Old School Workplace with Rigid, Outdated Scheduling/Face Time Policies

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by silverwing

*shrug* All the places I've worked over the last 30 years had rigid schedules. I always thought the liberal schedules view was in a minority of work places.

They probably are a minority of work places overall, but I'd bet some flexibility is more common than not for exempt (i.e. not eligible for overtime payment) employees in knowledge industries (as opposed to something like health care where you need people in the hospital, etc). While I realize it is allowed under labor laws, it isn't commonly done because it basically amounts to telling your employees that they have to be flexible so far as working to get the job done even it means unpaid overtime but not allowing them any flexibility when they need it.

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

They probably are a minority of work places overall, but I'd bet some flexibility is more common than not for exempt (i.e. not eligible for overtime payment) employees in knowledge industries (as opposed to something like health care where you need people in the hospital, etc). While I realize it is allowed under labor laws, it isn't commonly done because it basically amounts to telling your employees that they have to be flexible so far as working to get the job done even it means unpaid overtime but not allowing them any flexibility when they need it.

Bingo. I've worked for several companies and I've always thought that my company got more work out of people (unpaid, of course, since we are exempt) by allowing the flexibility. That means, we were willing to answer that work call at 8 PM if necessary; we were willing to work all week-end (unpaid, again) if necessary. We often left the house at 5:30 or 6 am to meet a client or travel to a meeting.

However, IF they now want a 9 to 5 drone, why shouldn't I oblige them?

I'll put in my 8 hours; leave my laptop there and that is where I will currently find my work/life balance.