Working Hours - WWYD

No, I think it would be wrong to change your contracted working times and inform you of this by email. And for them not upping your salary.

How do other people in the office feel about it?

I'd expect to be paid for th meetings, and I'd moan about the extra hour and then put up with it as it's only for one week.

No I wouldnt be happy to work 5 extra hours a week for no extra pay or time off in lieu. Is there a family friendly policy where you work? If so I think it may need pointing out that meetings between 5-6 would not fit into that policy and Id also mention work likfe balance as it seems to be the in thing at the mo.

Are you paid hourly or are you paid to complete work regardless of hours?

I regularly work over hours but only when there's work to be done. I'd be peeved to be told I had to stay late even if I'd finished all my work.

Is there any leeway for coming in an hour later? I think you need to bring this up with your line manager. If it's a predominantly 9-5 office surely they know they're taking the piss?

I didn't read it as being only for a week. Maybe I missed a bit of the OP.

I read it as a permanent thing,starting next week. Could be wrong though, I often am! ?

Its not only for a week - its from now until infinity!!!!!

I am really really not happy about it but i am the only female in the meetings and also the only person in the meetings under the age of 30.

the people in the meetings are 'all work no play' and i think if i kick up a fuss it would not be looked on favourably.

Alot of people here stay later than 5 for no extra money but these are the people who either live in london and dont have a long commute and people who dont get their work done in time.

I work in a Underwriting Department which is very male (40+) environment (just to give a bit of background)

I dont think breaching the work/life balance debate would be a good idea with these carear minded men!!!

TBH, if the reason for the move is that they are selling off bits of the company I would be veeeeeery careful about not showing willing if I were you. Is the company in trouble? (aren't we all right now?)

I would, however, push back on the need for a daily meeting - I'd only call something like that in a real crisis-mode situation - could it be that this is the case? In which case, I'd think you'd have to just accept it. Depends what sort of level you're working at and what sort you hope to be working at in the future, I guess.

It's not right, but it happens.

The SM is being cheeky - if you're not happy about this, speak to HR.

Sorry I misread the OP, if it's every day then I'd be very pissed off. Five hours of meetings every week - that sounds excessive.

I'd check your contract first - it might not specify 9-5 - for example, mine is for 35 hours a week between the hours of 8 & 8 Monday to Friday. Rather than just refusing & getting HR in, I would definitely take the angle of trying to understand what is considered so important that you need to meet daily for an hour about it and isn't there some other way of addressing the issue?

without going into too much detail - the bit of the company that is being sold off because it wasnt making much money.

I have been moved onto this section because otherwise i suspect i would have been made redundant so really i need to be careful how i tackle this.

I dont think there is any need for a daily meeting but who am i to say that really? this meeting has been set up by the senior underwriter adn the section manager. All teh people in the meetings are 'wafflers' and i just KNOW it will last more than a hour every day!

At the moment i am not busy at all and i resent sitting at my desk from 9-5 with minimal work and then going into a meeting for a hour + when we could have had it earlier in the day!!

gggrrrr!!

That's tricky. How about you offer to minute the meetings? (I know this is dodgy ground as you're female and probably don't want to get stuck in this pigeonhole, but bear with me).

Minute it REALLY well - make sure you have a list of actions that are attributable to specific people and make sure they all have deadlines attached to them.

Every meeting, start by going over the list of actions and see which of them are getting resolved.

If there are actions that are just sitting & sitting & never getting resolved, then the wafflers are on very shaky ground. It makes you look super efficient & keen. It will also give you more to do to occupy you 9-5. It'll soon get people questioning the value of the meeings if they're demonstrably not achieving anything. If, on the other hand they ARE generating lots of activity, they you are at the centre of that, thus making yourself busy & indispensable and diverting the threat of redunancy.

Why don't you float this past the SM?

I think given that i am the only female in the group it will be assumed that i take the minutes - that is what they will think anyway!

I am happy to take them and more than happy to lead the meeting at the start/ go through the action points however the meeting with been chaired by the Senior Underwriter (cheif waffler) so i dont think that'll happen

I think i am just going to have to grin and bear it and hope that they dont always last an hour!!

thanks for your advice and replies

I think its unreasonable, but rather than go in with saying that, you could say you have family committments that make it very awkward for you to stay after 5.

This is going to be a pretty major change to your working day (and I have to say that I think daily hour long meetings are ridiculous). Couldn't you suggest you do it at some other point in the working day? At the start seems reasonable, or at 4pm.

I agree they are ridiculous and have suggested we have them at 4.30 however some people are out of the office at that time apparently!

Sandy - i cant really say i have family comitments as they know i dont have kids and because i am the only female i dont really want to use such a excuse!!

If everyone else will now be working 9 to 6, I don't think there's anything you can do - your choice to live outside London and your family aren't really your employer's problem.

I would check your contract though - would it be unreasonable to now start at 10 as you're expected to finish at 6?

In my experience, when people come in with a gung-ho attitude to meetings like this, it never, ever lasts.

What does your contract say with regards to working hours ? A lot would be dependent on that. If it does specify a number of hours, either per week or per day, then it might be worth replying to the new manager and saying that you aren't sure if they are aware that you currently work 9-5 and would it be acceptable to work 10-6 to accomodate the meetings or bring the meeting forward 'til 4pm.

I have to say though that, from my experience of office work, you are pretty lucky to be able to leave at 5 each night.

Do you not have "core hours" at all? ie a time when the majority of meetings should happen/you are at your desk. For us core hours is 10-4 although most people above me work 8.30-6 (at the earliest).

I'd be really fucked off. But that's largely because I have children and have to collect them by 6.

I've come a bit late to this one, but I wanted to encourage you to read your contract of employment and check the terms. Does it state a daily / weekly number of hours? Or does it state 'from 9-5' or whatever? If yourcontract states hours/times then I elieve they are elgally obliged to consult with you in writing about a proposed change to your contract. I know you don't want to rock the boat and are keen, quite rightly, to hang on to your job, but you are entitled to be treated properly, correctly and legally.

Do you feel confident enough to chat about this with your manager - find out the reasons behind his changes, explain your concerns etc?

And to be honest, I'd be a buit surprised if all your fellow workers are as happy as you say they are with the new edict. I've worked with lotso f people who appear to be as you describe your colleagues, and it's one thing if they CHOOSE to stay late .... it's another entirely if it's foisted upon them.

Hm, i dont agree with POP i m afraid.

him emailing you this equates to a change in your contract. i would email back and say exactly that, and that you would like to discuss it with him face to face. he cannot simply impose it (with the caveat of your contract details). i would then meet him and tell him that no, youre not happy but that 4-5pm would obviously be ok. i very much doubt theyre going to make you redundant over you (quite rightly) flagging this.

I would probably pint out that you usually work 9-5 (after checking your contract as others have suggested). Fortunately next week you are available for the initial meetings, but can't promise this will be the case every night so its something you'll monitor as the situation develops.

I know you are worried about coming across as not serious/committed/ so hopefully this approach would be ok but it isn't saying yes to the meetings on a permanent basis.