so assuredly that this life is it, there is absolutely nothing else, you are wasting alot of fucking time working for nothing. Literally donating, free of charge, much of your precious time to upper management that seeks only to exploit you and rip you off for your labor power.

YEAH thats right. Quit your jobs, apply for welfare and live it up baby!

PJPOWER

When I work over 40 hours a week, I count every minute of it. We do not get overtime, but we do get "flex" time or compensation time, so if I work 48 hours this week, I get to take Monday off, or a couple afternoons off. This seems pretty fair to me. My contract states I am being paid for working 40 hours a week, not 39, not 41. It wouldn't be fair for me to work 35 hours a week and expect to get paid for 40 and I don't see it as fair for them to expect you to work 45 hours without pay or compensation. Every career is different, though, I had an uncle who made about $1 million a year and even though his work week was supposed to be 40 hours a week, he put in 70 some weeks..............I think the $ amount can be the exception to my fairness rule...........he seems to have been treated pretty fairly in my opinion.

Ahnimus

PJPOWER wrote:

When I work over 40 hours a week, I count every minute of it. We do not get overtime, but we do get "flex" time or compensation time, so if I work 48 hours this week, I get to take Monday off, or a couple afternoons off. This seems pretty fair to me. My contract states I am being paid for working 40 hours a week, not 39, not 41. It wouldn't be fair for me to work 35 hours a week and expect to get paid for 40 and I don't see it as fair for them to expect you to work 45 hours without pay or compensation. Every career is different, though, I had an uncle who made about $1 million a year and even though his work week was supposed to be 40 hours a week, he put in 70 some weeks..............I think the $ amount can be the exception to my fairness rule...........he seems to have been treated pretty fairly in my opinion.

I'd say so too. I get paid a nice chunk to click on links for 8 hours. That's all I do, is click on links and submit tickets if they don't do what they should. The fact that I make more than restaurant employees, tells me I'm getting paid pretty good to do a lot of nothing. Coming in a few mins early is no big deal.

Ultimately they could just extend our shift by 15 mins and overlap them without any additional pay. Our shifts were extended once by 30 minutes without additional pay, though they did ask us first, we all agreed.

Restless Soul

It really annoys me when employers expect staff to do that bit more by coming earlier than their contracted time. In my old job, you started work at 9.30am but they really expected you to start at 9am (unpaid of course). In fact, it became kind of a standard for employees to come 15-30 mins earlier just to earn "brownie points" but if you actually came in on your normal time, ie: 9.30, you were made to feel like you're in the dog house, like you were late or something!

They never took it into account if you worked late though. I always came in at 9.30 but worked past my leaving time of 5.30 - i usually left at 6-6.30pm, but for some reason you never got brownie points for that. It's all stupid really.