sane
Likes Bikes and Dirt
You're getting married. Sit back, take a deep breath, you'll have a kid before you know it
Workplace inequality issue...
- Thread starter fimpBIKES
- Start date
I see your point but is it really worth 'rocking the boat?' Big risk of becoming public enemy no.1 in the workplace if this procedure happens to derail the 'apparent benefits' of having kids and getting an earlymark!
The workplace may also have a 'Duty of Care' issue...if you are contracted to work say 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri it is expected that you are at work, say if you are outside the workplace and have an accident not undertaking a work activity this can create Workers Compensation issues!
Bottom line is if you aren't happy at your workplace you are best to leave and find something else...my job has some excellent benefits (like RDO's) but is sometimes really frustrating...you have to take the good with the bad!
MasterOfReality
After forever
This. I'm in engineering consulting and we bill by the hour, but I don't get paid extra if I bill above my 40 hour week. I'm reluctant to put in substantial extra hours unless I know there is a payoff somewhere (ie shorter weeks, short term bonuses). We do have projects than run to 80-100 hrs a week which I'll do no problems but as long as the boss is aware and recognises this.
Amazing what you can extract when they are scared you will defect to a competitor down the road :dance:
Don't lie to them OP, the women in our office are in and out at all sorts of hours, which most of revolves around kids, but everyone has to make up their 40 hours one way or another so its not like you or they are getting time off.
Some managers here were initially reluctant to grant some flexibility to me. A bit hostile actually. I wanted a work from home day as I had an appointment at the maxillofacial surgeon during the day. After pointing out their double standards, I called their bluff by telling them I was working from home and they knew where to reach me. Not a problem since.
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Knuckles
Lives under a bridge
True.
And true, while I do work in the private sector unlike the OP, I had the opportunity to take every Monday last year to care for our snot monsters when the missus went back to teaching, however I had to work Saturdays to cover the "time off". This actually turned out to penalise me as most public holidays are on a Monday and I missed them still having to work the 5 day week.
Look on the bright side, once the Liberals get in, public service jobs will be the first to get the axe........ problem solved.
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mitchy_
Llama calmer
you also need to have something they desire before you can go negotiating... some employer's also won't play ball at all.
i had one that wouldn't give me pay rises as promised, in the meantime my dream job appeared so i jumped at the chance, and co-incidentally my role was filled by 2 people at an obvious higher cost than my wage including the requested raises.
MasterOfReality
After forever
I spent some time in the federal public service - it was the crusiest, most flexible job I have ever had!
Norco Maniac
Is back!
workplace flexibility? what a joke. i juggled four kids, renovations and a permanent part time job and go no time off for kid's illnesses. i was told to suck it up or resign.
rb baby
Likes Dirt
I see your point but is it really worth 'rocking the boat?' Big risk of becoming public enemy no.1 in the workplace if this procedure happens to derail the 'apparent benefits' of having kids and getting an earlymark!
Yeah fair call but I don't see it as 'rocking the boat' so to speak more of a 'fairs fair' situation...
MasterOfReality
After forever
I work from home once every few weeks, especially when there is a big report due or I have a fuckload of design work to do and don't want to be disturbed. That is a good enough reason at my work place. Its also fully trackable via timesheets that go down to the minute, skype, vpn etc etc.
As I said in a previous post, I did initially have a bit of trouble trying to get a work from home day when I had a medical appointment.
But if I rocked up and said fuck it, I want to work from home 2 days a week because I feel like it, then that wouldn't go down at all well.
I'm renovating as well - its taken me 5 years of pure weekend work to get the house almost done. That isn't my manager's problem though.
Knuckles
Lives under a bridge
Shoulda taken that shottie into work with you..............Or the kids, don't know which would have scared your boss more. :noidea:
MasterOfReality
After forever
Thats turning out like the place I'm in now - I'm seriously considering going sole trader but I might have to put that on hold until mining picks back up.
Norco Maniac
Is back!
can't see how bringing kids to a workplace where i was unloading garden plants off trucks four days a week, sometimes twice a day would work...oh, wait, you were trying to be funny....
Knuckles
Lives under a bridge
Well yes in the first part, but then no. Thats how I managed to get the Monday for Saturday arrangement with my employer. A 5yo running around fucking up tests got her to see my point of view pretty quickly.
Norco Maniac
Is back!
OH&S wouldn't have allowed me to bring my kids to work under any circumstances, unfortunately.
Knuckles
Lives under a bridge
You are a gay yoga instructor? :noidea:
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Knuckles
Lives under a bridge
Or you are a Shaolin Monk.....
moorey
call me Mia
Isn't that a tautology? :noidea:
mitchy_
Llama calmer
or a precursor to applying for discounts...
fimpBIKES
Likes Dirt
believe me, around here standing up for yourself is definitely seen as being a sh*tstirrer.I see your point but is it really worth 'rocking the boat?' Big risk of becoming public enemy no.1 in the workplace if this procedure happens to derail the 'apparent benefits' of having kids and getting an earlymark!
Yeah fair call but I don't see it as 'rocking the boat' so to speak more of a 'fairs fair' situation...
we are all on individual contracts, but when i tried to get one or two points changed on mine during a promotion last year (including some flexible hours) i was told this was not possible as all the contracts are the same...
as far as being penalised, i have now gotten a formal warning for my behaviour and in my pay reviews i am often knocked down a few pegs because i tell the truth and rarely sugar-coat (a good thing as an engineer, i believe)
its hard to compare my role to others around me, im fairly specialised + performing the role of the two underlings who left for greener pastures last year.
i understand that if people start late then they finish late, that is all i am asking for with myself (the opposite actually because i know i can achieve more by starting early and finishing early)
I have presented the usual reasons before, but perhaps it is time for me to make one last-ditch attempt in writing to my boss, citing reasons + positives etc
some people here may be right, it might be a case of getting a fresh start somewhere else and laying down my terms from the start. I have worked in smaller companies and i find these much more willing to take someones circumstances into account.
i currently have the feelers out and am looking to do some interviews in the next couple of weeks, it would be a shame to leave here because of this but i know i wouldnt be the first.
i agree its probably come across like that when i have asked before, and yes it isnt my managers problem. i also do timesheets and break them down to 1/4 hour blocks, i see no reason why i couldnt work from home or otherwise. as i said before i have proven in the past that i can accomplish tasks in hotel rooms and airports.
working from home is a seperate issue though, for now i would settle for flexible starting times a few days a week with pre-consent from my manager.
but you HAVE convinced me not to make up children, so thanks for that.